pre-the maze runner
chapter twelve

❛❛ i say we forget it and we start over ❜❜

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After what happened to Nick, Poe left and went into the forest of Deadheads before Alby and the Keepers showed up. He didn't want to be there when Alby starts yelling at everyone or before he could even begin pointing his finger. He couldn't really blame himself for what happened, not even Clint who asked him to watch Nick. Something like this did happened before, Poe wanted to know about the first Glader who died, so he asked Nick.

George went crazy after he got Stung, resulting the death of another Glader, before he could kill the leader, Alby put a spear into the guy's chest.

He had wonder why Nick was trying to kill Poe, he got Stung, they go crazy and attempt to kill anyone. If anyone, why only Poe though? Clint was right there when he attacked Nick but he still came after Poe. He remembered the look on Nick's face while he was choking him, the look of hatred, hate enough to kill.

Bark found Poe just long moments later, the dog sat down beside Poe and laid his head down on the boy's lap. The older boy was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed and his back against a tree. He stroke the dog's head while staring at the wood, at nothing while feeling somehow guilty. What was he guilty for anyway? It was just there for an unknown reason.

It was half hour later when Teo and Anton found Poe in the Deadheads. Bark was napping with his head still on Poe's lap until he was awoken by Teo and Anton approaching.

"Hey," said Teo, he sat down about couple feet from Poe, "how're you feelin, mate?"

Anton sat in front of the boy few feet away. The poor young boy was the one who knocked out Nick when he came at Poe with a knife. A boy with skinny and tiny arms knocked out the leader with a wooden staff. Poe merely gave a shrug, "I'm alright" he wondered about Nick, even Alby and what's happening out there now. "What's going on now?"

"Well—" Anton sighed, "after you left, they immediately threw Nick into the Slammer. There have been talks and all... and they've proceeded the Gathering so, that's still happening"

If they're still on the Gathering, he wonder if they're still trying to elect the new Second in Command, or it's something else. After what happened to Poe, it's most likely that Alby and the Keepers are talking about Nick.

"So, they're still talking about who's going to be the Second in Command?" Poe stroke the dog's head.

He saw that Anton and Teo were exchanging concerned looks. "I don't think so—" Teo doubted, "what happened today was— something. It's something that can't be avoided. Now that everyone knows that Nick is too dangerous, too dangerous to... be kept... here in the Glade"

Poe was disbelieved, his brows squeezed together, "No—" he shook his head, "no, no, no way, man. This is Nick they're all talking about" it is possible that the Gathering that's happening now is about that they're deciding whether or not to Banish Nick.

"Nick already decided long ago that even a leader has to face consequences if he breaks any rules" Teo murmured, "Nick's already gone anyways, he has been gone since he got Stung"

The three boys went silent. Poe felt this was all wrong, but also it is truly unsafe to keep Nick within the Glade. The boys stayed within the forest for half hour before they finally decided to head back out.

It was barely noon, lunch was only starting and Siggy had told everyone to make sandwiches themselves. Still, the guy wasn't in a right mood to cook, it hit Poe that he assumed Siggy had known Nick for quite a while.

What also made him realize is that the Gathering was finally over and the leader and the Keepers weren't saying anything yet of any announcement. The Second In Command was still unknown or what happens to Nick. When Winston joined Poe, Teo and the rest of Slicers in the picnic table, the guy was unusually quiet and looking rather doleful.

"So did you guys did well without me this morning?" The Keeper asked.

Poe didn't say anything, neither he wanted to say something clever or sarcastic despite wanting to bring up the incident back in the Med-jacks hut.

"Totally" Teo answered as he nodded.

After that, it was quiet like most of the Gladers within the picnic area. Today is a very quiet day in the Glade, even the weather was gloomy and the sky was all in grey. It's like Nick has taken the brightness and colors away, the Glade seemed all colorless, replaced with such doleful greyness.

The work went on for the rest of the day, Winston remained quiet as well and not telling the Slicers what he and the council had talked about during the Gathering. Teo tried and even Poe tried to ask him.

At the end of the day of work, that's when Winston had to tell them, he gathered the Slicers outside of the barn before they leave to rest for the day, the six Slicers stood in front of the Keeper. "So, Alby wanted the Keepers to tell you this and we had to wait until we finish working to tell you. The rest of the Keepers are breaking the news as well to their coworkers so—" Winston put his hands on his hips, he gave a long doleful sigh before he went on, "the council have discussed about Nick and clearly, it's the hardest decision we have ever made"

Poe knew what he's about to say and he was already feeling the despair and devastation raging.

"We have decided that Nick has to be Banished"

"What? No!" One of the Slicers uttered behind Poe.

"Nick already agreed long ago if this ever happened" Winston added, "it's done. Nick is already finished anyway. We don't want to risk of anyone else getting hurt again if we keep him here for the rest of his last days. I know he's been... a good friend to all of you as mine but— he has to go" then the Keeper walked forward between the Slicers and left without saying another word.

Poe somehow felt this was all of his fault, for some reason, there might be a slightest reason that this was all of his fault. He felt the guilt and the shame. He and Teo exchanged glum looks. If they're going to banish Nick, does that mean they're going to do it today before the Door closes?

Poe had hoped that they would keep Nick in the Glade for another day, but the moment Alby called out the Keepers that it was time. Poe's heart fell into the despair. Alby gathered the Keepers to the Door, each Keepers and even the new leader had poles, one for each Keeper. It's only minutes until the Door closes. The blonde boy found himself standing next to Anton and Teo with other Slicers, standing by as they watched what happens next.

First there was silence as Alby and the Keepers were standing by, waiting for something, the poles they were holding were about eight to ten feet long with a flat end. The rest of the Gladers were also standing by and watching the Keepers.

Then the sounds of a person groaning were heard, Poe's head turn to follow the sounds; near the Slammer, there was Nick, his hands tied, arms over his head and Minho was dragging the leader to the Door. Nick was letting out frustration groans as he was being pushed to walk forward. The leader made no any struggle as if he had already accepted his fate.

It was already horrible to watch, Nick wasn't even by the Door yet when Poe had an urge of wanting to stop this, to tell Alby and everyone else that it isn't Nick's fault and that it's Poe's own fault. That they should be punishing him instead.

When they reached passed the Keepers, Minho cut off the rope off of Nick's hands before pushing him towards the Door. Nick looked worse than this morning when he attacked Poe, the leader's veins worsened, they became more visible where Poe was standing, the leader was on his knees and hands. His glance was on the corridor of the Maze and it had finally hit him what was happening.

"What— what's going on?!" The leader's voice was demanding and raw, his glance shifted over his shoulder and he was getting up. Turn his gaze at every Keeper before looking at Alby. "Alby!" He yelled. "Alby! What is happening?!"

Alby didn't say anything for a moment. When Nick attempted to approach the new leader, Newt, Gally and Winston drew their poles, preventing Nick from getting close to Alby.

"Newt?" Nick's voice was getting low, "guys? What are you doing—?"

"You know damn well what is happening, Nick" Alby finally spoke. "You ain't coming back here. Ever. You are being Banished, Nick. You harmed one of the Gladers and tried to kill him—"

Poe's head lowered. Hating how this Banishment was all linked to him.

"No no no. No! The guy is no Glader, Alby!" Nick stated, "he's a traitor! He's a traitor! A TRAITOR!" He spat out.

Poe's brows furrowed, feeling baffled and worried. Wondered what why his own friend thinks that he's a traitor. "Don't listen to him" Teo said softly, "usually when they get Stung, they talk crazy and making nonsense. That's not Nick, that's the Changing talk, it makes them go mad"

"Nick the leader. Former leader, you are being Banished. For harming not only one Glader but three of them; Clint the Med-jack, Nico the Builder and Poe the Slicer" Alby announced, "You ain't never coming back!"

"NO!" Nick bellowed, he was glancing around until he found Nico standing behind Gally, "Nico! Nico! You know I didn't mean to! I didn't mean to hurt you, man! I'm sorry!"

Poe couldn't see what Nico's reaction was, instead of saying anything, the Builder took few steps back and his glance shifted away from Nick.

"Please!" The leader shouted, his shouting became inaudible as the booming began, announcing the Door beginning to close, followed by the metal groaning and loud deep clicking.

"Keepers!" Alby ordered. He and the Keepers responded by drawing their poles at Nick, "Forward!" They began taking steps forward towards Nick, their poles' flat ends began to draw Nick toward the Maze. Step by step as the leaders took, each step forcing Nick close and closer to the Maze. The Doors were meeting each other any moment.

"PLEASE! DON'T MAKE ME GO OUT THERE!" Nick began cried.

Poe felt his chest being crushed, feeling for the guy, he had his head down and stared at the ground. He couldn't look back up at Nick but he still heard the cries and begging.

The leader continually cried out. The Keepers drew the former leader into the Doors, he was getting stuck between them and no way back into the Glade with the poles keep forcing him from coming into the Glade.

The Doors were getting close to each other which forces Nick to have no choice but to step into the corridor, further into the Maze. His screams were agonizing Poe emotionally, but he kept it all in no matter how painful it got.

Nick's last scream was cut off by the Doors closing each other, his screams were replaced by the deep echoing boom before the Glade turned silent.

It hit Poe that he realized that Nick is never coming back. He was gone. Nick's gone. The leader is gone. And Poe did that. Did he really do this?

Alby made no comments after that, he just left without a word, even the Keepers were silent, they all left without a single word. Poe himself said nothing as well. He couldn't help to imagine Nick crying out there in the Maze, running around and screaming for help. The rest of the day remained quiet, barely anyone in the Glade had said a word and some were in mourning for the loss of their leader.

Poe heard Anton crying softly on his hammock during bedtime. He heard sniffles all over the camp meanwhile Poe was laying on his hammock, staring up at the starless night sky, as the Glade got quiet, Poe attempted to listen the Maze, almost afraid of hearing Nick screaming from there. It took a long time for Poe to fall asleep, when he finally did, he fell into a nightmare.

The nightmare began with him being stuck in the Maze, the groaning and mechanical clicking noises were chasing him, these machinery noises were echoing all over the corridor. The dream was haunting, there were haunting whispers and voices telling him how everything was all of his fault and he'd scream back at them how sorry he was. The sounds of Grievers were drawing closer as he kept running, they were catching up to him no matter how fast he tried to run.

When a Grievers caught him, but it was no Griever... it was Nick, raising a knife at him.

Before the knife met him, Poe woke up jolting up into a sitting position. His hand on his chest where the knife could've been and he was sucking in deep breaths while his heart raced.

It is early morning and the sun was barely out. Too early. Bark whimpered underneath Poe's hammock, as if worrying for him, the dog got up and his nose was examining Poe. The boy pat the dog's head and assured him that he was fine.

Poe left the camp and decided to go to the tower where he decided to stay there until everyone wakes up. It was a long early morning, the sky was completely cloudless, Poe was staring over the walls where the sun would rise. It's been gloomy the past couple of days, those days when Nick got Stung and went through Changing. It's as if this day will be a brand new day. Things will change in the Glade with Nick being gone.

Someone was coming, they were climbing up the tower, while Poe was sitting over the edge of the tower, his arms folded together on the railing and head rested on his arms. He glanced back to see who it was, and to his surprise, it was Newt.

The boy looked almost embarrassed and shy as he climbed onto the top of the tower and joined Poe. "Figured you'd be up here, bloody Bark is waiting for you down there" he sat down beside Poe.

He didn't want to be rude to Newt anymore, seems like he was thinking the same thing. Perhaps after the past few months of brushing off each other, it was time to put all of that behind them.

"He really liked it up here" Said Newt, "he comes up here every morning after he wakes up" Poe knew he was talking about Nick. He has seen Nick up here every time he spotted the former leader standing up here.

Whatever Poe has done to make Newt angry these past months, whatever annoyed him, Poe has never apologized to Newt, not since that day in Deadheads. "I'm sorry... these past months, we had a bad start... whatever I did, I'm sorry"

Newt scoffed, softly chuckled, "No... no. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I've been a total slinthead, and I'm sorry... it's just... you didn't really do anything, I was being a total arse to you"

Poe still wasn't sure why Newt was acting like that the past few months. "I— I really—don't get it... at all" he expressed a baffled look at Newt. "Exactly why?"

Newt shifted his gaze at the Glade, he shrugged, "Well, I just didn't like you at first... I don't know—" he gave a sort of a shy smile, softly laughed, "it's stupid, you won't understand, maybe in another day, I'll tell you when I know you could"

Poe was still confused and also curious the reason why Newt was constantly rude since that day in the Deadheads. He figured Newt won't share until Poe understands. "I think we've passed these few months, that's what... matters I guess. I say we forget it and we start over"

Newt weakly nodded in agreement and expressed a small smile. It was silent between the two Gladers momentarily until Newt asked him, "Can I ask you a random question?"

Poe nodded with little confusion on his face, "Sure" he looked at Newt.

He returned Poe's glance as he questioned, "What is 'Deedee'? What does that mean?"

Poe was even more confused. "I— I have no clue, why? Why do you ask me?"

"Because you've been mumbling that word few times now in your sleep" Newt answered, "Last time was few mornings ago, that morning when Nick left into the Maze"

Poe remembered, it was when he woke up from a nightmare, he found Newt standing and staring at him when waking up. He didn't remember what his nightmare was about. He doesn't know what the word "Deedee" means but it did sounded familiar and it kills him that he can't remember.

They stayed in the tower until the Doors opened, Poe was glad about Newt, maybe today will be a brand new day, but the Glade and the Gladers still need more time to heal and still a little time to mourn their loss.

Everyone had forgotten that today was another new month and that means another new Greenie. They didn't realize until the Greenie alarm rang. This new Greenie was another young boy, a boy no longer than thirteen years old and could be the youngest than Anton.

This new Greenie's name is Chuck.

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Well, that's it for Poe's "prologue" and we can now finally jump to the start of the movie!
Yay!!!

In the next chapter, maybe Poe will finally meet Thomas? :)

So what do you guys think so far? And about Poe? Or Teo, or Anton? Or his relationships (friendships) with them?

The more comments, the more updates ;)