Gentle arms woke me from my slumber. Adam was crazy if he was waking me up this early.

But then it hit me.

Adam wasn't alive, so who was waking me?

My eyes opened, to find newt looking down at me, his eyes heavy with pain. "Joanie..."

The nickname stung, I visibly winced. Even though he had made the nickname, people picked up on it, Adam included. "I..." He tried. But stopped then sat down next to me.

"Adam came here early, not one of the first, but shortly after. After me, at least. The shank wouldn't shut up," he said, a weak smile forming his lips, " well, first he settled. His first job was as a builder. Gally was keeper, back then too. It wasn't long till we realized how, smart, fit, and determined he was, so we made him a runner," he said. He was quiet for a while. "He ummm- " he choked on an intake of breath, "he was one of my best friends,"

I turned to him to see a tear escape his eyes. "I know you two were close, a week is all you had. But, I knew him for over a year. Joannah..." He was calm again, resolved. "Joanie," he held my hand, "I'm so sorry," he said.

"No," I said, tears falling again. "No, it's my fault," I confessed.

He looked at me, surprised. "How?"

"I should've sacrificed myself, for him," I sobbed. He pressed my head to his chest. I fell to darkness.

*****

The light seemed to be fading when I woke up, I turned to my side, expecting newt but he wasn't there. I sat upright, panic overtaking me.

I walked to the middle of the glade, when I spotted Minho. He seemed upset. I realized I had slept the whole day, I don't know why I'm so tired.

"Minho, what's wrong?" I asked, "we got back from our run," he replied. My breath hitched as I though of Adam.

"I'm sorry..."

"What?" I snapped. "We couldn't find his... Body," he sighed. I felt like throwing up. Seeing him turn up would've been bad, but knowing his body is somewhere out there, in the maze, or... Consumed by grievers. "Minho, I've inly been here a week, I don't know how much more I can take," I said, some lies hidden. He doesn't know about my recent memories.

Then, he pulled me in for a hug. I was so tired of crying. "I have job to make," I said. He pulled away suddenly. "What?"

"I don't care if you shanks like it or not, I'm gonna be the keeper of the Fires,"

"Keeper of the what?" He asked, brows furrowing. "Fires, we do games, music entertainment. I'm a fire," I concluded. He seemed shock, "I'll second you," he said.

This time I looked at him in surprise, "really?"

"You deserve what you want," he explained. Newt walked up, "okay?"

I nodded, "we're having a gathering on your job and.... Adam," newt explained. "buggers don't know when enough is enough," he muttered. I followed once more to the wretched chair, in which I've made my home one to many times.

Alby looked grave, as did everyone, even gray eyes. They each looked into my eyes before gazing down, except for Gally who didn't even do such. "Joannah, you're gonna need to tell us everything, absolutely everything," alby explained, while I nodded my head.

"He was sprinting after me and I climbed some vines, he thought he lost me so he kept going, I tried to climb down but my foot got stuck in a vine and I slammed downward. I untied it, but couldn't get a good hold. Then he caught me. We were talking when we heard a griever, he told me how to get back to the glade and then..." I trailed off, that one private moment deserves to be private.

"What?" Alby asked.

"It doesn't matte-"

"What?!" He yelled.

"He kissed me!" I shouted, about to cry again, "he kissed me and then said 'I love you' before running off into the griever!" I screamed. "Then you know the rest," I whispered, sitting back down in my chair, not being able to recall when I stood up.

"So, we need-" alby was cut off, "alby there's no need to discuss this any more," Gally interrupted. I spun my head in his direction. "What are you gonna do? There is nothing left to be done except get her job," he sighed.

"Gally, I'm the one-"

"Alby..." This came from newt, "you're hurtin' more than helping,"

I thanked both Gally and newt secretly, but I need to talk to Gally later.

"I think you all know what I want to do," I said. They nodded, "and I've come up with a name for it. I'll be a fire. Keeper of the fires," I concluded. "Ms. Sunshine over here," Minho muttered and a gave him a look.

Alby thought for a moment, "stand outside, we'll vote," he concluded.

Walking outside, gladers tried their best to ignore me. I got a few consoling glances. 10 minutes passed till newt lead me inside. I sat down once again.

Alby seems to sigh before weakly smiling.

"Congratulations. You are now Joannah, keeper of the Fires,"