THE HEARTS » TMR [1]

06. Penalty

Margaret couldn't sleep again after hearing that horrible scream. She'd stayed awake until she could almost see daylight, until all of the other boys in the Glade awoke from their deep slumber. Chuck was the first to awaken, and he couldn't wait for the Doors to open. Margaret felt more tense than excited. What if she found Thomas had been stung? Or what if that Minho guy lived but Thomas didn't? She was starting to have second thoughts, which worried her.

     Margaret looked at Newt, who was shaking his head in disappointment. Could he be thinking the same thing? The other Gladers shared the same expression, their faces filled with despair and grief. But, of all of them, Chuck was the only one who still had hope, who still had that buoyant tone in his voice, keeping his spirits up and running.

     "Come on, guys. They're gonna come back," Chuck said, half-smiling at the group in front of him. Margaret returned his faithful gesture by smiling back.

     It was silent until Newt stood up. He limped slowly toward Chuck. He patted his back, and said, "I'm sorry, Chuck, they're not coming back." The smile on Chuck's face then faded away. Newt looked down at the grass and began to walk away from him. Margaret looked at Chuck and shook her head in disbelief. She followed Newt and grabbed his arm.

     "What the hell was that? Couldn't you have shown a little faith to him?" Margaret whispered.

     "Look, Margaret, do you really believe they survived the night with Grievers lurking in the shadows?" Newt said. "They're dead. I know it's difficult, but you just have to accept it."

     Margaret remained silent for a moment before saying, "He's just a kid." It was the only thing that came to mind. Chuck was a child, and he didn't deserve to hear such things, knowing that they would cause him pain and trauma. That it would have an impact on him.

     "And this isn't his first time going through this," Newt said. "We have gone through this experience many times before you came along. They were dark times. Alby had told him—had told us—that. We've lost a few boys over the years, including one recently. Right here in the Glade. And we've learned how to deal with it."

     "But that will only add on to his misery, Newt," Margaret pointed out. "Please, for Chuck's sake, try to be at least a little faithful."

     "Do you not understand what I'm saying, Margaret? They're dead. Alby, Minho, Thomas—they're all dead. And I'm pretty sure Minho was aware of it as well."

     "But what if they're not dead, Newt? What if they're still alive? What if they're on the other side, waiting for those Doors to open right now?"

     Newt shook his head. "That would have been impossible. Grievers would have gotten them in no time. They'd have to scatter around the Maze to survive. But that would not have worked either."

     Margaret was about to respond when she heard the familiar sound of stone against stone clicking and grinding. Her and Newt exchanged a quick glance before sprinting toward the Doors as they began to open in front of Chuck.

     "Guys! Get up!" Chuck yelled. A few Gladers were already on their feet, searching for the faces of their friends. Margaret stood next to Chuck, just inches away from the Doors, desperately searching for Thomas's face. But he was nowhere to be found; the passageway was completely deserted.

     "I told you, Chuck," Newt said softly, placing a hand on Chuck's back. "They're not coming back." He gave Margaret a sidelong glance. She noticed his eyes were solemn.

     Margaret averted her gaze from the Maze, blinking repeatedly to keep her eyes from becoming teary. She turned around to see all the boys walking away from her and Chuck. But one of them—a blonde—looked at the Maze incredulously and said, "No way."