Deserted at Dawn (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 35 // Chuck

*Scarlett's P.O.V.* 

I looked around, overwhelmed by the fact that we had found the way out of this place. The room was filled with technology – computers, screens and monitors. Robin stood at a large, grey-toned monitor, a sad expression on her face.

"We made it," she said sadly. I stared in awe at the cement wall, not knowing what to say or do. Suddenly the screen flickered to life.

"Look," she pointed out. "It's the Glade. Someone's been watching us the whole time."

A few Gladers scurried across the picture.

"Where is everyone?" Alex asked.

I just shrugged. "Don't care." Although I actually did care – deep down. I cared about Newt – who became a close friend since we arrived in the Glade. I cared about Minho, Frypan, Chuck, Winston – everyone. Maybe even Gally and the weird pervy kid that watched me as a Track-Hoe. Most of all, I cared about Thomas – even though I was mad at him – more than I ever thought I had cared about anyone. I rid myself of the thoughts in my head.

Alex looked at me, slightly apologetic. "You know, Thomas cares. He just can't show it."

I stared back at the blank, grey wall again. "'Cause you would know."

"I've felt the same. You don't know what I've been through," Alex replied. She looked over at Robin who lifted her shoulders in a questionable gesture.

"Haven't been there. Don't ask me," she said honestly. "I mean Minho- "

"Yeah, yeah, he was perfect. Whatever," I interrupted, not in the mood for this.

"If you need- "Alex started.

"I don't need anything. Now leave me alone," I cut her off harshly.

Alex widened her eyes and shook her head, walking over to the monitor Robin was still standing at.

"Don't touch that," I heard Alex say to Robin.

Before I could even turn around, a loud sound erupted from the wall. A grey screen moved downward, revealing a large glass window. The new glass wall showed a room exactly like the one we were in. It was as if the room had been duplicated. I stared into the space, inspecting it from where I was standing.

Something moved from the far end of the twin room. A figure slowly entered the room –brown hair, blue shirt, dirty-smeared face. It was Thomas.

Stunned, I stared at him. He turned around, looking through the glass and over at us. His eyes widened and his face automatically lit up like a kid on Christmas Day. Robin and Alex joined, taking a stance on either side of me and looking into the other room. Other figures started to appear. One by one, Gladers came into the room. First Frypan walked past Thomas, then Chuck, Minho, Winston, Eric, Adam, Lee, five Gladers I hadn't seen before, Jeff, Teresa and lastly, Newt.

Teresa. Newt. Jump off those walls just like he did. The words rung in my ears as if they had just been freshly said to me. A tear formed in my eyes. I wouldn't cry; I couldn't. Not in front of anyone – not in front of Thomas.

I wondered where the other Gladers were.

Thomas inched his way towards the glass wall when a loud bang erupted through the adjacent room. A door slammed open at the other end of the room. Thomas' attention averted to the gap in the wall, joining the Gladers at the exit. They stood there, ready to leave. I could hear a few things being said and wished for them to just leave the room and head away from here.

"HEY!" a voice shouted. All of the Gladers turned around to the source of the sound.

Gally stood at the entrance to the room with a knife in hand. His chest heaved rapidly with shuddering breath, his angry steps heading towards the Gladers. His face pasty white and his eyes wet and red stuck out from his appearance. He stopped a few feet away from Thomas.

"Gally?" Thomas asked.

Words burst from Gally's mouth. "They... can control me... I don't-" His eyes bulged, his hand going to his throat as if he were choking. "I... have... to..." He coughed after each word, a weird croaking sound coming out of his mouth.

Before anyone could process a single thought, Gally reached behind himself and pulled out a shiny object from his back pocket. He clutched the dagger tightly in his hand, gripping it with his fingers.

Suddenly it all happened quickly. Gally uplifted the weapon and threw it directly at Thomas. My heartbeat stood still for a mere second as I rushed to the glass wall. Throwing my weight against the glass, time seemed frozen. It was as if the whole world had turned to slow motion; everyone yelling in panic and the knife flipping over and over, straight at Thomas.

Then, abruptly, Chuck dove in front of him. Utterly helpless, I could only watch the horror of the scenario fold out before me.

The dagger gave out a loud, disgusting thump muffled by the glass as it dug into Chuck's flesh, burying itself in his chest. The kid screamed, falling to the floor. Blood seeped from the area the knife had dug into, his body convulsing and his legs kicking about frantically.

Thomas instantly collapsed onto the ground, holding Chuck up in his arms.

"Chuck!" his voice ripped through the room. "Chuck!"

His screams surged through me, setting tears loose from my eyes. I banged on the glass, desperately trying to get to the Gladers. Robin picked up a chair and slammed it against the glass, but it simply bounced off. It was all to no avail. I slid down the wall as I sat watching the scene of terror – completely helpless.

Chuck's body convulsed a few more times before it came to a stop. His body went limp – it was over. Thomas stared at him – at his friend. A shudder coursed through me, tears continuing to flow as I watched Thomas in pain.

Thomas let go of Chuck, standing up and facing Gally. His fists were clutched and his body trembled. Then he snapped, rushing forward and throwing himself onto Gally. The two boys toppled over from the impact, falling onto the ground. Thomas grasped Gally's throat, squeezing, and sent punches upon his face with his other hand. He slammed his fist into the boy's face, crunching, bleeding and screaming to be heard. Thomas raged, screaming animalistic sounds into Gally's face. He punched over and over again until he was dragged away by Minho and Newt.

I didn't mind Thomas beating Gally. I cried for Chuck's stolen life – for Thomas' pain. Tears streamed down my face. I was completely unaware of my surroundings as I watched Thomas being pulled off of Gally. He squirmed and yelled, trying to twist out of the grasps of the two boys. He turned out of the grips of Newt and Minho, and ran towards Chuck's lifeless body. He grabbed him, pulling him into his arms again.

"No!" Thomas shouted, sadness consuming in his voice. "No!"

Teresa put a hand on his shoulder, increasing the painful jolting and throbbing in my heart. Thomas shook it away.

"I promised him!" he yelled, hurt. "I promised I'd save him, take him home! I promised him!"

Teresa nodded, her eyes pleasingly wandering off to the ground.

Thomas hugged Chuck tightly and began to sob – tears running down his face.

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