Sacrifice

Chapter Sixteen

The day was ending, the Gladers had gathered around the Doors. Todd and two other Gladers took Thomas and Teresa to the Doors. Thomas was still unconscious and had to be dragged over.

"Such a waste," Gally said as Thomas was placed on the ground.

"Gally...this doesn't feel right, man," Winston said.

"What if Thomas is right," Jeff chimed in. "Maybe he can lead us home."

"We are home," Gally insisted. "I don't want to have to cross anymore names off that wall."

"You really think banishing us is going to solve anything?" Teresa questioned.

"This isn't a banishing, it's an offering."

"What?"

Todd pulled Teresa over to one of the poles that had been set up. He lifted her arms over her head and tied them to the pole.

"Gally, what are you doing?" Teresa protested.

"You really think I'm gonna let Thomas back into the Maze after what he's done," Gally said. "Look around you, look at our Glade. This is the only way. Once the Grievers have what they came for, everything goes back to the way it was."

Newt looked at Minho who nodded. They were ready, any moment now Thomas would give the signal. Frypan stood near the pole where Teresa was tied. Chuck and Jack stood near the back of the group, supplies and weapons ready. Claire was also nearby. She had her backpack ready, spear in one hand and her dagger strapped to her belt.

"Are you listening to this?" Teresa said to the Gladers. "Why are you all just standing there? He's crazy."

"Hey, you shut up," Gally said.

"If you stay here the Grievers are gonna come back," Teresa said. "They're gonna come back, and they're gonna keep coming back until you're all dead."

"Shut up!" Gally snapped. "Tie him up."

The two boys standing near Thomas hesitated.

"Did you hear me? I said tie him up!"

The two boys started to pick Thomas up. Catching them off guard, Thomas elbowed one of the boys in the stomach and grabbed his spear. He used to weapon to knock the other boy onto the ground.

That was the signal. Newt unsheathed his machete and hit the other boy in the head, knocking him out. Teresa kicked Todd in the nuts. Gally stepped forward to interfere, but was stopped by Minho holding a small sword to his throat. Frypan cut Teresa loose and handed her a knife. Chuck, Claire and Jack ran over to join the group. Minho held Gally in place until his friends had all gathered in front of the Doors, then he went to join them.

"You're full of surprises aren't you?" Gally said to Thomas.

"You don't have to come with us but we are leaving," Thomas said to the group. "Anyone who wants to come with us, now's your last chance."

"Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you," Gally said.

"No I'm not trying to scare you, you're already scared," Thomas said, his voice filled with determination. "Alright I'm scared. But I'd rather risk my life out there than spend the rest of it in here. We don't belong here, this place isn't our home. We were put here, we were trapped here. At least out there we have a choice. We can make it out of here, I know that."

For what felt like a long time, the only sound in the Glade that could be heard was the wind. None of the boys moved, feeling paralyzed by the monstrous choice laid out in front of them.