𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 - thomas tmr

07 bestfriends

Chuck was the first awake the next morning. The whole glade had camped outside in case of Minho, Elizabeth, Thomas and Alby's return. Newt stepped forward, next to Chuck and looked down the corridor. Nobody was there.

"Told you Chuck," He said gently, "They're not coming back."

Despite his words, Newt felt a pang of sadness a he turned and walked away. Minho and Alby were two of his closest friends, Lizzy had always been almost sisterly to him and Thomas had only just entered the maze, it wasn't fair that his life had ended so quickly. It wasn't fair that any of their lives had ended.

Walking beside Newt was Zart. He glanced back as he realised Chuck had stayed, about to offer some words of comfort before he saw four figures moving at the end of the stone corridor.

"No way." He muttered, walking forward.

Minho was supporting Alby, carrying his limp body over his shoulder and Thomas was acting as a crutch for Elizabeth, her arm slung around his shoulders and his around her waist as he helped her walk. Her knee had not improved over the night.

"Yeah! Yes!" Chuck cheered gleefully.

Four boys rushed forward to help their unconscious leader and also give Minho a break from carrying him. The runner crouched down on the floor beside Alby, Thomas doing the same. Elizabeth sat herself down, extending her leg out in front of her to rest her knee.

"You saw a griever?" Chuck asked.

'Yeah I saw one." Thomas admitted.

Elizabeth studied his facial expression. He looked almost hesitant to admit he had killed the creature. Her eyes flitted between Minho and Newt, both of whom were looking at Thomas expectantly. In that moment, a feeling of epiphany washed over her as she realized how much faith they all had in Thomas, despite the little time he'd spent in the glade. Slowly, he was becoming their leader. Thomas must have felt her eyes on him as turned his head to meet her gaze. She was smiling but he couldn't understand why, unable to read the emotion in her eyes. Minho spoke and Thomas averted his gaze.

"He didn't just see it. He killed it." Minho revealed.

---

A council meeting was held to discuss Thomas' breach of the rules when he ran into the maze. Everyone was sat down except for all the keepers and Newt. Elizabeth stood next to Minho. Her knee had been bandaged and supported and was hopefully on its way to healing.

"Things are changing. There's no denying that," Gally began, "First Ben gets stung in broad daylight and then Alby. And now our greenie here has taken it upon himself into the maze," Elizabeth and Minho shared a look of annoyance as Gally spoke, "Which is a clear violation of our rules here."

"Yeah," Frypan spoke up, "But he saved Alby's life."

"Did he?" Gally questioned, "For three years, we have co-existed with these things and now," He turned and pointed at Thomas, "You've killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us?"

"What do you suggest we do?" Newt asked him.

"He has to be punished." Gally shrugged.

The crowd went up in uproar, some agreed, some disagred. Boys were arguing and shouting over eachother.

"Minho, Lizzy, you were there with him. What do you think?" Newt asked, silencing the boys.

Elizabeth and Minho exchanged a glance. They both knew exactly what they thought, what they wanted to do.

"I think, in all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a griever before. When me and Liz were prepared to turn tail and run, this dumb shank insisted he stay behind to help Alby. I don't know if he's brave or stupid, but whatever it is we need more of it." Minho said, then looked at Elizabeth, giving her permission to say what they had planned.