If There Is A Light

Chapter 57

"Has he said anything?"

"No.."

Newt carefully made his way over to him. It was miraculous that he was able to be sitting up and completely calm now. He felt like his friend had just been raised from the dead. He knew of course that was not technically the case and that the transformation had to be taxing so he eased over, "Alby.... Ably...." Newt sat down on the cot beside him and leaned slightly trying to make eye contact with him, "Alby, are you alright?"

Newt felt like his heart was breaking. Alby was refusing to make eye contact with him. Of course it was not that he was angry at his friend for ignoring his greeting. Newt could see that his eyes were glassy and that his lip was quivering, he felt horrendous that even though he had survived the changing, his brother was still very apparently suffering.

Thomas crouched down in front of him. "Hey Alby. Alby, we might have found a way out of the maze. Do you hear me? We could be getting out of here."

Alby shook his head slowly (if Newt had not been looking for a response of any sort he might have missed it). "We can't.... we can't leave. They won't let us."

"What are you talking about?"

"I remember." The look in Alby's eyes and the sadness in his voice made it clear that his memories weren't happy ones.

"What do you remember?"

Alby turned to look at Thomas directly, "You. You were always their favorite, Thomas. Always."

Outside of their thrown together building, Newt could hear shouting. His eyes which had previously shifted to Thomas were now cast to the door. He had not stopped listening to Alby. Although he wished he had, because what left his lips was not good, "Why did you do this? Why did you come here?"

Newt felt torn. Alby was holding his head and crying. He had been there to comfort him, and he felt the desire and obligation to do the same for him. Unfotunalty outside he could hear the shouting getting louder and make the flicker of boys running with torches. It was obvious that something was going on outside and he also felt the obligation to see what that was. Alby had trusted him to be his second in command... he did not want to let him down. He cast a quick look at Alby before abandoning him and chasing after the others to see what exactly was causing so much ruckus.

"Hey Winston, what's going on?" Newt did not have a chance to gather his thoughts before Thomas questioned the nearest Glader.

"It's the door. It isn't closing."

Newt politely pushed his way through the crowd which had gathered close to the still open entrance. It was dark and the torches that some of the other Gladers held did not illuminate any clues as to why the Glade was still open to the Maze. A loud clang caused everyone to jump slightly and a few to even cover their ears. "Oh!"

Newt's mouth went dry when a familiar rumbling took place. They all turned hoping to see that it was a mistake, but it was not. A second entrance was opening. Clang. A third. Clang. All four were open at once... Newt had no idea what was going on, but there was not a shadow of a doubt that something unmistakably bad was about to happen.

Thomas turned to the youngest boy, "Chuck, I want you to go to the Council Hall, okay? Start barricading the doors."

"Mmhmm."

Newt knew what Thomas was saying was smart. The Grievers were kept out of the Glade by the walls. Tonight the walls were not going to be much help. "Winston you go with him."

"Got it."

"Get the others. Tell them to go to the forest. Go hide! Now!" Gally started to order.

"Minho, I want you to grab every weapon you can find. I'll meet you at the council hall." Minho quickly grabbed Frypan for some help and began to run to arm themselves.

Newt could hear Thomas saying something to Teresa about Alby, but his attention was captured by the group of boys at the other entrance who were now running and screaming. That was when the roaring began, and although Newt had never personally seen a Griever he knew that was what was now visible and charging towards them.

"All right, everybody hide!"

"Run! Run!"