Survive: A Maze Runner Fanfic

Chapter 18

I stare blankly into the Glade. Minho, Alby, and Thomas are staring back at me. Over towards the side, I see Newt. I sigh in relief. I run towards him and wrap him in a warm hug. He hugs back.
"I missed you." I sob into his shoulder.
"I know, but I knew you could do it." He replies.
Alby walks over and grabs the back of my shirt, yanking me to the ground. I gasp.
"You're supposed to be dead, shank." He growls in my face.
"Why should I be? I have every right to be here as you do."
He punches me in the nose. Blood gushes down my face and into my mouth. I lean over and spit into the grass.
"You don't belong here." Alby finally answers.
"She has every right to be here. She came here the same way you did. You didn't act this way when Teresa arrived." Thomas says, walking towards Alby. Minho yanks him back. He catches his balance before he hits the ground.
"No she doesn't! She's different." Alby screams.
I gasp. I don't know what he means.
"She's violated our rules and ruined our system."
"But I haven't done anything! All you've done was beat me, starve me, and lock me up! Last night was the first time I've been out of the Pit!"
Minho glares at me. I inch backward. Alby stalks forward, towards me.
Newt dashes in front of me, spreading his arms wide.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Newt yells.
"You can't stop me! I'm the leader! I control all of you!"
"You can't go around hurting everyone! What has she ever done to you, huh? What has she bloody done to you?" Newt yells in Alby's face.
Alby takes offense and punches Newt in the face as well. Newt grabs for Alby's throat, knocking him to the ground. I crawl backward in my butt. Thomas comes over and helps me to my feet.
"Newt! Stop!" I scream. No one listens.
"Guys! Stop fighting!" Thomas joins.
Minho stalks over to us and glares.
"What do you know?" Minho growls. He shoves Thomas. He does the same.
"Guys! Stop it!" I scream at the four boys. I run over and try to yank Alby off of Newt. He's heavy so I kick him in the side instead. He yelps and falls onto his side. I help Newt up. He's bruised and bloody. I turn and pull Thomas off of Minho.
"What is your problem with me?" I yell at all of them. A group of boys has formed around us.
None of then answer. "So? Anyone care to confess?" I ask. Silence.
"What's going on over here?" A boy asks.
I turn and see Gally standing behind me. I look up at him. If anyone here scares me the most, it's Gally.
"Well shank? What have you done this time?" He stares down at me. His black eyes pour into me, into my soul, looking for answers. I gulp. He looks away from me and back towards the group of bloody boys in front of him.
Newt steps forwards.
"Alby was beating up Macie, again."
"She doesn't belong here!" Alby yells.
"Why not?" Newt asks, crossing his arms.
"Because she's dangerous." Alby says quietly.
Newt looks over at Thomas, surprised looks on their faces.
"What do you mean?" Thomas asks, stepping forward.
"She's different from us." Alby grumbles.
"What do you mean?" I ask quietly. All the boys look in my direction.
"None of your business. Get her back to the Pit!" Alby yells, turning and walking away. "Wait, tie her to the pole!" Gasps echo from the other boys. Thomas' mouth falls open.
"But we've never used the pole before!" Newt says.
"My decision is final. Get back to work." Alby says breaking the circle. For a second no one moves. I stare at the boys surrounding me.
Newt and Thomas grab me. "We'll take her to the pole." Thomas says. The other boys gradually disperse.
"What's the pole?" I ask them.
"It's a offering." Thomas says quietly.
"A offering to what?" I respond.
"The Greivers." Newt says.
I think for a second before putting the pieces together.
"You're going to put me out there again? Please don't let them do that to me! I can't go out there again!" Tears stream down my face.
Newt grabs my shoulders and faces me.
"I won't let anything happen to you. I've almost lost you once and I'm not going to let it happen again."
"Newt, you don't have to. I can take ca-" Newt kisses me passionately on the lips. He slowly pulls away from me. Tears fill his eyes.
"I love you, Macie. You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."
"Newt, I love you too. You keep me safe, you've been one of my only friends since I got here, besides Thomas." I smile through my tears. He hug him. His warm arms wrap around me. "I don't know what I would do without you guys."
Thomas stands awkwardly to the side of me.
"Come on, let's go to the pole before Alby kicks the klunk out of us." Thomas says.
We walk towards the west door. There's a single pole in the middle of the corridor leading to the Glade. We walk into the darkness towards the pole. Rope hangs from the top and the bottom. Gally is waiting there.
"Looks like you guys finally got here." Gally nags. He yanks me away from Newt. I yelp slightly as his fingers dig into my upper arm. He shoves me against the pole. I gasp in response.
He yanks my arms above my head and ties the tightly to the pole. He kicks my legs and ties them too.
"Have fun, shank." Gally laughs evilly.