"ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ."

*Ria's POV:*

As I walk towards the hut, I watch the boys work as I pass. Gally is over with the builders, showing the newest greenie, Frank, how to put together the wood to make a door frame. The both of them on a ladder. I pass, giving a slight smile to Gally who returns it. 

Then comes the med hut where Clint and Jeff are talking to Newt, laughing as Clint wraps Newts ankle. An attempt to support the injury in a world of pain and suffering. I wave, giving them a smile which all three return. 

Finally, I come up on the hut. I walk in, stepping down to Alby who sits on the bottom "step"

"What are you doing all broody?" I ask, my voice surprising him. 

"God every time you or Newt begin to talk I'm not sure which one it's really going to be." Alby laughs out

"Would you it rather have been Newt?" I ask with a laugh throwing a hand up to my chest in mock offense. 

"No, no I was just going over the maps. I- I don't think I want him to see these..." Alby says trailing off

Walking over to him, I crouch in front of the maps he's holding in his hands. "Why? They're just maps of the maze. I even drew that one." I say, pointing to one of the maps. 

Alby pauses for a second, looking into my eyes like he's debating telling me something. He breaks the silence with a sigh. "Look closer" He says nodding toward the maps in his hands. 

Looking from the maps to him and then back to the maps I slowly take them from his hands.  lay them down on the dirt floor. Spreading them out, I see exactly what I thought I would. The sections of the maze. It's then that I realize something. Gently I shuffle all of the papers into one stack. 

Smoothing them out, I realize that they've created the maze. Each drawing slightly aligns over itself. I sit back, shocked. "It's all there. It's already mapped out." I gasp "That's- this is it..." I say unable to tear my eyes away from the maps. 

Alby gently puts a hand on my shoulder, letting it rest there for a second before he stands. "Minho should be back soon, when he gets back I'll have him come see you. Take as much time as you need..." Alby says before beginning to walk away. 

I stand, holding the papers in my hand. "No." I say, looking up from the papers finally. When I do my eyes meet Alby's. "No, it's alright there's no need to have him talk to me I'm sure we'll talk about it sometime." I say

"Ria, this took me weeks to grasp. It- it's not an easy thing to get over." He says

"And that's why we're not going to tell anyone else in the Glade." I say, and Alby nods 

"If everyone knew they would give up work, their hope, everything." 

"And the reason the three of us hasn't given up hope is because we still might be able to find something."  I say 

Alby smiles, a laugh on his lips "That's exactly what Minho said." He says, before turning and walking back to the door and heading out. 

I smile despite all that I've learned. The maze has never been easy, and the idea that we would just get out at some opening in the end doesn't make any sense. For this crazy world at least. I fold the papers up, carrying them with me out of the hut. 

The sun is falling, casting a golden glow across the Glade. "Beautiful isn't it?" Newt asks coming up behind me. 

"It really is" I say "It's-" I pause, embarrassed 

"What?" He asks, interest sparkling in his eyes 

"Does it ever feel like maybe peace isn't a thing, but if it was it would be the way the sun glows even when everything kind of sucks?" I ask "I know it sounds a bit stupid..." I laugh

"Ria, that's not stupid. It's called having hope." He says, and I smile 

"Thank you Newt" I say sincerely, catching him off guard at how intense the conversation got

"For what?" 

"You came up in that box only two months after Alby. Somehow, despite being here just as long as all of us you manage to hold us all together." 

"Ria, the only reason this place hasn't fallen apart is because we have a good leader."

"Alby is-" I begin but Newt's laugh throws me off, it's full and sincere. 

"Alby is a wonderful leader when you leave to help the runners map the maze but even he knows you are the one that made the rules and know how to survive better than anyone here. You taught everyone here how to do their job, that's why we haven't all died." 

I smile up at him, and he pats me on the back knocking me forward slightly. "Come on now, it's about dark. The new Greenie deserves his celebration even if he is a bit of an ass." Newt laughs, and I laugh along with him. Knowing he's right. 

"To another one of the family!" I yell "And to Gally's recipe for getting us all just tipsy enough!" I laugh out lifting my drink to the sky. "Let's light it up!" I yell as Alby throws the first stick into the fire. The rest of the boys follow him throwing their own into the fire, causing the fire to escalate. 

"Min min!" I shout, making my way over through the crowd of loud boys. He looks up from his food, standing up he embraces me into a hug. 

"We missed you out there today little Ri" 

"I'm not that small" I pout, folding my arms "You all are just super tall" I say jumping up and reaching into the sky. 

He smiles, before pulling me to the side. My head is foggy, but everything is okay now. "Ria?" He asks, snapping me from my thoughts 

"Hmm?" I ask

"You've never had this much to drink at these, why now?" He asks

"I know" I say after trying my best to pull myself together "I know about the maze, that we've mapped some of it. I'm just getting some stress out. I need it this time." I tell him 

He nods, before leaning over and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "It'll be alright Ria, we're a family we'll all get through this together" He says 

"Thanks older brooooo" I jokingly slur, with a laugh before running back into the fray of boys and finding Gally. Before I leave though I vagally hear Minho mumble something about me being really drunk. 

I debate getting another drink from Gally, but decide not to. Soon after a shout rises up from the crowd. At first I think someone has shouted for the celebration, one that my mind tells me I should end soon, but I soon figure out that the shout was one of anger. The fire, and the alcohol have disoriented me so when Frank tackles me I'm too surprised to even shout. 

Seconds later, boys are pulling him off and then suddenly those boys are being hit by other boys. Soon, fights have broken out and Frank has landed several punches on my face. I kick upward, finally coming to as Franks hand lands right next to my face. 

I get up, dumping a cold bucket of water over my head. It doesn't sober me up, and it's not comfortable but I'm thinking more clearly now. Frank runs at me, and this time I'm able to dodge him and then grab his arms. Holding them behind his back, I let out a shout 

"Everyone shut the hell up!" I scream, surprising everyone at the sudden loud outburst. I've never raised my voice once with most of these boys. I let go of Franks arms, shoving him towards a group of people who attacked some of the boys trying to help me. 

"Now!" I yell out "What in the hell is this all about!?" 

Several shouts come up from the crowd "Hey!" I interrupt "We have never once acted like this! Things do not and never will work if there is chaos and others hurting others!" I scream, I can feel my face turning red. My breath is running short, as well as the temper I'm holding back on. 

"Maybe if you weren't so damn destructive we wouldn't have this problem" Frank says, from his group of boys. 

I pause, searching his face "Frank, you're new here why? Why question things when this is the only security you have while not even remembering anything?" I ask

"Because, I come to this shit hole of a place and now all of the sudden I have a girl giving me orders like I'm some pet." 

"I haven't even talked to you, ya shank!" I shout 

"That's my point" He says, his voice lowering. Conviction enters his tone the next time he opens his mouth "I think we should have a way to challenge leadership. I challenge you Maria" Frank says 

"Don't do this Frank..." I say

"Why?!" He shouts furiously "Why?! Because you said so!?" He asks "My life's gone, I can't even remember my own name! We had to make one up for the time being!"

Out of the corner of my eye I watch as a small group of boys surround us. "Fine, okay Frank..." I say making Minho look at me like I'm crazy. Newt doing the same, the both of them wondering what I'm doing. "How can we solve this?" I ask him, stepping forward, the other boys to my back. "It's between me and you right?" 

Frank looks skeptical for a second, before conceding. "Fine, let's solve it this way. I don't think you're fit to be the leader. You've been around for so long that times have changed. We need someone else." He declares

"Like who, you?" Minho snarks 

Reaching behind me I grab his hand, and give him a look. Letting go, I look back at him "Your point?" 

"You and I. We fight to the last standing, here and now" He says, stamping his foot lightly on the sandy ground. 

"Ria, this isn't smart" Newt whispers "He's the new kid he'll get used to it..."

"How many of you feel there needs to be change?! That I'm not fit to lead anymore?" I shout into the group

The boys surrounding us shout their approval, Frank the leading instigator. "And you boys?" I ask looking at the inner circle "Make your choice, whoever loses tonight will be banished at sundown tomorrow." Several boys look around, but none of them leave. Alby, Newt, Gally, Minho, Winston, Jeff, Clint, Zart, Hampton, Ben Jasper. Several boys from Frank's side look around nervously, but none leave him either.

"What are the rules Frank?" I ask

"Last one to be standing, hand to hand no weapons. No interferences from either of our sides." He shouts out for everyone to hear. 

"Sounds fair" I say, shedding my jacket and throwing it to the ground, slipping off my shoes at the same time. Pulling my hair into a ponytail, I grin. Taking my first step into the sandy ring that night. 

"Anything to say before we start?" He asks with a sly grin, the left half of the circle surrounding us laughs.

"Your fly's undone." I say, standing up a little straighter. He glances down but that's all the time I need. I sprint forward quickly, swiping his feet out from under him. Causing him to hit the ground hard. 

Hissing with anger he stands, "Anything to say?" I ask, mocking him. This time it's my side who laughs.

He catches me in the face with his right fist next. It makes me groan rubbing my jaw, I look up at him smirking. Perhaps a bit punch happy. I swing my left fist, but he catches it. Raising his knee he knees me in the side. I hit the ground on my knee hard. Spitting blood into the sand, I stand back up. This time I'm able to hit him where the sun doesn't shine, all the boys on both sides groan with him. 

With a slight smirk, I make him stand back up before punching him in the stomach. He catches himself from falling. This goes on for what seems like forever, but common sense wins me over. It can't have even been more than thirty minutes. Thirty minutes, and now Frank's flat on his back. His chest heaving either with anger or exertion I can not tell. 

Franks side looks sheepish when I look at them. Making eye contact with each. "He's been down for more than ten seconds" I say quietly. Splitting my lip back open, the alcohol leaving my system when it's the best time for it to stay.

"I won't banish you with him, I know what the Maze can do to people" I say to the group of boys, and I can tell their shoulders relax, but some still look conserved as though I may take back what I said at any second. "But I will never again trust you." I tell them 

I turn, limping towards the edge of the sand pit. A shout comes from Alby, and the boy's eyes in front of me widen with fear. 

Twisting around, I'm immediately tackled by Frank. A knife glinting in the moonlight. He's broken one of his own rules. No fighting with weapons. With a scream he runs it into my chest. 

I watch as though I'm not in my own body as Alby lets out a shout, tackling Frank off of me. The boys who were supposed to be on his side don't even move. Too stunned to do anything. 

As my vision begins to blur I watch as Clint and Jeff's faces appear in my line of sight. Newt is holding my head in his lap. Minho holding onto my hand. They're both saying something, but I can't make out what it is. The world is beginning to go silent, my vision blurring. 

Finally, darkness 

𝟚,𝟛𝟡𝟚 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤