Inside the medical hut, Alby was writing in pain. Newt was holding the vial full of blue serum in his hand, looking at it skeptically. "We don't even know what this stuff is. We don't know who sent it, or why it came up here with you Teresa. I mean, for all we know, this thing could kill him.
"He's already dying. Look at him!" Edward exclaimed. "How could this possibly make it any worse? Come on, it's worth a try,"
Newt still remained conflicted so Thomas stepped up.
"Why would the Creators send this up with Teresa if they knew it would kill Alby if we tried it on him when already he's dying?"
Newt didn't move.
"It's worth a shot Newt. And if it does kill him, it would mean reliving him of a painful death," Thomas looked in deep sorrow at the horrifying state that Alby was in.
Newt took in a deep breath. "Alright," he exhaled. He raised the vial deciding to do it himself but something held him back. He remained still in place.
Thomas could tell how scared he was even though he was trying his best to hide it. "Shall I do?" he offered.
Newt nodded and gave it to him.
"Okay," Thomas walked right in of Alby. "Here goes," he raised the vial, holding his thumb over the end with the injector button. He held it over his chest.
Suddenly Alby woke up and he grabbed Thomas's shirt, attacking him.
"Thomas!" Edward tried to fight Alby to let him go.
"You two shouldn't be here!" Alby roared. "You two shouldn't be here!"
"Alby stop!" Newt tried to restrain him with Jeff and Clint.
"Get the syringe someone!" Thomas screamed. Luckily Teresa took it from his hand and she stabbed it right into Alby's chest, pushing the button. The blue serum was injected into his body. The moment the last drop was pushed into his blood stream, he calmed down and fell asleep.
Everyone relaxed. He alright. Newt was the most relieved.
"That worked," Jeff remarked.
"Okay, from now on, someone stays here and watches him around the clock," Newt instructed.
"I could take first watch," Teresa offered.
Newt looked to her and nodded. "Just stay by his side at all times and if something happens, come find me. I'll take the second watch tonight,"
Right after he said that, Gally entered the hut. "Sundown Greenies. Time to go,"
Thomas and Edward looked at each other. It was time for their punishment. But it seemed fair.
They began to walk out.
"Wait!" Teresa cried out. "What's going on?"
"We have to sleep in the pit as punishment for breaking rules," Edward informed. "But it's fine. It's just for tonight. After you do your watch Teresa, you can take my hammock in the Homestead. I'll see you in the morning,"
He turned around, Teresa still giving him a glance. Thomas even sneaked back a glance at Newt, facially assuring him that Alby would be okay. It seemed to keep the Second in Command's hopes up a bit.
It was as dark outside and the boys were walking towards the same pit of which Edward had been thrown into the first time he and his brother had arrived at the Glade. There were some other others dug in the ground and they had bamboo cages surrounding them.
As they stalked further on, Thomas noticed that Gally's face was painted with a disgustful look. He knew exactly why he was like this.
"Hey, what is your problem with us?" he demanded.
Gally tilted his head towards them with a frown.
"What did we ever do to you to get you to hate us so much?" Edward asked too.
"Everything started going wrong the minute you two showed up. First Ben gets stung in daylight, then Alby too. The Maze changes in the daytime. And the girl," They arrived at the pit and Gally glared darkly at Edward. "Everybody saw she recognised you Greenie 2. And I'm betting you know who she is,"
"I don't know who she is," Edward answered back as politely as he could muster so as not to provoke an argument.
"I don't believe you," Gally answered back, restraining his temper. He opened the door. "In. Now,"
Huffing and puffing, Edward jumped in. Gally was about to close the cage when Thomas stopped him. "You're not put us in separate pits,"
Before Gally could argue with him, Thomas jumped into the pit to join his brother, much to his surprise and enjoyment. At least he wouldn't be alone. Gally closed the door of the Pit and crouched down to fasten the rope around the door to keep it shut.
As he did, Thomas tried to reach up. "Gally...you know we can't stay here forever,"
Gally didn't answer or even look at him.
"Are you seriously saying you'd rather be stuck here for the rest of your life rather than have a life of freedom out the Maze?" Edward demanded an answer.
Gally just have a dark look at them again before he stalked away leaving them in the dark.
Edward huffed at his rudeness. "I can't stand him anymore," he muttered.
"Nor can I Ed," Thomas sad. "Come on. We should try and rest,"
They sat against the wall together right next to each other.
"Thanks for coming in the same pit as me," Edward said.
"Of course I would. You'd think I'd sleep in another pit unable to see you?" Thomas jokingly answered.
Edward chuckled a bit but Thomas noticed a strange look was forming on his face. "You okay?"
"I can't help but think Gally's right Tom. All this started happening the moment we arrived,"
"He's just thinking of an excuse to hate us,"
"It doesn't deny all the recent events that have been happening. In my dream, Teresa said that 'Everything was going to change'. I think everything that has happened is what she was talking about. Everything was going to change. The Grievers were going to sting Gladers in the daytime and the Maze was going to change in the daytime and not the nighttime,"
Thomas could very much understand now why Edward felt a little guilty. He couldn't blame him. "What was it that you were going to tell me?"
"What?"
"You were going to tell me something about the Grievers back before we went back into the Maze to check that Griever but then Minho and the others arrived,"
Edward quickly remembered and realised he was going to tell his brother a dark secret. "Yesterday night Tom, when I was in the Maze looking for you, Alby and Minho, it wasn't just Teresa's voice in my head that was strange. When I was cornered by a Griever, it just stared at me. And then...it walked away,"
Thomas was bewildered by the news. "What?"
"It didn't attack me. And when I shouted at it to leave you and come after me instead, it did it so quickly that...I think it might have been obeying me...or something,"
Thomas was more petrified by the minute. "Ed listen. You cannot tell anyone about this. I'd hate to think of what Gally or someone might do to you if they find out,"
"Maybe I could use that to help us,"
"We can't take that chance,"
"Surely Newt would understand. I can see how close you two have grown," he held a mischievous smile.
"Oh shut up," Thomas pushed his shoulder as Edward chuckled. "Can we please just keep this secret for the time being?"
Edward saw that he was just trying to protect him. "Okay. But we can't keep this secret for long,"
Thomas sighed and nodded. "Let's just try and get some sleep,"
His little brother nodded.
They laid their backs against the wall and began to drift off with Edward's head falling onto Thomas's shoulder.
...................................
All the other Gladers were getting into their hammocks. Newt remained rather quiet, mainly because he was concerned for Alby's wellbeing. He saw Gally approaching him. "They're both locked in the pit,'
"Are they are in the same pit?"
"Yes," Gally spat.
Newt was about to step into his hammock.
"Why are you so soft on them?" Gally questioned.
Newt turned on him with a soft but strong frown. "Because I believe in them,"
"They broke the walls,"
"Yes. No one except Thomas and Edward have ever done that before. And because of that Alby is still here,"
"Don't you think it's strange that the moment they got here, everything started going wrong?"
"Yes,"
"Well then why are you not skeptical o them?"
"Because unlike you Gally I can see that all they're trying to do is help us get out of the Maze. This is the first time in years that we've had got a clue to help us find a way out. And it's all because of them. We may yet be getting out of here sooner or later,"
Gally just turned around in frustration.
"The Maze may be dangerous Gally but we cannot stay here forever. Those brothers have given me hope, more hope than I have ever had in years,"
Gally just kept his back turned and dropped his husky body into his hammock ignoring everyone who was glancing or glaring at him.
Newt fell into his hammock, hoping that somehow Alby would be better by the next morning. He turned towards the Pit and thought about the brothers, about Thomas. He couldn't exactly explain it even to himself, but somehow he had a strange feeling that Thomas was part of his past. But now that he was in here with, he alongside his brother were giving him something which he thought he would never feel again for the first time in years.
Hope.
.........................................
The brother had almost completely nodded off when a loud chorus of approaching footsteps made them jump.
"Who's there?" Thomas called up through the bamboo door.
"Show yourself!" Edward demanded.
Chuck appeared in view right above the entrance. "It's just me,"
"Sorry Chuckie," Edward said. "What're you doing up?"
"Here," Chuck settled down a lantern and handled over a bag of bread and a water bottle through the bars to the bothers. "You guys will run better on a full stomach,"
"Thanks Chuckie," Edward smiled. "You're the best,"
He and Thomas unravelled the bread bag and dined on it.
"Thanks Chuck," said Thomas. "This means a lot,"
"It feels good to eat something. I haven't had anything all day," Edward muffled with his mouth full of food. He couldn't help it.
Thomas noticed Chuck was looking up at an object. "Hey, what you got there?"
Chuck showed his well-carved figure to Thomas and also to Edward who leaned up.
"That came out pretty damn good," the older brother complimented.
"I see you've finished the face since I last saw it," Edward said. "Well done. Who are you making it for?"
"It's for my parents,"
"You remember them?"
"No. Well, I mean, I know I must have them. And wherever they are, I'm sure they miss me,"
"Of course they do Chuck," Thomas consoled. "We all have families out there somewhere who I'm sure miss us all very much. And I
"But how can I miss them because I don't remember them?"
"You don't have to remember them Chuckie," Edward said. "You can still parents even if you don't remember them. I mean I don't remember mine and my brother's parents but I have a strong feeling that they miss us both very much. I'm sure your parents miss you too,"
A still-saddened Chuck looked towards the walls of the Maze. "What do you guys think you're gonna find out there tomorrow?
"I don't know. But if there's a way out, Chuck, us and Minho are gonna find it," Thomas promised.
Chuck looked at his figurine again. He then leaned forward and offered it to the brothers. Edward took it gently. "Why would you give this to us when you already have people to give it to?"
"I can't remember them anyway. But maybe if you two can find a way out you can give it to them for me," he got up to leave. "I best let you two some sleep," he turned to leave.
Thomas and Edward gave a strong glance at each other. They were thinking the same thing.
"Chuck wait!" Edward called. The young Glade came back. "Hold out your hand," Chuck did what he said and he pressed the figurine back into his hand. "I promise you Chuck, we're going to get out of here. And when we do, we're going to help you find your family and you'll never have to be taken from them ever again. I promise,"
His motivation seemed to give Chuck some hope. "Thank you. Good night guys,"
"Night Chuck!" they both said. They watched with proud smiles as he wandered off.
"Why did the Creators do this to him?" Thomas asked. "To an innocent boy who's too young to be living in a place like this?"
"I don't know. But whoever did this, I'm goanna make them pay," Edward swore. "We're going to help all these boys find their homes and families after this. And I'm gonna hold Chuck to my word,"
"And I'll hold my word to Newt," Thomas said. "I promised him I was going to help him find his sister and his true love,"
"How does he remember them?"
"He has two pendants which he came up with. It feels like the whole world is on our shoulders with all these promises but we have to stay true to them. Come on. Let's get some sleep,"
The brother turned in and they both fell asleep, their promises to Newt and Chuck constantly on their mind throughout the whole night.
Another chapter done. What did you all think of that scene and the extra dialogue? And oh my Thomas is going into over protective brother mode? If the secret is revealed, how do you all think the boys especially Gally will react? We'll have to wait until later on to find out. Hope you all enjoyed it. Get ready for the Big Run in the next chapter.