ACT I  SCENE XV
PHOENIX

   BEN WAS not dead yet. But they had thrown him into the Slammer right after the Med-jacks patched him up and Cassandra wandered around the Glade looking for a distraction. Newt had brought Thomas to work the Blood House that morning. If it had been anyone else, she would have felt sorry for the boy. Working the Blood House on the first day was always tough for Newbies. If the smell didn't get them, Winston's gutting sure did, unless they were Slicer material. Thomas didn't seem to be the Slicer type though. Around lunchtime, he had left the Blood House looking a little green.

As per usual whenever she stayed behind, Cassandra helped the Cooks out in the kitchen because she didn't like being out in the sun for too long. The sunflowers she had grown were being harvested for their seeds now and they made great snacks for the Gladers, who were always hungry.

She was cleaning the counter tops when Alby ran into the room in search of a cup of water. He looked at her impassively and grunted out that Minho was back early. She didn't have it in her that morning to glare at him and neither did Alby, apparently. They both had too much on their minds so the best they could come up with was casual indifference.

She ran out to see Minho, curious as to his premature return from the Maze. Thomas was there and for him, she managed a customary scowl. The boy watched her approach them warily, looking like he was ready to recoil if she suddenly decided to bite his head off. It was a tempting thought. Minho was sat on the ground with his legs folded and some dirt streaked across his face. He beamed up at her, looking more smug than usual.

"What're you doin'?" she asked.

"Boy, do I have some news for you," he told her. "You ain't gonna believe this, Cassie-wassie."

Alby rejoined them a moment later and handed a tall cup of water to Minho. He gulped the entire thing without pause and sighed loudly. "Okay, out with it," Alby demanded. "What happened?"

Minho raised his eyebrows and glanced at Thomas. Alby shook his head and said that he didn't care if the boy listened in. The Runner shrugged and slowly stood up, wincing slightly as he did so, then leaned against the wall, his eyes flicking up to meet theirs.

"I found a dead one," he said.

"A dead what?"

A wide smirk slowly spread across his face. "A dead Griever."

There was a pause before Alby spoke. "Ain't a good time for jokes."

Minho grinned at his reaction. He really had found a dead Griever out near the Cliff. Cassandra felt a twinge of regret for staying in the Glade, she wanted to see it for herself too even if the thought made her queasy. Alby asked him why he didn't bring it back and Minho made a small sound that resembled a giggle.

"You been drinkin' Frypan's saucy-sauce?" he replied with amusement. "Those things must weigh half a ton, dude. Plus, I wouldn't touch one if you gave me a free trip outta this place."

"What did it look like?" Alby started questioning. "Were the metal spikes in or out of its body? Did it move at all—was its skin still moist?"

"Did it smell like Alby's feet?" Cassandra deadpanned.

The boy shot her a wilting glare. Minho snickered before suggesting that they could probably take a look and get back before the Doors closed. Alby thought about it for a second before deciding to do it the next morning. Minho nodded and pushed himself away from the wall. He smacked Alby on the arm before walking off with a slight limp to his step. Cassandra immediately followed after him.

"I should go back out there, but screw it," he said over his shoulder. "I'm gonna go and eat some of Frypan's nasty casserole."

He stopped and paused in thought, eyes lighting up.

"Hey Cassie." He turned to her. "I love you like Frypan's Casserole. Get it?"

He laughed to himself like it was the most hilarious thing in the world. Cassandra groaned, rolled her eyes and swatted at his arm. "You're such an idiot, I swear to god," she remarked. "And why are you limping?"

"Pulled a muscle," he said. "C'mere and help me out, will ya?"

She moved closer to him and he placed an arm around her shoulders. Cassandra wrapped hers around his waist to support him and they were almost to the Homestead when Minho started snickering again. She looked at him questioningly.

"I don't actually need your help," he said.

"You're impossible!" she exclaimed.

"And you're adorable," he gushed.

"You idiot," she said, trying and failing to stop herself from smiling. "Continue like that and I'll give you a real limp."

"Whatever you say, Cassie-roll," he smirked widely. "You're still not letting go of me."

She rolled her eyes and gave him a small playful shove that made him laugh. They grabbed themselves a plate of casserole when they reached the kitchen and joined the flock of boys. Newt was already amongst them, sitting at a table with Zart and Winston. Minho was bursting to tell them the news when they asked him why he was back so early. She listened quietly to them as she ate and Newt had plenty of questions to ask about the Griever. He wanted as much detail as Minho could possibly give, which wasn't much, since it was Minho.

Alby had decided to do Ben's Banishing that evening right before the Doors closed and Minho waited for the other Runners to return to tell them about his discovery. He dragged Cassandra along with him even though she already knew, but he wanted everyone to be there. There were a lot of nervous glances around the Map Room before they filtered back into the Glade. Minho stopped at the threshold and turned around to look at Cassandra who hadn't moved from her seat.

"Cassie? You coming?" he called.

She sighed heavily as she debated with herself. Finally, she nodded and followed him outside. Everyone had already gathered by the North Door. She could see Jackson and his cronies heading their way from the Slammer with Ben in tow. His clothes were ripped into tatters and a large bloodied bandage was wrapped around his head. The skin on his face was starting to bruise and his veins were black. There were tears in his eyes.

She didn't know whether it was from the pain of having a gaping hole in his face, or that he knew he was being Banished. The sight of him wrenched her heart and she almost turned to leave. They came to a stop in front of Alby. Minho went closer but she didn't follow, opting to stay at the back because she didn't trust herself not to throw her body in the way and stop them from pushing Ben out of the walls. A couple of feet away, Thomas stood with his arms crossed as he peered over the shoulder of a taller boy.

"Newt," Alby said steadily. "Bring out the Pole."

The blonde nodded and started walking towards the nearby shed. He came back a moment later with several aluminium poles which he connected together, then grabbed the strap at one end to drag the finished pole towards Alby. It scraped along the ground with nerve grating loudness. Cassandra had never seen a Banishing before and she watched them with gross fascination. Newt passed the pole to Alby and he clasped it around Ben's neck like a collar.

As if rousing from a trance, the boy looked up. Snot was dribbling down his nose as he begged Alby to stop. Cassandra didn't know where they left their humanity but they had taken hers with them. Alby picked the pole up and slid along its length to the end where he positioned himself. His face was scrunched up with enmity.

"Ben of the Runners," he said with pompous ceremony. "You've been sentenced to Banishment for the attempted murder of Thomas the Newbie. The Keepers have spoken and their word ain't changing. And you ain't coming back. Ever."

He ordered for the Keepers to take their positions. Newt and Minho made their way towards the pole and everyone wore masks of apathy. All she could see was Ben's back but his body writhed in an attempt to escape, his anguished sobs filling the air. Her heart plummeted from her chest and she didn't know if she could hold her own tears back.

"Please!" he cried. "Please, help me! You can't do this to me!"

"Shut up!" Alby snarled from the back.

Ben continued crying and begging. The Gladers turned their eyes away from him, unable and unwilling to help. Cassandra stood rooted to the spot and felt disgusted with herself. A deep rumble resounded all around them, signalling that the doors were ready to close. The booming sound was loud enough to momentarily drown Ben's cries.

"Keepers, now!" Alby shouted loudly and as one, they started to push the pole forwards. Ben dropped to his knees but Zart grabbed him and hauled him back to his feet. Then they were pushing again and Ben was screaming, spit flying everywhere.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he cried desperately. "PLEASE STOP! DON'T PUT ME OUT THERE!"

He tried to plant his feet firmly at the edge of the Glade but lurched forwards when they thrust hard against his back. Cassandra forced herself to watch as he staggered a few feet out of the Walls. Even with her memory taken and she was pushed into a bizarre new life, she felt a sense of déjà vu rush through her.

Ben twisted himself violently around the leather collar and managed to face them. He looked nothing like the boy she knew anymore; his skin taut with sickness, eyes red and bulging out of their sockets. He screamed, a long drawn-out wail that pierced their ears and it sent a sharp pain shooting through Cassandra's skull.

Zart managed to loosen the main part of the pole from the one connected to Ben's and pulled it back inside the walls at the last second. The Doors closed with a final boom and cut Ben off from them. His scream stopped, only to be picked up by a shriller one from inside the Glade. Everyone turned to look in alarm.

It was Cassandra, she was screaming violently. It felt like a million blazing shards were digging through her brain, twisting and slashing at every neural fibre. She had never felt such agonising pain in her entire life before and dropped to her knees as she dug her fingers into her scalp. Minho and Newt were by her side a second later, each one holding her hands away. There were already tendrils of hair clenched tightly in her fists, knuckles turning bone white. No one else dared to go near her.

"IT HURTS!" she shrieked. "MY HEAD! OH GOD IT HURTS! THE FLARE!"

She screamed one more time before crumpling forwards, eyes rolling to the back of her head.

Maybe each vote and comment will help bait a Griever away from Ben in the Maze.