INNOVATION -
CHAPTER THIRTY - THREE

⚘ ESCAPE PLAN ⚘

For a long beat, there was silence. The Keepers sat, gobsmacked, as they took in Thomas's words.

    "I was there when the Creators did it."

    What the actual hell did he mean by that?

    Deep down Kalisa knew exactly what he was trying to say. Why he looked so regretful and hesitant to speak. Why he knew so much and the others so little. Why he was ready to risk it all after being here only a week.

    "What are you talking about?" Newt questioned, looking absolutely baffled.

    Thomas seemed terrified now, his face a chalky pale mask, with his hands clutched into fists at his sides. "Well first theres something I have to share. About me and Teresa. Theres a reason Gally accused me of so much stuff, and why everyone whos gone through the Changing recognizes me."

    Kalisa felt ill. Physically unable to speak, because if she did, she might actually throw up.

    "Teresa and I are... different." Thomas went on when no one inturupted. "We were part of the Maze Trials from the very beginning- but against our will, I swear it."

    Minho spoke up, looking confused and full of dread. "Thomas, what are you talking about?"

    "Teresa and I were used by the Creators. If you had your full memories back, you'd probably want to kill us." Thomas reluctantly met Kalisa's eye and looked away, almost ashamed. "But I had to tell you this myself to show you that we can be trusted now. So you'll believe me when I tell you the only way we can get out of here."

    Thomas took a deep breath before dropping the bomb. "Teresa and I helped design the Maze. We helped create the whole thing."

    There. He had said it. Kalisa's suspicion had been true. Gally had been right. Thomas and Teresa were one of them.

    And yet... something wasn't quite passable about the whole situation. Kalisa knew she should feel angry towards Thomas, for lying, creating this deathtrap, working with the people who've killed so many of her friends. But she wasn't. She couldn't be.

    Because right now Thomas didn't look evil. He didn't look strong or brave, or anything like the boy who ran out into the Maze to save two boys he hardly knew. He just looked small and afraid.

    "Whats that supposed to mean?" Newt asked, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the group. "You're a bloody 16 year old, how could you have created the Maze?"

Thomas hesitated, almost looking doubtful before speaking. "We were... smart. And I think it might be part of the Variables. But most importantly, Teresa and I have a... gift that makes us very valuable as they designed and built this place."

When he didn't continue, Newt snapped. "Speak! Spit it out!"

"We're telepathic!" Thomas exploded, seeming relieved once the words had left his mouth. "We can talk to each other in our freaking heads."

Newt blinked in surprise. Kalisa squinted, trying to make sense of what Thomas was saying. Firstly he and Teresa admitted to working unwillingly with the enemy, and now he's saying they had superpowers. Kalisa had seen a lot of strange things here in the Glade, but this had to be once of the weirdest.

"But listen to me," Thomas went on, meeting her eyes again. "They forced us to help. I don't know how or why, but they did."

Thomas paused, thinking hard. "Maybe it was to see if we could gain your trust despite having been part of them. Maybe we were meant all along to be the ones to reveal how to escape. Whatever the reason, with your Maps we figured out the code and we need to use it now."

Thomas's voice gained confidence when Kalisa blinked and gave a slow nod. He seemed content to have her approval, though she wasn't sure why since he'd never needed it before. But now Thomas was different. He still had a fire inside of him, guiding him through the darkness, but there was something else.

Not fear... more of a new found respect. Kalisa was once again left wondering what he had exactly seen in the Changing.

"It's true, and I'm sorry. But I can tell you this- I'm in the same boat with you now. Teresa and I were sent here just like anyone else, and we can die just as easy. But the Creators have seen enough- it's time for the final test. I guess I needed the Changing to add the final pieces of the puzzle. Anyway, I wanted you to know the truth, to know that there's a chance we can do this."

For one painful moment, the room felt cold and angry. Kalisa didn't know how to feel in all honesty. She was sure that if she had all of her memories she would be furious with Thomas, but she didn't. Thomas was her friend. And like all the rest of him, whoever he used to be didn't exist anymore thanks to Wicked. He hadn't led them astray yet, there was no reason to start doubting him now.

From across the room Newt caught her eye and raised an eyebrow, silently asking for her opinion. Kalisa didn't move a muscle in her face. Every emotion she felt internally was visible through her eyes, Newt stared deeply before giving a slow nod and facing Thomas once more.

"The Creators- those shanks did this to us, not Tommy and Teresa. Wicked. And they'll be sorry." In the dim lighting of the Gathering Room, Newt's eyes looked almost black. A shadow fell across his face radiating passion off his body.

"Whatever," Minho cut into the intense moment, rolling his eyes. "Who gives a Klunk about all of that, just get on with the escape already."

Thomas visibly relaxed into his chair, color returning to his complexion as he did. "There's a computer station in a place we've never looked before. The code will open a door for us to get out of the Maze. It also shuts down the Grievers so they can't follow us- if we can survive long enough to get to that point."

His words sounded dreary, but just a day ago they had nothing. And now there was truly a way out. After years of them looking, months for her, they could actually leave. At this point Kalisa didn't care what she had to endure, as long as it was worth it.

"A place we've never looked before?" Alby cut in, sounding incredulous. "What do you mean, we've been looking for three years?"

"Trust me, you've never been to this spot." Thomas shook his head, suddenly looking fearful again.

Minho stood up. "Well, where is it."

"It's almost suicide." Thomas continued. "The Grievers will come after us whenever we try to do it. All of them, the final test."

Gaining impatience, Kalisa spoke up for the first time in a while. "They'll come after us anyways Thomas." She looked around and softened her voice. "Do you really think we've come this far to back down now? We're with you, even if it is suicide."

Newt nodded, leaning forward. "She's right Tommy. Where is it?"

Thomas paused once more before breaking the news. "Over the Cliff. We have to go through the Griever Hole."

Alby stood up so fast his chair fell over. "Now you're being a shuck idiot." He growled, eyes turning bloodshot and threatening. "Or a traitor. How can we trust a word you say if you helped design this place, put us here! We can't handle one Griever on our own ground, much less fight a whole hoard of them in their little hole. What are you really up to?"

Thomas looked furious. "What am I up to? Nothing! Why would I make this all up?"

Alby took a step closer to where Thomas sat, looking more angry than Kalisa had ever seen him, which was saying something. "For all we know you were sent here to get us all killed! Why should we trust you?"

Thomas stood up, looking dumbfounded. "Alby, do you have a short term memory problem? I risked my life to save you out in the Maze- you'd be dead if it wasn't for me!"

"Maybe that was a trick to gain our trust. If you're in league with the shucks who put us here you wouldn't have had to worry about the Grievers hurting you- maybe it was all an act." Alby accused rashly.

Kalisa felt like she was missing something. Alby had a short temper, sure, but this wasn't like him. There was something else bothering him.

The others seemed to notice it as well because Minho and Newt stood up and placed themselves in between him and Thomas.

"Alby, thats about the dumbest theory I've ever heard. He just about got freaking torn apart three nights ago. You think thats part of the act?" Minho crossed his arms, eyeing the leader with disgust.

"Maybe."

"I did it on the chance I could get my memories back and help all of us out of here." Thomas stepped forward, voice dripping in annoyance. "Do I need to show you the cuts and bruises all over my body?"

Alby fell quiet, like the calm before a storm. His eye twitched and his fingers fidgeted, and then, he finally broke. "We can't go back!"

"I've seen what our lives were like- we can't go back!" Alby yelled, turning towards the rest of the Keepers in a panic.

"Is that what this is about?" Newt scoffed. "Are you kidding?"

Alby turned on him, holding up a fist as if he were going to punch Newt. Kalisa stood from her chair suddenly, eyes ablaze with a fierce anger. Her seat clattered to the floor and everyone's gaze snapped towards her, nervously.

Alby faltered in his movements towards Newt. "Do it." She dared, fists clenched tightly. "See what happens."

Alby took a few heavy breaths, looking tempted to swing, but eventually he lowered his arms and bowed his head. "Alby, talk to us. Whats going on?" Newt pressed, still looking slightly flustered.

"I did it." Alby let out a small sob. "I did it."

"Did what?" Newt asked, looking just as confused as Kalisa felt.

Alby rubbed his eyes before reluctantly facing the blonde boy. "I burned the Maps. I did it. I slammed my head on the table so you'd think it was someone else, I lied, burned it all. I did it!"

Kalisa shared a shocked look with Minho. All this time she had been betting on the culprit being one of them, Alby was found at the scene of the crime, but she hadn't ever stopped to consider the fact that maybe it could be him. She had brushed the idea off, claiming it was ridiculous and that Alby would never do something like that.

But Alby had changed.

After the break, Minho sneered, "Well it's a good thing we saved those Maps. Thanks for the tip you gave us after the Changing- to protect them."

    Alby didn't even react to Minhos cruel comment, he looked so lost, so broken. Newt didn't look upset by Alby's confession, more condoling as he asked the leader to explain.

    "I'm telling you," Alby almost sounded like he was begging. "We can't go back to where we came from. I've seen it, remembered awful, awful things. Burned lands, a disease- something called the Flare. It was horrible- way worse than we have it here."

    "If we stay here we'll all die!" Minho yelled. "It's worse than that?"

    Alby stared at Minho for a long time, eyes wide with a yearning for understanding. He truly believed that whatever was waiting for them out there, was worse than deadly monsters. Kalisa could see the plain idea of leaving these walls made Alby quiver in fear.

    "It's worse." Alby said finally. "Better to die than to go home."

    To her surprise, Minho actually laughed. "Man, you are one butt-load of sunshine, let me tell you. I'm with Thomas. I'm with Thomas one hundred percent. If we're gonna die, let's freakin' do it fighting."

    "Inside the Maze or out of it." Thomas added, looking extremely relieved to have support, before turning grave and facing Alby. "We still live inside the world you remember."

    Alby looked defeated, too exhausted to continue pleading with the Gladers. "Do what you want. Doesn't matter, we'll die no matter what." Then he was gone.

    Kalisa frowned as she watched Newt heave a sigh and run his fingers through his hair. "He's never been the same since being stung- must've been one bugger of a memory. What in the world is the Flare?"

    Thomas shook his head, seeming to be on the cusp of remembrance. "I don't know. It sounds familiar, I just can't place it." His eyes found hers again and Kalisa found herself scowling in annoyance. "What?" She snapped, tired of the glances and confusion. She just wanted to go home.

    Thomas frowned and looked away. "Sorry- it's just something I remembered. It's nothing."

    Kalisa shifted her weight on her feet, not having sat down since her earlier outburst. "What is it? Something or nothing?"

    Thomas looked around the room wordlessly, but none of the Keepers directed the conversation back to their escape. Everyone was intrigued to learn what he knew, no matter how important it was in the long run. Having just a small whisper of a memory was so much more than they could ever achieve.

    "I saw you." Thomas said, voice low. "Before they sent you up."

    Now he had her attention. Kalisa annoyance trickled into curiosity, and she could tell the other Keepers felt the same way. They wanted to know.

    "It's sort of unclear, but what I do remember is you running. I think you were trying to get away, or maybe get somewhere. I don't really know, it's all a blur." Thomas shook his head, seeming rattled.

    "Can you try?" Kalisa asked, voice barely above a whisper. "Please?"

    Thomas looked at her sympathetically, before closing his eyes and gathering his thoughts. "I think you were a threat to Wicked. They said you infiltrated the building, and that we needed to lock the whole place down."

    Thomas took a pause before going on, sounding a bit more confident in his words. "I remember sirens going off, and running through a bright hall to a large storage room. There was a giant elevator... I think it was the box. I was supposed to guard it with a group of soldiers incase you tried anything."

    Kalisa didn't even breathe as she listened to Thomas talk about her life. It was strange to know that he had more information about herself than she did, but Kalisa didn't even care. This was more than she had ever dreamed of. Now if she could find her parents... she would have more than enough to return home to.

    "We were guarding the box when you ran in, I think you were scared and confused, but you didn't stop." Thomas stopped again, concentrating hard. "There was blood everywhere. I don't know how, but somehow you took down all the soldiers with me. You went over to the box and locked yourself inside."

    "The next part is kinda confusing," Thomas disclaimed.

    "What else is new." Minho rolled his eyes, but even he looked intrigued.

    "You said something that made me trust you, and after that, I closed the box and sent you up." Thomas finished.

    "What do you mean you trusted her then sent her up?" Newt questioned protectively.

    "I- I don't know. I think she wanted to come up though. I'm not sure why, but Kalisa went through all that trouble just to be here." Thomas finished, the room falling into a heavy silence when he was done.

    Kalisa pondered on his words. Why the hell would she want to come up here? How did she manage to get past all those guards with no help? Who was she before the Maze?

    "Wicked was angry that you succeeded. Thats it. Thats all I remember about you." Thomas said, talking directly to her now.

    Kalisa's mind was a blur of thought. Somehow, even with knowing more about her past, she had only confused herself more. But she could worry about who she was later. Now, they had a job to do. Now- they had lives to save.

    "Thanks Thomas." She said after a minute. "We can deal with the Creators once we're out. But for now we need to do what they planned: Go through the Griever Hole and escape. No matter what the cost is."

    Most of the Gladers nodded along with her words, seeming inspired and prepared.

    "If some of us die, so be it." Minho added, a fire in his eyes.

    Frypan snorted. "You shanks are driving me nuts. Can't get out of the Maze, and this idea of hanging with the Grievers at their bachelor pad sounds as stupid as anything I've heard in my life. Might as well slit our own wrists."

    That was all it took for the rest of the Keepers to explode with arguments, yelling over one another. Somehow, their Gatherings always ended like this, Kalisa realized, almost laughing. Newt finally was able to gain back control by screaming at everyone to shut up. Once the room was calm, Thomas said, "I'm going through the Hole, or I'll die trying to get there. Looks like Minho will too. And I'm sure Teresa's in. If we can fight off the Grievers long enough for someone to punch the code in and shut them down, then we can go through the door they come through. We'll have passed the tests. Then we can face the Creators themselves."

    Newt had a pained smile upon his face, but he didn't look very happy. "And you think we can fight off the Grievers? Even if we don't die, we'll probably all get stung. Every last one of them might be waiting for us when we get to the Cliff- the Beetle Blades are out there constantly. The Creators'll know when we make our run for it."

    Kalisa studied his face carefully. They sat on opposite sides of the room so it was hard to make out some of his features, but she could see his brown eyes and imagine the specks of green and gold. She could see his blonde hair that somehow always fell perfectly without him trying. She could see his hands as he rubbed his chin, deep in thought. She could imagine his smile and his laugh when they were happy, and his cries when they weren't.

    Kalisa really hoped Newt was going with Thomas. Because she knew she was. She needed to get out of there, no matter what. And if Newt stayed behind... then she would have to make a choice. A choice she wasn't ready to think about.

    "I don't think they'll sting us." Thomas said, looking pale and nervous. "The Changing was a Variable meant for us while we lived here. But that part will be over. Plus, we might have one thing going for us"

    "Yeah? Can't wait to hear it." Newt rolled his eyes sarcastically, causing Kalisa to smirk.

    Thomas went on, clearly dreading the moment he told them what he was planning. Knowing Thomas it was sure to be risky, deadly, and a little stupid. "It doesn't do the Creators any good if we all die- this thing is meant to be hard, not impossible. I think we finally know for sure that the Grievers are programmed to only kill one of us each day. So somebody can sacrifice themselves to save the others while we run to the Hole. I think this might be how it's supposed to happen."

    Kalisa stared at Thomas in horror along with the rest of the boys. So far she had never disagreed with his plans, no matter how idiotic they had been. But this? Asking someone to willing lay their life down was too far, and everyone in the room knew it.

    Winston barked out a laugh, the first to recover from Thomas's words. "Excuse me? So your suggestion is that we throw some poor kid to the wolves so the rest of us can escape? This is your brilliant idea?"

    Thomas turned cold and glared at the Keeper. "Yes, Winston, I'm glad you're so good at paying attention." Thomas glanced at the rest of the Keepers. "And it seems obvious who the poor kid should be."

    "Oh yeah? Who?" Winston asked.

    Thomas folded his arms. "Me."

Sorry for the late update, I've been out of town! Also, I can't believe I hit 2k and 40 followers, thank you guys so much! I hope you found Kalisa's background interesting, there's obviously a lot more to be learned because it was very vague, but don't worry, it'll come up again soon. For now, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you thought! Thanks for reading!

3/16/24

3528 words