CHAPTER THIRTEEN
( AWAKE )

     "WHY WOULD YOU LET HER do this?" Thomas yells in frustration, slamming his hands against the table. "She wasn't supposed to go in!"

"She asked that it be done." Ava Paige shrugs it off, as if it were nothing. "We made a deal, and she promised to keep her sidelines. I'm very sorry, Thomas. But she's gone now."

"No." Thomas states harshly, his eyes dark with fury. "She isn't gone, and you aren't going to do anything to her. Send me up."

"It was a difficult decision," Ava sighs. "But it's what's best for all of us. She didn't want you to be alone."

"Now she's alone." Thomas says. "And after Trial 1 is complete, you won't want her anymore."

"Ah, ah, ah." Ava shakes her head. "Don't get angry with me, Thomas. We'll always want Grace. She is a key part of Trial 2 now. We need her, in order for this operation to succeed."

"Send me up," Thomas demands. "As soon as possible. I have to see her again."

"Under what circumstances, hmm?" Ava raises an eyebrow. "You want to be sent into the test zone for her, only to forget everything. You won't remember her, Thomas. I want you to understand that. Can't you just hold off for a while? Before the month is over?"

"No. I want to go. Even if I do lose every memory of her."

"And what about Teresa?"

"Teresa isn't Grace." Thomas whispers. "She never has, and she never will be."

With one last glance at Ava, Thomas leaves the room.

___♕___

3rd Person P.O.V.

"Why isn't she waking up?" Thomas stresses, staring down at a limp Grace. Her petite and pale body lay still, her breathing sounding too soft. "It's been two hours."

"I don't know." Newt sighs. "I wish I did."

"Maybe Marco was right," Alby clenches his fists. "This has only been happening to Grace. There's something going on here, that we don't know about."

"Alby, what are you implying?" Minho asks, stepping into the conversation.

"Maybe she's a part of this," Alby says, glancing at all of the boys in the room. "Wouldn't it make sense?"

"No." Newt sends a glare at him. "It wouldn't make sense. She has nothing to do with the Creators."

"Then what the hell is happening? Huh?" Alby asks through gritted teeth. "You saw what she carved into the walls. How do you explain that?"

"A coincidence." Thomas answers. "It's the only possibility."

"Shut your hole, Greenie!" Alby snaps, his anger getting higher by the moment. "This doesn't concern you."

"Yes, it does," Thomas interjects. "I want to find out what's going on, too."

"I think we should just calm down, alright?" Newt sighs. "We just need to wait this out- see what happens next."

"And what happens if next time it isn't the wall, huh?" Alby fumes. "What if it's a Glader? Newt, we can't have someone as dangerous as Grace running around the Glade. Someone get get seriously injured."

"So what are you expecting us to do?" Minho questions, eyeing Alby suspiciously. "You can't . . . no, Alby. We aren't-"

"Yes, we will. If we have to." Alby sighs. "If it comes to that, I won't hesitate to protect the Gladers. She may be the only girl here, but if she becomes a big enough threat, I will banish Grace."

"Alby, you can't be serious." Newt frowns, a saddened expression crossing his features. "She hasn't done anything. Someone's controlling her."

"Who is that, Newt?" Alby turns to the blonde-haired boy. "The shuck Creators? There's gotta be a reason for this. But if there isn't anything we can do, we have to let her go. For the sake of everyone else here."

___♕___

"She shouldn't be here," Wesley says loudly, his facial expression darkening. "She could kill us at easy moment."

"Wes, you know what the risks are for us?"

"I do understand that we could be banished for this. But I don't care about that. I'd rather be dead than having her run around here like she has been."

"Why do you want her dead, anyway?" Sam's eyebrows furrow. "What has she done to you?"

"She sent us here." Wesley replies shortly, his voice growing deep. "She did this to us, Sam. And I'm not going to shove it away like it's nothing. I know what she's done. She won't get away with it. Not on my watch, anyway."

"Fine," Sam lets out a breath. "Tell me the plan."

"It's simple." Wesley snorts. "Haven't I told you before? All we have to do is kill her. I'm thinking that we could hide her where nobody will think to look."

"Alby, Newt, Gally, and Minho know the Glade like the back of their hand. How will you hide her?"

"The Maze." Wesley answers, a smirk tugging at the corner of his cracked lips. "No one will look for her there."

___♕___

Grace's P.O.V.

"Keep it down," I groan, covering my ears. "You're too loud."

"Oh, thank god," Minho breathes, staring down at me. "You're finally awake."

"Yeah, I understand that." I open my eyes, only to roll them when coming face-to-face with Minho. "Now can you please get the hell out? I'm trying to sleep here. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to cuddle with my bed."

"Grace, you passed out." Minho scoffs. "You weren't sleeping."

I sit straight up in my spot, thinking back to what happened. Come to think of it, what did happen? I feel as though my memories have been erased- like they did when I came up the box.

The only thing I can remember, is the memory I just had. It was like that was the only thing I could believe was real. It seemed real.

But it could've been a dream.

"Oh," I bite my lip, trying to cover up my worry. "Y-yeah! I remember. Uh, so . . . how's everything going?"

"Not too good." Minho frowns. "After you passed out, Newt, Greenie, Alby, and I had a chat. It's not looking too well, Grace."

"I figured it wouldn't be the best report," I shrug. "I'll just have to live with it though."

"Well, you've missed lunch." Minho places a hand on my arm, helping me from the bed. "I'm sure Frypan has something for ya."

"I'm not hungry," I lie. "But can you take me to Thomas? I need to talk to him."

"You sure?" Concern crosses his facial expression. "Grace, you haven't eaten since yesterday."

"I'm fine." I assure him. "Now take me to the newby."

I hop onto his back, causing him to chuckle. He proceeds to leave the Homestead, heading in the direction of the Gardens. Once Thomas is in eye sight, I stiffen.

Why do I even want to see Thomas?

To tell him about my memories? He'll think I'm crazy. What am I supposed to say about my memories, anyway? It's not clear what was going on between us, before the Glade. I'm not sure if I want to find out either.

"Tommy boy!" Minho yells, keeping his pace. "Get your shank butt over here. Someone wants to see ya."

Thomas's attention shoots to our direction, dropping his shovel when he sees me. Surprise is evident on his face. Did he think I wouldn't wake up?

He jogs over quickly, his eyes scanning over me. "I see you're awake."

I hop from Minho's back, and lock my arm with his. "Yeah. Minho here was the one who greeted me when I woke up."

"Drove me nuts, this shank." Minho nudges me. He unhooks his arm from mine, just to pull me into a side hug. "But I don't think we'd make it without her 'round here. Anyway, she wanted to talk to you, Tommy."

"Me?" Thomas asks, raising his eyebrows at me.

"Yeah," I smile. "Who else would put up with me?"

"Actually, Newt would." Minho says, looking down at me with a wink. "I think he has a thing for you. He's been worryin' 'bout ya since the first incident."

"You're stupid," I roll my eyes. "Newt doesn't have a thing for me. Now can you leave me alone?"

"Sure thing," Minho ruffles my hair. I let out a frustrated growl as he runs away, finally leaving me be.

I huff, and comb my hair with my fingers, before turning back to Thomas. "We need to go somewhere private. Because I need to have a serious conversation with you."

"Lead the way."

_______