Be Mine

Chapter 25

   I shut the door behind me and cried. Why did they have to Banish Ben? It wasn't his fault that he got stung. It should've been me, I thought.
   Newt allowed me to visit Ben but I didn't think that Alby would be very happy about that. I decided not to visit him. Instead, I came up with a plan.

   I went back to work today. It was the first time I got to run in the Maze by myself. Even though it had been a while since I ran in the Maze, everything came naturally to me. Most Gladers wouldn't want this job, but I actually enjoyed it. As I ran, I thought about the plan I had come up with last night. It probably wouldn't work but it'd be worth a try.
   Late afternoon, early evening began to roll around. I easily found my way back to the Glade as if I had been doing it my whole life. I noticed some of the Keepers were setting up for the Banishment.
   I walked past them with a scowl on my face. They glanced nervously at me. They knew exactly how this Banishment made me feel but they still had to do it. I went to my room and sat on my bed. If all goes according to plan, this would be my last time sitting on my bed. But I didn't care. My heart was already broken from the fact that my best friend was about to be Banished. It was also broken from the fact that the person I loved would be one of the people Banishing my best friend. My poor heart was shattered into millions of pieces and there was no way to put them back together. This was the only way I could find peace.
   But no matter how many times I told myself that my heart was too broken to feel love anymore, my heart still ached at the thought of never seeing Newt again. Even though I tell myself that I couldn't possibly love Newt anymore because of this Banishment, I still feel like I do love him. And it hurt to know that I might leave him forever. But I have to do this, I thought.
   I heard a voice saying something about the Banishment. Alby. It was starting. My hands started to shake. I felt more sweaty than I did after running all day in the Maze. I stretched out my shaky hand and turned the doorknob on my door. I took a step outside and looked at the group around the closing doors.
   I jogged towards them. I could see Ben being pushed into the Maze. I ran. Ben was pleading for them to let him go. I ran faster. I was so close to them.
   "STOP!" I screamed at them.
   All eyes were on me. Even Ben's.
   "Please, stop," I begged them.
   "No can do, Addison," Alby said with a frown.
   "He didn't mean it! Let him go! He didn't mean any of this. I should be Banished!" I got several looks of confusion after the last sentence.
   "What do you mean?" Alby asked.
   "I was almost the one stung by the Grievers. Ben saved me. Please don't do this to him," I pleaded.
   Alby sighed. "I know how much Ben means to you and I'm sorry this has to happy to you. Unfortunately, Ben broke the rule. We have no choice but to Banish him."
   "Fine," I said. "Then Banish me too."
   "What?" Alby gasped.
   "You heard me," I said, not breaking eye contact. "Banish me."
   "Addison, no!" Newt said.
   "You don't know what you're asking for!" Minho cried.
   "Addi," Chuck, who was walking away just a minute ago, stopped in his tracks, tears in his eyes.
   I looked away from Chuck. I wouldn't be able to go with my plan if I continued looking at him.
   "Addison," Alby said sternly. "Go to your room."
   "No," I said calmly.
   "The doors are closing!" A Glader yelled.
   Ben was half way through the Doors and the Gladers continued forcing him into the Maze.
   I sprinted toward the closing doors, taking the opportunity to Banish myself but someone knocked me to the ground.
   "I don't think so," Gally said, looking down at me.
   "Put her in the Slammer," Alby called over to Gally.
   Gally picked me up bridal style and began to walk away.
   "Good bye, Ben," I choked out as the Doors closed, leaving Ben alone in the Maze. Tears began to fall down my face as Gally walked to the Slammer.
   "Don't you ever try to pull that one again," Gally said angrily.
   I rolled my eyes. "Why do you care?"
   "None of your business," Gally said. "Just don't do anything stupid. Might be hard for you, seems like all you know how to do are stupid things."
   "That's not true!" I protested. "Put me down!"
   Gally dropped me on the ground of the Slammer. He then closed the door.
   "Ow!" I complained loudly.
   "Careful what you wish for, Princess," he smirked.
   I rolled my eyes. My plan had turned into an epic fail.