Minho woke me up the next Morning, like always. Today though I would be adding one more thing to my routine. I quickly made my way back to my own room where I dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, I tied on my boots and made sure my machete was strapped on before leaving and meeting Minho by the door. Minho kissed my temple before jogging off as I made my way to the wall where I tallied the day, but instead of going to the kitchen I moved along the wall to another portion. Names I've etched into the wall once every month, and occasionally had to scratch through. Slowly I draw my machete and spell out the name 'Thomas' in neat lines. I blow away the bust every so often and retrace the lines before the letters are seeable. When I find it acceptable I sheath my machete and take a step back to admire the wall, I nearly jump out of my skin when footsteps approach.

"You did all this?" Thomas questions, I simply nodded with a small smile. "You would think it would drive one insane to keep track of this. I suppose it would in a way, if they felt hopeless but still counted everyday and every person. But it keeps me going, knowing that one day when we get out we leave this behind to show anyone who finds it, that it's possible to escape no matter how much time passes and how many sacrifices it takes." I whisper. "Hey (y/n)?" He questions, I hum still looking over the wall. "Why is this name so marked up?" He asks pointing to one name in particular, "Mmm that was the boys doing, Justin was banished to the Maze for not so pleasant reasons. Gally or someone else must have still felt a little spiteful and came back here in hopes to mark his name off the wall completely. But everyone knew, even more now because it's more noticeable than the rest." I sigh.

"Was it because of rule number four?" He questions, "smart boy," I smirk. "Yes, he's the reason we actually have a rule number four actually." I muse. "But...Why? You're so nice" He whispers, "Did Newt ever tell you about how he became second in command?" I question, "No, the only thing he's ever even told me about you is that your one of the first. You put this all together and keep it going. That you belong to everyone and I should protect you rather than hit on you. He did call me shank at the end though." He shrugs. A laugh fell from my lips as I shook my head, "Well, a little insight on Newt is that I used to be Second. I gave it to Newt though, I felt he was better at it than I was. He still is." I smile. "Your kidding," He gasps, I laugh harder at his reaction, "I'm most definitely not." I smirk. "That doesn't really explain...Rule four. Actually it kinda contradicts it." He mumbles in thought, "When I was Second I had a certain level of respect that came with it, when I handed it over to Newt..." I sigh. "He questioned your worth." Thomas finished, "You certainly are smart, you would make a good runner if you knew how to actually run." I muse. "So did he like, try to exile you or something?" He asks, "He raped me." I spoke simply. Thomas flinched at my harsh words, but they were the truth. The cold. Hard, Truth.

"Minho found me in the Deadheads not long after it happened," I whisper, "Him and Gally," I breathe in a soft bitter laugh, "I'm still surprised he actually made it to the banishment with those two running around." I sigh. "I don't have to worry about you getting banished do I?" I question teasingly, but Thomas jumps and sputters all kinds of gibbish to try and answer, "Relax," I soothe. "I'm only pulling your leg, you're a smart one Thomas. Use it right and you'll do great." I smile, Thomas shifts slightly like he wanted to say something. I raised my eyebrow prompting him to do so, "Alby said I'm different because I'm curious." He breaks. I hum and nod, "But it's the curiosity that makes you smart Thomas. It's not wrong to be curious, it's not wrong to wonder. It's that kind of thing that could get us out, but you have to be careful. Don't get anyone hurt and don't put anyone's life in danger." I warn. "But what if it was a needed risk?" He questions, "Then it's needed, what I'm saying Thomas is don't put anybody in UNnecessary jeopardy." I clarify. "You'll learn that with time, and if you're able to make it as a Runner then you'll understand twice as much." I smile patting his shoulder before making my way to the kitchens.

The runners are just finishing their breakfast as I get there, "Where have you been?" Frypan huffs. "Ably sent the Greenie to me to have a heart to heart." I muse. "Mmmhmm alright." He hums, raising a doubtful eyebrow, I roll my eyes and help final preparations for the Runners lunch. With each lunch ready I hand them out with a kiss to each runner's head. With the Runners headed out I start preparations for Glader breakfast, after breakfast was done and served I moved on to my duties as a Med-Jack. I healed one or two slicers and a builder before I moved to help with lunch. However in the mist of cooking I hear screaming. Without so much as questioning it I drop what I'm doing and start running, I run to the screams without so much as thinking what could possibly be wrong. Arriving at the source my eyes widen to find Ben over the top of Thomas.

"Ben get off of him this instant!" I demand, Ben's head snaps up and I nearly gasp at the sight of him. He's pale, deathly pale, with dark eyes and veins. With his attention directed at me Newt takes the opportunity to hit him over the head with a shovel. I rush over to him as his body is knocked to the side, One of the boys pulls me back until the others pin him down. Slowly I inch my way over to him, "What happened?" I questioned. No one said a word, "I said WHAT happened." I repeated sternly. The boys around me flinched at my tone, it's not often I have to use it. "I...I don't know he just attacked me." Thomas stutters, I let out a stressed sigh and moved away as I run a hand through my hair. "Alby," I call out with pained eyes, Alby recognized my look as easily as I recognized Ben's symptoms. "NO! NO! MA! NO! PLEASE!" He cries, "Alright lift his shirt." Alby demands. I grit my teeth and move closer preparing for the worst, and the worst I got. A sting hole the width of a bottle cap lays punctured in Ben's abdomen surrounded by red and black veins. I lean my head back, "Klunck," I curse softly as I blink away tears. "He's been stung? In the middle of the day?" Gally questions, "Was he supposed to be in the Maze?" I demand. But no one bothers to answer as they stare at the wound, I can't bring myself to look at him as Ben begs for me to help him. "Alby." I call but receive no answer, "ABLY!" I snap, The said boy finally looks at me before nodding hurriedly. "Take him to the pits," He decides, I hold my breath as Ben cries, kicks, and begs when he's dragged away. Only when he's out of sight do I exhale but I still can't breathe easily when I can still hear his voice.

I run a hand through my hair as I walk away, the gathered boys quickly clear out of the way of my path as I move back to the kitchen to finish lunch and I do so in silence. The day was quiet until the runners came back. As soon as I caught sight of Minho I went right up to him, before he spoke a word I took him by the front of shirt and DRAGGED him to the map rooms. "Minho you have to tell how the hell this happened." I hiss, "I don't even know (y/n), Ben wasn't running with me today." He sighs crossing his arms and leaning against the model of the Maze. "KLUNK! SHUCK IT ALL!" I scream, throwing my hands in the air, "Hey it's going to be okay." Minho calls. "No it's not Minho, I barely survived the last banishment." I huff, Minho didn't answer only pulled me into a hug.

We stood there like that for a while, I'm not sure how long, but by the time we made it back to everyone else it was almost time for the doors to close. So Everyone got ready, I got dressed in the dress that I first arrived in. A custom I put into play when banishments of these sorts came to light. Keepers and the two commands stood ready with their poles, other Gladers guarded the side with their own, as I...as I stood with the commands unarmed. Minho went to fetch Ben, I could hear them before I could see them. I closed my eyes just as they came in sight, I prepared myself as they approached. When I hear them just in front of me I open my eyes, my heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach at the sight. But I held back tears as I followed Minho through the barricade, Minho made him kneel in front of the door.

Slowly I circle around to face Ben, "Ma please." He whispers. "I know Ben, Its going to be okay." I whisper back. "I can get better," He whimpers, carefully I brush my fingers over his forehead before leaning down and placing one last kiss to his forehead, as I pull away the sounds of the door's gears turn. Minho gestures for me to leave but I don't. I simply walk behind the both but not leaving from inside the barricade. Minho looks back at me before cutting the restraints on Ben, he then takes the bag of one day's supplies and walks to the door. Minho looks to Alby this time and he must have gotten the okay because he then tosses the bag into the Maze. Ben continues to beg and plead, I keep my jaw locked tight from making any noise and keep my eyes trained open in fear if I blink tears with fall.

Minho makes his way over to me before easing me out of the barricade, as soon as we're out Alby calls for the poles. I grip Minho's hand tightly as I watch, I force myself to, knowing one day I might have to witness worse. Even still I hold Minho's hand in a grip that could put any of these boy's to shame. Eventually the doors start to close more and more, Ben's cries become slurred as final panic sets in. I watched Ben disappear behind the wall, and I heard his cries silenced. It was silence that broke me, I gagged and turned away the twisting of my stomach now unbearable. I dry heave for a moment before my knees give out and I fall to the ground. Worried voices murmured all around me as I still felt Minho's hand in mine while his other hold my hair in case I actually do throw up.

I would much rather throw up, instead globs of salty tears escape my eyes. Globs after globs fall and I use my one free hand to muffle my sob, I gave myself those few moments to greve before I sucked in a deep breath. Carefully, with the help of Minho, I stood to my feet. "Blade." I demand simply, holding my hand out in Minho direction. "(y/n)," He spoke softly, "Minho I said blade." I command. Anything Minho had to say dies in his mouth before he simply reaches down and unsheathes his blade. Slowly I make my way to the wall where I drag my fingers over each name they touch until I find Ben's. I trace my fingers into each little carve gently, as if it would fall apart if I touched too roughly, but it didn't matter in the end. I still etched a line through his name, one straight line across and I was done.

I return Minho's blade to him in his room, only to crawl into bed unable to once again sleep on my own. This time, it isn't only me, Minho laid awake just as much as me. With my back to his chest I run my fingers over his arm he has tossed over me while his free hand gently runs though my hair. I don't recall who fell asleep first or when, all I know is that neither of us thought it was peaceful.