Hypnotized - sequel to 'Captivated'

Five - decide

She's a silver lining

lone ranger riding

through an open space

in my mind

- Arctic monkeys, R U mine?

***

IN THE GLADERS' ROOM

The Gladers' assembled around the dorm room. A few of them sat cross-legged on the floor, while others perched on the lower bunks. No one dared say a word.

Minho was the only person standing. His face was hot and flushed with anger as he repeatedly pounded his fist into the wall. His knuckles became cut and bruised as he continued to do this, but no one pointed it out. He was seething with rage.

Eventually, Oliver spoke up. His bright brown eyes were shiny with tears. "Minho...stop."

Minho whipped around, practically foaming at the mouth with anger. "THEY SAVED HER!" he cried, "THEY SHUCKING BROUGHT HER BACK TO LIFE!"

Thomas reached up, grabbing Minho's sleeve and pulling him down to sit on the mattress beside him. "Slim it." he said calmly, "I still don't believe that it's her. How can it be? She jumped right of the walls and Alby put her body out in the Maze. We all saw it happen."

Newt sat alone on the carpet, his back to the door and his knees drawn up to his chest. He remained completely silent.

"I don't understand," Oliver said, a small tear rolling down his cheek, "It looks exactly like her!"

"Quit crying." Minho said bitterly, "I'm fed up of people moping about. Remember what the glade looked like when we left? All the ash and dust in the air? That was her fault!"

"So...you think they woke her up again?" Thomas asked cautiously, looking to Minho.

Minho nodded. "She's important to them. She's the only fire-spitting monster they've got."

Jeff interrupted. "So do we believe that it's her or not?" Everyone's head turned to look at Jeff. He was no longer the scared little wide-eyed medjack from the glade - he had grown at least two inches, his chest and shoulders had broadened substantially, and he now possessed the bravery of Minho mixed with the boldness of Blaise. "Well?" he prompted, "Is the girl Lily?"

Newt visibly flinched at the sound of her name.

"I believe it's her." Minho hissed angrily.

"Me too." Oliver added, looking down at the floor.

"How could it be anyone else?" Archie said quietly.

"It's her alright." Frypan stated solemnly.

"Good that." Jeff said, "So the next question is-"

"What the bloody hell are we going to do about it?" Newt finished the sentence, pulling himself up to a standing position. Jeff's mouth snapped shut as he tuned to look at him. Newt favored his right leg as he limped out in front of the boys. "I don't know about you, but I don't want anything to do with her." he said, bitterness evident in his voice.

"Nor do I." Minho stated, folding his arms. "Newt's right. We can't let her mess with our heads anymore!"

Silence filled the room.

"Perhaps we should take a vote?" Jeff suggested.

"No." said Newt, his voice hollow. "No more voting. Alby's gone. I'm the second in command here, so I'm making the decisions."

Everyone fell silent again, shocked that Newt was addressing Alby's death so soon. Minho stood up beside his friend, scowling at the rest of them. "I'm with Newt. I say that early tomorrow morning, we go and get Teresa, and we leave. Without Lily."