( o7. another greenie )

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"YOU'RE AN idiot, you know that?" Ellie fell into step beside Thomas, her voice cutting through the tense air in the Glade. "Running into the maze like that. You could have died."

"But I didn't." Thomas shot her a sideways glance. "And Alby's alive because of it."

The deflection made her jaw clench. "That's not the point," she said, her voice sharp as she grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. She didn't let go. "You got lucky. I've seen what happens when people don't get lucky in there." Her fingers tightened around his arm. It wasn't just anger she felt—there was something deeper, something uncomfortable. Fear. "I don't want to watch another friend get killed by that place."

She realized how close she was standing to him, the warmth of his arm radiating beneath her hand. His expression softened, just for a moment, and she felt the space between them shift in an instant, becoming something heavier. She let go of his arm abruptly, looking away, and willed herself not to blush.

"Thomas!" a voice called. They turned to see Gally calling over to them. Ellie took a step closer to him instinctively, her hand hovering near his arm. She didn't know why she did it, but she suddenly felt defensive, like she was the only one allowed to yell at him.

But before she could dwell on it, Gally reached them, his face dark and accusing. "I've called a gathering, get there now."

Ellie's shoulders tensed, her body half-turned to face Gally. Thomas didn't have time to respond before others started walking over to the council room, and they both looked to each other before following over.

୨ৎ

In the Council room, the tension in the air was thick, the heat of bodies packed tightly together making Ellie feel claustrophobic. She found herself near the back, arms crossed, but kept her gaze locked on Thomas. Her eyes flicked over his face, taking in his focused expression and that defiant spark in his eyes. She couldn't help the small tug of pride in her chest, though she immediately squashed it down.

"Things are changing. There's no denying that," Gally began, his voice echoing off the wooden walls. "First, Ben gets stung in broad daylight. And then Alby. And now our Greenie here has taken it upon himself... to go into the maze. Which is a clear violation of our rules here."

Ellie rolled her eyes but stayed silent, willing herself not to step forward and argue with Gally. The last thing she wanted was to make this worse for Thomas.

"Yeah..." Frypan chimed in, casting a hesitant look at Thomas. "But he saved Alby's life."

"Did he?" Gally challenged, his tone dripping with skepticism. "For three years, we have coexisted with these things. And now, you've killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us."

As murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, Ellie felt her chest tighten. Gally wasn't entirely wrong, but the way he delivered his words, feeding the fear and anger of everyone around them—it was too much. She shot Thomas a quick, worried glance, hoping he'd understand that not everyone felt like Gally did.

"What do you suggest we do?" Newt asked, shifting his gaze between Gally and Thomas.

"He has to be punished," Gally replied firmly, his eyes hard as he stared down Thomas.

The murmur of agreement was deafening. Ellie felt a pang of anger at how quickly the Gladers were willing to turn on Thomas. Just yesterday, he was the newcomer, the Greenie—and now, just because he'd done something brave, they were already ready to cast him aside. She couldn't hold back her scowl, and Thomas, catching her expression, raised an eyebrow.

"Minho," Newt spoke up, turning the attention away from Gally. "You were there with him. What do you think?"

Minho looked thoughtful, casting a long, assessing look at Thomas. "I think... in all the time we've been here... no one has ever killed a Griever before. When I turned tail and ran... this dumb shank stayed behind to help Alby." He paused, then shrugged with a smirk. "Look, I don't know if he's brave or stupid. But whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make him a Runner."

The room exploded with protests and exclamations of both rage and agreement. Ellie caught Thomas's eye across the crowd. She had been so used to feeling alone in the Glade, but now, she felt like she had someone who understood her instinct to fight. Her heart raced as she let herself imagine what it would be like if he stayed, if they kept facing this place together.

Gally's voice cut through the noise, his tone dripping with contempt. "If you want to throw the newbie a parade, that's fine. Go ahead. But if there is one thing I know about the maze... it is that you do not—"

The Greenie alarm blared, interrupting him. Everyone froze.

"Okay, wait," Thomas muttered, his voice tense. "I know that sound."

"The Box. It's coming back up."

"It shouldn't be," Ellie murmured, a sinking feeling in her stomach before everyone rushed out of the council room and headed for the Box.

The crowd gathered as Newt peered inside. "It's a girl," he announced, surprise thick in his voice.

"I think she's dead," he continued, and Ellie's stomach twisted. A girl? The last thing they needed here was another person, let alone a girl who might be... well, like her. There was already enough trouble. She could feel the stares from boys surrounding her and suddenly felt a little smaller, though she tried not to let it show.

Newt pulled a note from her hand, his voice grim as he read, "'She's the last one... ever.' What the hell does that mean?"

The girl suddenly gasped, making them all jump slightly, her breath was shallow and panicked. "Thomas..." she whispered, her eyes focusing on him before she fell unconscious again.

Ellie's chest tightened at the sound of her voice. Thomas... She didn't know why it hurt to hear her say his name, but it did. Thomas, meanwhile, looked as baffled as everyone else, but there was something in his face—a glimmer of recognition—that made Ellie's stomach churn.

୨ৎ

Later, in the Med-hut, Jeff and Clint asked Ellie to stay with the girl. She watched the stranger, wondering who she was. A quiet fear gnawed at her, and she cursed herself for caring this much. She should be grateful for having another girl in the Glade, and i'm sure she would've been if the circumstances were different.

Newt, Thomas, and Minho entered, and Jeff turned to them. "She's stable, but we don't know how long it'll last."

"Do you recognize her?" Newt asked, his voice directed at Thomas.

Thomas shook his head, too quickly. "No."

Newt's eyes narrowed. "Really? Because she seemed to recognize you."

Thomas shifted uncomfortably, and Ellie felt a strange pang at the sight of his face, as though he was hiding something important. She looked away, her hands tightening into fists at her sides. If he didn't remember her, why was he lying?

"What about the note?" Thomas asked, clearly trying to change the subject.

"We'll worry about the note later," Newt replied curtly.

Thomas's voice rose, insistent. "I think you should worry about it now."

"We've got enough to deal with," Newt shot back.

Jeff interjected, "He's right, Newt. If the Box isn't coming back up, how long do you think we can last?"

Newt's face clouded. "We'll wait until she wakes up and see what she knows. Somebody has to have some answers around here."

Thomas abruptly left the Med-hut with both Minho and Ellie hot in his tail. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

"Back into the maze," he said, his tone resolute.

"Well then i'm coming with you," she blurted, stepping toward him.

"No." Both Thomas and Minho spoke at once, turning to her in surprise.

She crossed her arms, meeting his gaze head-on. "Then you'll have to lock me in my room to stop me. I'm tired of watching people I care about disappear into that maze."

Thomas glanced at her, clearly torn. "Newt said that no one has ever seen a Griever and lived to tell about it, right?" he argued. "Minho, now we have one. You're telling me you're not even a little bit curious?"

"Not really, no." Minho crossed his arms. "So, what's the plan? You're gonna go out and dissect that thing all by yourself?"

"I will if I have to. Have the other Runners left yet?" Thomas asked.

"The other Runners quit this morning," Minho replied, his face darkening. "After Alby got stung, they're not in any hurry to get back out there. Why are you?"

"I think it's time we find out what we're really up against," Thomas replied, a quiet determination in his voice.

"All right," Minho finally conceded, after a moment's hesitation. "But you're not going back out there alone. Meet me in the woods in half-an-hour."

Thirty minutes later, Ellie and Thomas waited at the agreed spot, the silence between them heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"Do you really not remember her?" Ellie finally asked, breaking the quiet.

"No," Thomas said, too quickly.

"You're lying." Her gaze softened as she looked at him, catching a flicker of something familiar in his eyes. "I can see it in your face. The same way you looked at me in the Slammer."

Thomas turned to her, the same recognition sparking in his expression. "Do you? Remember her?"

Ellie opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn't come. "I don't know. Maybe. It's like... like trying to remember a dream after you wake up."

"Yeah," Thomas said softly, nodding. "Exactly like that."

Just then, Minho appeared with a small group of Runners. Frypan, Zart and Winston. Ellie was surprised he even managed to get three after what happened to Abby. "Will this be enough?" Minho asked, looking at Thomas. Each boy had a backpack on ready to go, filled with supplies no doubt just in case.

"Yeah," Thomas nodded, his gaze steely. "Okay, let's go."

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