With the help of Chuck, I managed to slam the door open. I grabbed his hand and together we raced (as fast as his shirt pudgy legs would go) to find Newt.

I found him sitting beside the MedHut with Alby. We skidded to a halt.

"Charlie? How are you feeling? Gally said-"

"He's a lying shucked face shuck! And if I see him, he's going to wish he never drugged me and locked me in my shuck room!" I spat.

Both boys in front of me had their mouths drop in unison. I waved a hand dismissing it- for now. There was a matter of more importance at the moment.

"I busted out. Tommy and Minho? They aren't back yet, hey? Shuck! Tommy said the maze is changing!"

The ground rumbled, making my legs feel like jello. The Maze was changing, but not like it normally did. This was violent, fast; like an earthquake.

"Chuck stay with Newt! I'm going to section 7! I'm going to meet them!"

I spun around and went sprinting across the Glade, towards the doors that lead to section 7. As I ran I caught sight of Gally. He froze, his face pale and eyes wide. He immediately sprinting towards me, screaming for me to stop. I wanted to stop and turn around and high five his face. With a brick. But instead, I turned to the doors and without another glance behind me, I charged head long through the doors and into the Maze. I knew Gally wouldn't follow. I'd deal with him and what he did when I got back.

I'm coming! Where the shuck are you guys?

Trying not to die!

Well don't! If you die in going to kill you! Tell Minho that too!

Noted.

I pushed my legs harder, I felt my lungs working harder. I laughed bitterly, Gally gave me sleeping pills ...I had a great rest...and now I have even more energy.

I ran. Taking corners and turns with ease. The ground shook violently, the noise was terrible; ear splitting grinding, stone on stone, and the slamming and colliding of thick heavy stone. It was even louder inside the Maze; bouncing off the stone walls.

Made it.

I felt his exhaustion. And relief.

Entrance to section 6?

Minho says ya.

Coming

I pushed myself even harder. I took a left turn and slammed into something. Or a someone. Hands grabbed me before I hit the ground. Sweaty, dusty, a little banged up but both boys were standing, bent over sucking air. But they were alive. I flung myself into Thomas's arms, hugging him tight. He instantly wrapped me back up in his strong arms and tightened his grip, like he was scared I would disappear.

"Uhh, excuse me? Tiger, where's my hug!"

I wasn't a touchy person normally but I pulled away and threw my arms around Minho's sweaty body. He hugged me back too patting my back.

"How did you get out!" Thomas asked.

I pulled away from Minho with a growl.

"With the help of Chuck...and my foot."

"Nice. Never pull your punches ..and if that don't work, round house kick. Chuck Norris style!" Minho nodded approvingly, holding his hand out for a high five.

"Come on. Talk and run."

The guys filled me in in everything they saw and found. They explained the tunnel and the how metal brain-heart activated some kind of sensor.

We rounded the corner and took the home stretch at a fast paced jog.

Your boyfriend does not look happy.

Well too shucken bad. He's lucky I don't break his shucken face.

The boys and I crossed back into the Glade. All of the Gladers were waiting. Newt and Alby in the front, he looked much better then yesterday. It was crazy how fast he recovered. His eyes looked haunted and lifeless, but he was on his feet and he didn't look like he wanted to murder me ... Unlike my boyfriend, who was standing right behind them. Oh if looks could kill. His hands in tight closed fists, anger tension and possibly fear radiated off of him. I didn't want to deal with that right now so, I made a deliberate effort to ignore him.

"What the bloody hell's going on out there?" Newt asked.

His face was white, and his eyes never left Thomas's face.

Newtmis is SO a thing

Shut up! You're annoying!

I felt him groan. And I smirked.

"What'd you do now, Thomas?" Alby asked, sounding tired and exasperated. But, he stood straight and tall, his arms crossed.

"We found something, a new passage. We think it could be a way out." He told the leaders, excited. He was bouncing on his toes again, his proud and excited eyes glued to Newt's face.

"Really?" Asked Chuck, he pushed his way to the front.

"See Chucky! I told you! I'll keep that promise!" I beamed at the kid, and messed up his curles. He smacked my hand away, with a groan but a small smile. His big die eyes looking back and forth between Thomas and me.

"It's true. We opened a door, something I'd never seen before!" Minho added.

There were collective gasps and instant murmuring in the crowd.

"I think it must be where the Grievers go during the day." Thomas was rubbing his chin, his eyebrows pulled together. I could see the wheels turning. He was working on a puzzle.

"Wait! Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Yelped Chuck. His joyous grin dropped immediately at the mention of Grievers.

"You're saying you found the Grievers' home? And you want us to go in?" He asked, shocked.

I thought about it, it made sense.

The heart thing led you there...it might be a tracker of some kind!

Makes sense. The beeping got louder the closer we got and it did signal something else to open!

I knelt down in front of Chuck, my hands on his shoulders, "Well...their way in could be our way out, Chuck." I said slowly, piecing this together.

"Yeah? Or there could be a dozen Grievers on the other side. The truth is, Thomas doesn't know what he has done, as usual."
Gally growled.

So he finally decided to talk. My rage boiled, the anger hurt and betrayal sprung like a geyser inside me, I got up from the ground, with a growl.

"Yeah, at least he's doing something, Gally." I whispered savagely.

My nails were cutting into my palms and the anger was sitting in my chest, making it feel heavy and tight. Gally took a menacing step towards us.

"What have you done? Aside from hide behind these walls the whole time?" Thomas snapped,

"Let me tell you something, Greenie. You've been here what, a week? I've been here 2 years!" He screamed.

I saw the fear and anger, but this time I didn't feel bad. Not this time. I wanted out of this prison, I wanted to go home, find my family, hopefully. Start a life, be a teenager, grow up without fear.

"Yeah, you've been here 2 years and we're still here, Gally!" I screamed right back, shoving him in the chest, making him stumble backwards. "What does that tell you?"

"Maybe you should start doing things a little differently!" Thomas added, his anger and frustration was heard in his voice, but I also felt it through out link.

"Maybe you should be in charge, what about that?" He snapped.

"Maybe he should! He won't drug the people he cares about and then lock them up!" I snapped and shoved him again. He tried to grab my wrists but I ripped them away faster then he could get a grip.

I spun away from him and stormed through the crowd, shoving the Gladers out of the way. I was storming across the Glad when footsteps caught up to me easily.

"Gally! I swear-"

I spun around ready to throw a fist. But it was Alby who was now in front of me.

"Snips." He said dryly, nodded his head.

"Oh. Uh..hey."

"Wondering if I might have a word with you. And Thomas. Mind calling him over?"

He left no room for arguments, and I felt like a toddler in trouble.

"What is this? Treat me like a shucken walkie talkie and toddler day?" I grumbled.

Alby just gave me a small smile. I rolled my eyes and huffed

Tommy? Alby wants a word with us.

Uh oh. Are we in trouble? Whatever we did it wasn't me! I blame you!

Uh no shucken way dude! I was locked in my room all day! This is one hundred percent your fault!

Okay so what's the story if we get blamed? You're deaf and I don't speak English?

Dude...you serious?

Come on...it was a joke, Sparky! Sheesh someone's cranky!

Shut up and get over here.

I'm it Sparky, I'm coming!

"He's on his way."

"Still weird." Alby grumbled.

"I heard that!"

Alby just chuckled sadly. It took a few minutes for Thomas to find them, and when he did he looked nervous and apprehensive.

"Huh, ya ain't dead, shank?" Alby asked, "after back talkin' to Gally, I'm surprised your face is still together."

"Well, I'd just set his girlfriend on him. I've heard some crazy stories."

"All true." I nodded, crossing my arms, "and I'm pissed enough to do it."

Alby just hummed and nodded. He looked back and forth between us for a moment. He did look so much better than yesterday. His skin was back to full color, his eyes no longer crisscrossed with red veins; he seemed to have gained fifteen pounds in twenty-four hours.

Alby glanced at Thomas, and frowned.

"Shuck it, boy, what you lookin' at?"

Thomas shook his head slightly, blinking a few times.

'What...? Nothing. Just seems crazy you healed so quickly. You're fine now? I heard it takes a while... Charlie was out for what a week?"

I nodded, "and like 3 weeks recovery to feel better.."

Alby flexed his right bicep. "Ain't never been better. Jeff says the Grief serum was a different colour. Must be a different antidote. Faster working an' stuff."

I watched him closely, he still seemed a little sweaty and I saw a slight tremor in his hand.

"Lier." I said quietly, and crossed my arms and stuck out a hip.

Alby's eyes flicked and I saw him sag.

"You're right Snips, nothin' but a lie. I feel like a piece of klunk twice crapped by a Griever."

"Yeah, you looked it yesterday." I nodded.

Alby glared, but the one side of his lip twitched. He glanced at Thomas.

"I told ya before, only this one can talk to me like that." He warned

"Well today you look brand-new. I swear." Thomas added with what I guess was supposed to be an encouraging smile.

Suck up!

Jerkface

Mama's Boy

Twat waffle

Slinthead

Alby folded his arms, cleared his throat, breaking our insult competition.

"So, quite the little talk we had yesterday."

My heart started pounding. I had no idea what to expect from Alby now. I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to hide the shaking.

"Uh ... yeah, I remember." Thomas said nervously.

"I saw what I saw, you two. It's kinda fadin', but I ain't never gonna forget. It was terrible. Tried to talk about it, somethin' starts choking me. Now the images are fading, the details disappearing...like that same somethin' doesn't like me remembering all the details."

I didn't see that part, but judging by Thomas fear and panic I felt...it must have been awful.

Despite fearing an answer, I knew I had to ask the next question. So swallowing hard, and anxiously spinning the ring around my finger I asked.

"What was it about me, us? You kept saying you saw us. What was I doing? Why wouldn't I let you leave?"

Alby stared at an empty space in the distance for a while before answering.

"You were with the ... Creators. Helping them or whatever...But that ain't what got me shook up..."

I felt like someone had just dumped ice cold water over me, and punched my stomach. My lungs forgot how to work. Thomas looked about as shocked as I felt.

Helping them? I couldn't form the words to ask what that meant. My mind spun in so many directions.

Alby continued.

"...I hope the Changing doesn't give us real memories...just plants fake ones. Some suspect it. I can only hope. If the world's the way I saw it ..."

He trailed off, leaving an ominous silence.

I was confused, scared, shocked but I wanted answers, I wanted to know.

"Alby, can't you tell me what you saw about me? About Thomas? You said I was HIS favorite...how is he?"

Alby shook his head. "No way, Snips. Ain't gonna risk stranglin' myself again. Might be something they got in our brains to control us-just like the memory wipe."

"Well, if I'm evil, maybe you should lock me back in my room. And throw Tommy in the Slammer... Gally had the right idea.." I said bitterly.

The excitement of possibly finding a way out crumbled. Ben was right. I'm bad and guilty of something horrible.

Alby's face softened, he placed a hand on my shoulder, "Snips...Greenie, you guys ain't evil. You, Thomas, might be a shuck-faced slinthead, but you ain't evil. Snips, your a hot head, but I KNOW you ain't a bad person, you ain't evil. I believe it was something forced, I believe it in my gut. I've watched and seen ya for a year. You definitely ain't evil little Snips."

Alby showed the slightest hint of a smile, a crack in his usually hard face.

"What you two did...riskin' your butts to save me and statin' when Minho ran...that ain't no evil I've ever heard of. Nah, just makes me think the Grief Serum and the Changing got somethin' fishy about 'em. For your sake and mine, I hope so. At least the Serum I got. Snips yours and Gally's memories seem... different. You'll be okay ..."

I felt the weight of fear and doubt lift off my shoulders, I felt so relieved that Alby thought I was okay. I smiled, feeling tears sting my eyes. I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around Alby. He has always been my biggest supporter and always believed in who I was as a person, and my abilities, he understood my hardships as a lone girl. I squeezed him tight when he hugged me back. Trying to put all my words if thanks and affection into this one hug. He patted my back gently.

"Okay Snips." He chuckled softly, but it sounded sad. He pulled back, keeping me at arms length.

"I have this new Greenie Girl to meet, and let out. I was told she's...very different from you."

"Yeah I'm just mean and I'll swing a fist. You get what you see. She is manipulative and a bitch. Be careful with her. My advice? Keep her locked up."

Thomas was actually nodding his head in agreement. Alby sighed and ran a hand down his face.

"Lokk guys-"

A fightend Winston slid to a stop beside us.

"Guys! Guys!" He panted. His eyes were frantic, he was breathing heavily

"What's wrong?" Thomas asked.

"The...the doors aren't closing!"

"Shuck." Thomas and I said together.

_____________________________________________

*Dun dun dun- ominous music **