The Glader

To Flee or Not to Flee

 I stood up and grabbed Thomas's arm.

"You're leaving," I said, "Now."

Tommy's brown eyes went wide. "Leaving? Why?"

"I've think you've said enough for one meeting," I replied, "We need to talk and decide what to do- without you here." I marched him over to the door and gave him a gentle push outside, "Wait for me by the Box. When we're done, you and I'll talk."

I started to go back inside, but Tommy grabbed me by the shoulder. "You gotta believe me, Newt. It's the only way out of here- we can do it, I swear. We're meant to."

Yes, but he wasn't meant to get himself killed.

I couldn't lose anyone else.

Alby, Minho, and Tommy were the only family I could remember. I was not going to let any of them die if I could help it.

I grabbed him by both shoulders, stuck my face in his so he'd get the message, and hissed, "Yeah, I especially loved the part where you volunteered to get yourself killed."

"I'm perfectly willing to do it," Thomas said, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, really? Mr. Noble himself, aren't ya?"

"I have plenty of my own reasons," he replied, an expression of guilt passing over his face, In some ways it's my fault we're here in the first place. Anyway, I'm going no matter what, so you better not waste it."

Oh, Tommy... Of course he blamed himself. Who wouldn't after finding out that you helped trap your friends in a Maze. "If you really did help design the Maze, Tommy, it's not your fault. You're a kid- you can't help what they forced you to do."

I could tell from the desolate look on his face that he didn't believe me. He finally said, "I just... feel like I need to save everyone. To redeem myself."

It was the same feeling I felt every day.

I stepped back, and said, "You know what's funny, Tommy?"

"What?"

"I actually believe you. You just don't have an ounce of lying in those eyes of yours. And I can't bloody believe I'm about to say this." I paused, unsure of wether my idea was the right one, then said, "But I'm going back in there to convince those shanks we should go through the Griever Hole, just like you said. Might as well fight the Grievers rather than sit around letting them pick us off one by one," I held up a hand before Tommy could get too excited or start volunteering to die again, "But listen to me- I don't want another buggin' word about you dying and all that heroic klunk. If we're gonna do this, we'll take our chances- all of us, You hear me?"

"Loud and clear," Thomas replied, holding up his hands ad looking abashed, "I was just trying to make the point that it's worth the risk. If someone's going to die every night anyway, we might as well use it to our advantage."

"Well, ain't that cheery?" I frowned at him. Someone was ruthless today.

Thomas turned and started to walk away when an idea struck me. "Tommy?" I said.

"Yeah?"

"If I can convince those shanks- and that's a big if- the best time to go would be at night. We can hope that a lot of the Grievers might be out and about in the Maze- not in that Hole of theirs."

"Good that," Thomas nodded.

I tried to smile at him, but it didn't work very well. It was more of a wince. "We should do it tonight before anyone else is killed." I said. Then I turned and went back inside before I changed my mind.