the maze runner
chapter twenty

❛❛ that gally guy, already hates me. he thinks everything is my fault ❜❜

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In the early morning, Poe woke up when the doors opened, he slept shortly after leaving the hut then slept through the night without any dreams or waking up in the middle of night. He slept pretty well. The pain in his ankle was pulsing as he set his feet down on the ground. First thing he thought of was Teresa. He wondered if she slept well, or if she's okay, or if she's awake already.

"Had a good sleep?" Newt was about to walk by but stopped in front of Poe.

"Surprisingly, yes" Poe nodded, he put on his boots, but slowly on the right one because of the pain. He's going to need better shoes because the boots he was wearing were pressing against the wound and it was bothering him. So he took the right boot off, "I think I need better shoes"

"You certainly do" Newt scratched his head as he gazed around, "all right, I'll go take a look around if there are any spares"

"You don't have to do that now"

"Oh no, it's fine" Newt shrugged, he was heading toward the forest where the map room was. "Be right back" Poe never took his eyes off of him until he disappeared into the woods.

Sometimes Poe thinks that Newt does too many things for him, he wish that there were many ways that he could repay the guy instead of saying 'Thank you'. Sometimes he wonders how he suddenly grew to care for Newt who once hated him. Poe does feel that he already knows Newt, even before they got to be friends, the sudden empathy came rushing to Poe for Newt. He feels he should know what happened to Newt, he knows the boy is never entirely honest about what happened to his leg.

"Hey" Anton trailed Poe off.

Poe turned to Anton who was sitting on his own hammock, putting on his shoes, "Hmm? What?"

Anton smirked as he tied his shoe laces, "I said, good morning, while you were seemingly lovey-dovey eying at the forest where Newt went"

"Lovey-dovey?" Poe gave him an odd look.

Anton, still smirking as he finished tying his eyes, stood up, "Never mind. Wanna come along to get breakfast?"

"I think I'm gonna wait for Newt to bring me a pair of shoes. This boot is killing me" He put his right boot down.

"Ah, your Prince Charming is fetching you a glass slipper, I see"

Poe wants to pretend he doesn't know that reference while he felt his face warming. "What?" He gave him a strange look again.

Anton shook his head, "I'll bring you breakfast, alright?"

"Sure" Poe gave a nod.

"Want some food, Bark?" Anton cooed.

The dog responded with a bark as he got up and went to follow Anton to the kitchens. It's odd how Anton was teasing him about Newt, Poe sees the guy as a friend, it's also odd how slightly embarrassed he got for a second there. Was it really an embarrassment he felt?

He waited for Anton for long moments, Poe looked over the kitchens to see if Anton was coming with breakfast that he promised he'd bring to him. He began to assume that Frypan needed Anton's help.

It didn't take long until Newt came back with a pair of running shoes. "I'm sure Minho won't mind taking one of his pairs, hopefully you both have the same shoe sizes too" He handed the left to Poe.

"Thanks" As Poe put on the left the shoe, though they were a bit big, Newt was adjusting the right shoe's laces, loosening them and not tying them too tightly. Poe was watching Newt as he was adjusting the laces before finally giving the shoe to Poe. He put the shoe on, it felt loose and it didn't reached the wound on his ankle.

"I hope I didn't tie it too tight" said Newt.

Poe glanced up at him as he softly chuckled, "It's fine" as he was getting up, Newt grabbed the crutch that was leaning against a tree trunk then gave it Poe. "Thanks, man"

"Yeah, you're good now?"

"I'm good" Poe began to walk to the picnic area. Has Newt always been this helpful? Too helpful? Or has Poe just realized this?

When he arrived the picnic area and he found himself seated on the table where Teo, Winston and Anton were sitting.

"Thanks for bringing my breakfast, Anton" Poe said sarcastically.

"Oh shuck, man, I completely forgot" Anton didn't sound too convincing at all. Both Teo and Winston snickered.

During breakfast, Poe was looking around the picnic area to see if Teresa had already come for breakfast, he even gazed toward the Med-jacks' hut but never saw her coming out or may have missed her coming out. Or she could still be sleeping?

He spotted Clint walking by their table, "Hey, Clint" Poe called. Clint halted and turned to Poe with a questioning look. "Teresa up yet?" He asked.

"She is, it's just— she's still kinda shy to come out, you know?" Clint said. "She insists of taking over to watch Alby" then he walked away to join Jeff at a table.

Poe had decided to go to the hut as soon everyone went to work. He also asked Frypan for some leftovers so he can take them to Teresa as he goes there. Frypan just made two sandwiches of bacon and egg, wrapped them in a foil, even filled a canteen with fruit juice before putting the sandwiches and canteen into a plastic bag so Poe can carry them rather easily.

When he arrived at the hut, he found Teresa sitting on a bed, examining a syringe, as if trying to contemplating it. She heard Poe coming in, "Hey" she smiled.

"Hey" he said, he lift the bag, "I brought you breakfast, I don't know if you already ate or not"

"I'm starving" Teresa breathed out sharply as if relieved. He approached her and gave her breakfast. "Thank you. To tell you the truth, I don't think I haven't ate since— before they sent me up here. I've been feeling— really woozy. Too woozy to get food myself but I didn't know where to go"

Poe felt bad for her. "You could've asked anyone"

She was already unwrapping the foil, "Jeff was supposedly bring breakfast but that was an hour ago" without even looking at the sandwich or what was in it, she began to devour it. She took at least three big bites until her mouth was full which made Poe smile as he pursed his lips.

Poe decided to check on Alby to leave Teresa to finish her breakfast. When he saw Alby, the leader looked normal and he was even sleeping normally. Curled in a ball with a blanket wrapped around him. Poe was glad to see Alby okay and also happy that he's going to be okay.

"He didn't keep you awake? Was he quiet?" Poe asked Teresa as he walked back to Teresa's room.

"He was very quiet—" Teresa's mouth was full and she was still chewing the food. She took a moment to swallow the food few times. "He didn't keep me up, I just... I woke up couple times during the night for some reason"

"First nights in the Glade are harder" Poe leaned back against a wall. "You're not planning on cooped up in here, are you?"

"I don't think anyone likes me, that Gally guy, already hates me, he thinks everything is my fault"

"Not everyone here is Gally," he assured, "I wouldn't worry too much about him, he's not in charge but he thinks he is... when Alby gets back on his feet, you wouldn't need to worry about that shank"

"Shank?" Teresa's expression turn to confusion.

Poe shook his head, "Never mind that one" Teresa continued eating, finished the first sandwich then began to eat the other.

The morning went on rather okay with everyone else working. Not long after Teresa finished her breakfast, Poe convinced her to come out of the hut and decided to give her a little tour around the Glade and left Clint to watch over Alby. Poe introduced Winston, Teo and other Slicers at the Blood house where he works, and he also introduced her to Anton and Bark. No one was sure what Teresa will do around the Glade, nothing seemed to matter anymore as the Glade changed a lot, too many things have happened already and Poe wasn't sure if the Trials mattered anymore. They may have to wait for a few days and see if things go back to normal as the way it was before.

The Box haven't still come back down, it's most likely that it's stuck there, it's getting everyone worried and wonder how long they'll last until the supplies run out.

When lunch arrived, Poe managed to persuade Teresa that she can come along with him to the picnic area where they joined Teo, Winston and Anton. Of course, there were many Gladers staring at Teresa throughout the lunch.

"Don't mind them" Anton told her, "Most of these shanks haven't seen a girl for two years, some for a year, you know—"

It didn't seem to make her feel better or comfortable, she still lowered her head down to hide her face.

Before everyone went back to work, something in the maze caught everyone's attention. The faint and deep rumbling noises began within the maze. The sounds were very familiar, it's what they hear every night. The maze changing.

"Someone tell me if they can hear that too" Teo was standing still as everyone else.

"I hear it" Winston affirmed.

"Minho and Thomas are out there" Anton said, "What is happening out there?" They were staring at the doors as everyone were standing in the middle of the field.

"Sounds to me the maze is changing" Winston guessed.

"In the middle of the day?"

"A lot have happened already the past couple of days, what else can happen next?"

Poe and Teresa exchanged glances before Newt approached them. "Teresa, Clint wants you back in the hut to watch Alby, it's your turn"

The girl nodded in response. She looked at Poe before she walked away and made her way back to the hut.

"I hope Thomas and Minho haven't got crushed to death" Newt hoped.

A lot of Gladers have waited by the doors and looking out for Minho and Thomas to come back. If they come back. The maze was heard still shifting, long deep echoes reached across the Glade.

Almost all noon, they have stood and waited for the Runners to come back. Before the noon ended, Thomas and Minho came jogging down the corridor.

"Hey, what the hell is going on out there?" Newt quickly demanded as Thomas and Minho slowed down at they entered the Glade.

"What have you done now, Greenie?" Gally didn't sound happy at all.

"We found something—" Thomas began as he and Minho began walking across the Glade as everyone else followed. "A new passage. We think it might be our way out"

"Really?" Newt was surprised.

"It's true" Minho confirmed, "We opened a door. Something I'd never seen before. I think it must be where the Grievers go during the day"

"Wait, whoa whoa!" Chuck went between the Runners and walked between them. "You're saying you found the Griever's home? And you want us to go in?"

"Their way in could be our way out, Chuck" Thomas said.

"Yeah—" Gally uttered, "or there could be a dozen Grievers on the other side. The truth is, Thomas doesn't know what he has done, as usual!"

Thomas halted and twist around to face Gally. "Yeah, at least I did something, Gally. I mean, what have you done? Huh?! Aside from hide behind these walls all the time?!"

Poe found himself standing between Jack and Anton as they all watched Thomas and Gally beginning to argue. "Let me tell you something, Greenie! You've been here three days, all right? I've been here three years!"

"Yeah, you've been here three years and you're still here, Gally!" Thomas yelled. "What does that tell you? Maybe you should start doing things a little differently!"

No one noticed Teresa standing nearby as she called out, "Guys—"

"Maybe you should be in charge, what about that?!"

"Hey, it's Alby!" Teresa's voice raised, Gally and Thomas went quiet as everyone turn their attention to the girl. "He's awake"

Poe felt like he needed to sit down, so he couldn't follow them to the hut to see Alby, instead Poe went to the camp, back to his hammock as Teo, Winston, Bark and Anton went with him.

"Crazy, huh?" Winston uttered, "Think they really found the way out?"

"Think Minho would lie about that?" Teo replied sarcastically. "This could be it, guys. We could finally get out of here"

"So when do you think we'll leave?" Anton questioned.

Poe wondered about that. There was this rush of anxiousness came pouring on him, when he should be excited that they'll be getting out of this place soon, but strangely, he wasn't, meanwhile Winston, Teo and Anton were all beginning to talk about how they couldn't wait and how they're excited to see out there in the world. Poe suddenly felt sorry for them as he stared dolefully at his friends. He wasn't sure why he felt sorry for them. He felt something awful was coming. He should know why, he should know but he can't remember why.

It was late in the evening, Poe suddenly began to worry when he noticed the doors.

They weren't closing. They weren't closing and night was falling.

Poe found himself standing outside of the camp as he gazed towards the doors, hoping and praying to god that they close.

"Guys, something's wrong" Winston finally noticed.

Winston and Poe didn't need to remind Teo and Anton about the doors not closing, they already noticed and so did everybody else. Everyone went frantic and all of them began to run to the doors. Newt, Thomas, Minho, Teresa and many others were at the doors. There were some Gladers already running into the forest to hide. Without the doors closing, they're not safe, Grievers can come into the Glade.

A loud boom erupted to the opposite side of the doors, just behind Poe, Teo, Anton and Winston, they all fidgeted and gasped and startled by the sound. To their shock, they could see the walls over the tree and see the middle opening like the main door. Birds were flying away from the walls. "What the hell—" Teo gaped in stun as they watched the second door opening, they had no idea that there was a second door— but then another familiar booming noise sounded on their left then their right. Four doors? Poe could feel his chest burning from anxiety.

Then, there was an echo of monstrous screeches coming from in every doors.

Grievers. Grievers are coming.

"We need to hide, now!" Poe uttered as he grabbed Anton's arm to start running into the forest. But the four of them and the dog halted by the sounds of the Grievers screeching across the forest where the second door was.

"This way—" Winston gestured them to follow him. Winston lead them around the forest away from the second door, instead they were going to the forest where the map room was standing. Teo was helping Poe to run as they were behind Winston and Anton. Before going into the forest, they met up with the rest of the Slicers along with a Bullder, and before they ran into the woods, Poe caught a glimpse of Teresa running with Thomas and others, and even Newt with Frypan.

Teresa, Teresa. Poe wanted to scream and shout out Newt's name. Newt, Newt.

But Poe ran into the forest with his friends, including Bark. Sam and Phil were holding the torches to see ahead. The Grievers' scream erupted around the Glade, even the Gladers screaming and cries echoed around the Glade.

While they were running in the woods, they were going for the map room as Poe told Sam and Phil where to go. While Anton was running in the middle, just behind Winston, the boy tripped, making Poe, Teo, Winston, Bark and the Builder, John to halt for the boy. It all happened so fast when a Griever dashed and caught Sam ahead.

"Oh shit!" Teo blurted.

"This way—" Winston ran the other way, away from the Griever to go around it. They listened Sam's dying screams before the Griever chased after Phil. The woods were too dark to see , too dark to see where they were going. All Poe could hear was the Grievers, the Gladers screaming, his friends panting as they were running.

Someone yelped ahead who was leading, it was Winston, followed by John and Anton, Poe didn't know why they were yelling until he and Teo found themselves falling forward and rolled down until they went into a pond. He quickly stood up as his feet reached the bottom and let out coughs when he breathed in the water into his nose and so were the rest.

They coughed for seconds until someone near them shushed them. "Shhh!! Shut up, you'll draw them here!" Said a hushed voice. Poe couldn't see who it was or where they were but he saw a silhouette of a small wooden bridge near them just above a creek. He recognized it when he and Minho walked onto when the Keeper showed Poe to the map room.

"Nico?" John uttered.

"Shut up and get in here!" Nico hushed harshly.

The five Gladers walked to the bridge and hid under there. "Where's Gally?" John whispered.

"I don't know, man"

Ignoring how the pond's water was cold, Bark began to bark away, standing on the ground where the Gladers fell from. Barking and barking until a Griever's screech was heard nearby.

"Shut that damn dog, Poe!" Nico hushed sharply.

"Bark, Bark! Shut it!" Poe tried not to yell but a Griever was coming their way. Poe became instantly scared, not for himself and his friends but for Bark. "Bark!"

Bark did not stop barking, the Griever was heard dashing towards the sounds, and that's when Bark went sprinting away to a different direction as if drawing the Griever away from Poe and the Gladers. The Griever was chasing after the dog.

"No— no!" Poe uttered as he wanted to go after him but was stopped by Teo and Anton and one of the hands was pressed onto his mouth to keep him quiet.

"I say we run for the map room" Winston implied.

"Now!" Nico did not wait at all, he and John left the bridge and climbing onto the land while the rest of them followed. Poe didn't have time, all he could hope for is Bark's okay, he just followed along to the map room.

Not all the Grievers were gone in the area. Out of nowhere, a creature darted between Nico and Winston, it caught John as he got carried away off the trail. Teo, Anton and Poe just kept going and proceeded to follow Nico and Winston.

They ran for the map room and made it in. It was all too dark to see inside, all he heard was the Gladers trying to barricade the door before they went quiet. Poe found himself sitting on the ground, crawling under a table with Anton, the boy was holding Poe's arm tightly as they listened to what was happening out there. The boy was trembling in fear as he was holding Poe's arm as they both leaned back against Teo and Winston under the table.

The Gladers screaming went on, and so were the Grievers until they all went faintly as if they were retreating. They were leaving, they were leaving the Glade. Poe and the rest had to wait a little more longer before they could leave the room.

It was all silent, very silent. It told the Gladers in the room that it was safe to come out. They were all reluctant as they came out of the room and left cautiously.

"Are they gone?" Anton questioned.

"Sounds like it" Winston replied. "We'd still hear them, wouldn't we?"

As soon as they realized the Grievers were gone, that's when the five Gladers went back to the camp, anywhere else besides the woods. With Teo's support to help Poe walk, they were walking behind Nico, Winston and Anton. They found themselves behind the Med-jacks hut that was in flames. They walked around the flames before seeing the entire Glade all in a mess, there were more fires in various areas, the camp was also a mess; trees, hammocks, tarps and tents knocked down. Shocked and almost horrified to see the damages in the Glade that the Grievers have done.

Ahead at the Homestead, there was a commotion going on and there were survivors clamouring outside of the Homestead. Poe and the other four went hurrying to the scene.

When they arrived to the scene, there was Thomas laying on the ground, seemingly unconscious, with Newt, Teresa, Chuck, Minho and others surrounding the unconscious Thomas. There was Gally standing by with two other Builders.

Newt, he's still alive. Poe was relieved, and Teresa.

"What's going on here?" Winston uttered, getting everyone else's attention.

In just seconds, Newt was already beside Poe, "You okay?"

Poe felt like he was frozen after what just happened. Too many Gladers have been taken and killed tonight. He could barely feel the pain in his ankle as he stared down at Thomas, he didn't know what to think. He was glad that Newt was still alive and Teresa too. But Bark. Poor Bark.

Poe nodded weakly in response without looking at Newt. "What happened to him?" He asked about Thomas.

"He stung himself"

Poe pressed his brows together as he finally looked at Newt. But Poe immediately knew why this stupid kid stung himself. He wanted to remember.

"Hey—" Teresa touched Poe's arm.

"I'm fine" Poe said before Teresa could even asked if he was okay.

"Get this shank to the pit!" Gally ordered. Almost everyone had a strange look given to Gally. "And the girl!"

"Whoa, wait a minute, Gally!" Newt approached Gally, "You can't be serious"

"If it wasn't for those two! None of this would've ever happened! I want them in the pit!" Gally demanded, "anyone who disagrees on this will join them! Now, get those two into the Slammer! Nico, get the girl!"

Poe glanced around until he found Nico standing behind Winston. The Builder just stood by as his brows furrowed in either confusion or in conflict. He didn't move an inch.

But then Teresa was grabbed from behind by another Builder, pulled her away from Poe. "Hey, get off of her—!" He attempted to fight the Builder off of Teresa until Poe was stopped by Teo and Anton.

"Don't, don't—" Teo said softly.

"You want to join them, Poe?" Gally questioned the blond boy. The tall boy had a threatening look on his face.

Poe paused as he looked at Gally before looking over at Teresa. The girl weakly shook her head, telling him to not do anything. So Poe didn't respond to Gally's question and let him and the other two Builders take her and Thomas to the Slammer.

The two Gladers dragged an unconscious Thomas to the Slammer while Teresa was being forced to follow them, Poe felt helpless to watch her being punished for something she didn't even do.

Poe stood by with Anton, Teo, Newt, Winston and few others before Poe heard something familiar.

A dog barking.

Bark?

***

Okay, next chapter is most likely be the last of this first part.
I may take a week or two break from this story before I move onto the second part.
I didn't think I'd make it this far into this story tbh, I guess I'm just in love with these characters too much to abandon.