So here is Chapter 9. If you have been following the latest entertainment news, the cast have been accused to taking artifacts from a native Indian burial site in Alburqueque in New Mexico where there were filming the Scorch trials movie. So far many people are pissed about it but honestly speaking, please give the cast time to think and make amends. Everyone makes mistakes and just because one person said they did doesn't mean everyone else is guilty. I just hope this matter would be resolved soon. They already got their punishment so not much more can be asked other then returning what was taken.I don't own most of the characters. James Dashner does and Wes Ball owns the movie, mostly.
I woke up at around six the next morning. After a quick shower and grabbing some sandwiches and fruit from the kitchen, I sat munching my breakfast at the south doors waiting for Minho to come. When I was done drinking some milk he came jogging up to me. "I thought I was supposed to go with Ben today," I said and he shook his head. "Nah. Today is his off day. Besides the last time we actually ran together was like what, a few weeks ago?" He said. "It was actually a few days ago but yeah, whatever. Let's go running," I said and I sprinted into the Maze just as the doors squealed their way open.
My body was awash with adrenaline as I ran. Now I had gotten pretty good at navigating around the Maze. Sometimes I ran on my own which was not really encouraged in case you got lost or something happened to you. We decided to head back by around one in the afternoon. Ever since we found out on the situation on the Maze, we just decided to come back early. We had a sort of little picnic at one of the middle rings before heading back. "What is this supposed to be? A date in the Maze?" I asked and he laughed. "You can say that," he said as we started to walk. Couldn't exactly run with a full stomach. We made it back to the Glade in good time before bumping into a sullen faced Newt.
"What happened to you, Newt? You looked like someone klunked on your shuck face," Minho said. "Ben attacked Thomas today," he said and Minho's eyes widened. "Ben did what?" He blurted and Newt just shook his head. "Well, that shank got stung and attacked the new kid when he was out getting fertilizer in the dead heads. Now he's just screaming his head off in the Slammer," Newt said and Minho hung his head. "So he's going to get banished, right?" He asked and Newt nodded. "Yeah. By sundown today. Better get ready," Newt said and he walked away, his limping stronger than ever.
"Banished?" I asked as we started to make our way to the Slammer. "Yeah. That's what happens if a person gets stung. No cure once you get it," Minho said. Ever since I had gotten here I haven't actually seen anyone get stung or Banished but I heard it could get pretty nasty. As we headed to the Slammer, we heard some howls and yells that sounded like it had come from a wild animal. We walked closer and saw Ben moving around in the Slammer, his hands on his head and making wild sounds once in a while. His eyes were red and dark purple veins had sprouted all over his skin, standing out further on his skinny body.
It was hard to imagine he was a cheerful guy whom teased me often after or during a run by looking at him now. "Minho. Diana. You've got to listen to me," he said and Minho knelt near the door. "What is it, Ben? You attacked Thomas in broad daylight and almost killed that shank. How did you even get stung?" Minho demanded, gripping the bars of the Slammer. "It's him. He threw us in here. He helped them do it!" Ben yelled, flinging himself at the door. Minho backed away as Ben started rambling on what memories he had seen when he got stung.
For a while we just stood there hearing him ramble about Thomas being responsible for us being here and more trouble would follow him. After a while Minho led me away with Ben's howls coming behind us. I wanted to go to the Slammer and hold Ben's hand and will him to be better. "It's no use. They always end up getting worse," Minho said as we headed to the Homestead. "Of all the time you've been here, you guys haven't tried anything?" I asked and he shook his head. "No medicine. Nothing. It's not like Clint and Jeff have a medical degree or something. This is the only option," he said. "You're going to banish him to the Maze, aren't you?" I asked and he stopped at the door leading to the guys changing rooms.
"Yeah. It's best you don't see it," he said, closing the door behind him. For a while I just stood facing it like an idiot before going to the showers. After that, I sat on the bench outside watching the boys milling about doing their own things. Everyone seemed sullen on what had happened but obviously they were shocked on what happened. Ben was a fun guy and was a fun addition to our little community and him being a Runner like me meant a lot to me and most of all to Minho.
Minho came out after a while and sighed when he saw me waiting for him. "You really want to see it, huh?" he asked and when I nodded he pulled me up and led me to the shed. Some of the Keepers including Newt and Alby were there, bringing out some long sticks with a flat attached to its end. As we approached, Alby gave Minho a rope. "It's time. Bring him out," he said and when he saw me he frowned. "You shouldn't be seeing this," he said and I snorted. "He was my friend and since I've been here for a while, I aught to have the chance to see him go, don't I?" I said and he shrugged. "Well, you can follow Minho and see how it goes. But let me warn you, Banishing isn't something pleasant to watch," he said and they started to walk towards the still open doors.
"Come on. Doors are closing soon," Minho said as we headed to the Slammer. As we approached, we saw Ben just sitting inside like he was lost. "No. Please no. You've got to listen to me," he said. Minho just went in and pinned him to the ground, tying his hands behind his back. Outside on the ground there was a bag with Ben's things inside which Minho grabbed while leading Ben out. Ben turned to look at me and I saw his lips were purple and his eye red with a hint of madness. "Please, Diana. Help me," he pleaded and I shook my head, trying not to cry. "I'm so sorry, Ben," I said and Minho marched Ben towards the doors.
The other Gladers, including Thomas and Chuck who stood at a distance were gathered around the doors, the Keepers forming a semi circle around them. They looked at us grimly as Minho pushed a pleading Ben towards the doors. "You have to listen to me. Please. Minho!" He pleaded and Minho knocked him to his knees. He then took a knife from his pocket and I thought he might stab him or something, ending his misery there and then. Instead, Minho cut Ben loosed from his bonds and Ben collapsed on the ground.
Ben started to cry and he coughed out some blood into the dirt. "No no. Please don't. Please," the misery and sadness in his voice made me want to cry and scream and rush over to help him. Minho gave a look at him before throwing the bag into the Maze. As we stood there watching, the familiar rumble of the doors closing filled the air and whipped Minho's hair. Ben began to screech and back away. "Poles!" Alby shouted and all the Keepers lowered their poles at him, forcing him to his feet and into the Maze.
"Guys. Don't please. No please I'll get better. Listen to me!" He screamed and at that I saw Chuck turn away and walking back to the homestead. I watched as they pushed Ben further and further into the closing doors before he finally had no space and was forced into the Maze. As we watched the Keepers pull their poles back in, I watched as Ben helplessly watched and his screams filled the air before they were silenced by the closing doors.
For a while, we stood in silence and Alby looked at all of us. "He belongs to the Maze now," he said and everyone dispersed. As everyone started to walk away, I saw Thomas just staring at the now closed doors. I walked up to him and he looked at me like I was a hallucination. Guess he wasn't used to seeing a girl here. "You didn't think I did it, didn't you?" He asked me and I shrugged. "I don't know. But I hope that he was wrong," I said and he looked taken aback.
I started to walk away when he ran up to me. "Hey, what's your name?" He asked. "Diana," I replied. "You're the only girl here?" He asked and I turned and snapped at him, "Yeah. If you weren't blind, you would have noticed that by now." When I saw the look on his face I quickly apologized. "Sorry. I just lost a friend today. Maybe we can be friends? We're stuck here together after all," I said and at least he smiled and we shook hands before departing.
Dinner was a silent affair, everyone hunched over their meals and eating mechanically. Gally and a few other boys had gone to the wall where everyone's name was and Gally started to cross off Ben's name. The others surrounded him, torches in their hands, making it look like a funeral of a friend which it actually was.
That night, I just stared at the sky and Minho wrapped his fingers in mine. "Hey, you okay?" He asked and I sighed. "Do you think he will survive?" I asked and for a while he was silent. "Ben? No. No one ever survives the night in the Maze," he said. He pulled me as close as we can get with out separate sleeping bags and held me close. "Tomorrow I'm going to go with Alby into the Maze to check out whether Ben is still alive," Minho said and I squeezed his fingers. "Promise me you'll come back safe," I whispered and he pecked a kiss on my cheek. "Always," he said and as I drifted off to sleep, I felt like I had someone say that to me before many years ago.
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