The Maze Runner

Part 7

I sit by one of the trees, tracing shapes in the dirt with a stick; I watch the movement in my hand as I draw deciding on what to do with us Gladers, the Glade, everything just seems to be wrong right now. I look up and see Minho walking pushing Ben along by the leather collar he has along his neck while his hands are bent and tied behind his head. I quickly stand and race over and grab a spear and stand near Alby.
"Please don't! You're making a mistake!" Ben yells as he gets thrown in front of the cement wall, with the Keepers surrounding him with spears.
Minho grabs Newt's and Alby's spears and attach them to the collar while Gally and I lean our spears down pointing at Ben.
"I won't do it again, please!" Ben begs as Minho cuts the ropes releasing his arms.
Ben leans forward, coughing up blood and breathing heavily. He looks up and around the Gladers; Minho looks at Alby and Alby nods. I sigh before I nod at Minho. Minho throws in a pack of food and water into the maze as Ben begs us not to banish him. Finally, the evening roar from inside the maze is heard and all the spears are pointed to Ben.
"Please, please, no!" Ben begs as he gets onto his feet, trying to avoid the spears as we start backing him up into the maze. "Adriana! You know! You can't do this to them! Not to me! He deserves this!"
My breathing hitches as Ben falls back into the maze just as the doors close behind him; I gulp feeling like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. I look around at the Gladers as they all stare back at me. I nod softly trying to hide the tears forming in my eyes.
"He belongs to the maze now." I mumble before leaning the spear against the wall, walking off back to Homestead.
I lay down on my bed, with my hands over my face as I groan.
"I hate changes." I mumble as I remove my hands from my face and just shut my eyes.
*Dream*
I'm screaming in water, in a capsule thing, banging on the window to let me out. I see Thomas and a older woman watching me, as if they were curious. I hear the woman say to Thomas outside the capsule "Wicked is good" before it fades to black.
*End of dream*
I wake up, panting and sweating before feeling an hand on my shoulder. It was Thomas.
"Adriana, are you alright? I tried waking you." Thomas says with worry written all over his face.
"I-I'm fine." I mumble sitting up, whipping the sweat on my sleeve. "What are you doing here?"
Thomas motions to the door.
"It's dinner time, Fry has some nice food for us tonight." Thomas mentions with a small smile.
I stare at Thomas for a moment before he realizes which causes me to look away.
"What is it?" Thomas asks curiously.
I slowly stand, running my hand through my hair.
"Let's just go some dinner now." I nod before turning and walking away.
"I'm not sure what you know...and I don't know why you suddenly changed and won't give me answers anymore." Thomas starts following me, causing me to stop in my tracks. "But I'd really like to know what you know about me...cause Ben seems to think you knew something."
Thomas stands in front of me, staring down at me with those brown, curious eyes.
"Thomas-" I start before Gally walks over, with Newt.
"Everything okay over here?" Gally asks glaring at Thomas, munching on his burger.
"Everything's fine." I state in a blunt tone causing Gally to look at me confused.
"Adriana, is there a chance I can talk to you alone over there? Now?" Newt asks politely.
I sigh softly with a nod before turning to Thomas with a small smile.
"Get yourself some food and if you can, while you're over there, can you get me some too?" I ask pleadingly as Thomas nods with a smile.
"I'll see you soon." Thomas says as Newt and I walk away.
"So what do you want to talk about?" I ask knowing the answer but attempting to play dumb.
"Really? I think you know what it's about, Adriana." Newt says, cocking a brow not believing I didn't know.
We sit by a tree as I sigh.
"Ask me anything and I'll try to answer-" I start before Newt interrupts.
"Try? You have been acting so different since Ben has been stung, hell it might of even started when Greenie showed up." Newt mentions looking at me. "You knew something and Ben knew you did too."
I stay quiet by just staring at the ground.
"Newt...I don't know what to do anymore." I shake my head looking at him, disappointed in myself for letting my emotions show. "Everything is going to change and all we've ever known is order...what are we going to do? Runners getting stung in daylight, the box hasn't gone down since Thomas came up-"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey." Newt says softly before pulling me into a hug in his side. "You're not alone in this. You can talk to myself or Alby, or even Gally if you want, but you're not alone."
"I am...because I'm the only one who's been stung and survived the Changing." I say as I pull back as Newt has a shocked expression on his face.
"You...what?" Newt repeats unsure if what he heard was the truth.
"I've been stung...2 times from a Griever." I mention before staring out into the Glade. "When I was a Runner, I was stung. One in the chest and the other in the leg. Minho, Ben and I kept it a secret because it would've been a panic to everyone. So Minho stole some of the antidote from the Med-jacks and kept me in the Mapping room until I was clear, both times. Then we acted like nothing happened."
"That's why you're not a Runner anymore." Newt mumbles putting the pieces together.
"Yeah, after I was stung in the leg, I've had trouble running on it ever since." I nod slightly. "So I quit being the Runner."
"I'm hurt you never even told me this, Adriana." Newt sighs shaking his head.
"I'm sorry." I frown. "I just didn't want to tell anyone...it's a very touchy experience."
"I'm not just anyone; well I thought I wasn't just anyone to you." Newt admits, shaking his head in disappointment. "But anyway, what about Greenie? You've kinda been odd around him; he's even mentioned you're not speaking to him that much."
"I can't tell you that, I can't tell anybody about that." I say, shaking my head with a serious expression. "I know you're not anybody to me but I really can't."
I look to the ground afraid to see another one of Newt's disappointed and hurt expressions. I turn around and start walking away; I hear Newt sigh and start calling my name. I just ignore it and walk through the trees and sit down underneath one deep into the forest.

TO BE CONTINUED