Florence felt her eyelids fluttering closed, begging her for a moment's rest. Her back ached relentlessly as she was curled into the chair in an awkward manner. She let out soft breaths every few moments, her chest rising and pressing into the corner of the armrest of the chair, and then falling and relieving her of the sharp pain.

She refused to leave Ben alone. Both Clint and Jeff offered to watch him for the night, but she rejected them, and reassured Minho that she would be perfectly fine sat beside Ben's bed.

Ben was mostly still as he laid in the bed. He would twitch or cry out ever so often, which would jolt Florence from her almost-asleep state, but he was mostly quiet. He looked so fragile, as though he would break at any given moment.

It had been a few days since he was stung, and Florence wasn't sure how much longer he would have to endure it. It was slightly different for everyone, she had been told, but ranged from a few days up to a week. She had only seen Gally deal with the Changing.

She knew that he would be different afterwards. It broke her heart to think about it. The confident, sweet boy she knew as her friend would be changed. She didn't want him to change. She didn't want him to be different.

As the boy let out a whimper in his unconscious state, Florence untangled her legs from under herself, and got up to stand at his side. He was barely recognisable. His skin was deathly pale, accentuating the green veins that ran over his body, and self inflicted dark blue and purple bruises were beginning to form along his arms and chest.

She began to shush him, her hand going ever so gently onto his shoulder. He flinched, but then he melted under her touch and his whimpering stopped. She squeezed his shoulder gently to calm him, but the 'hallucinations' were still strong in his mind.

"It's okay, you're okay." She mumbled soothingly. She had no idea if he could hear her, but she hoped he could.

"I'm guessing you're staying here again today?"

Minho.

His unexpected voice startled her, but she was careful to not jolt Ben as she turned to scold the other. Her expression softened as she saw his concern for the bed-bound boy, and she let out a sigh instead.

"You know I have to. Clint and Jeff will have their hands full with shucking Slicer injuries, and I need to keep an eye on Ben."

Minho held back his disagreement, knowing she was too stubborn to have her mind changed, and instead approached the girl. Standing just behind her, he snaked his arms around the girl's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. The gesture sent Florence's heart wild, and she hoped that Minho would not hear it beating so rapidly.

"He's gonna be different afterwards Minho." Her voice came out as a whisper to avoid it cracking, and now Minho knew she should stay too. It was obvious she was overly stressed about him, and she would not be able to keep her focus out in the Maze.

"I know." He had no other words to comfort her. He knew that Ben wouldn't be the same, so there was no point arguing that, and so all he could do was hug her and hope it would bring her some reassurance. 

It did.

"Besides, new Greenie today huh? You gotta greet him." His breath tickled the girl's neck, giving her goose bumps. A weird sensation came over Florence; a mixture of nervous excitement for the Greenie, and a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

I've really been here two months. I'm really going to be stuck here for the rest of my life.

"I forgot about that. What time is it?"

"It's just in time for breakfast. You better go get yourself some." He said, nestling his head into her neck for a moment, and then pulling away before she had a moment to react.

"I gotta go out in the Maze so I'll see you later." 

Florence was frozen to the spot from Minho's affection. It was certainly unexpected, but not unwanted.

"Okay." She murmured as he moved away to the door. He paused in the doorway, sending the girl a wink upon sensing her sudden shyness.

"Stay safe out there Minho." She suddenly called, before he could disappear. He nodded, giving her a sincere smile. 

"Of course princess."

Florence waited for Clint to come in and check on Ben before leaving the room - there was no way she felt comfortable leaving him alone - and then she got herself breakfast. More than a dozen boys came up to her, to ask how Ben was, to which she replied bluntly to cut off any long conversations. 

As hungry as she was, she barely finished her food. In fact, Florence was sat staring at her plate long after everyone had disappeared. She had zoned out, and was dragging a piece of bacon around her plate repeatedly.

"Florence?"

She couldn't hear Frypan's voice at first. He was hovering by her side, not wanting to scare her, but needing to get her plate so he could do the washing up.

He called her name again, louder, but Florence had zoned out so much that she had no sense of awareness of anyone around her. Frypan rolled his eyes at the oblivious girl, but really he felt awful.

She was exhausted. Her eyes had heavy dark bags underneath them, and her skin was paler than usual, also caused by tiredness. She was busy thinking of Ben, of course, and his state. 

Gally had claimed he could remember things after the Changing, so was Ben going to say the same?

Newt was watching Frypan from the kitchen with a small sense of amusement. He cast a glance back to him, asking him what to do, and Newt sighed heavily. Approaching him, his hand rested on Frypan's shoulder and he patted it gently.

"I got this Fry, go ahead and start in the kitchen."

Newt sat down next to the girl, and his presence right beside her caused her to jolt from her trance. She looked to Newt and relaxed upon seeing it was him, turning back to stare gloomily at her plate.

"How's Ben?"

She let out a cold laugh and pushed her plate away from her. She couldn't meet his eye as she replied.

"How do you think? He's going through the Changing." Newt scolded himself internally for the stupid question, and he bit his fingernails nervously.

"Try not to get so worried over it Flo. You're trying the best you can, and he's gonna make it out."

"I know." She managed in a small voice.

I don't want to not get worried over it. I don't want to act as though my friend going through the Changing is a normal thing.

Newt was trying his best to comfort her, but he could tell she was way too in her head to listen to him properly. Before he could begin to speak again, the sound of the Greenie alarm interrupted their conversation.

Florence's ears immediately perked up, and Newt chuckled softly at her sudden interest. No matter where her mind was, the arrival of a Greenie would always steal her attention.

"At least distract yourself with the Greenie for a little while." He nudged her arm with his elbow and the smallest smile appeared on her face.

"Fine. Just for you Newtie." Newt's face screwed up in disgust at the nickname she just placed on him, but she had gotten up from her seat to return her plate to Frypan and so he couldn't say anything.

When Florence arrived at the Box, there was already a crowd of Gladers at the scene. On her way over, their soon-to-be-replaced current Greenie bounded over to her with bundles of energy.

"How scared do you reckon this shank'll be?" He asked her eagerly, his excited pace putting him in front of the girl despite his little legs.

"Maybe he'll be as scared as you." She teased, letting herself relax more, and he pouted playfully.

"I bet you were just as bad." He tried to claim, and as Newt joined the pair, he couldn't help but input in the conversation.

"I won't lie to ya Chuck, she didn't cry much." Chuck shook his head furiously, as if he was denying the claim, but Florence's modest tut and ever-so-slightly pink cheeks caused him to believe it.

"She did run straight out into the Maze though." Florence's cheeks returned to normal and she swatted his arm angrily as if she wanted to forget the memory rather than spread it. Newt and Chuck dissolved into laughter at her embarrassed reaction.

The three dropped the subject as they realised the Box was now coming up. Florence struggled her way through the crowd and stood at the edge with Newt and Chuck either side.

Chuck was overly enthusiastic about the new Greenie, but Florence couldn't blame him. It was quite exciting to see what new face would be joining them in the Glade, and it's also great not having everyone call you Greenie anymore.

"Please say it's another girl."

A voice Florence couldn't recognise begged from the crowd, making the boys erupt in laughs. She rolled her eyes and reached forwards to help Alby open up the Box with whom she shared an unimpressed expression.

Everyone leaned forwards to look in on the fresh meat, immediately breaking out into chatter, and Florence felt herself almost toppling over as she saw the face of the boy.

Sure, she thought that there was a familiarity about Minho - and Newt too now that she's thinking of it - but there is no doubting the fact she knows this boy.

He was sprawled on his back, panting, his hand up to shield his eyes as the sunlight glared down on him. He looked about seventeen, just older than Florence, with dark brown hair and sharp facial features. The most prominent thing about him presently? 

His fear.

Florence was paralysed in shock, and just like she had zoned out earlier, she couldn't hear Gally complaining about the fact she should've jumped down into the Box already, or Chuck saying her name repeatedly, and she couldn't feel him hitting her on the arm in attempt to get her attention.

I know this boy. 

Gally became impatient, and leapt down into the Box, causing the Greenie to scramble up to his knees and attempt to back away. Gally's face cracked into a malicious smile.

"Day one Greenie! Rise and shine."

Grabbing his shirt, Gally pulled the boy to a standing and motioned for the rope. In a daze, the Greenie took the rope chucked down to him and Gally got himself up at the side of the Box with help from Alby's hand.

The boys began to crowd in on the newbie, and as they moved over to the small patch of grass he stumbled on, Florence found herself alone by the Box, still frozen in shock.

How the shuck do I recognise him?

She couldn't match his face to anything specific, which didn't come as a surprise, but she knew him definitely. And then she realised what she was doing.

Why am I still standing here? I look like an idiot.

Collecting her thoughts, she made her way over to the boys, only to see something peculiar. The newbie had pushed away the crowds and broke out in a sprint across the Glade. 

"We got a Runner!" Echoed out after him from someone in the crowd, causing only more laughter from everyone else.

That's what I did.

She watched as he stumbled over his footing and went down on the ground, hard. This only made the boys burst into another spurt of laughter, but Florence was too busy curiously watching him to appreciate his funny fall.

She jogged over and squatted beside the boy, grabbing his attention. His eyes widened at the sight of her, and she let a small chuckle pass her lips. 

I'm the only girl after all.

She could hear the sarcastic clapping from the crowd of Gladers watching, a few cheers being dotted in every so often. 

The boy's eyes were green and curious, and unknown to her, they looked exactly like her own. As there was a lack of mirrors on the Glade, the girl couldn't see her own appearance.

However, everyone else could.

And they could also see the strong similarity between them. Their eyes, their hair, their sharp facial expressions, and the fact they both took off running almost immediately after arriving.

They were scarily similar.

But it was bound to happen, right? In this giant group of teenagers, it was inevitable for two of them to be so similar, right?

"Hey there Greenie. My name's Florence, can you remember yours?"

If possible, the boy's eyes had widened even larger, and his mouth gaped open as if he had just had an epiphany. He shut his jaw, and cleared his throat to answer.

"No, no I don't. Why can't I remember?"

And then her heart began beating madly. A surge of emotions rose from deep inside, as if they were waiting, and Florence had to blink away the few tears that had started to form from the surprise. Because his voice had connected with something in her.

It was him. That voice. In the Box. It's his voice.

Florence fell back in the grass, catching herself with her hands. She sat propped up, just staring at him motionlessly, as though he was a wild animal. She still hadn't answer his question.

How could it have been his voice? Voices don't just appear in people's head, not as real as Florence heard his. Because she knew it was real. It was as though he could communicate with her, but then he lost it. She recalled the ringing in her ear as his voice faded from her mind in the Box, as though she had temporarily lost her hearing.

"I know you."

The words didn't come from Florence however. They came from him. She let her jaw drop at the words he had stolen from her, but they were quickly interrupted by the other Gladers swarming around them, and so she couldn't reply.

"You know for a second there I thought you had the chops to be a Runner, until you faceplanted." Newt commented, and Florence fought the urge to laugh at the different tone he had taken on.

It wasn't anything she had heard from him before, in fact, it was flirtatious.

Looking to the boy now, she could see his eyes gleaming with a certain look that would only be reserved for someone you were crushing on. The one that Minho had when looking at her, and vice versa - but it's not as though she knew about that.

Newt fancies the Greenie?

She caught the blonde's eye and raised her eyebrow suggestively. His cheeks immediately flushed red, and his eyes scanned the crowd to see if anyone else glimpsed his embarrassment. Luckily for him, they were preoccupied with the Greenie, but Florence swore to herself that when she had a spare moment she would be interrogating Newt about this.

If I knew the newbie before this whole mess, maybe I did know Minho. Maybe I knew all the people I know now. 

It would make sense. 

If the Creators put us here on purpose, they probably took us all from the same place.

"A Runner?" The Greenie asked, his eyebrows furrowing. More laughter.

Ah the fun of Greenies.

His eyes found Newt and searched his face in curiosity. The girl had caught the looks they had given each other and already knew what it suggested, but she knew the other boys would be more than oblivious.

After a few minutes of Alby very briefly explaining the Glade - as in, just telling the Greenie they were surrounded by a Maze, and their three main rules - the rest of the boys dispersed to get back to their jobs, and to share their opinions on the Greenie. This newbie was something to talk about; he seemed far more curious than Chuck had.

Alby shunned their newbie off with Chuck, who was more than happy to blabber on about god knows what whilst helping to set up his hammock. Florence took this as an opportunity to pull Newt away from his gardening duties - he wasn't actually gardening, just staring at the Greenie - to ask him about the boy in question.

"I have never seen you so..." She faltered in looking for the right word. Nevertheless, Newt's cheeks had already heated up and he frowned in embarrassment as the girl dragged them over to a tree where they settled in the grass. Luckily for Newt, they were still in a position where they could see the lost looking boy.

"Love-struck." 

Newt's face screwed up in mock disgust and further embarrassment. Florence simply just giggled.

"Love-struck? I've only bloody met the boy."

"Yeah but you are."

He only frowned, no words forming in his mouth. His eyes wandered to where the boy was sat with Chuck, and found that the Greenie was staring right back at him. Feeling heat in his cheeks again, he glanced away and to the ground, before finally settling on the girl.

She raised her eyebrows expectantly but he scowled, earning more of her laughter. When it died down, Florence tilted her head thoughtfully as she watched her love-struck friend.

"Seriously though."

Newt took the moment to really think.

"There's just... Something about him." He hesitated, unsure on how the girl would respond to his next planned words. "He seems-"

"-Familiar."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise that she finished his sentence. That was his exact next word and she could read it on his face.

"Yeah I feel that." She murmured. Leaning back against the tree, she let her eyes close and a breeze pass over her. Newt however, couldn't take his eyes off the boy. So when he suddenly began strolling away from Chuck and towards the Maze walls he got a little concerned.

Chuck took off immediately after, and Newt watched as they exchanged a few words and stopped to just stare at the wall. It's strange when you really think about it. They're just standing and staring at a wall.

Florence opened her eyes to the sight, and to Minho running in from the Maze. She took this as a chance to take Newt's wrist and pull him towards the group. Jogging lightly, she caught the attention of the three boys and gave them an enthusiastic wave.

"Good day Minho?" She asked whilst subtly nudging Newt towards the Greenie, who in turn rolled his eyes and joined the boy and Chuck in conversation.

Minho just shrugged. "Nothing different princess." Florence could tell he was disheartened, that he hoped for something new every time he went in the Maze. Moving past to head to the Map room, he ruffled her hair and jogged on.

She watched him for a moment, her forehead creased and a concerned frown playing on her lips. However she was pulled out of her worry when the newbie came crashing to the ground.

The cause? 

Gally. Of course.

He towered over the boy on the ground, shrugging lightly as he spoke. "We gotta stop meeting like this Greenie." The boy in turn scrambled up from the ground, growling for Gally to leave him alone.

"Alright, calm, calm." Gally held up his hands defensively, the altercation catching the attention of a few Gladers nearby.

As the Greenie began to panic, a swarm of Gladers crowded around the situation, only making it much worse. Florence exchanged a look with Newt, her eyes begging him to step in.

"Just calm down, alright?" He said, stepping forwards, but the boy refused. His eyes were wide with fear as he looked about the boys.

"Why won't you tell me what's out there?" 

As Newt and Alby spoke over each other, telling the boy it was for his own good, Florence glanced to her watch to see that the Maze would be closing in only a few moments and that the Greenie would see for himself.

And on cue, the walls began to rumble, startling the newbie who watched in awe as they began to slide together to seal them in for the night. And once they met, there was no more worry about the Greenie doing a runner off into the Maze. They could relax a little. Just a little.

"Next time, I'm gonna let you leave."

"Slim it, Gally!" Florence called, but the boy only pushed past her with a scowl as he left the group. The Greenie didn't blink, not moving from his position in which he was still watching the Maze walls.

The rest of the group dispersed, but Florence weaved through them to reach the Greenie. She reached up to place her hand on his shoulder and he flinched before relaxing.

"Welcome to the Glade, Greenbean."

As the boys drank, and ate, and messed around at their weekly bonfire; there was a buzz in the atmosphere. It was always more fun when there was a Greenie, even if the one in question was keeping himself as far away from the mess of people as possible.

Florence settled herself beside Minho, who fake shivered as an excuse to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her close to him for 'heat'. She didn't mind particularly, and busied herself in throwing sticks onto the growing fire with a few other boys sat nearby.

Her eyes continually wondered to the Greenie, wondering if she should talk to him about the fact they recognised one another. Instead, she decided to nod Newt over in his direction in attempts to get him to talk to him. 

Minho had picked up on what the girl was doing, giving Newt a smug, knowing smile as they watched him wander over to the log the Greenie was leaned back against alone. Newt was incredibly embarrassed but was thankful it was the two of them who spotted it rather than other people in the Glade.

They could see Newt handing the Greenie a glass of Gally's strange concoction, and then the Greenie coughing and spluttering in attempts to spit it out. Chuckling at him, they turned away as Chuck stole their attention with Florence's guitar.

She stretched out, distancing from Minho to get some space to place her guitar on her knee. Playing it like always, it took the attention of a few boys; some of whom were dancing as they were unbelievably drunk.

Glancing back over her shoulder, she could see Newt dragging the Greenie to his feet and over to the bonfire. The boy in turn tried to protest, but Newt managed to persuade him into a mini tour of the place.

"Well, what if I want to be a Runner?" The Greenie's words caught Florence off guard and she plucked the wrong string, the tune she was playing suddenly turning sour. Letting out a nervous chuckle, she put down her guitar and glanced to Minho to see if he had heard what the newbie said to Newt.

But then, for the second time in a day Gally had shoved the newbie - well kind of; he shoved someone at him the second time - and caused him to stumble.

It was obvious Gally didn't like him. From what Florence had gathered, he was always rude to the Greenies, but neither she or Chuck got the full extent of it as she was a girl and he was so young.

But it looked like this Greenie could hold his own.

The boy who had been thrown at him was helped up, and the Greenbean was practically thrusted into the middle of the circle along with Gally. Florence abandoned Minho to approach Newt stood on the skirts of the crowd, her brow furrowed in worry of what Gally might do.

"What do you say Greenie? Wanna see what you're made of?"

The echo of chants was too much for the Greenie to take. His eyes darted around the crowds, avoiding the girl's stare because it hurt his head too much trying to figure out how he recognised her and avoiding Newt's because it hurt his head too much trying to figure out why he found him so attractive.

Minho was watching on from where he was sat alone at the bonfire. He was intrigued by the Greenie, he had to admit. But he also knew that Newt was bound to have told the newbie he was the Keeper of the Runners, and he wanted to keep a relaxed yet intimidating vibe about himself to try and scare him - or something along those lines.

The Greenie had said nothing but it had really been decided for him already that he would take on Gally's challenge; whatever that meant.

"Alright. The rules are simple Greenie; I try to shove you out of the circle, you try to last longer than five seconds."

Florence caught Minho's eye who in return cracked an amused grin at Gally's cockiness. She shook her head with a laugh she couldn't hide.

Gally really loves himself.

Florence was surprised Minho wasn't watching more closely. In fact to her he looked barely fazed by the scenario. She pushed away her curiosity to watch the two boys herself.

"Ready?"

Gally didn't give the Greenie a second to prepare before heading straight at him, charging into his chest and shoving him into the crowd. The boys on the receiving end pushed the Greenie back into the circle and paired with Gally propelling him forwards with a single hand, he was sent headfirst into the sand.

"Come on Greenie." Gally danced back and forth on his feet challengingly and impatiently as the Greenie got to his feet.

"Stop calling me that." It was the first time he had spoken since joining the circle. He sounded defensive. Florence couldn't help but grimace at this; knowing Gally would only enjoy bullying him much more.

"What do you want me to call you? Shank?" Laughter erupted in the crowds. Florence shook her  head disapprovingly but a tiny part of her had to admit seeing Gally wind up the Greenie was rather amusing. But she didn't really want to see either of them get hurt. Especially as she'd have to fix them up.

The Greenie went straight for Gally but Gally caught him midway, prompting a wrestle to stay in the circle. The newbie got tossed to the floor again. 

Minho had joined Florence's side now. His shoulder brushed hers as he turned to fold his arms across his chest, watching Gally with a straight face, looking insanely unamused.

"You know what? I think I'll settle on shank."

Florence glanced to her side at Minho, only to see his calm composure. She couldn't help but poke him in the side, causing him to flinch but not lose his stony expression.

"Jeez, you look like a bodyguard." She teased. He rolled his eyes, hiding a smile, and swatted her arm to prevent her from poking him again.

The Greenie went for Gally again, but Gally gained control, driving the other's feet into the ground as he moved him backwards across the circle. But the Greenie let go. Gally stumbled forward to the floor, sending ripples of shock and laughter through the group. 

Florence let out a pleasantly surprised laugh and nudged Minho in the ribs who cracked a smile for the first time. Neither of them were expecting to see the newbie winning at any point.

They celebrated too early.

"Not bad for a Greenie, huh?" He had gotten too cocky. 

With a swift kick to the legs, the Greenie was sent to the ground, his head smacking against the floor. A wave of winces and gasps rippled through the crowds.

Before Florence could step forwards to see if he was concussed, the boy had sat up from the ground as if he had had a realisation. And he had.

"Thomas." he muttered.

"Thomas. My name is Thomas!" He exclaimed in glee. A moment of silence passed before the Gladers erupted in cheers, repeating his name and rushing forwards to greet him and congratulate him on remembering.

"Well done Thomas." Florence beamed at him, scanning his face to retake in the familiarity of the boy. He gave her a nervous smile, letting his head flood with attempts of trying to match her face to any memories. Even Gally shook his hand, welcoming him by name instead of shank.

The joy was ripped from the air by a Griever shrieking from out in the Maze. Every single head turned to the direction the cry sounded from, reminding them all that they could not stay care-free teenagers for any longer.

Thomas' face was lit with confusion, searching everyone's expressions to try and catch if anyone was caught off guard by this sudden interruption. But no one seemed surprised.

"What was that?"

"That my friend, was a Griever. Don't worry. You're safe here with us - nothing gets through those walls."

Alright, tough man Gally.

Florence felt the urge to tease Gally for his sudden 'manliness' and the fact he called Thomas a friend, but acknowledged that it was probably not the best moment for it.

"Alright guys, let's head in for the night. Come on, good night!" Alby encouraged everyone back towards the Homestead and their hammocks, to distract the Greenie from any questions about the noise.

Florence walked with Gally back towards the Homestead, the boy's eyes still on Thomas. Suddenly, he let out a small gasp and it was as if he had been put on paused.

"What? What is it?" She murmured, and his eyes fixed on her, his glare harsh enough to pierce her soul.

"I saw Thomas in the Changing."

A different cry pierced the air, chilling Florence's bones at the reminder. Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, she let out a heavy breath. She hadn't fully registered Gally's words.

"We'll talk later or something Gally, okay?" He gave her a curt nod, but he knew that the girl would never get back around to it. Turning away from the shaken boy, she headed straight for the hut where Ben was being monitored by Clint and Jeff.

He looked the same as yesterday, maybe the tiniest bit less pale. Clint was placing a cold towel to his forehead to cool him down in attempts to calm him.

"We think he might wake up tomorrow." Jeff sidled over to the girl unexpectedly, causing her to jump.

"Really?" She murmured, unconvinced. She didn't want to get her hopes up that Ben would be awake and well anytime soon.

"Yep. And he's been whispering stuff in his sleep. We think it's the hallucinations." 

She stared at the boy for a second. The thick green veins were less prominent, and the scratches and bruises were beginning to fade. He was improving.

"What has he been saying?"

Before Jeff could reply, the boy in question began mumbling. She crept closer to his bed, chewing her lip in worry once again.

"-good... WCKD is good." 

WCKD?