The Glader

Apprehension

 I found Tommy sitting on the bench in front of the Box, holding hands with Teresa.

Of course he was.

Because before attempting to escape a Maze through a Den of man-eating creatures, there wasn't possibly anything else he could be helping with, was there.

"This is bloody nuts, you know that, right?" I told Thomas, meaning the plan.

He stood up, his eyes blazing with hope. "So they agreed to go?"

I nodded. "All of them. Wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be. Those shanks've seen what happens at night with those bloody Doors open. We can't get out of the stupid Maze. Gotta try something." I motioned towards the areas where the Keepers were beginning to gather their work-groups, "Now we just have to convince the Gladers."

"You think they'll go for it?" Teresa asked.

"Not all of them. Some'll stay and take their chances- guarantee it." I sighed. Wether the escape plan failed or was a success, I knew I'd never see those Gladers again.

"What about Alby?" Tommy asked the very question that had been rattling around my brain, making my heart ache.

"Who knows? I'm convinced that bugger really is more scared to go back home than he is of the Grievers. But I'll get him to go with us, don't worry." I said, trying to sound as casual as I could. The truth was, I wasn't sure I knew my best friend anymore.

"How are you going to convince him?"

I forced a laugh. "I'll make up some klunk. Tell him we'll all find a new life in another part of the world, live happily ever after."

"Well, maybe we can," Tommy shrugged, his eyes growing distant. "I promised Chuck I'd get him home, you know. Or at least find him a home."

"Yeah, well, anything's better than this place," Teresa said.

At that moment, yelling broke out. I whirled around to find that arguments had broken out among some of the Gladers and their Keepers trying to convince them to run for the Griever Hole. A few Gladers stalked back to the Homestead, looking angry, but the rest seemed to listen, at least. I just hoped they would agree.

"So what's next?" Teresa asked, breaking through my thoughts.

"Figure out who's going, who's staying," I replied, "Get ready. Food, weapons, all that. Then we go." I took a breath, "Thomas, I'd put you in charge since it was your idea, but it's going to be hard enough getting people on our side without making the Greenie our leader- no offense. So just lay low, okay? We'll leave the code business to you and Teresa- you can handle that from the background."

"You sure make it sound easy," he said.

 I folded my arms, trying to sound positive, "Like you said- stay here, one shank'll die tonight. Go, one shank'll die. What's the difference?" I sighed. "If you're right."

I really hoped he was right.

"I am." Tommy replied.

I clapped him on the back, glad for his faith. "Good that. Let's get to work."

Then I left Tommy and Teresa to make doe-eyes at each other, and went to find Alby.

He was sitting on a bed in the Homestead, staring dejectedly at the floor. He didn't even look up as I entered.

"They all agreed," I said, "We're going tonight."

Alby exhaled slowly, his eyes red from crying, and said softly, "You're sendin' them to their death, Newt. You're killing them by sendin' them out of here."

That somehow felt far too close to what Jackson said. Biting back my anxiety, I asked, "Are you coming?"

I was prepared to lie, grovel, and beg to get Alby to come along, but I was in no way prepared for his answer.

"Yeah. If you all are goin', I might as well go to," he met my eyes, and asked, "What happened to us, Newt? Just two short months ago, we were all happy and hopeful. What happened?" he sighed, "Ignorance is bliss, ain't it, Newt? You didn't go through the Changing, and I'm glad for that every single freaking day. Be glad you have hope," his eyes were the ancient in that moment, like he'd lived a thousand years. "Keep that hope."

I shook my head. "Don't do that, Alby, don't you dare say that. You're actin' like you're sayin' goodbye. This ain't goodbye. Only one shank'll die tonight, and odds are it's not gonna be either of us."

He only smiled sadly, not saying anything.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, then I finally said, "Alby, whatever happens to us, wether we escape or the whole thing was a bloody hoax, I want you to know you're a great friend."

Alby gave the ghost of a smile. His lips quirked upwards so subtlety that if one hadn't known him as well as I did, they would have missed it. "You are too."