Part 2: The Maze

Chapter 22

"What?" Thomas asked. Minho sat down next to Alby catching his breath. Thomas kneeled down beside Alby.

"What happened to him?" Thomas asked.

"What does it look like? He got stung." Minho said. All of a sudden screeching filled up in my ears. The Grievers were getting closer.

"We need to split up." Minho said. I looked up at him. Is he crazy?

"No. We need to help Alby." I said.

"And I need to survive." Minho said. He started running down the corridor and disappeared around a corner. I sigh. He's not coming back. But we can't stay here in the same spot either.

"We can't carry him around. We need to hide him." Thomas said.

"There's no where to hide him. The Maze is just walls and vines."

"We could use the vines."

"How?"

"Tie him up then pull him up high. The Grievers won't find him." Thomas explained. It's actually not a bad idea but we need to hurry.

Me and Thomas tied Alby to a sturdy vine. We pull Alby up higher and higher up the wall. I can hear the Grievers getting closer and closer. We need to go now.

"It's time to go." I whispered.

"Just a little higher." Thomas whispered.

"No we need to go!" I whispered aggressively. Thomas finally agrees and we tie the vine off. Alby was hold in a sturdy position so he shouldn't fall. Whirrrs and clicks fill my ears. They're here.

"Run." I whispered. Thomas took off down the corridor. When he disappears around a corner then I start running but I stop. It's silent. I instinctively grab my bow and get it ready. The smell of burnt flesh fills my nose. I look up. A Griever drops down behind me and I start running as fast as I can. Turn after turn I run. The Griever on my tail. I reach a dead end. I turn around and see the Griever coming towards me. I fire my bow and watch an arrow pierce through the Griever's head. It screeches in pain and falls to the floor. I shoot it one more time and it goes silent. I killed it. I start running again. Turn after turn I run. Before I knew it I ran into Minho.

"How'd you find me?" I asked out of breath.

"Same way you found me. By accident." Minho said. Night shouldn't be too much longer. We've almost made it. Me and Minho start jogging side by side.

"We need to find Thomas." I said.

"He's probably dead already."

"He could be. But we have to try."

"And how do we do that?" Minho asked. I stopped jogging and listened. Minho stopped too as if he read my mind. Finally after a minute I hear the distant screeching of Grievers. They sound like they're chasing something. Or someone. Thomas. Minho again read my mind.

"Don't tell me you want to go chase down Grievers."

"Thomas would do the same for us."

"Fine." Minho said. I took off running towards the direction of the screeches. Turn after turn the screeches grow louder. When we turn a corner we see Thomas running towards a dead end with 3 Grievers chasing him. Thomas reaches the dead end and stops and right at the last second he ducks out of the way and the Grievers crash into the wall. Thomas runs towards us.

"I have an idea." Minho said then gestured us to follow him. The Grievers got up and started chasing us. A few turns later I know where we are going. Minho is taking us to the Cliff. If Minho's plan works then we'll survive. We reach the Cliff and right before we run through it we all turn to the left. The Grievers can't turn on time and they all disappear over the edge of the Cliff. We did it. After catching our breath we all start walking back to the Glade. The night is over and the early morning light fills up the sky.

When we make it back we get Alby down. He's still alive. Good to know the plan worked. The Doors opened and the Gladers stood on the other side. They all cheered and clapped for us. I scanned the crowd for Newt but he wasn't there. Where was he? I walked over to Chuck.

"Hey Chuck. Where's Newt?" I ask.

"He's in the woods. He didn't think you were coming back." Chuck said.

"Ok thanks." I said. I took off running to the woods.

"Newt!" I shouted.

"Maddie?" Newt called out. I'm surrounded by trees. I couldn't see him.

"Newt!" I called out again. I heard running. I ran towards the sound. I saw him. He saw me. We ran to each other and he embraced me with a hug I'll never forget.

"Maddie. I thought I lost you." He said. Tears were in his eyes. I wiped them away with my hand.

"I'm a survivor. I never give up." I whispered. I put my lips against his and we shared a kiss that was filled with desperation and passion. I ran my fingers through his hair. I don't want to let go. I never thought I would see him again. I suddenly realized how tired I was. Newt noticed.

"Maddie you need to rest."

"Yeah I know." I yawned. Newt helped me back to my room in the Homestead. He tucked me in bed and kissed me on the forehead.

"I'll see you later." He whispered then he walked out of my room.

***

I woke up to screaming. What's going on now? I slide out of bed and walk outside. It's still day time. The screaming is coming from the Med Hut. I walk over there and go inside. The only person in there is Alby.

"Alby?" I ask. He muttered something.

"Alby I can't hear you."

"Thomas."

"It's me. Maddie."

"I know it's you! I want to talk to Thomas!" Alby shouted. His eyes were filled with rage.

"Ok I'll go find him. Wait here." I said. Alby nodded. I walked back outside but I couldn't find Thomas or any of the Keepers. They must be in a Gathering. I walked over to the building where we hold the Gatherings. I walk in the door and I find all of the Keepers arguing and Thomas sits silently in a chair. He must be on trial for breaking the rules. Everyone quiets down when I walk in. I sit in my chair and look around at everyone. They all look frustrated and tired. I open my mouth to start speaking but everyone starts talking at once. Frustrated I bang my fist into the table and everyone shuts up.

"Alby is awake and he wants to see Thomas." I said.