Only Human // Thomas (The Maze Runner)

Interrogation

Thomas noticed he was seated in a chair, the keepers in a semicircle around him. He glanced around the room, and he couldn't help but feel nervous. He'd feel better if Ari was there. Somehow, he didn't know how, he felt at ease around her, like they were close before they entered the Glade. Newt was there, so he didn't feel as worried as he might have been.

Gally looked out across the crowd and said, "He took it upon himself to go into the Maze, which is a clear violation of our rules here. He pulled in an innocent med-jack. A girl. She could have gotten killed! This shank here turned this place upside down!"

Frypan frowned. "Yeah, but he saved Alby's life."

Gally narrowed his eyes. "Did he? For three years, we co-existed with these things, and now, Thomas killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us."

Newt looked at Gally. "Well, what would you suggest we do?" His gaze turned to Thomas.

He then turned to the Asian boy. "Minho, you were there with him. What do you think?"

Minho was silent for a moment. "I think, in all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a Griever before. And when I turned tail and ran, this dumb shank stayed behind to help Alby and to protect Ariella." He paused. "Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid, but whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a runner."

"A runner? What?!" Gally cried. "Minho, let's not jump the gun, here. If you want to throw a newbie a parade, that's fine. Go ahead. But if there is one thing I know about the maze...it is that you do not..."

The sound of screeching caught their attention. Gally frowned. "Okay, wait. I know that sound."

Newt's eyes widened. "The Box. It's coming back up."

"It shouldn't be."

They rushed over to the Box to see Ariella already there. Immediately, Newt jumped down into the elevator. "Newt," one of the guys called, "what do you see? Do you see it?"

Newt looked up at the group. "It's a girl."

They looked down to see a brunette girl lying there. She was pretty.

"No way."

"I think she's dead."

Ariella frowned. "She's holding something."

Newt grabbed the note from the girl's hand. "'She's the last one...ever.'"

"What the hell does that mean?" One guy asked.

The girl gasped and her eyes shot open. "Thomas...Ariella..."

Gally narrowed his eyes. "Do you still think I'm overreacting?"

Ariella, with some help, got the girl to the medical tent and a couple boys laid her down.

Thomas studied her. "Jeff, what's going on? What's the matter with her? Why won't she wake up?"

Jeff shot Thomas an annoyed look. "Hey man, I got my job the same way you did." He looked down at the girl.

"Do either of you recognize her?" Newt asked.

Thomas and Ariella shared a look and shook their heads. "No."

Newt raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because she seemed to recognize both of you."

"What of her note?" Ariella wondered.

Newt shook his head. "We'll worry about the note later."

Gally walked in and said, "I think you should worry about it now."

"We've got enough to deal with at the moment."

"He's right, Newt." Jeff said.

Gally nodded. "If the Box isn't coming back up, how long do you think we can last?"

Newt frowned. "No one said that."

Thomas thought for a moment. "Let's not jump to any conclusions. Somebody has gotta have some answers around here."

"Okay."

Thomas started walking off and Newt and Ariella ran after him. "Where are you going?"

"Back into the maze." Thomas answered.

Newt walked off and Thomas turned to Ariella. "Don't follow me, okay? I want you to be safe."

Ariella scoffed lightly. "After what happened last time, I have no intentions of re-entering the maze ever again."