LIMERENCE ﹐ the maze runner.

15

"I wish that there was a breeze,"Thomas stated as he and Clara sat against the thick trunk of a tree in the Deadheads.

But Thomas' wish wasn't granted.

Clara and Thomas didn't talk about much, there wasn't really much to talk about, seen as though Thomas hadn't been in the Glade that long. The silence wasn't awkward, and Clara had actually seemed to enjoy the quiet.

While Thomas' eyes began to feel droopy, Clara had actually fallen asleep, resting her head on Thomas' shoulder.

And then Chuck just had to ruin it.

"Thomas! Clara!"Chuck shrieked as he ran towards them, pumping his arms, obviously excited.

Clara groggily opened her eyes and sat up. Thomas rubbed his eyes and groaned. "What?"

"Ben... Ben... he isn't... dead,"Chuck said, our of breath.

"Wait, what?"Clara asked. "Chuck, what do you mean?"

"He... isn't dead. Baggers went to get him... arrow missed his brain... Med-Jacks patched him up."

"You gotta be kidding. I saw him..."Thomas said.

"Well, so did I,"Chuck replied. "He's locked up in the Slammer, a huge bandage covering half his head."

"The Slammer. It's our jail on the north side of the Homestead,"Chuck said and pointed in that general direction. "They threw him in so fast, the Med-Jacks had to patch him up there."

"Holy shit,"Clara breathed, shock laced in her tone.

"So what're they gonna do with him?"Thomas asked.

"Already had a Gathering of Keepers this morning - made a unanimous decision by the sounds of it. Looks like Ben'll be wishing that arrow had found a home inside his brain after all."

"What are you talking about?"

"He's being banished. Tonight, for trying to kill you,"Chuck answered.

"Banished? What does that mean?"Thomas asked.

Chuck smiled sinisterly.

❀✿❀

That night, Newt and Alby gathered every last Glader at the East Door about a half hour before it closed.

The Runners had just returned and enrered the Map Room.

The other Gladers murmured and whispered to one another.

Thomas stood with Clara and Archie, none of them saying a word.

"Bring him out!"Alby shouted. Three buff boys dragged Ben along, a bloody bandage wrapped around half of his head. But his eyes were wide open.

"Newt,"Alby said quietly. "Bring out the Pole."

"You brought this on yourself, Ben,"Alby said, then shook his head and looked towards the shack where Newt had gone.

Newt was holding several aluminum poles, connecting the ends to make a shaft about twenty feet long.

Newt stepped up to Alby and handed him the end of the pole. A loop of rough leather was fastened to it, the loop able to open and close.

A collar.

❀✿❀

Thomas saw Clara's bottom lip tremble slightly as Alby wrapped the collar around Ben's neck.