It was almost time. Newt had come with a change of shirt and fresh bandages, for Alex's side. She changed her shirt, much to the pleasure of Minho.

"Get over yourself Shuck face. Tes, can you help me re-wrap this quickly?"

"Come on Sunshine!" He pouted.

"Slim it."

Minho just smirked at her and winked. Alex rolled her eyes, Teresa just giggled awkwardly while she helped Alex wrap her side.

"Well, Tommy, I guess it's about bloody time, so pretend you're still passed out." She instructed. Tommy lay down and rolled to face the wall.

She turned thoughtfully to Minho, "Will they try and banish you Min? They didn't let you out..but I guess you volunteered to be here, so I guess you drew your line in the sand.." Alex said.

Minho shrugged as Gally's goons showed up. They seemed a little hesitant. Alex narrowed her eyes at them, and folded her arms across her chest.

"I knew builders weren't bright..but I thought you guys would be smarter than this. But get on with it. We don't have all bloody day..Don't back out now, you shuk cowards."

They unlocked the doors, "Minho, Gally is giving you one last chance..."

Minho raised an eyebrow, "Really? Now why would his eyebrowed majesty do such a generous thing?" He sassed.

The boys shrugged. Alex turned to Minho, her back to the door and she breathed only for him and Teresa to hear, "Do it. Makes it easier. Get a weapon."

Minho's face dropped to stone, his eyes hardened. He stepped up to her and kissed her quickly. "I love you Alex. But I'm sorry, I don't want to be banished."

He walked past her and climbed out, without a backwards glance. The builders watched him walk away shocked. Alex's face was hard, her teeth grinding and narrowed her eyes watching Minho's back. The builders cautiously looked back at the girls and Thomas who still lay facing the wall, pretending to be passed out. They grabbed Teresa and pulled her out, wrapping a rope around her wrists. They hesitated and then tried to grab Alex, but she smacked one guys hands. And grabbed the other twisting him and pulling his arm back behind his back while she held him by the collar.

"Touch me again and I will break your fingers." She growled. They backed off, knowing she was serious, she pulled the guys arm a little making him yelp.

"Okay! Okay "

Alex let go and shoved him forwards.

"I'll follow, but don't even think about touching me with your treacherous hands." Alex snapped.

They just backed up, and 2 other boys jumped into the slammer and grabbed Thomas.

The builder Alex grabbed led them towards the West door, rubbing his sore shoulder. The group headed towards where Gally was waiting with the rest of the remaining Gladers. She saw 3 poles staked into the ground, right in front of the door.

Well, this is a new development..

She could see Newt, who nodded discreetly at her. She saw Frypan, who she could see he had just about every kitchen knife stuffed into his belt. She made eye contact with Minho, who let a cocky smirk grace his face for a second. She winked at him.

Man that sexy smirk of his.

She saw Chuck and Matt creeping along the deadhead trees, carrying all the weapons, Bark at their heels.

"This is such a waste." Gally frowned with his arms crossed, glaring at the girls.

"I know right?" Alex mouthed off, raising an eyebrow at him, as the guys dropped Thomas onto the ground. The guy holding Teresa's rope tied her rope to the pole, above her head.

"Why isn't she tied up?" Gally demanded.

"Oh they tried. But unlike you, my threats are actually threatening." There were a few chuckles from the Gladers. Alex smirked at him.

"Isn't that right, Harry? How's that shoulder?" She asked, with mack concern, Harry's face burnt with humiliation.

"Gally... It doesn't feel right, man." Frypan called from the crowd.

"Yeah, what if Thomas and Alex are right? Maybe they can lead us home." Winston said, skeptically.

Gally rounded on him, anger flashing over his face. "We are home. Okay? I don't wanna cross any more off that wall!" Spit was flying from his mouth.

"You think banishing us is solving anything?" Teresa asked.

"No." He simply said, turning back to the girls. He continued in a calmer voice, "But this isn't a banishing. It's an offering."

"What? Wait!" Theresa panicked, her eyes darted to Alex. Who just raised her eyebrows at Gally.

"Gally, what are you doing?" Someone from the crowd called.

Gally rounded on the crowd of Gladers again, anger twisting his face. "You think Imma' let Thomas and Alex back into the maze after what they've done? Look! Look at our Glade! This is the only way. And when they get what they came here for... everything goes back to the way it was."

Alex scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Are you seriously listening to this? How will things go back to the way they used to be? You want to live behind giant stone prison walls and be hunted by monsters the rest of your sorry shank lives? We all know there is a way home. These doors won't close. Sure, the Grievers will come get the three of us... but they will come back for you too. Gally, this isn't our home, you shuck face. It never was and never will be."

"Why are you all just standing there? He's crazy!" Teresa yelled at the crowd.

"You shut up. Gally pointed at her.

"Oh please." She rolled her eyes again.

Gally was nothing but a big bully who was scared of change, and Alex showing up was all the change he could handle. She ignored him and looked at the boys watching, making eye contact with them all.

"If you stay here, they are going to come back. They'll come back, and they'll keep coming back... until we're all dead! But you already know that." She said evenly. She knew the creators were going to eventually kill them all.

"Shut up! Tie them up!" Gally screamed, turning to his goons, gesturing to Alex and Thomas. They hesitated when Alex raised her eyebrow at them.

"I dare you." Alex challenged. She would make good on her threat.

"Did you hear me? I said tie them up!" Gally screamed again.

"Oh they heard you all right. They're just a bunch of cowards and my threat is a real one. I'll brake bones if they touch me."

"DO IT NOW!" Gally screamed, more spit flying from his mouth.

Two guys went to grab Alex and another 2 went to grab Thomas off the ground. Alex saw Thomas jump up and elbow one guy in the face. Mike's hands flew to his face letting go of the spear he was holding. Thomas grabbed it and hit the other guy in the stomach with the end of it. He turned so his back was facing the entrance, holding the point of the spear towards Gally.

Simultaneously, Alex grabbed one of the arms reaching for her, she spun on her heel so her back was facing his stomach. She flipped him over her shoulder. She had to duck to avoid the fist flying at her, but she spun around and kicked the guy in the back of the knee, sending him flat on his stomach on the ground.

Frypan had rushed forward and cut the rope holding Teresa. He handed her an extra long kitchen knife. Chuck and Matt sprinted from the cover of the trees, along with a limping Bark. Matt tossed Alex her bow and a quiver of arrows. Chuck moved into the small pack of Gladers in front of the maze door. In a swift movement she swung the quiver onto her shoulder.

Alex had to duck again, avoiding another fist. She spun on her knee at the same time, nocking an arrow, raising the readied bow, pointing it at Gally and his goons. Newt had knocked out another one of Gally's guys and made his way over to the small group of escapees. Minho had taken his machete from his pack and held it at the back of Gally's neck. Gally froze. Minho slowly circled around him, keeping the point touching his neck, until they were face to face. He cocked an eyebrow. Gally's eyes held nothing but pure hatred. Minho slowly backed up into the group, beside Alex. Keeping the blade ready.

"Slick moves Babe. It was pretty hot." He smirked, not taking his eyes off Gally.

"What can I say? I'm a total badass." She smirked right back, also not taking her eyes off the group in front of her.

"You're all full of surprises, aren't you?" sneered Gally.

"You don't have to come with us, but we are leaving. Anyone else who wants to come, now is your last chance." Thomas called.

"Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you-" Gally tried to calm the crowd of Gladers.

Alex cut him off, "No! We're not TRYING to scare you. You're already scared. I'm scared. Tommy is scared! But I'd rather risk my life out there than live the rest of it in here!"

Thomas nodded and continued, "We don't belong here. This isn't our home. We were put here. We were sent here. At least, out there we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that. Alex knows that! Newt and Minho know that."

"Even Alby knew that, in the end. His last words were: Get out." Alex added, gravely.

Winston hesitated and walked forward, along with Jeff and Clint who was supporting Pedro. In the end, about 40 Gladers joined their group. Only leaving Gally, and his builders.

"I'm sorry, Gally, it's over." Alex looked at Gally. She saw the fear behind his stone exterior. She wasn't sure if it was the possibility of him being controlled again, like before, or if his fear was from his memories...or he was just a coward, but she tried one more time, she didn't want anyone left behind here, this was a horrible place and anyone who stayed was guaranteed a gory and gruesome death.

"Gally...Just come with us." She pleaded.

"Good luck against the Grievers." he sneered at them and turned away.

The crowd of Gladers waited by the door for a second, organizing weapons.

"Someone should give a pep talk." Minho suggested.

"Well, go ahead." Newt encouraged, amused. Minho frowned for a second, thinking. He straightened up, put his hands on hips, puffed his chest out and looked at the guys.

"Be careful." he said as dryly as possible, "don't die."

Alex actually face palmed with a snort of laughter.

Such a Minho thing to say.

Newt rolled his eyes. "Great, we're all bloody inspired!"

Minho looked at him, crossed his arms. "You wanna do better? Floors yours." He stepped back beside Alex.

"I was inspired babe" Alex whispered, leaning in.

"Thank you. I thought it summed everything up nicely." He shrugged, with a small smirk. Newt banged the butt of his spear on the ground. All eyes turned to Newt.

"Like Alex said before, after more than 2 years of being treated like mice...no more! NO SHUCKEN MORE! Tonight we're making a stand! Right now we are taking the fight back to the creators! No matter what we have to go through to get there! This ends NOW! And they better be scared!"

Alex let out a loud battle cry, which was followed by the others cheering, and yelling. They grew so loud it sounded like a whole army, ready to fight to the death. And not 45 scared teenagers.

While Alex lifted her bow into the air yelling, Minho took a moment to look at her. She turned her head meeting his eyes. The world around them faded, it was just the 2 of them. Nothing else mattered. She dropped her arm to her side. Alex turned to face him. He mirrored her actions. His eyes taking in everything about her. Alex's eyes flicked over his face, too. Memorizing every scrap, every curve of his face, every detail. It hit her, this could be the last time she could see him. She choked back a cry that rose up. She flung her arms around him, pushing down the rising anxiety and fear of possibly losing him.

"Minho. I love you!"

He wrapped his strong arms around her waist lifting her toes off the ground.

"I love you too Sunshine." He gave her a squeeze, then whispered "Please be careful. Don't act the hero." He whispered into her ear. He moved his head to place his forehead on hers, "Please Alex. I know how much you want to get everyone out safe and whole, but..." he sighed sadly, "Just use your shuck brain..and...and come back to me." He said softly. Alex looked into his warm brown coffee coloured eyes.

"Cross my heart," she murmured. He cupped her face and kissed her, possibly for the last time. It was a quick kiss, but it was full of passion and feeling. All their concern, worry, love, care and anxiety crammed into one kiss. They pulled away as the cheering died down.

"INTO THE MAZE! WE RUN!" Thomas cried from the front.

"After you babe" Minho bowed. She grabbed his hand and they turned to face the maze. Together. Alex whistled for Bark, and the three ran into the maze helping lead the rest of the Gladers to freedom.