We fell asleep wrapped around each other. I cried until I feel asleep. I'm not sure how long Gally stayed up, but he kept promising we would figure it out. But there was no way I could have a baby in the Glade! I needed to get the shuck out of here! I woke up before the sun. I slid out from under Gally's arm, left a quick kiss on his cheek and tip toed to my room, changed and headed to the kitchen, stopping only once to throw up. 

I grabbed an apple and some toast and quickly packed a lunch and filled my water bottle. I headed for the MapRoom. I sat at the table going over the maps and the little model. The Runners had pushed quite a bit into the Maze while I was out for almost a month. 

"Shuck it, you gotta get out there. We need to get home!" I whispered. 

"Shuck ya we do Tiger!" Minho said leaning on the door frame. 

I looked over my shoulder, and looked away sheepishly. 

"I'm sorry about last night Min. I wasn't feeling my self." I said quietly. 

"Nah, it's all good. You don't have to explain, you don't want that nasty klunk he calls a drink, you don't have to." He shrugged, coming to stand beside me. We both looked at the model. 

"So. Were we going today?" I asked. 

"You're sure your up to coming?" He eyed me. 

I knew I looked pale and a little thin, but I clamped my jaw and narrowed my eyes, looking him dead in the eye. 

"If I say I'm fine, I'm fine. And you know I'd just come behind you anyways." I snapped. But added quietly, "I have to find a way home...I just..I have to." absentmindedly I laied a hand on my flat stomach.

"All right. But the second you say your done we're done. You run with me and Ben." 

I nodded, quickly removing my hand and ran it through my hair and threw it into a pony. The other runners showed up and Minho paired everyone up. 

Ben, Minho, Jax and I were going back to section 7. I took a slow steadying breath. My stomach heaved. I wasn't sure if that was nervous from the maze and the same section The Takening happened or from my other possible problem. I threw my backpack on and strapped my knives to my belt. I took another breath, opened the door and ran for the doors. The guys right behind me, on my heels. I wanted to get into the maze as fast as I could. I need to keep my mind busy. I couldn't sit in the kitchen anymore, it was to easy for it to wonder and easy to panic and have all the awful 'what if' situations. 

I slowed down slightly when I saw a big brown stain on the grey stone. Unfortunately I felt the bile rise, I slowed and stopped, leaning one hand on the wall I threw up the little breakfast I did eat. Minho stopped and walked towards me concerned. 

"Look Charlie," he started. 

I stood up, wiped my mouth, raising an eyebrow, "My real name. Uh oh. I better watch out." 

He frowned even more. 

"You didn't even make it into twists yet and your throwing up! I don't think this is a good idea." 

I stood straighter, and crossed my arms. "Did you notice what we just passed?" I snapped, "Look behind you! That's Fred's blood stain, that's the only thing left of him! I couldn't even hold him while he died! He was ripped from me, and I couldn't do anything to save him! I tried! And I failed! This is the first time I've been back to this spot since." 

I felt the tears burning again. I closed my eyes for a second, breathing deep, trying to get my wind out of control emotions back under control. I opened my eyes. All three guys stood in front of me. 

"I'm fine! Slim it! Just...seeing his blood was...hard." I said quietly. 

I pushed passed them and took off down the hall. 

We ran. I was surprised how fast my muscles remembered what to do. My memory was as sharp as ever. We came to the split, and without thinking I took the opposite turn than we should.

"Hey! Wrong way Charlie!" Jax called. 

"Trust me!" And I kept running. 

Trust me...I hadn't heard that voice since The Takening. Wonder why it stopped talking to me, maybe the Changing had something to do with it? The Griever poison? I had no idea. But It would have been nice to have that familiar presence come back. I kind of missed it. 

I took another turn, the guys following right behind me, they were running behind me, I guess making sure I didn't fall behind or something. 

"Tiger...you know where your going?" Minho called between breaths. 

"Yes." 

I didn't want to admit it, but I was having a hard time catching my breath. We were following the short cut the voice lead me through; from section 6 to section 7. We got to the Blades as Minho had decided to name them. (I had scoffed when he told me what he named them.) just before lunch. We slowed down, our heads on the swivel. Last time I was down this hall, a Griever had shown up. I slowed down even more, trying to hid my anxiety. Ben came to jog beside me. 

"It's alright Charlie, were here with you." He said quietly, patting my back. 

I nodded. We stopped for lunch at the end of the hall, where we could sit at the end of the hall and look out into the Blades. I sipped my water, willing my stomach to stop turning. I nibbled on the sandwich I packed, hoping some food would settle it. 

Minho decided we would split into two groups and go in opposite directions, we had 1 hour to explore and then head back. 

Ben and I headed off in one direction. We jogging through the many rows of long thin metal blades. 

"Hey look up there!" 

I pointed at the big wall, a big red number 7 was painted on the wall. 

"Well...this confirms that theory. We just numbered the sections for our selves. So...this is officially number 7. And you took us through what we though was 8. Wonder if its 8 or 6..." Ben said thoughtfully. 

I shrugged. And kept going, there was two more rows, and we got to a dead end. It looked the this row was closed tight. There was no crack. No moving them. The big rusty metal was sealed shut. Frowning I looked left and right. They went on forever. 

"Do you think they go all the way around?" 

"What do you mean?" Ben asked. 

"Like..do you think its a giant huge circle and these metal blades are the end wall? Keeping everything in?" I thought out loud, looking from the left to the right. 

"Well that would suck. A lot." Be muttered. "Almost two years of running and there was no exit?"

The horrible realization of being stuck in the awful place, alone, possibly pregnant, it was too much. I slid down the wall my head in my hands, trying not to cry. Ben knelt beside me.

"Hey..you ok-" 

I leaned over and threw up the little I did manage to eat. 

"Shuck. No Ben. I'm not okay." I snapped. 

"Clearly. Still dealing with the affects of the poisoning?" 

"Ha." I laughed bitterly, "Gally's poising." 

My eyes went wide, realizing what I just said. My face went pink. 

Ben fell backwards, leaning on his hands, his eyes wide in understanding. 

"That time we...in the MedHut...Oh shuck it Char!" He stumbled. 

"Actions have consequences, let that be a lesson for  you Ben." I said bitterly.

"Do you actually know for sure?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No not officially, but everything seems to add up." 

"Does Gally know?" He asked hesitantly. 

"Of course he does!" I snapped. 

"And he let you come back into the maze?" He asked shocked. 

"Excuse me?" I stood up, "He doesn't get to LET me do anything. I make my own choices! And I know me best." I scolded him, "Also...if I am, Ben...I need out of here. I can't have a baby in the Glade! And no..he doesn't know I came today..." I said quietly, my eyes tearing up again. 

He just nodded. "I understand. Well I don't. But... Your a strong chick. You got this, and I'll support whatever you choose to do." 

"Thank you Ben. That's actually really sweet." I gave him a hug. Which had him freeze for a second, but he hugged me back. 

"We should probably go meet Min and Jax." Ben said patting my back. 

I sighed and nodded. 

"Oh and Ben? Please don't say anything."

He nodded.

_______________________________

We meet up with them and explained what we found. Minho's eyes lit up. 

"Charlie, take us back the same way! Everyone keep your eyes wide open for another painted number." 

I nodded. I took a ragged deep breath. Ben caught my eye and gave me an encouraging smile. 

I took the lead and took us back. At the intersection taking us from section 7 to the other section, on the opposite wall, was a huge red number 6.

"That never used to be there!" Minho slowed down to a stop, staring at the wall. "I swear that never used to be there!" 

Jax and Ben nodded. They looked to me. 

"Nope, that was not there when Fred and I came this way." 

"Something's fishy." Minho muttered. 

"But its new! And again Charlie found it! She's the good luck charm!" Jax grinned at me. 

I gave them a small thin lipped smile. I was definitely feeling the run right now. I felt like I could collapse right now. I needed to get back and lay down. I felt like klunk. 

"Come on guys. We gotta get back." 

We ran in silence the rest of the way. It wasn't until we rounded the last corner did I stop, turn back and throw up, there wasn't much to let out, but Ben slowed down and stopped beside me waiting. Minho and Jax kept running. 

"Coming slow poke?" Jax called. 

"Yeah...shoe lace." I called back. 

Ben gave me a look. And I shook my head. We ran down the home stretch. But my stomach was twisting even more. Gally, Newt and Alby were standing at the doors, arms crossed looking furious. 

"Oh shuck." I whispered. 

"The shuck?" Minho asked, slowing to a stop in front of them.

"Charlie!" Gally barked, "The shuck you think your doing? Sneaking out and going back in there!" He ran a hand through his hair, he was breathing like a bull his face was red, and his fists were clenched. "THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?" 

"I'm just fine Gally." I snapped. 

"The hell you bloody are!" Newt yelled. 

I threw him a sharp look. 

"The heck is every ones problem? She said she was fine..." Minho shrugged.

"You let her back in, in her condition?" Gally rounded on Minho, "Your more reckless then I thought!" 

"I said I'm fine! Everyone slim it!" I yelled, pushing Gally away from Minho.

"Her condition? She says she's fine, she's fine! She ran just fine. Just threw up once, when we saw Fred's blood!"

"You threw up again? How many more times? And could you keep food down? What about water? Shuck Charlie! You can't keep taking risks like this!" Gally growled.

"Jeeze Man! Your acting like she's preggo or something!" Minho threw his hands into the air.

Gally gave him a sharp look, narrowing his eyes. While Minho's went wide.

"Oh shucken hell! No! Tiger!" 

Minho rounded on me now, Alby looked like he was just slapped with a frying pan and ice water dumped on him. Jax looked about the same. I glared at each of them, crossing my arms. 

"I'm fine. I ran the maze. Found something new- your welcome- and yeah, I did while quite possibly growing another shucken baby Glader inside me. I told you all I was shucken better then all of you, my first week here. Now excuse me, I have a map to make, and a shower to take." 

I shoved through them all, and stormed over to the MapRoom. 

_______________________________________

I grabbed supper from Fry. Most Gladers had finished eating, Fry and the Sloppers were almost done cleaning up. 

"Don't want for me, I'll wash my own stuff. Thanx Fry." 

I sank onto the end of an empty table, in the far corner. I leaned against the wall and pulled my feet up, slowly eating supper. I hadn't seen Gally since the Maze doors. We both needed to cool off. He wasn't going to change my mind. And if Minho tried to stop me, I'll just go after them. I NEEDED to get out. I had more incentive than anyone here. They only way I wouldn't go back out looking for a way home is if they locked me in the slammer. 

A big shadow passed and then Gally sat down beside me. It was quiet between us.

"You scared me so bad." He finally said. 

"Gally, you know we can't stay here, right? This ain't our home. I'm not having a baby in this hell hole!" 

Gally ran a hand through his hair. 

"What if there is no out there? What if it's worse?" He asked. 

"Do you know something from the changing?" I asked. 

He didn't say anything. 

"Fine. Don't tell me, but if you don't know, how do you know its worse? I have to try. And fine, if its worse out there, I'll come here and have this shuck kid, stuck here in a stone wall prison." I spat bitterly. 

He sighed. And it was quiet. He run a hand down his face. 

"I just...don't want to loose you Charlie. I can't! In all the chaos in my life...you it was always you. And now...I can't loose my family." He reached out a hand and grabbed mine, squeezing it. My eyes burnt with tears 

"Why do you think I'm going back out? For us. For this little bean baby. I'm trying to get us home!" 

He sighed in defeat. 

"I don't like Minho...but he's a good Keeper and he's loyal. If your insistent on going, you go with him or Ben or Jax. End of discussion." He looked at me, for the first time, dead in the eye. His steel blue eyes were unwavering, steady and serious. 

"Good that." I gave him a small smile. I squeezed his hand. "And thank you, for believing me." 

He was quiet, running another hand through his hair. 

"Did you really find another something new out there?" He asked. 

I grinned cheekily at him. 

"Shuck ya I did." 

"Jeeze Pipsqueak. You're always out doing everyone here." 

"Oh pipsqueak is it now?" 

"Baby? That just sounds weird now, and no shuck way I'm callin' you mama...at least not yet."

I leaned forwards, and whispered seductively in his ear, "Too bad, I'll call you daddy." 

I heard a growl from the back of his throat, "Shuck ya you will." 

I gently bit his ear and pulled with my teeth. With another growl he grabbed me, pulling me from the bench, leaving the remnants of my supper behind. He carried me to the Homestead, down the hall and kicked his door open and closed. He tossed me onto his bed and crawled on top. I couldn't stop giggling. 

"Come here Daddy."

________________________________________________________________________________

**....I don't even know....**

**This was not the direction this book was going to go... but here we are.**

**Like I say all the time, I don't write my characters, I follow them around and just write the incident reports. So I got nothing...🙊🤷‍♀️**