You brush your finger tips along the maze wall as you walk, thinking that you're possibly dreaming. You arrived at the glade 6 days ago; if it were a dream you would have woken up by now.
It's around mid day, and so far you've successfully avoided the 50-something boys here. They don't scare you, but you don't want to become one of them, without hope. One thing puzzles you though, its been sitting in the back of your mind since you came out of the cage..."Why am I the only girl here....." You're not the first girl here, but sadly the only one. When you first got here Ably and Thomas had told you about Teresa. The story of her death now stayed with you like a heavy weight, filled with sadness. Your thoughts are interrupted when you here shouting coming from the maze entrance. The runners are back.
Gally and Newt are the first to the doors, and appear to be listening to what the runners are frantically saying. Other Gladers soon begin to gather around them. You discontinue your walk and make your way towards the noise. As you get closer you notice that the runners are half dragging half carrying one of their own from the maze...Thomas. he was the last one here before you, (besides Teresa) you had heard of his "stupidity/bravery" and assumed this was an example of the aftermath.The other runners begin explaining what's going on in the maze. You hear them say something about Thomas having a flashback of some sort and passing out. You only hear bits and pieces though. Once you see that Thomas is breathing and conscious again(classified as okay) you begin to walk further from the commotion, but not before more begins. As you're walking away you hear Gally and Alby fiercely yelling, and it's not long before someone throws the first punch. God these guys live like animals with no logic whatsoever. Sides are quickly taken in the fight, and it becomes a full out battle. You loose track of how close you are until Gally stumbles out of the fight and into you. "You! this all your fault!!" He yells attempting to grab your wrist, but misses as Newt catches his arm and smacks him upside the head with a rough fist.
"Come on, you need to get out of here!" Newt tells you as he grabs your arm and rushes you away from the fight. When you reach the council hall doorway Newt grabs you roughly by the arms and tells you to stay put before racing back to the fight to calm things down with Alby. You sit down on the ground with a pout and begin tracing pictures in the dirt floor. Nothing in particular, just images you've seen in your dreams... lines and symbols that make no sense, and a face you never see.. Its not long before the boys come shuffling in, some nursing wounds and bruises. Newt, Gally ,Alby, and Minho all take their positions in the front of the room, as everyone grudgingly takes a seat facing them. You drift to the back and stand awkwardly where you hope no one will see you.
Newt is the first to talk, he starts by asking Thomas to explain what has been going on in the maze. You and Thomas have gotten to know each other fairly well since you arrived.. considering you've been here a little less than a week. Thomas starts by describing how they've been noticing certain parts of the maze disappearing.
"As most of you know, theres only certain sections of the maze open at a time. They follow a pattern." Thomas begins hesitantly.
"Yeah yeah. We all know that. Get to the bloody point." Newt interrupts.
"Okay, so basically, every time a sections of the maze closes, they don't reopen..Its like the maze is shutting itself down and getting smaller.." Thomas trails off. An unsettling silence sets over the Gladers. Newt is the first to talk.
"How many sections are still open?" He asks, keeping his eyes to the ground.
"We're not sure yet. Somewhere around 4 or 5 out of the original 8." Minho says, stepping next to Thomas; who appears greatfull. "One of sections closes tonight though."
"We need to send more people out there!" Shouts Gally. "How do we even know that they understand what the shuck they're talking about?!"
"Are you saying I don't know the maze?!" Minho questions, stepping up to Gally. "You think you can do better out there?? You wouldn't last ten minutes you shank!!"
"Yeah well, I bet I'd find more in ten minutes than you have in 3 years!" Shouts Gally.
"Shuck it you two!" Alby steps in with a firm hand. "We'll continue to send the runners out in the maze to do their job."
"We don't have time! You heard him, the maze is shrinking within itself! Soon there will be nothing but the walls around us, and those doors will open to nothing...or worse." says Gally "And none of this started until she got here!" He suddenly jabs a finger at you. "We all hear her, screaming and talking in her sleep...It's her fault! She's probably just here because Teresa didn't cause enough trouble for us!"
Alby steps in to defend you, but at this point you're not listening. You had been talking in your sleep..why had no one told you? What did you say? What were you screaming about? You lose yourself in this thought, striving to remember what had made you so terrified in your sleep. You remember the nightmares; flashes of the feelings and images, but never anything specific. You hated not knowing..not remembering anything. Well that's not entirely true. You do remember one thing; WICKED is good.
