SILENCE

Free

 "This is such a waste." Gally stated as me and Teres were tied to poles and Thomas was being held since he was motionless.

"Gally... It doesn't feel right, man." Winston told the taller boy.

"Yeah, what if Thomas is right? Maybe he can lead us home." Jeff said, trying to reason with him.

"We are home. Okay? I don't wanna have to cross any more names off that wall." Gally pointed at the names, mine was most likely already crossed off.

"You really think banishing us is gonna solve anything?" Teresa called out.

"No. But this isn't a banishing. It's an offering." Gally revealed and me and Teresa exchanged looks. 'This isn't good.' I thought to her and she nodded.

"What? Wait! Gally, what are you doing?" Several people shouted.

"You really think I'm gonna let Thomas back into the maze after what he and Mia have done? Look around you! Look at our Glade! This is the only way. And when the Grievers get what they came here for... everything goes back to the way it was." Gally shouted and most of the boys looked at him with apprehension. 'He's gone mad.' I thought to her.

"Are you listening to this? Why are you all just standing there? He's crazy!" Teresa shouted at the other boys.

"You shut up." He yelled at her.

"If you stay here, the Grievers are going to come back. They're gonna come back, and they're gonna keep coming back... until you're all dead!" She warned them and some of the boys looked scared.

"Shut up! Tie him up! Do you hear me? I said tie him up!" Gally shouted at the boys holding Thomas and when they went to lift him up he sprang up according to the plan. He hit them and I kicked at the boy by me with my legs making him fall down. Newt and Minho sprang into action untying us and giving us weapons. We held them out to Gally and his minions. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

"You don't have to come with us, but we are leaving. Anyone else who wants to come, now is your last chance." Thomas shouted to the other boys who just stood there.

"Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you." Gally said aggressively.

"No, I'm not trying to scare you. You're already scared. I'm scared. But I'd rather risk my life out there than spending the rest of it here. We don't belong here. This place isn't our home. We were put here. We were trapped here. At least, out there we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that." Thomas made a small speech and slowly boy started coming to our side, muttering apologies to Gally. "Gally, it's over. Just come with us."

"Good luck against the Grievers." He scowled and walked away with the rest of the builders. We turned and ran into the maze with me and Thomas in front and Teresa and Minho at the back.

"Everybody, this way! Keep it up guys, we're almost there!" Thomas shouted as we ran towards the cliff. 'We need to stop before rounding the corner.' I told him and he nodded. 'Be ready to stop.' I thought to Teresa. 'Ok.' she responded. We halted to a stop and I peeked around the corner and spotted one of the Grievers, Henry.

"Is it a Griever?" Chuck asked and I nodded at him. "Shit." He muttered.

"You take this, Chuck. Stay behind us, go with Teresa." Thomas told him and Chuck went to the back with her while Minho came to the front with us and Newt. "Once we're through, it will activate and the door will open. We stay close, we stick together... we get through this. We get out now... or we die trying. Ready?" Thomas asked and we all nodded. 'Stay close to me.' Thomas thought to me and I nodded. "All right. Let's go!" He shouted and we all ran around the corner, the boys screaming. We stabbed Grievers with the spears and knives as they attacked us. Chuck almost fell over the edge but me and Teresa pulled him back up. 'I'm gonna take Teresa and Chuck into the hole.' I thought to Thomas. 'Alright, be careful.' 'I will.' I then thought to Teresa. 'Follow me'. She nodded and I led them to the edge of the cliff. I pointed to the hole and jumped into it. They followed my lead as we landed in the dark room. They looked around and I spotted Timmy in the corner. He saw us and whirred at us angrily. I placed my hand out for him and walked over. He calmed down and nodded. I climbed on his back and looked at Teresa. 'Find the exit, i'll go help the others.' she nodded at me and we took off. Me and Timmy landed on the cliff and he roared. The Gladers all looked at the two of us in shock while the Grievers glared at us. I pointed forward and Timmy charged at the bigger Grievers, stabbing and swinging with his claw. Thomas and the other fought the other Grievers while me and Timmy fought one of our own. We managed to take it down when another hit us from behind making us fall over the edge. Timmy grabbed me with his claw and tossed me back up into the Cliff. I grabbed the edge and tried to hoist myself up. 'Thomas help!' I shouted for him in our heads and the next second I felt hands helping me up. I looked up and locked eyes with Thomas as he hoisted me up. Once I was safely on the ground I gave him a hug as thanks. His cheeks went slightly pink at the contact. 'Thomas! Mia! There's a code! Eight numbers!' Teresa thought to us. 'Eight sections of the maze. Mia, you said you know all the routes, what's the sequence?' Thomas asked me and I thought hard. 'Seven. One. Five. Two. Six. Four.' A Griever charged at us but Thomas kept it away from me while I thought. 'Six. Four. Eight. Three.' I finished and a moment later all the Griever's fell limp. We all breathed heavily, catching our breaths. I stood in front of the boys and motioned for them to follow me. They all nodded. I got a running start and leapt into the hole, landing in the usual puddle. I moved aside and watched as boys slowly trickled into the room, Thomas last. We all looked at Teresa and Chuck who had opened a door that I had never seen before. We all started walking and Thomas and I instinctively held hands. We arrived at a door with an exit sign above it.