The setting sun bathed the Glade in hues of amber and crimson as the last of the Runners returned. The usual tension hung in the air, the faint unease that always lingered after a day in the Maze. But tonight, there was something more—something sinister. Y/N felt it deep in her gut, a twisting sense of foreboding she couldn't shake.

She stood near the Homestead, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The walls of the Maze stood tall, immovable as ever, but something was wrong. The creaking, grinding sound of the doors closing, which signaled the end of the day, didn't come. Instead, a haunting silence fell over the Glade.

"What's going on?" Newt asked, coming to stand beside her. His brows furrowed, and he turned to Minho, who was pacing nearby.

"They're not closing," Minho muttered, his tone clipped with worry.

Then, as if the Maze had been waiting for its moment, the grinding sound of the doors echoed—not closing, but opening. One by one, pathways appeared, the dark shadows of the Maze seeming to beckon them in.

"No..." Y/N breathed, her heart sinking. The faint, distant screeches of the Grievers sent a chill down her spine.

Suddenly, chaos erupted.

The Grievers swarmed into the Glade, their mechanical screeches cutting through the night like knives. The Gladers scrambled, unarmed and panicked, their desperate cries blending with the horrifying sounds of the creatures.

"Get to the Homestead!" Newt yelled, rallying as many Gladers as he could. "Barricade the doors!"

Y/N didn't think twice. She grabbed a nearby stick and swung it with all her strength as a Griever lunged toward a young boy. "Run!" she shouted, pushing him toward the others.

Beside her, Minho and Newt fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered. The Grievers showed no mercy, tearing through the Glade, leaving carnage in their wake.

"Zart, behind you!" Y/N screamed, but it was too late. The Griever's stinger struck, and Zart fell with a guttural cry. They all managed to run, their legs burning as they filed into the Homestead.

It was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension. The survivors huddled together in the dimly lit room, their breaths shallow as they tried to stay as silent as possible. Every creak of the wooden walls, every distant screech of a Griever made Y/N's heart race.

She clutched Chuck tightly to her side, her arm around his trembling shoulders. Across the room, Alby stood near the center, his broad frame a shield for the others. Newt, Minho, and a few others were spread out, each ready to defend the group with whatever makeshift weapons they could find.

The silence was deafening, the calm before the storm.

Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the stillness. The ceiling above them buckled, splinters of wood raining down as a Griever burst through, its mechanical arms thrashing wildly. The Gladers screamed, scrambling to get out of its reach.

"Chuck!" Y/N shouted as the boy was yanked from her grasp. The Griever's claws closed in around him, lifting him off the ground.

"Not today!" Alby roared, charging forward with a piece of broken wood. He swung it with all his strength, striking the Griever's arm and forcing it to release Chuck. The boy fell to the ground with a thud, and Y/N immediately pulled him back to safety.

But the Griever turned its attention to Alby.

"No!" Y/N screamed, trying to move toward him, but Minho held her back.

Alby fought valiantly, striking the creature again and again, but it was relentless. Its claw shot out, wrapping around his waist. It lifted him off the ground, its stinger poised to strike.

"Alby, no!" Y/N cried, breaking free of Minho's grip and rushing toward him.

Alby looked down at her, his eyes filled with tears. He gave her a small, bittersweet smile. "Take care of them," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "Take care of them, Y/N."

"Don't you dare let go!" she begged, her hands clawing at the Griever's arm, trying desperately to pull him free.

But Alby shook his head. "You're strong, Y/N. Stronger than me. You'll keep them safe."

And then he let go.

"No!" Y/N screamed as the Griever carried him up through the hole in the ceiling. His screams echoed through the night, and then there was silence.

Y/N collapsed to her knees, her hands shaking as tears streamed down her face. Chuck clung to her, sobbing into her side. Newt crouched beside her, his own face pale with grief as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"He... he saved us," Y/N whispered, her voice broken. "He saved Chuck."

Newt nodded, his voice tight. "He was brave. He was always brave."

But no amount of words could dull the pain in her chest as the realization settled in: Alby was gone, and they were still in hell.

The survivors huddled together in the aftermath, their faces pale and streaked with tears. The night had claimed too many lives. Zart, Alby- all gone.

"What the hell did you do?!" Gally's voice boomed across the room as he stormed toward Thomas. Without warning, he swung his fist, landing a hard punch that sent Thomas sprawling to the ground.

"Gally, stop!" Y/N yelled, stepping between them.

"This is his fault!" Gally spat, his face twisted in rage. "Ever since he showed up, everything's gone to sh—"

Before he could finish, Y/N shoved him hard. "That's enough! You think this is helping anyone? You think blaming him is going to bring them back?"

"You don't understand!" Gally shouted, but Y/N didn't back down.

"Don't you dare act like you're the only one who's lost people tonight!" she screamed, her voice shaking with fury and pain. "You don't get to take your anger out on him. Not now. Not ever."

Newt and Minho stepped in, pulling Y/N back as she struggled against their grip, tears streaming down her face. Gally glared at her, but for the first time, his anger faltered. He turned and stormed off, leaving the room in tense silence.

Thomas sat in the corner, his face pale and sweat-slicked as the disconnected flashes of memory played through his mind. He suddenly stood, determination in his eyes.

"Thomas, what are you doing?" Y/N asked, stepping toward him.

"I need to remember," he said, grabbing a severed Griever stinger. Before anyone could stop him, he plunged it into his arm. His body convulsed, and Y/N screamed.

"Get the anti-venom!" Newt yelled. Minho rushed to inject Thomas with the last dose, and they all held their breath as his breathing slowed, his body stilling.

When Thomas opened his eyes, he was in the Pit. The first thing he saw was Y/N, sitting just outside, her face pale and tear-streaked. When she noticed he was awake, relief flooded her features, and she rushed to his side.

"Thomas," she whispered, her voice breaking as she grasped his hand. "You're okay. You're really okay."

"I'm fine," he said softly, squeezing her hand. "Y/N, don't cry."

"I thought I lost you," she admitted, her tears falling freely now. "I can't lose you too."

"You won't," he promised, his voice firm.

Y/N explained everything that had happened while he was unconscious. "Gally's taken charge," she said bitterly. "He's lost it, Thomas. He's sentencing you and Teresa to be banished into the Maze—he thinks it'll make peace with the Grievers. And anyone who defies him... they'll be banished too."

Thomas's jaw tightened. "We have to stop him."

Y/N nodded. "We will. I won't let him hurt you."

Just then, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Chuck, and Winston appeared. Together, they formed a plan to free Thomas and Teresa, gather the Gladers willing to fight, and escape the Maze for good.

When the time came, they burst into the courtyard just as Gally prepared to sacrifice Thomas and Teresa. "Enough!" Y/N shouted, stepping forward with the others. Minho and Newt freed them, as Winston, Frypan and Chuck ran over with their supplies and weapons. 

"We're leaving," Newt declared. "Anyone who wants to come with us is welcome."

Some Gladers hesitated, but most joined them, moving to stand beside Y/N and the others. Y/N smiled, hugging her friends as she held Chucks hand, stroking it softly as she whispered a soft reassurance to the 12 year old boy. Only a few stayed with Gally.

As the group turned to leave, Y/N looked back, her eyes locking with Gally's. "Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't lose you too, Gally. Come with us." She pleaded, her voice hopeful as she stared at the boy she had grown to adore, despite his cold attitude and rude demeanour. 

For a moment, he hesitated, pain flickering across his face. But then he shook his head. "Good luck in the Maze," he said, his tone heavy with finality.

Heartbroken, Y/N turned away, tears streaming down her face as Newt took her hand. Together, they ran into the Maze, determined to survive, to fight, and to finally escape the nightmare they'd been trapped in for so long.