Banished (TMR Fanfic)

19

I pushed past the Gladers and barreled into the Maze, colliding with Thomas and tackling him to the ground.

"YOU IDIOT!" I yelled. "YOU ABSOLUTE SHUCKING MORON! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU PUT US THROUGH? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH???" I could feel myself cracking, piece by piece. It had all been too much. Being Banished, finding this Glade, finding Thomas, and losing him only a couple days after. I broke down.

Tears started streaming down my face again and I hugged him tightly, crying. "I don't believe it, I just don't get it! How are you - you're supposed to be dead!" I said between sobs. "How did you get out?"

"I. . . can't. . . breath. . ." he croaked and I quickly stepped back. He sucked in a deep breath and said, "I'll explain later. Right now, we need to get to Alby."

I felt the blood drain from my face and I asked in a trembling voice, "Alby? He - He's alive?" Thomas nodded, looking grim. "Tied him up in the ivy - gotta get him out and pray he's still alive."

"Wait, hang on, I think I heard you incorrectly. Did you say you tied him up?"

Thomas looked uncomfortable. "Uh. . . yeah. . . in the ivy. . ."

I laughed nervously. "Are you serious?"

"Dead."

"I gotta see this. . . still think you're shucking me though." I started into the Maze but Thomas grabbed my arm.

"Your leg, Neil, your leg!"

"My damned leg will be fine!"

"Not if we run into a Griever!"

"Tommy, the chances we run into a Griever this early are very, very small. Now let go of -"

"He's right, you know."'

I turned and my eyes fell on Newt who had whitened considerably but still looked steady on his feet. "Your leg still needs another day or two. Thomas, Minho and I can get him down by ourselves."

I gritted my teeth, anger starting to bubble in me, but I stamped it down. "Fine. Fine. Just don't die." Traitor. 

Newt cracked a half-smile and waved for Thomas and Minho to follow him into the Maze. Thomas took the lead, staring up the Maze walls and searching for something.

They disappeared about ten feet into the Maze before turning left. Thomas said something that I couldn't hear and I heard Newt choke from surprise.

"Bloody - you really outdid yourself, didn't ya?"

I snorted at Newt's comment and called, "Just get a move on, junkheads!"

"You two - get some rest. Hey, can I get some help here?" came Newt's voice and Thomas and Minho dragged themselves out of the Maze while about six boys jogged in. Jeff ushered Thomas and Minho to the Homestead, presumably for medical attention, and I turned back to the Maze.

There were a few grunts, several thumps, and many, many swears - some more foul than others and I thought I even caught some Spanish.

Finally, after several minutes, the boys emerged with Alby between them like a rag doll. He looked horrible - veins sticking out, bruises, scratches, cuts. A patch of dried blood stained his left temple and I guessed what had happened.

"Shucking Greenbean did a proper job with those vines," Newt said, struggling with Alby's arm. "Got us right confused the leaves and all. Hey, Clint! Clint! Get 'im the Serum. Greg - don't look so sick, bloody hell! You've seen at least ten of us like this before! Greg, get his arm. Here." Newt passed Alby's arm to a boy that looked slightly green. He dusted himself off, grumbling, and I limped over.