She Was Their Cure (Rewritten) - A Maze Runner Fanfiction

The Banishment

Ben's screams echoed through the Glade as the Runners dragged him toward the Maze entrance. His thrashing had lessened, but the wild look in his eyes hadn't. The desperation, the terror—it clung to him like a second skin. The other Gladers stood in tense silence, watching the scene unfold with grim expressions. Thomas, standing toward the back of the crowd, felt his stomach twist into knots.

Newt appeared beside him, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something harder, colder.

"We have to banish him," Newt said quietly, his eyes fixed on Ben. "He's been stung by a Griever. There's no coming back from that."

Thomas swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "What does that mean? What happens when you banish someone?"

Newt's gaze shifted toward the Maze, the tall, impenetrable walls looming like silent sentinels. "We lock him in the Maze at night."

The words hit Thomas like a punch to the gut. The thought of leaving someone out there—alone, in the dark, with those creatures—made his skin crawl. "But... isn't there anything you can do?"

Newt shook his head. "Once they're stung, they change. It's like they go mad. The pain drives them insane. There's no cure. It's the only way."

Thomas wanted to argue, wanted to scream that it wasn't fair, that there had to be another way. But the cold finality in Newt's voice stopped him. This was how things worked in the Glade. No one questioned it. Even if the thought didn't sit well with him, Thomas stayed silent.

Ben let out one last guttural scream as they pushed him toward the Maze, his voice cracking with panic. "Thomas! You'll remember! You'll remember what you did!"

The words sent an icy shiver down Thomas's spine. He had no idea what Ben was talking about, but it felt like a warning. Like a piece of a puzzle he didn't even know existed.

Later, after the chaos had subsided, Thomas found himself sitting with Chuck near the fire. The younger boy was chatting about the day's events, but Thomas's mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept drifting back to what Newt had said earlier. And, more than anything, the name that had been carved into the stone wall.

Aurora.

"Hey, Chuck," Thomas said, interrupting the boy's rambling. "Do you know who Aurora is?"

Chuck furrowed his brow, the name not registering. "Aurora? Never heard of her. Why?"

Thomas frowned, confused. "Her name was on the wall—the Wall of Remembrance. And there was something weird about it. It wasn't crossed out like the others."

Chuck shrugged, looking just as confused as Thomas felt. "I dunno, man. I've never heard of anyone named Aurora. If she's not here, maybe she didn't make it? I don't really remember everyone who's come up."

Thomas chewed on that for a moment, the mystery deepening. The name was there—he hadn't imagined it. But if no one knew who she was, why did her name still remain on the wall, unmarked?

A few hours later, restless and unable to shake his curiosity, Thomas found himself wandering the Glade again. His feet seemed to guide him unconsciously until he ended up at the med-hut. He hesitated at the door, peeking inside to make sure no one was around. The space was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustling of supplies.

He stepped in cautiously, his eyes scanning the shelves filled with various medicines, herbs, and vials. There was something about the place that felt strange—like it held secrets no one talked about.

As he moved deeper inside, something caught his eye. A small jar, tucked away on a shelf near the back, filled with a strange liquid. He picked it up, squinting at the label.

Aurora.

The name was scribbled across the jar in small, neat handwriting. Thomas felt a chill run down his spine. Why was her name on a jar? What was this liquid?

Before he could make sense of it, a voice behind him snapped him out of his thoughts.

"What the hell are you doing in here?!"

Thomas jumped, startled, the jar slipping from his grasp. It hit the floor with a sickening shatter, the liquid spilling out across the ground in a slick, clear puddle.

Jeff stood at the entrance, his face twisted in anger. "You shucking idiot! Do you have any idea what you just did?"

Thomas's heart raced. "I—I didn't mean to. I was just—"

But before he could explain, Gally and Newt came rushing in, having heard the crash. Gally's eyes immediately went to the broken jar, and his face contorted with fury.

"What did you do, Greenie?!" Gally shouted, stepping forward and grabbing Thomas by the collar. "That was important!"

"I didn't mean to—" Thomas started, but Gally cut him off, shaking him roughly.

"You have no idea what you've just shucked up," Gally growled. "Do you even know who that was for?"

"Gally, enough," Newt's voice cut through the tension, but there was something off about it. Thomas glanced over at him, expecting to see the same anger he'd seen in Gally, but instead, Newt just stood there... frozen.

His eyes were locked on the spilled liquid, his face pale, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it looked like Newt wasn't even present—like he was somewhere else entirely, lost in some distant, painful memory.

Gally, still fuming, finally noticed Newt's strange silence. He released his grip on Thomas and turned to him. "Newt? Come on."

When Newt didn't respond, Gally grabbed his arm, shaking him slightly. It was enough to snap him out of whatever trance he had been in.

Newt blinked rapidly, taking a deep breath before turning away. "Let's get out of here," he muttered, his voice tight.

Gally glanced between Thomas and Newt, clearly frustrated but deciding not to push it. With one last glare at Thomas, Gally followed Newt out of the med-hut.

Thomas stood there, stunned. The jar—Aurora—why had it caused such a reaction? And why had Newt looked so devastated?

Jeff, still fuming, pointed toward the door. "Get out, Greenie. Go back to your job before you break anything else."

Thomas nodded quickly, backing away, but just as he reached the door, he paused.

From inside the med-hut, he could have sworn he heard something—soft, quiet, and heartbreaking.

Crying.

He glanced back, but Jeff was turned away, cleaning up the shattered glass. Thomas shook his head, trying to shake off the strange feeling. He had too many questions already, and no answers in sight. The mystery of Aurora would have to wait.

As he walked away, though, the sound of quiet sobs lingered in his mind, echoing in the silence.