𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 - ᴍᴀᴢᴇ ʀᴜɴɴᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀꜱ ➀

²¹, ᴬⁿᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ᵈᵃʸ ᵃⁿᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ᵃˡᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵈᵉᵃᵗʰ

The Glade is alive with activity as the day begins. The atmosphere is tense, everyone on edge after the events of the previous day. The Grievers are more aggressive, the Maze more unpredictable, and the sense that something is about to happen weighs heavily on all of us.

I limp slightly as I make my way to the Council Hall, the pain in my side and ankle still a dull throb. The Med-jacks did their best, but the injuries I sustained yesterday are going to take time to heal. Still, I force myself to push through it. We don't have the luxury of resting, not when we're this close to something big.

As I approach the Hall, I notice the others already gathered outside—Newt, Minho, Gally, Emmette, Landon, and a few others. There's an air of anticipation, mixed with something darker, something unspoken. Whatever this meeting is about, it's serious.

Newt catches my eye as I join the group, giving me a small nod. He looks more tired than usual, the weight of leadership clearly taking its toll. Minho stands beside him, his expression unreadable, but there's a tension in his posture that sets me on edge.

Gally's there too, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes narrowed as he glares at Thomas, who's standing off to the side, looking more nervous than I've ever seen him. The hostility between them is palpable, and it makes my stomach twist. I don't like where this is going.

We file into the Hall, the air thick with unspoken tension. Everyone takes their usual places, but the energy in the room is different—charged, like a storm ready to break.

Newt clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up. We've got a lot to discuss, and not much time to do it. The Maze is changing faster than we've seen before, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes next."

Minho steps forward, taking over. "We found a passage yesterday, deeper in the Maze than we've ever gone. It's not just another dead end—it's something different. The vibrations are stronger, the walls smoother. There's something down there, and we need to figure out what it is."

There's a murmur of agreement around the room, but Gally's frown deepens. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that, Minho? We barely made it out alive yesterday, and now you want to send more people in?"

Minho's eyes harden. "We don't have a choice, Gally. If we want to find a way out of here, we have to take risks."

Gally shakes his head, his voice rising. "Risks? You mean like the one that almost got Esmerelda killed? We're supposed to be keeping everyone safe, not throwing them into the Maze to die."

The mention of my name makes everyone glance in my direction, and I feel a flush of embarrassment. I'm not used to being the center of attention, especially not like this. But Gally's words sting, and I can't help the flicker of doubt that rises in my chest. He's not wrong. What happened yesterday was reckless, and it almost cost us everything.

Minho opens his mouth to respond, but Newt steps in, his voice calm but firm. "Enough. We're not here to argue. We're here to make decisions. And that includes making sure we have the best people for the job."

He turns to Thomas, who's been standing quietly to the side, his eyes wide with a mixture of anxiety and determination. "Thomas, step forward."

Thomas does as he's told, his posture stiff, as if he's bracing for a blow. Newt meets his gaze, his expression serious. "You've shown you've got guts, Thomas. You've risked your life for us, and you've proven you can handle yourself in the Maze. Minho and I have discussed it, and we think it's time to make you an official Runner."

The words hang in the air, and for a moment, there's stunned silence. Then the room erupts into a mix of reactions—some surprised, some approving, others, like Gally, angry.