𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓-𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨

VII-GETTING OUT

I stood next to Newt, with Minho slightly in front of us. The boys that were left from the griever attack last night, now stood with us, all waiting for what happens next. Two long wooden poles stuck out of the ground-when they found the time for that was beyond me-and it was plainly obvious what it was for when an "unconscious" Thomas and Teresa were being dragged to them. Gally stood at the wall of names, glaring in disbelief at the amount of names-friends-he had to cross off.

The two knuckleheads that handled Thomas moved his arms from their shoulders and dropped him onto the ground. I gritted my teeth and refrained from doing or saying anything. Gally walked up to him and sheathed his small blade. "This is such a waste."

Everyone was tense, as if wanting to say something, but only Winston was brave enough. "Gally, It doesn't feel right man."

"Yeah," Jeff agreed. "What if Thomas is right? What if he can lead us home?"

"We are home," Gally stepped forward. "Okay. I don't want to have to cross anymore names off that wall."

"You really think banishing us is going to solve anything?" Despite her question, Teresa was calm. Her black hair was a frizzy mess from the humidity of today. Couldn't Gally be a little more theatrical any other day?

"No, this isn't a banishing. It's an offering." I realized that him saying no was to Teresa's use of banishing. He didn't answer her question as to if he thought this would actually stop anything.

"What." The long haired blond that was holding Teresa pushed her against the pole, grabbing her arms and tying them above her. She tried fighting back, but it was useless against the brute of a teen against her. "Gally what are you doing?" I clenched my fists, wanting the stupid boy to take his hands off my sister.

"Tie him up." Gally ordered, pointing at the "unconscious" Thomas that still laid on the floor. Two of Gally's lacky's picked up Thomas by the arms, the boy finally moving, swinging his arms back and hitting the boy on his left with his elbow. With the other boy in shock, Thomas grabbed his pole and hit him with it.

Minho, Newt, and I moved forward, me grabbing Teresa when she was untied by Frypan. We stood with Thomas at the Maze entrance, Chuck joining us. He was carrying a couple of backpacks and poles.

"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 is your last chance."

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

"I'm not trying to scare you, you're already scared. I'm scared alright, but I'd rather risk my life out there than spend the rest of it here. We don't belong here, ok. This place isn't our home. We were put here. We're trapped here. At least out there we have a choice. We can't make it out of here. I know that."

It was silent, while everyone took in what Thomas had said. To be honest if I wasn't standing here now I would have joined them with no questions asked. I thought it would be only us leaving until Winston walked forward, Jeff coming after, apologizing to Gally. More boys joined, making me smile.

"Gally," Thomas put his pole down, the end coming to a stop at his shoulder. "It's over. Just come with us."

Gally stared like he was trying to figure out what to say. Finally he said, "Good luck against the grievers." To be expected. Thomas nodded and the boys started running into the Maze, following after Minho. Newt ran ahead of me and I found myself stalling, waiting for Thomas to turn and join us.

•••

The Maze was exactly as you expect it. Tall walls that twisted and turned and were longer than the Glade itself. The walls were the exact same as the walls that surrounded the Glade.