Escape The Maze (A Maze Runner Story)

7. Banishment

The light had started to fade in the Glade as everyone was gathered around the east doors. It still bothered me that Chuck had smile. My stomach had already settled the foreboding and I wasn't too eager to see what was going to happen. They were going to put him in the Maze, but I couldn't understand what was so bad. Maybe...it has something to do with a Griever?

The other Gladers carried conversations all in a hushed tone. I could feel all the intense feeling of anticipation hanging over the Glade like a patch of fog. But I simply stood there with Thomas next to me. We both said nothing. We both waited. Finally the time came.

"Bring him out!" Alby shouted.

I turned my head, looking around the Glade for any sign of this Ben guy. From around the far side of the Homestead, three boys who were way more muscular than all the rest of us appeared, and was literally dragging a boy along the ground. His clothes were tattered and a thick, bloody bandage covered half his head and face. He did look dead except for one thing.

His eyes were open, and they were wide with terror.

"Newt bring out the Pole." Alby demanded. Newt nodded and moved toward a small tool shed that I supposed were for the Track-hoes.

I hesitantly turned my focus back to Ben and the guards. I couldn't believe this pale, miserable boy, who still made no effort to resist, would try to kill Thomas last night. He looked too weak to even hold himself up none the less try to kill someone.

When they reached the crowd, the boys pulled Ben to his feet in front of Alby. Ben hung his head, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Doubt still plagued my mind about this poor boy. What reason would he have to kill Thomas anyways?

"You brought this on yourself, Ben," Alby said and looked toward the shack to which Newt had gone.

I followed his gaze to see Newt was holding several aluminum poles, connecting the ends to make a shaft maybe twenty feet long with what looked like a collar at the very end.

Alby unbuttoned the collar, then wrapped it around Ben's neck. Tears started to well into his eyes

"Please, Alby," Ben pleaded, "I swear I was just sick from the Changing. You know I'd never kill. Please, Alby, please."

Every word from the boy was making my heart clench. I felt terrible for him. He was truly apologizing and yet no one was even going to help him. By the looks of everyone, there was no way helping him out of this.

Ben began shaking. He slowly looked toward the crowd, his eyes begging for help. Begging not to be sent out into the maze. My heart stopped when we met eyes. At that moment I was the one in terror. He wore a twisted grin. A murderous one.

" You..." Everyone faced me as me and Ben continue to stare at each other, " I saw you too!"

" Me?"

" Yes you." His voice was scratchy yet also had a noticeable pitch in it. " You didn't even try. You could've stopped this. You're the reason we're stuck here too!"

Ben began fighting against the pole.

" Keepers take your place!" Alby demanded as he began having trouble holding the pole.

Several people who I assumed were the Keepers grabbed the pole. He continued to struggle like a wild animal. He all of a sudden had inhuman strength. Minutes ago he was being dragged and looked pitiful and now he looked stronger and terrifying. My heart was pumping fast. Everyone had backed away but me.

" You deserve to be dead!" His voice screamed.
My body began to shake until someone slipped my hand in theirs and stood in front of me. I looked up to see Thomas.

" I see how it is. You're gonna still protect her like you always did when she was young. But look what happened. You failed to and now she's in this mess just like you."

My head was spinning. What on earth is he talking about?!

Once they finally was able to stabilize him, Alby spoke in a loud voice, "Ben of the Builders, you've been sentenced to Banishment for the attempted murder of Thomas the Newbie and just now trying threatening to kill the second Newbie. The Keepers have spoken, and their word ain't changing. And you ain't coming back. Ever."

"Please," Ben said, his voice rising in desperation. "Pllllleeeeeeeeease! You can't do this to me!"

"Shut up!" Alby roared from behind.

His cries was cut off by the sound of the East Door beginning to close. Sparks flew from the stone as the massive right wall slid to the left, groaning thunderously as it made its journey to close off the Glade from the Maze for the night. The ground shook beneath us.

"Keepers, now!" Alby shouted.

A strangling cry erupted from Ben's throat as they started pushing him forward to the closing doors. He fell to his knees, only to be jerked back to his feet by the Keeper in front, a thick guy with black hair and a snarl on his face.

"Noooooooooo!" Ben screamed, spit flying from his mouth as he thrashed about, tearing at the collar with his hands. The Keepers kept forcing the condemned boy closer and closer to the edge of the Glade, just as the right wall was almost there.

"Noooo!" he screamed again, and then again.

The pole sent him into the Maze with a lurch. Soon he was fully four feet outside the Glade, jerking his body from side to side as he tried to escape the collar. The walls of the Door were only seconds from sealing shut.

Ben was finally able to twist his neck in the circle of leather so that his whole body turned to face me and Thomas. I knew he was. The madness in his eyes, the anger evident in them. Spit dripping down his face, veins popping out.

"Hold!" Alby shouted.

Ben screamed a sound so piercing it sounded as if his vocal cords were ripping to shreds. At the last second, the front Keeper somehow loosened the larger pole from the piece attached to Ben and yanked it back into the Glade, leaving the boy to his Banishment. Ben's final screams were cut off when the walls closed with a terrible boom. Tears threatened to escape my eyes.

I hadn't realized Thomas was holding my hand. He had his eyes closed, few tears streaming down his face as he held my hand even tighter. I didn't mind the slight pain. I understood what he was feeling. Finally he opened his eyes and looked down at me.

We stared at each other for who knows how long. Both of us silent. We had no reason to speak. Honestly I understood what he was feeling and he understood what I was feeling. No need to ask what was wrong. No need to ask if we were okay. In the end it felt like we understood each other. Like we've known each other for years and years. It wasn't a strange feeling at all. It was quite a comforting one.

But only if I had known at the time....that we really had known each other.