From The WICKED Start | A Maze Runner Story (English Version)

9. Teresa's plan

"Well, do you think you can manage that?" Teresa asked as we walked to the dining room together.
We had to take a break separately, because nobody could relieve us.
"I think so," I replied as we entered the lift.
It was strange to be alone with her now. Somehow I had the feeling that she wanted to tell me something, but didn't know whether she should. It was as if there was something unspoken between us.
"Hey... This is gonna sound stupid... But I just wanted to tell you that maybe you and your... boyfriend aren't as stupid as I thought."
The 'boyfriend' sounded more like a question than a statement. Funny, I hadn't thought about that either. Were Newt and I dating? Maybe, I was sure we were acting like we were. And I wanted to, that was for sure.
"Maybe you're not as bad as I thought you were. But I'm still figering that out."
I saw her looking at me from the side with her eyebrows raised. So she couldn't take a joke. Maybe my humour was a little funny thanks to Gally. I couldn't help but snort away. Now she looked at me with complete indignation. Oh man.
"It was a joke! I mean, you're really not that bad."
I was still laughing when the lift doors opened and also when we reached the dining room. It was pretty crowded, so we had to queue up to get something to eat. I looked over to my regulars' table, where Minho and pretty much everyone else was already sitting. Should I go over to them or stay with Teresa? Ben had already spotted me and waved to me effusively, whereupon I smiled at him.
"Would you sit with me? I think we have something we should talk about. Just the two of us."
I looked up in surprise when I heard Teresa say this. What did she mean? Curious as I was, I nodded and followed her to her table, which, as always, was completely empty. We sat down and I could feel the looks of the others on the back of my neck, who certainly didn't understand why I didn't sit with them.
We started to eat and Teresa didn't even bother to say anything at first. But just as I was about to get up to go to my friends, she cleared her throat and looked directly at me. I choked. She had such a penetrating look that I needed some seconds until I could catch myself.
"I know what you plan to do when your friend is sent into the maze."
That didn't exactly help me get myself together. What was she trying to tell me? That she'd betray me? That Thomas wouldn't be able to help me even if he wanted to?
"What -?" I started, but she interrupted me.
"I will help you."
That was all she said. I stared at her in disbelief, and at first I didn't even notice that my mouth was open.
"I will take you into this maze. But you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone, really no one. Not even Thomas. Not even Newt."
I still didn't know what to say, let alone if she meant it.
"How do you know -?"
Again she interrupted me before I could finish: "I don't know... Maybe it's a women thing. Or maybe you're just a little transparent."
She shrugged her shoulders as if we were talking about the weather.
"So watch out. I'll get them to send you to exactly this maze, exactly one month after Newt. I'll have to swap a few files and change a few documents, but that won't be a problem for me. I'll manage it, don't worry. I'll get you in there if you want."
I nodded, still with big eyes.
"Thank you...," I said hesitantly and could see Teresa's smile flitting across her face.
Maybe she really isn't that bad.

Back in the lab we replaced Thomas and Newt and I concentrated on my work again. It turned out that the boys at the glade didn't seem so unhappy at all. All but one.
Gally had been building the hut like crazy all day and it really didn't look bad. When Alby went to get him for lunch, he ignored him completely and just kept hammering on a nail that had long since disappeared from the board. I felt so sorry for him and I knew that something had to happen soon so that he would let the other boys get to him and not become a complete outsider. But what could I do from here?
Then suddenly an idea came up to me and I just had to ask Teresa, even though I still didn't quite know what to think of her behaviour.
"Teresa?" I asked and she pushed the headset off her right ear to hear me better. "They send supplies up there regularly, don't they?"
"Yeah, why?"
She didn't seem to be very interested in what I was going to ask. But as I kept talking, her ears started to prick up.
"Do you think I could send a note to Gally? Along with building materials or something? So that only he gets it? The others don't have to know about it. But I just can't watch him suffer like this. He must have some hope..."
"Well, the next box of supplies goes up tomorrow morning. Maybe I can do something about that, it would be an interesting idea anyway... But this has to stay between you and I."
I jumped out of my chair and fell around her neck.
"Thank you! You have no idea how much you're helping him."
I frantically looked for something to write and found a pen and paper at Thomas' place. With a trembling hand I wrote a short note.

Gally,
I'm here, I'm watching over you. And I'm coming to you. Soon.
You remember me. I can't tell you how happy that makes me.
There's so much I want to say, but I don't have time. Please just trust me and wait for me.
Take care of yourself, big boy. I'm right here with you.
Anna

I handed the note to Teresa and she nodded slowly as she read it and then put it in her pocket.
"I wonder what will happen when he reads your name."
I hadn't thought about that at all.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Teresa. But what if Paige or Janson find out?"
"The only thing they're gonna hear is what we tell them. Don't worry, I'm not gonna put us in any danger. Right now we're just waiting for tomorrow and for Gally's reaction. That'll be exciting enough."