Edge of Insanity

Chapter Eighteen

Gally laughed a cruel, mirthless laugh as he took in the shock on the other Keeper's faces.  I gazed helplessly at Minho. 

"Is that true, Alby?" Frypan looked at our leader.  "They been doin' that?"

"Of course it's true."  Gally answered before Alby could.  "I heard Minho say so himself."

"Gally, shut your shank mouth."  Alby said sharply.

But he didn't listen.  "What?  Afraid I'll spill more secrets you're keeping from everyone?"

I'd had enough.  "Seriously?"  I demanded standing up and wincing in the process.  "I just went through the shucking Changing and I'm pretty sure I know how to get us out of here and this is what you choose to bring up?"

Gally sneered at me and took a step closer.  "Nobody cares about what you say anymore.  For all we know you haven't even been trying to get us out of the Maze.  You and Minho could just be in there-" 

Minho moved but I was faster.  I lunged, rearing back and punching Gally solidly in the nose with my fist.  A satisfying crunch sounded as the taller boy stumbled backwards and fell to the dusty floor.  He let out an shriek of rage and pain, cupping his nose.  Blood poured through his fingers.  The rest of the Keepers didn't move an inch, shock painting their features.

"I shucking risk my life to run that Maze every single day while you do nothing but stay here in the precious safety of the Glade."  I snarled at his fallen figure.  "I didn't survive a night in the Maze to be mocked and have my loyalty questioned by a spineless dick who has done nothing to help us escape!" 

"Stupid bitch.  You don't know what you're talking about."  Gally spit blood all over the floor.

"I've done more here than you ever could in 3 years," I spat at him.  "So what if I'm with Minho.  Nobody shucking cares because none of this matters anymore.  We've got bigger things to worry about than your wounded pride."

Gally climbed to his feet, starting towards me.  "You little-"

Minho grabbed him by the front of his shirt.  "I suggest you choose  your next words very, very carefully."

Blood dripped from Gally's nose.  "Isn't that cute?  You coming to her rescue."  

Minho gave him a rough shove and he hit the floor with a dull thud.  Minho planted a foot on his chest to prevent the boy from getting up again.  "You're useless and pathetic," he growled.  "And if you ever come after her again, I'll snap your neck.  That is- if she doesn't do it herself first."

Gally flailed limply for a couple seconds and then stopped. 

"Alright, Minho, that's enough."  Alby said and Minho removed his foot.  Then his eyes flitted to me, along with 7 other pairs of eyes as well.

And as the Keeper of the Runners stepped over Gally as if he were no more than the dust on the ground and came to stand beside me, I knew we were sending a very distinct message. 

But honestly?  Shuck it. 

"Listen," I started, "I'm sorry we kept this from you all but I promise we can explain later.  Right now we have to get out  of here before its too late."

"What do you mean too late?"  Newt fixed his eyes on me.

"The Creators- the ones who put us here- they want these Trails to be finished."  My bad leg trembled, threatening to give out either from pain or exhaustion or both.  I felt Minho subtly shift beside me, supporting my weight.  "The Maze can't be solved.  All this time we were running around looking for a solution-  a way out.  But the answer was in front of us all along."  My breath was shorter now.  I was so, so tired and the confrontation with Gally hadn't helped.  The Keeper of the Builders was still on the floor but now sitting up, nursing his broken nose and ego.  "The keypad Ben and I found- it's the way out.  But," I paused, sucking in some air.  "It moves every night when the walls change.  That's why I think we could never find it until now because it wasn't something we were really looking for."

"But even when we were looking for it, Minho and Thomas didn't find it until three days later."  Zart pointed out.

I nodded.  "Because we didn't know the pattern or rather how to look for the pattern."

"Pattern?"  Frypan's forehead crinkled. 

"Yeah.  We've been mapping out the movement of the Maze for 3 years now.  But our mistake was comparing the movements each in their own section.  We need to be comparing them to the whole Maze."

Minho suddenly seemed to understand.  "And if we start putting everything together it will show us where the keypad is going to show up next."

"Exactly."

"Okay, wait-" Clint stepped forward.  "How do we know what section it's in?  Is there like a marking or a word it spells out or something?"

Minho shook his head.  "No.  Every time the Maze shifts, an empty space gets left in one of the sections.  It follows the pattern and no one really thought anything of it.  We just... assumed it led to a dead end.  Not worth further investigating."

"So you think this empty wall in the pattern is where the keypad is?"  Alby faced me.

"Yeah."

"Alright well, that's good enough for me.  Minho, round up the Runners and take them to the Map Room.  Let's start this process right away."

I started to move forward, but Clint stopped me.  "Ah-ah-ah.  Where do you think you're going?"

"To help."  I raised an eyebrow.

"No way."  Minho said from behind me.  "You need sleep."

"And food," Clint added.  "You just went through the Changing, remember?"

All I wanted to do was solve this damn puzzle and get us the hell out of here.  But it was like every single fiber of my body was so utterly exhausted, I knew I wouldn't be able to think straight much less concentrate on the Maps.

"Fine," was my one word answer.  "But not back to the Infirmary."  I added as an afterthought.  That place gave me the creeps now, especially since someone had snuck in and purposely stabbed me with that needle.

"I'll take her," Minho was saying to Clint.  "Find Kyle and tell him to get the Runners to the Map Room and start unpacking all the Maps.  I'll be there to explain soon."  Clint nodded in response before jogging off.

"That was quite the punch," Minho said to me, an arm around my shoulders.  He helped me out of the Homestead and down into the grass of the Glade.

I snorted.  "It was a long time coming."

"That I can agree with.  And I don't really think anyone had an issue with it."

We moved into the woods where my little shack stood.  I made him leave me at the door, assuring him I was capable of getting to bed on my own.  He reluctantly left for the Map Room then and I was alone in the quiet.

I pushed through the door, kicked off my shoes and fell face first onto my bed, asleep before my head hit the pillow.