The Fighter 》 The Maze Runner

Twenty-Four

"Greenie, you're gonna love Chuck.  He's not like the other Gladers around here.  I could see you two getting along just fine.  But if you so much harm one hair on his little curly hair, I will feed you to the Grievers."  I said as Thomas and I walked around to find Chuck.

"Noted."

I didn't need to turn around to see Thomas staring at me, "Ok, spit it out."

"Wha -what are you talking about?"

I turned around to see Thomas looking like a deer caught in the headlights, "I know you have some questions in that little shuck head of yours.  Unlike Alby, I'll answer some.  So..."

"Why can't I remember anything?"  He asked.

"That happens to all of us.  Do you remember your name?"

He shook his head, "No."

"Don't worry about that.  It will come back in a day or two, Greenbean."

Thomas walked ahead of me towards a tree.  I furrowed my eyebrows as I followed him.  He leaned in closer to the bug.  I quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "I wouldn't get closer to those if I were you.  Those are beetle blades, nasty little shucks."

"What's wrong with them?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Nothing...unless you want your hand chopped off by them."

Thomas looked at me wide-eyed and took a few steps back, "Where's the rest of the girls?"

"Don't know.  I'm the only one here.  Oh, I'm Danielle by the way."

Thomas opened his mouth to ask another question, but was cut off by the sound of Ben's screaming.  His screams sound worst than the last.

Thomas pointed towards the Homestead, "What's going on over there?"

I shook my head, "You don't want to know.  Ben got stung.  They got him."

"They?  Who's they?"

"The Creators.  The people who put us in here."  Plus us, I added in my head.  There are so many times today that I wanted to thank Thomas for what he did.  But, I can't with his memories wiped.

A smile grew on my face when I found Chuck coming over.  I went over and gave him a small hug.  "Hey, Greenbean."  Chuck said.

"Why do you people keep calling me that?"  Thomas asked.

"Cause, you're the Newbie."  Chuck chuckled as he gestured to him and Thomas.  Ben screamed again.  It sounded like he's being tortured.  Who am I kidding?  He is being tortured.

"How can you be laughing?  It sounds like someone's dying in there."

"Ben's going to be fine."  I reassured him.  "We made it back in time for him to get the Serum.  He's just going to be in a lot of pain for the next few days."

"Why's he going to be in pain?"

I know I shouldn't be saying anything to him, but..."Getting stung by a Griever shucking hurts.  It feels like needles are piercing your skin, you blackout.  Then, you get these memories, some better, some worst.  You don't know when you'll wake up.  But, when you do, you're not yourself.  You go through the Changing."

"How do you know?"

I gave him a blank look, "Because, I've been through it."

》》》》

After getting a hammock for Thomas, Chuck and I began setting it up.  I looked around the Glade and my eyes stopped at Gally.  He kept glaring at Thomas.  He noticed my gaze.  He shook his head at Thomas before going back to work.  What's his problem?

I looked back to see Thomas looking at the opening towards the Maze.  I decided to break the silence, "That was a nice dash you made earlier.  Actually thought you'd make a decent Runner - until you face-planted that is."

He gave me a confused look, "Runner?"

I nodded, "Something I'll explain later."

Thomas sighed before looking back at the entrance.  Chuck was struggling with one of the knots and I chuckled before finishing it for him.

Chuck tried to brighten the mood, "It's basically the same story for all of us.  We wake up in the Box, we get the Tour, then here we are.  Don't worry, you're doing a lot better than I did.  I klunked my pants three times before Elle got me out."

I chuckled at that memory, "Yeah, I was so scared you'd klunk on me when we got out."

We both laughed.  We turned around to see Thomas walking towards the Maze entrance.  What's that shank up to?  We both gave each other worried glances before following him.

"Dude, where are you going?"  Chuck panted as we caught up.

"I just want to see it."  Thomas said.

I stepped in front of him, "You can't go in there."

"Why not?  What's in there?"

"Nothing good.  Trust me.  You don't want to see what's in there and if you're smart, you'll listen."

Thomas sighed, "Do you know what's in there?"

"Yes, I do.  That's because I'm - was a Runner.  You guys can't leave, it's dangerous.  The Runners know more about the Maze than anyone."

"What?"

Chuck gave him a confused look as he stomped on my foot.  He gave me a look that says you're not suppose to tell him.  "What?"

"She just said Maze."

Chuck tried to play stupid, "She did."

"Yeah."  Thomas looked back towards the entrance before stepping forward.  I blocked his path of the entrance.  "I just want to look."

I sighed before letting him by.  He gave me a thankful nod before taking a few steps.  He stopped in the middle of the entrance.  He could see parts of the walls that were covered by the vines.  It took every fiber of my being to not run inside like I use to.

"Hey!"  Someone yelled.  I turned my head to see Gally pushing Thomas on the ground.  "We've got to stop meeting like this, Greenie."

Thomas scrambled to his feet, "Get off!  Get off!"

Gally help his hands up, "Calm.  Calm.  Calm."

"Get off!"

I moved between Thomas and Gally.  I grabbed Thomas by the shoulders and pushed him a few feet back, "Hey, hey, hey.  Calm down."

"What's going on?!"  Alby yelled as he and a few other Gladers came to view.

"Shuckface was gonna enter the Maze."  Gally turned his glare at me.  "Why didn't you stop him?!"

"She didn't do anything wrong!"  Thomas defended me.  But Gally ignored him.

"Don't glare at me, Slinthead.  He wasn't going to leave!  Do you really think I would let Greenbean wonder off like that?!"

I felt someone holding me back.  "Calm down, Danny."  Newt whispered in my ear.

"Slim it!"  Alby commanded.

"Why won't anyone tell me what's in there?!"  Thomas yelled.

We all shut up when we heard a loud bang.  Thomas turns around to see the walls slowly closing.  The vine walls started to disappear before there was another loud bang.

"Next time...I'm gonna let you leave."  Gally said before walking away.