Disclaimer: I don't own The Maze Runner.
A/N: Here's Chapter 2! Thank you so much for the awesome reviews on the first, IT MEANS SO SO MUCH TO ME! Oh I'm sorry if I took a long time to update, but I gotta admit I'm a pretty slow writer, especially during the weekends lol. My parents are like, "Get off the computer dude it's family timee" hahaha. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter-
Chapter Two: Gathering
"As leader of the Glade, I declare this Gathering begun." Alby's dark eyes swept around the semicircle, where ten Keepers plus Newt were seated in silence. He cleared his throat and held up the old book so everyone had a clear view of it. "As you all know by now, something unusual came up in the Box earlier today. This."
Rumbles of murmurs and whispers broke out in the quiet room.
"The reason we're all here right now is to discuss what we're going to do with this book, and how we're going to use it as our guide to lead us out of the Maze." he went on. "Now, so far we don't know why the Creators sent this up. All we know is that we can't be a bunch of stupid shanks to ignore it, as this might be the only thing to help us escape." Alby handed the book over to Newt with a nod. "We'll pass this around so everyone can have a chance to check it out before we start with the suggestions."
As the book got passed down the line of the Council members, Alby continued talking. "I didn't read it, but based on my quick observation, it's a novel about us. It seems to be titled The Maze Runner, written by someone called James Dashner. It talks about our everyday life in the Glade… how this place works… how we're surrounded by The Maze. Everything. Quite well written. Also, this story seems to be told from the indirect point of view of our latest Greenbean, Thomas."
"Wait, what?"
"Thomas?" Winston cried.
"What does this have to do with him?"
"I knew there was something' fishy happening with that shuck-face." Gally, the Keeper of the Builders, snarled. "I say we bring him in here and grill him until he tells us what's going on!"
"Shut up, man." another voice replied. "Let's not jump to any conclusions!"
The person who was currently holding the book— Winston— widened his eyes and began flipping through it violently. ("Stop it, you're gonna rip it." snapped Minho.) Two Keepers who haven't had a go at the book yet lunged out of their chairs to get a closer look. The room was suddenly a mess of shouts of disbelief and confusion.
"SIT YOUR BUTTS DOWN!" Newt shouted. Alby roared in rage, looking furious. Everyone scampered back to their seats, muttering under their breaths. "You all know the friggin' rules! Keep your shuck mouths shut and just listen, all right? How hard is it to follow that one simple rule? You'll get your bloody chance to comment and blab until your throat bleeds later!" the blonde glared.
Once order was restored, a very irritated Alby got back to business. "As I was saying, shanks. This book. It has pages missing, almost half of it, if I'm not mistaken. Which is why it's crucial to analyze every single word because we can't afford to overlook anything. Now, quickly pass the book 'round. We don't have time for fooling' and playin' around anymore."
When the book reached the last Keeper and got passed back to Alby again, Newt cleared his throat and flipped open his notepad, taking up his usual role as the notetaker. "Right. Suggestions and opinions first, voting after. As usual, we'll go from left to right."
"Zart," Alby said. "Go ahead."
"Well, um," Zart's eyes darted around. He scratched his head. "I think we should all read the book, of course. And I don't mean just us, the Council. I mean we should get every Glader involved."
"And how do you suggest we do that?" Alby nodded.
"Maybe we can— I don't know— like gather everyone up for a couple hours each day? And you know, someone can read it out loud or something so everyone gets to hear the story." Zart said calmly. "I think we need all the help we can get if this is going to help us out of here."
Newt scribbled something down on his notepad. "Anything else?"
"No."
"Zart, surely you have an opinion on the Greenbean, our main star in this book?" Gally insisted before the next person could speak.
"Shut up, it's not your turn!" Newt cried.
"Actually, yeah, about Thomas," Zart spoke up. "I think I'll have to agree with Gally here. It seems a bit weird that the book is pretty much written from his point of view. And also the fact that Gally keeps saying he saw Thomas when he went through The Changing. I mean, that's not nothing. He can't have made that up."
"I didn't." Gally snapped. "I saw that shank in my memories. I'm the only here that's ever been stung!"
Alby didn't bother acknowledging Gally. "So what do you think we should do?" he turned back to Zart, looking annoyed that he needed to keep prodding the quiet boy to talk more.
"Bring him in right now, and see what he thinks of all this," Zart shrugged. Gally suddenly looked as though he wanted to kiss him. "Or maybe after this. I don't know."
"Okay," Alby sighed, throwing a glance at his second-in-command to make sure the idea was written down. "Nothing to add?"
"Nope."
"Then you're next, Fry." the leader gestured at the Keeper of the Cooks.
"I think all this klunk of accusing Thomas that he did something is just plain crazy." Frypan started simply. "I mean, really, who cares if he's the main character in this book? We don't know anything. For all we know, the Creators wrote this thing and sent it up to mess with our feelings or whatever. But I still think this book is important. As for suggestions on how we're going to make use of it, I'll go with The Fart's idea." he Cook nodded towards Zart, his beard swaying. "We should gather everyone up, maybe cut off a few working hours for a few days, so we can finish deciphering this whole book as soon as possible and find out what we need to do after that."
There were grunts of approval among the other members as Newt scribbled down another note. Minho even cheered.
"Good that." Alby said and shot a look at everyone as a warning to keep quiet.
"Next."
The Keeper with black hair and freckles sat up straighter and shrugged. "I agree with everything Frypan said."
"Anything else to add?" Newt persisted.
"Don't think so." the boy quipped. Newt rolled his eyes slightly.
"My turn," Winston said in an eager voice. "I agree with Frypan and Zart, of course, about the thing where we gather the Gladers and have a freaking reading session everyday. But also, I agree that the whole thing goin' on with Thomas and this book is as suspicious as the mould growing in the upstairs Homestead toilet."
A couple of people snorted a laugh. Gally nodded furiously.
"I mean, no offense," the Blood House Keeper went on, eying everyone around him, his gaze lingering vaguely on those who've gotten pretty close to the Newbie. "Thomas is a pretty nice guy. But think of it, he shows up, and then bam, this book arrives, with his name printed in black and white— literally— as the main character of this book. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm just saying we should dig deeper, ya know? Something strange is going on. I say we interrogate him a bit."
"All right," Alby nodded, deep in thought. "Newt, write her down."
Newt picked up his pencil again. "Anything else?"
Winston shook his head.
"Next."
About five more boys went ahead, speaking more or less the same stuff as the previous Keepers. Next came Newt.
"Right," Newt took a deep breath. "I think the reading session thing is a good idea, best before sundown, I guess, before it gets dark. Everyone gets to hear the story. Everyone will get a chance to think and develop their own opinions in order to contribute to findin' a way out of the bloody Maze. Same goes to kickin' a few hours off work for this, but not too many. Maybe two hours each day, or else the Gladers will be slackin' and all the order we already have will be screwed up, and that would suck. I also recommend we gather everyone outdoors, as no way everyone would be able to fit the shuckin' Homestead like one of you suggested earlier. Who knows how long the old bugger's got before it collapses, by the looks of it."
Everyone nodded at this.
"As for what we're gonna do with our dear Tommy, I say we confront him and make him tell us whatever he knows. But not with everyone around, of course. That'll be stupid and pointless. We're not gonna hold another buggin' Gathering just to make him cough up stuff that he most probably doesn't know." the blonde looked pointedly at Gally. "Of course, I'm not taking sides, so all the same, we should confront him. We got nothing' to lose anyway. So maybe just Alby or me who'll talk to the Greenie. Whatever, we'll figure out who later." he shrugged. "That is all."
"Great," the dark-skinned boy said. "Minho next."
"Everything I was plannin' to say has already been said, I guess," the Runner shrugged. He almost looked bored. "I agree with everything Newt said. Nothin' else to add."
"Okay," Newt nodded. "Gally, the golden moment you've been waiting' for has finally arrived. You may start yer yappin'."
"Finally." Gally cleared his throat. "I saw Thomas in The Changing. He looks familiar to me, and I know he's got something to do with this book. I can feel it in my bones. He–"
"Get to the point, boy." Alby growled.
"All I want to say is that we should keep an eye on him from now on. I don't trust that shank, that's all I'm saying." Gally said. "We need to observe his every step." he paused for effect. "He's special, somehow. Different."
"You sound like you're in love with him." Minho snickered.
Newt's serious mask broke and he coughed, trying to hide his laugh. The others tried to keep a straight face on. Gally's face turned red with rage.
"You stupid pile of—"
"All right," Alby said loudly, before an argument started. "Anything else, shank?"
"No." Gally glared. "I agree with the reading thing. That's all."
"Best thing I've heard all day," Alby muttered before clearing his throat. "As for me, I agree with the reading session, two hours a day, tops, to be held outdoors, like Newt said. We also confront the Greenbean. See what he knows. Also, I think it's necessary to draw up a timetable on who will be leading the reading session each day. We don't know how many days we'll need to finish the whole book, but I think we'll just select a few of y'all to read. Agreed?"
Everyone grunted.
"Okay." Alby crossed his arms. "Voting time."
Nothing much was said after that as everyone quickly voted for the Reading Session to be held from 5pm to 7pm, just before the sun completely disappeared. The event was to be held on the Glade courtyard, near the Box, everyday for as long as they needed to finish the book.
"Now get out of here." Alby said tiredly. "I declare this Gathering to adjourn. Newt, you stay. Someone go fetch the Greenbean in here."
"How often do the Keepers hold Gatherings?" Thomas asked, flicking an ant off his shoe. He had his plate in his lap. He and his friend Chuck were sitting under a big tree where they'd decided to eat dinner to escape the noisy Gladers swarming the Kitchen. Frypan had left to attend the Gathering, so naturally, his Cooks were having a hard time taming the pack of wild and hungry teenage boys.
"Not often," Chuck bit off a chunk of fried chicken. "They only ever hold one when something serious or strange happens. Or when somebody gets in trouble and they need to discuss what they're going to do with the shank."
Thomas nodded, and paused. "I keep wondering what they're gonna do with the book."
"Read it, of course," the younger boy said and made a face. "I doubt we'll get a chance at it, though. Probably Council members only."
"You don't know that," Thomas argued. "It's important. Maybe they need everyone involved to solve this."
"Maybe," Chuck shrugged and let out a loud burp, leaning back against the tree trunk. He set his empty plate on the ground and his eyes lit up. "I think the meetings over. There's Minho."
Thomas shoved a forkful of noodles into his mouth as he looked up. Chuck was right. He saw Minho and a bunch of other Keepers exiting the Homestead and heading towards the Kitchen for food.
"Yo, Greenie," a voice called from their right. A kid Thomas didn't know was running up to them. "Alby wants ya in the Council Room. Right now."
"Him?" Chuck asked in awe at the same time Thomas echoed, "Me?"
"Yeah. He says it's important." the kid shrugged and left.
"Man, what did you do?" Chuck stared at Thomas, his blue eyes wide.
"I didn't do anything," Thomas rolled his eyes, handing his almost-empty plate to Chuck. "You don't have to follow me. I'm sure it'll be quick, whatever it is."
Chuck gave a wave as Thomas made his way towards the Homestead, already a huge dark silhouette in the distance as night approached.
He'd been in the Glade for two whole weeks now, already used to his new life. He'd accepted the fact that no matter how hard he tried to remember, he couldn't recall anything about his old life, which he knew was the same for everyone else, so it didn't bother him too much. He'd spent each day trying out different Glader jobs, meeting different Keepers to show him the ropes. Although he seemed to be especially good working as a Gardener, he secretly longed to be a Runner. He didn't know why the idea appealed to him so much, but he felt like he was born to be one. Of course, he kept quiet about it. He didn't even tell Chuck.
What does Alby want with me? he thought as he reached the dilapidated building. He was beginning to feel slightly nervous. I did nothing wrong.
A/N: Please review x