Guilt & Grief (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 4: -C̶l̶a̶r̶a̶

Gally swallowed harshly as he looked at the wall in front of him. His eyes were glued on Clara's name that she carved in on day one. He finally brought himself to cross out her name but he hadn't done it yet. It was still painful and the more he waited. The more he didn't want to do it. He knew if he didn't do it now, some shank would do it.

He refused to let some shank that voted for Clara's death to cross out the name.

Gally could feel tears making their way out of his eyes but he pushed them down. Refusing to cry in front of Nick and Leo.

Gally finally raised the tools and started to chip away at the wall. He went and went and then stopped right before he got to the 'C'. Gally let out a breath, his breathing starting to shake.

"Take your time, Gally". Leo reassured him, looking at the side of Gally's head.

Nick didn't say anything. He didn't want too. He was too lost in his own thoughts.

Gally was about to continue again but the sound of footsteps coming closer made him not continue. Leo looked over to the person walking and then to Gally. Knowing he was about to lose it.

Nick looked up as well and his dad features turned to anger. "What the shuck are you doing here?" Nick asked.

Gally turned around and was met with Minho.

"I just-"

"Just what? You shouldn't be here". Gally didn't let him finish.

"She was my friend too".

Nick let out a laugh. "Friend?" Nick took a step forward. "Friends don't send you to your death". Nick hissed.

"Get out of here, Minho". Gally said slowly.

Minho let out a sigh and looked past him to Clara's name engraved into the wall and back to Gally.

"I'll be quiet".

"I don't want you here". Gally said with assurance. "None of us do". Gally gestured to the wall behind him, looking in Minhos eyes;

"You're the reason why I'm crossing her name out".

Minho felt his heart drop. Minho broke Gally's gaze and looked to the ground, swallowing harshly. Minho nodded.

"I know". Minho's voice cracked softly.

Minho didn't stay. They didn't want him there and he felt defeated. Minho turned around and started to walk away. When he got out of earshot from them and other gladers he started to cry.

One of those cries where you try and stop yourself from crying, holding it in but it slowly comes out of gasping sobs and a constant thought rang through his head;

Why did I do that?

Gally watched Minho's figure get further away and looked back to wall. Gally took a deep breath and started to chip away from the stone again. A line made its way to the 'C' and slowly started to go across.

With each chip, Gally felt his heart break break some more.

With each chip, Gally heard Clara's laugh.

With each chip, Gally saw Clara's smiling face.

With each chip, Gally felt a tear run down his cheek.

With each chip, Gally let out a quiet cry.

With each;

"Gally".

"Hm?" Gally hummed as he looked from the dead heads in front of him to Clara who was sitting next to him.

"Do you think we will be best friends forever?"  She asked.

Gally smiled softly.  "Of course we will.  Why wouldn't we?"

Clara looked down, looking at the dead leaves she was playing with.  "In case something happens"

Gally looked at her with confusion.  "What would happen?"

Clara shrugged and looked back at him.  "Just thinking of stuff Stephen said to me awhile ago.  What if we're apart one day?  What if one of us is dead and-"

"We aren't going to die.  You're not going to die".  Gally cut her off.  Looking at her seriously.  The two looking at one another.

"We are going to be fine.  You are going to be fine...besides.  Even if it did.  Which it won't.  We will be best friends".  Gally reassured her.

Clara slowly smiled, her teeth showing slightly and she nodded.  "Good.  Because you'll always be my best friend, Captain Gally".

Gally stopped.  He looked at the wall in front of him.  Clara's name now completely crossed out;

-C̶l̶a̶r̶a̶

Gally breathed out and he just looked at what he had done.  Tears stained his cheeks and his eyes were glued to the crossed out name.  Nick looked at it as well for a moment and then his eyes flashed to George's crossed out name that was nearby.  Leo stopped looking awhile ago and was looking at the gladers in the distance walking around.

Gally brushed his hand over her name, getting rid of any debris.

"And you'll always be my best friend, C". Gally whispered.  He took a few steps back, giving one last glance to the name and turned around.

"Come on".  He told Leo and Nick.

Gally never went back to the wall.  The only time he did was when he crossed out Ben's name and even then he refused to look at Clara's name. 

He tried.  But he ended up looking at it a few times.

And even then it still killed him.