If There Is A Light

Chapter 47

"Things are changing. There's no denying that." Most of the boys muttered a yeah or shrugged their shoulders in agreement. What Gally was saying had been right so far. Newt stood leaning against a makeshift beam. Alby was back, but he had been stung, so Newt's position still stood. Although he still hated having to step up he was relieved beyond belief that Minho was back. It made the new 'promotion' a little easier to handle. "First Ben gets stung in broad day-light and then Alby. Ad now our Greenie, here, has taken it upon himself to go into the maze. Which is a clear violation of our rules here."

"Yeah, but he saved Alby's life." Frypan agreed.

There were times when Newt wondered why Alby wanted him as second in command. Gally was all about the rules, he wouldn't play favorites and he had no trouble playing the bad guy...

"For three years, we have coexisted with these things. And now, you've killed one of them." And then sometimes he could understand Alby's judgment. Is coexisted what he called it? They would kill all of 'em if given the chance... the walls were closed and they had a system. That was the only reason they coexisted. "Who knows what that could mean for us."

"What do you suggest we do?" Newt piped up.

"He has to be punished." Gally commented like it was the simplest thing in the world. And then hell broke loose. The other Gladers were in clear protest of this. A Griever was the reason they had lost so many of theirs. A Griever was the reason Alby was not here.

"Minho. You were there with him. What do you think?"

A sigh erupted from his lips, "I think, in all the time we've been here, no one has ever killed a Griever before. When I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank stayed behind to help Alby. Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid. But whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a runner."

"A runner! What?" The boys were back to their chattering. Both sides were being represented this time, so it was hard to tell where everyone (or even the majority stood). Newt tried his best to keep the amused smile off of his face (especially when he could barely hear Chuck trying to start a chant with Thomas's name).

"If you want to throw the newbie a parade, that's fine. Go ahead. If there is one thing I know about the maze, it is that you do not-" Gally's yelling quickly quieted everyone down, but it was quickly interrupted by a familiar sound. Newt exchanged a concerned look with the older Glader who was no longer lecturing the other Gladers.

When the realization of what it was hit him, he quickly (everyone following suit). They was no way in hell that it was time for the box to come back up.