The First Runner

Scary

Jess POV

"Things are changing. There's no denying that." Gally paced back and forth like a caged animal, frustration building in every step. He was working himself up, trying to stir the tension among the Keepers, all gathered in a tight circle. "First, Ben gets stung in broad daylight. Then Alby. And now our Greenie here decides to go into the Maze. Which is a clear violation of our rules."

His words hung in the air, heavy with accusation. He wasn't wrong—Thomas had broken the rules. But the way Gally spoke, as if Thomas had committed some unforgivable sin, made my skin crawl. I glanced at Thomas standing to the side, his face a mix of confusion and defiance. He didn't look scared, though. He looked... determined. I clenched my fists, feeling my patience already starting to snap. I knew exactly where Gally was headed, and I didn't like it.

"Yeah, but he saved Alby's life," Frypan chimed in from the back, arms crossed over his chest. His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, a quiet push to keep the peace.

Gally spun around, eyes narrowed into slits. "Did he?" he snapped, voice rising. "For three years, we've coexisted with these things. And now he's gone and killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us?"

I shot a quick look at Minho, standing beside me, arms folded, his face betraying nothing. Newt leaned against the wooden railing, his usual unreadable expression in place. Thomas had killed a Griever, sure, but it wasn't like I hadn't done the same. My kill count wasn't something I boasted about, but Gally knew. And now he was using Thomas' actions as a weapon to push his own agenda.

I knew what Gally wanted. His eyes glinted with something darker, something dangerous. It wasn't just anger—it was fear. And that fear was twisting him, making him lash out.

"What do you suggest we do?" Newt finally spoke, breaking the silence that had settled over the group. His voice was calm, but I could see the tension in his jaw. He didn't want to make the wrong decision here.

Gally didn't hesitate. "He has to be punished."

There it was—the words I'd expected but dreaded. Gally was pushing for something severe. His tone had shifted from anger to something colder, more calculated. The air thickened with tension as the Keepers erupted into heated whispers, their voices overlapping in a chaotic wave. The decision being made here wouldn't just affect Thomas—it would change everything.

I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, but it wasn't easy. Gally was pushing my buttons, and I could tell I wasn't the only one getting frustrated. Frypan, Zart, Winston—everyone was uneasy, shifting in their spots, but no one stepped forward to challenge Gally.

"He killed a Griever!" someone shouted from the back.

"Come on!" others groaned in disbelief.

Newt raised his voice, cutting through the noise. "Minho, Jess. You two were with him. What do you think?"

All eyes turned to us, the weight of the decision hanging on our words. Minho shot me a glance, his face unreadable, before stepping forward.

"I think..." Minho paused, his eyes scanning the group. "In all the time we've been here, only one person has ever killed a Griever before." He let the words settle in the air. "When I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank stayed behind to help Alby."

The words hung there, and I could feel the weight of the room shift. Minho's voice was steady, but there was something in it—something unsaid—that resonated with everyone. His defense of Thomas was quiet but unshakable.

I knew it was my turn. I stepped forward, my voice firm. "Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid, but whatever it is, we need more of it."

A ripple of surprise passed through the Keepers. A few nodded, their expressions thoughtful. Gally's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't interrupt. The tension was palpable, but I wasn't backing down.