"ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ ɪɴʜᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ʀɪꜱᴋʏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ʙɪɢ ʀɪꜱᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴄᴏꜱᴛꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪꜱᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ." 

*Ria's POV:*

The next morning when I wake up my head is clearer and I don't hurt as much. I stand from my bed, stretching gently. When I turn back to my bed to pull up the sheet and pix my pillow I spot the picture of Thomas and I. 

Grabbing it I tuck it in my pocket, before making my bed and walking out the door. After going to the med hut to get my stomach re-wrapped I walk across the Glade towards the smell of food. "Thanks Fry" I say with a smile which he returns. His face lit up by the early morning sun. "Hey boys" I greet as I sit down next to Gally

"Hey Ria" Newt says kindly next to Alby 

"Thomas and Minho gone already?" I ask looking around the tables and benches my eyes unable to find the two. 

"Yeah, Minho got Thomas out early" Gally grumbles, and as much as I try I can't help but crack a smile. 

"I'll have to talk to him about it Galls." I say seriously trying to put his mind to rest when I see the crease in his eyebrows. (Omg stop guys stop. I'm not going to make an eyebrow joke) 

"Yeah shank smooth those lovely eyebrows out and eat your food. We've got work to do today." Alby says, no one dares breath for fear of laughing. 

After breakfast I wander around the Glade for a bit before finally stopping at the gardens where Newt is. Bending down I begin to pick weeds from in between the plants. When Newt sees me however he seems to have a bloody heart failure. 

"Ria! " He protests "Go get some bloody rest please?" He asks coming over, offering me a hand off the ground. I slap it away as hard as I can without hurting him. 

"Newt, I've got nothing to do. Let me help, I might just be tempted to run the maze if I get bored enough." I say, and knowing that I really would Newt backs off but doesn't go much more than 10 ft from me. 

At the end of the day the sound of the clanging and crashing comes from inside the maze. "My God" I whisper as Newt helps me off the ground. Breaking into a light jog we go over to the entrance of the Maze peering down the corridors. An overwhelming fear overtakes me then. What if they don't make it back, what if I lose them right after I've gotten them back. 

About half an hour later though, the two come running through the maze doors. "What the bloody hell's going on out there" Newt asks

"What the hell have you done now Thomas?" Gally asks 

"We found something, we think it could be our way out." Thomas says breathless

"Really?" Newt asks hopefully 

"It's true we opened a door something I've never seen before. Think it must be where the Grievers go during the day." Minho says just as breathlessly 

"Wait, woah woah." Chuck interrupts jogging to keep up with Minho and Thomas "You're saying you found the Grievers home and you want us to go in?" he asks

"Their way in might be our way out Chuck." Thomas explains 

"Yeah, or" Gally begins "There could be a dozen Grievers on the other side. The truth is Thomas doesn't know what he's done as usual." Gally says angrily

"Gally-" I begin before Thomas cuts me off whipping back around to Gally 

"Yeah well at least I did something Gally. I mean what have you done Gally huh? Aside from hide behind these walls all the time?" He asks getting annoyed 

"Let me tell you something, Greenie. You've been here three days. I've been here three years."

"Yeah you've been here three years, and you're still here Gally!" Thomas shouts, getting closer to him "Alright, so what does that tell you? Maybe you should just start doing things a little differently 

"Maybe you should be in charge huh? What about that Thomas? Maybe you should be in charge" Gally argues 

"Boys!" I say loudly. Getting their attention. "Stop it. We don't have time for your arguing." Gally opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off "No! No more! Thomas." I say addressing him "Go to the mapping hut with Minho, Newt, Alby and Gally. I'll be there in a moment and when I get there I expect there to be absolutely no fighting." I rub my side, the pain flaring once more. 

I sigh, the taste of metallic coming up on my tongue. Ignoring it I look up at the others who have gathered. "The rest of you go over to the meeting room." Once the crowd begins to disperse, Jeff hands me a cup of the same smelling tea. 

"I can't sleep right now Jeff" I say wanting nothing more than that single thing 

"I know, I took that out. This is just for pain. I can see it." He explains 

"Thank you Jeff." I say sipping it as we head towards the meeting room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as I'm finished there I move on to the map room. When I walk in the door some of the boys pop up from the chairs. Gally peers at the map sitting on the table in the middle. It looks as though he hasn't moved for a while. 

"The boys are split between leaving and staying. Lots of them trust you Thomas." I say "I trust you." I admit, making every boys eyebrows shoot up "That being said, I would like to know if you have a plan." I say

Thomas opens his mouth to answer, but soon Clint peers his head in. His  features frantic. "Maria!" He gasps "The doors aren't closing!" He says scared out of his mind 

"What?" I ask tensely, almost running from the map room and back into the Glade. The other boys are behind me, watching the chaos ensue. I run as fast as I can, my pain forgotten to the walls. Right on time comes the screech of a Griever. 

"Everyone go!" Thomas shouts 

"Chuck, take the weapons you can carry and get other people into the meeting room. Go! Do it now!" I shout 

The sound of clicking comes down the concrete floors of the maze. "Run! Come on run!" Thomas shouts once more. A hand on my shoulder pulling me forwards with him. 

We sprint into the tall stalks of corn. Crouching as the sounds of boys screaming reach our ears. 

Suddenly a Griever's talon comes down latching around Zart. I lung forward with a scream but it's too late. He's gone, into the chaos, into the screaming, into death.

"Go," I shout out my voice scratchy "Go!" I shout a little louder we need to get to the meeting hut!" 

Sprinting out of the corn we run as fast as we can towards the hut. Only to be stopped mid way by a Griever. Grabbing a lit lamp I throw it as hard as I can towards the Griever. It catches on fire, and we continue to run. I don't even realize that Thomas' hand is wrapped around my own until Frypan throws a spear at the next Griever to cross our paths. Thomas pulls me into his arms as the Griever stumbles toward us as we move out of its way. He lets me go though when we begin to run again right into the hut. Slamming the door behind us. Chuck and several other boys are already there. 

"Good job Chuck" I whisper giving him a pat on the back. He smiles just a little, probably scared out of his mind. 

The sound of clicking gets closer, and the dust falls from the roof above. Making several of the boys duck trying their best to get as far away as they can from the Griever. 

Suddenly a dagger like talon comes from the roof grabbing the pole holding the building up in the middle. Some of it crashes down and the Griever waits for nothing. Its arm dives into the group of boys dragging them screaming from the hut. 

"Chuck, watch out!" Thomas screams, making it over to Chuck just in time as a Griever wraps its arm around the boys foot. Grabbing a stick originally from the roof I begin to hit the Griever. 

"Hold on Chuck!" Thoms shouts holding on to the young boy for dear life

"No shit!" He screams right before the Griever drops him. 

"Thanks Ria" Chuck whispers, shaking 

"Ria! Watch out!" Alby shouts shoving me out of the way as the Griever arm reaches back in its arm closing its talon right where I was seconds before. Right where Alby is now. 

"Alby!" I scream, Thomas catches his hand as he's dragged out 

I don't hear what he says to him before his hand slips from Thomas's. In seconds Thomas has run out the door. 

"Thomas wait!" Newt protests before several of them run out after him. I follow seconds later once I've realized what's happened. I wish I didn't however. The sight of the Glade is heartbreaking. Most of the buildings are on fire, and we've lost countless boys.

"Who is that?" One of the boys asks from behind me as a silhouette emerges from the smoke. As it gets closer I realize it's Gally. He walks quickly and with purpose, before he comes right up on Thomas. Hitting him so hard in the face he knocks Thomas back to the ground. 

"Woah! Hey!" Minho shouts. He, Newt and Fry shoving him back trying their best to keep him from Thomas

"This is all your fault Thomas!" He screams as Thomas gets up from the ground. Peering at something shining in Chuck's hand. It's too late when I realize what it is. 

"Thomas?" Chuck asks

"I have to remember" He says before shoving the Griever's stinger into his leg. I let out a shout before collapsing next to his writhing body. Newt and Minho doing the same. 

"It's okay Tommy, hold on mate." Newt whispers as Thomas's eyes slide shut. Gently I brush the hair from his face. 

"Damn you" I whisper 

"No more." Gally declares. "We're banishing Thomas at sunup. This shank has to go, and our Glade is proof of it." 

I stand, feeling as one of my stitches pop with the action. I clutch my side in pain as blood begins to spread slowly across my shirt "If you banish him, I'll go with him." Gally looks like I've slapped him before his face shuts down. The emotionless boy I remember all those years ago. 

"Then this is goodbye." He whispers. 

"Jeff go get the cure for this dumb shank." Jeff looks to me and I nod, knowing that he needs it now more than any other time. Gally gestures to one of the boys who came with him. "Put her in the pit" He says nodding to me. 

"What!? No!?" Newt shouts taking a step in front of me. Minho doing the same. 

"If you stand with them, you'll be banished with them." Gally says

"No boys. Not this time." I whisper pressing kisses to their cheeks. "You're my brothers and you won't be banished because of it." I say before walking toward the pit myself. 

Jeff comes over with several other boys who are carrying Thomas. Not so gently they throw him down there near me. "Come here Ria." Jeff says, offering me his hand before pulling me out. "We need to fix that" He says gesturing to the shirt I'm wearing. The wet blood shimmering in the lamp light. 

He works without a word, before I climb back down into the pit as gently as I can. I lit Thomas's head into my lap. Brushing his hair away from his face. I sleep that night, my neck in an odd position but none the less when my eyes open once more the sun has risen and Newt, Minho and Chuck are at the bars. 

"Boys" I greet, my hands resuming its motions with Thomas's hair. 

"Ria" They whisper back, before Thomas groans. His eyes screwing up before they open. He sits up looking around. 

"What. Were. You. Thinking?" Chuck asks as furious as he can get 

"He wasn't" I answer for him, sending him a look. 

"I remember." Thomas says looking between us. "This was never a prison it was a test. It started when we were kid. They'd give us these challenges they were experimenting on us. Then they started disappearing one each month. Like clockwork"

"Sending us up into the maze..." Newt says 

Thomas glances at me, and at the same moment we know exactly what each other is thinking about. I was first. "Yeah," Thomas says "But not all of us." 

"What do you mean?" Newt asks

"Guys I'm one of them. The people who put you here? I worked for them. I watched you guys for years. The entire time you've been here I was on the other side of it. Ria, you were too...in the beginning. Then they sent you up as the very first person in the Glade."

I bow my head, the information isn't new to me. Indeed it's far from it after having rolled around in my brain for several days, but hearing it out loud does something different to me. "Ria, I did this to all of you."

"No, no that's not true" I protest "Why would they send you up if you were with them?" I ask

"It doesn't matter." He replies

"He's right" Newt says "It doesn't matter. ANy of it. Because the people we were before the maze they don't even exist anymore., Those creators took care of that. What matters is who we are now and what we do, now." Newt says looking up from the ground and into the pit. "You went into the maze and you found a way out."

"Yeah but if I hadn't Alby would still be alive." Thomas says 

"Maybe" Newt says softly "But I know if he were here he would be telling you the exact same thing. Pick your ass up and finish what you started. Because if we do nothing, then that mean Alby died for nothing and I can't have that." He says 

"Okay" Thomas relents "Okay, but we have to get through Gally first." 

"Leave that to me." I say, my heart filling with hope once more because of the hazel eyed boy. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As several of the boys I once called friends walk me out to the edge of the Glade near the walls, I watch as they drag Thomas behind us. 

"Gally, you can't seriously think that banishing us will fix anything?" I say

"No, I don't. That's why this isn't a banishing. It's an offering." He says as one of the builders ties my hands above my head to a log. A shout comes from the crowd. Apparently no one knew.

"Get him up!" Gally snaps to the boys who should be dragging Thomas up. "Come on!" He shouts, making them snap into action. In seconds Thomas is up using a stick he smacks them both on the head. Chuck runs forward with supplies, Newt and Minho hold their weapons in front of them as they back up. Minho slices the rope tying my hands. I rub my wrists as we back into a group. Several others joining us. 

"We're leaving!" Thomas shout  "We're leaving and you can come with us. The Griever's will be back!"

"He's just trying to scare you." Gally says to the boys behind him 

"I'm not trying to scare you. You're already scared, I'm scared. But I'd rather risk my life out there than spend the rest of it in here. We don't belong here, this place okay? It isn't our home. We were pt here we were traped her. At least out there we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that." He says, his voice shaking 

"Good luck against the Grievers." Gally says after several boys join us. 

Several boys turn and begin their run into the maze. I turn as Thomas does, running along with him. 

"This way!" He shouts as we get closer and closer to the end of the maze. The parts that led to dead ends "Come on guys keep it up! We're almost there!" He encourages 

Finally we reach a wall each of us plastering our bodies to it as Thomas looks around the corner 

"Is there a Griever?" Chucks asked, fear creeping into his voice 

"Yeah" Thomas admits hesitantly 

"You take this Chuck, stay behind us." Minho says handing Chuck a metal cylinder 

"It's okay Chuck." I tell him "I'll stay with you." 

Thomas looks at me briefly giving me a small smile. "Once we're through this will activate the door and open it. Alright? We stay close, we stick together. We get through this. We get out now, or we die trying." He says "Ready?" He asks, banging his stick on the ground hard 

Several chorus of yeah echos in the group, and Minho pulls out his machete. "Alright! Let's go!" He shouts walking backward into eyeshot of the Griever. Sprinting we crash with the Griever. Shouts are echoing around the area. 

For minutes we push the Griever back and it pushes us back. What feels like an eternal game of tug of war. The Griever swings it's tail becoming angry. It's foot comes down right next to me, pushing me backwards. I swing with all my might with a stick, which only breaks the stick. 

"The key!" Chuck shouts slipping out from the group 

"Chuck be careful!" I shout watching him get closer and closer to the edge. Half of his body hangs over the side as I sprint towards him. Slipping away from the group. 

"It's alright Chuck it's okay!" I say, pulling him up

"Pull me up! Pull me up!!" He shouts as I get him up finally. The both of us standing as Grievers appear from the pit bellow 

"Thomas!" Chuck and I shout at the same time, running back towards the group 

"Chuck, Maria!" He shouts to the two of us, before sprinting towards us. Holding off the Grievers as we run towards the wall. It opens panels before giving us a beeping panel with eight spaces. 

"Eight sections of the maze" I whisper beginning to plug them in, but when I hit the sixth number I hesitate. 

"Minho the sixth rotation!" I shout over my shoulder to the boys. Right before he answers a Griever's claw comes down pulling him into the fray. 

"Minho!" I scream, as Jeff rushes forward freeing Minho from beneath the Griever. In seconds however Jeff is whisked away by a Griever. His screams fade seconds later. 

"It's 8!" He shouts back, all of them backing up further and further. Once the last number is in the circle clicks to a green light. 

The boys push backwards away from the walls that come down with a crash in what used to be the corridor only seconds before. Once that's finished the floor falls out beneath us, and everything becomes dark. Only to have doors open again seconds later. Light flooding my vision. 

"Ria?" Thomas asks, finding me and pulling me up from the floor "You all alright?" He asks, and we nod. We're not okay, but we're still breathing. Walking with me shoulder to shoulder, Thomas and I walk down the long brightly lit hallway. Lights flicker as we go but the only light that doesn't is a sign above a door gleaming in red with one word. 

Exit

"Seriously?" Fry asks from over my shoulder. Pushing the door open Thomas and I walk through. To our right are people on tables, a single circle where their chests are covered in blood. They were killed. I realize. As we continue the blaring sirens and the flickering lights refuse to cease. Glass litters the floor as well as bodies. 

The Gladers spread out around the room, looking at the few screens still lit up with information on one of the Gladers. Walking over to a larger screen, I hit a button. In switches on, miraculously still with power. A woman with blond hair drawn up into a bun comes on the screen. 

"Hello, my name is Dr. Ava Paige. I'm a director of operations at the World Catastrophe Killzone Department. If you're watching this it means you've successfully completed the Maze trials. I wish I could be there in person to congratulate you." She pause, hesitant on what to say next "but circumstances seem to have prevented it. I am sure by now you ,must all be very confused, angry, frightened. I can assure you that everything that's happened to you, everything we've done to you we've done to you was all done to you for a reason. You won't remember but the sun has scorched our world." She says, and the picture switches

When I look over to Thomas's face he's confused. Gently, and as smoothly as I can without disrupting any of the Gladers I grab it. Holding it tightly. I would like to say it's for his benefit, but in all reality I'm just as scared as he is. He looks at our hands, and then to me giving me a brief smile and my hand a squeeze before he turns back to the video and the woman on the screen.

"Billions of lives lost to fire, famine. Suffering on a global scale. The fall out was unimaginable. What came after was worse. We called it the Flare. A deadly virus that attacks the brain. It is violent, unpredictable, incurable. Or so we thought. In time, a new generation emerged that could survive the virus. Suddenly, there was a reason to hope for a cure, but finding it would not be easy. The Young would have to be tested, even sacrificed inside harsh environments where their brain activity could be studied. All in an effort  to understand what makes them different." She says. The screen, her voice, the different images and the idea that someone could sit and watch us for years makes me sick. 

Thomas, seeing this grips my hand a little tighter. Hold on. It's going to be okay. We're almost out. It says in not so many words. 

"What makes you different." She says looking right at us "You may not realize it, but you're very important. Unfortunately, your trials have only just begun. No doubt as you'll soon discover, not everyone agrees with our methods." She continues as scientists behind her begun to scatter around the room. In a frantic rush to leave, and the lights begin to flash. "Progress is slow, people are scared. It may be too late for us, for me, but not for you." She says as the sound of gunfire erupts behind her and the scientist who were once in a hurry drop to the floor dead. 

"The outside world awaits, and remember" She says and bullets hit the glass behind her "WICKD is good." She says, her voice shaking only slightly as the soldier behind her breaks the glass with the butt of his gun and she fires off the gun. Ending her own life.

Thomas whips his head around, unable to watch any more. He tips my head towards him, as I am unable to remove my eyes from the screen. Unable to stop thinking about what happened moments ago. Newt is saying something, and Thomas moves to answer him. Taking my hand he leads me down the stairs. 

"We need to get out of here." I whisper 

"We are Ri," He whispers to me "We are." 

The boys follow us, but suddenly Gally's voice echoes around the room. "No." It says. Thomas and I whip around. I snap out of my daze when I realize he's holding a gun

"Gally?" Thomas asks walking forward 

"No wait...he's been stung." I whisper. Newt and I thinking the same thing, pull him back towards us slightly. 

"We can't leave." Gally whispers, panicked 

"Gally, yeah we can we're right here." Thomas says softly. More so than I've ever heard him address Gally. 

"I belong to the maze now." Gally says, losing the sanity that was once in his eyes. I watch as Minho grips his stick a little tighter 

"Gally, come on just put down the gun." Thomas says, his hands raised. 

"We all do." Gally cries. In a flash Minho throws the stick, hitting Gally in the chest as the gun goes off. On instinct I shove myself in front of Thomas. Chuck is next to me on my left. Half of his body protected behind mine. 

I feel a sharp sting on my right shoulder, as Gally collapses to the floor. "Maria" Chuck asks, and when I turn I realize that I only felt a sting because the bullet hit Chuck in the chest. A few inches and it would've gone into my arm. A life would've been saved and I would've been fine. Thomas is the one to catch him when he goes down. 

He presses his hands to Chuck's chest where the bullet hit. In seconds I'm on the floor next to them. 

"Hey, you're going to be okay." Thomas sobs pressing on his chest as much as he can "It's going to be okay...we're almost out" Thomas sobs "Chuck, look at me alright? We're going to get you out of here." He cries as Chuck wheezes. Wanting for a breath he will not have."Just hang on, it's going to be okay."

"Thomas, Thomas" Chuck whispers, gasping. Grabbing Thomas's arm Chuck reaches into a pocket in his shirt pulling out a figurine. I don't know what it means but when I see the look on Thomas's face I watch as a piece of him shatters. 

"No, no come on Chuck. I told you, you would give it to them yourself. Remember? I told you that." Thomas cries

"Take it" Chuck begs softly, wrapping Thomas's hand around the carving. "Thank you" He says smiling gently at Thomas as his gasping slows. Almost coming to a stop. "Thank you" He whispers softly again before his breath leaves his lungs, and his head goes slack. 

"What? Chuck, no! Hey come one! Wake up!" Thomas shouts trying to shake him. Trying to do anything that might make him wake up again.

I sit back, holding my arm. Not because it hurts but because five inches to the left and my little brother wouldn't be dead. Chuck wouldn't be gone. It would be okay. 5 inches to the left. Blood seeps between my fingers as Thomas pleads for the boy to come back. To wake up. Finally, he sobs unable to say anything else. 

What feels like moments later the door opens and men with their heads wrapped in scarves storm in. Ushering the boys towards the door and away from Chuck. Newt grabs my hand. Hauling me up as we go by. "Wait! Thomas!" I shout backwards and they shove me along with Newt. 

"Tommy! Come on!" Newt shouts back, without any heart

I watch as the men pull him from the building and into the sun. I break away from Newt and the soldier, running back towards Thomas. I pull him up, and we lean on each other. Running towards the machine in front of us. Sand gets in my shoes and face...well everywhere. It doesn't leave even when I get into the machine as it takes off into the air. 

Thomas won't look at me, but his hand reaches down grabbing mine as though he's worried I might disappear. I grip his hand tightly as a reminder that he won't ever be alone. 

"Stay with me." Thomas whispers quietly, and over the spinning of the blades on the machine I barely hear him. I doubt the rest of the group does. 

"No matter what Thomas. I'll always be by your side." I promise. 

I lean my head on his arm as we fly between the buildings. His own head comes down on top of mine and I close my eyes. Blocking out all there is to see. 

No. Nothing is okay, and for now this is nothing but an unhappy memory, forever engraved into our minds. 

If we can not support ourselves alone, we'll support each other. Together.

𝟜𝟟𝟟𝟚 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤