Chapter Twelve:

Holy crap I feel asleep the whole night outside. Checking my watch show 7:30 AM. Where was the sun? The sky was grey like cement and tarnish. I hear faintly in the distance people panicking. I get up and remove the cover someone brought. Sprinting towards the Homestead, it was like everyone was running around without a head. I pull over a panicking Glader.

"What's got everyone so distress?"

"What from beside the sun disappearing, the walls won't close."

Placing my palm on his shoulder in confirmation, I run off to see Minho by the south door. Thomas joins soon after. People are all in dismay, as Alby tries to keep order.

The Glade is being to rip at the seams, Gally seem to had recover from whatever hole he came back from. Thomas and I are at a lost of words, hopefully there are some level headed Gladers making preparations. I am honestly nervous.

"The end's begun…." Teresa echos in mine and Thomas head. We simply nod as, Minho begins to plan our run for the day. With the door opens anything could happen today, which has me on a certain sense of dread.

"Tommy, Minho you two go into the Maze, Alby wants Ross to figure out the device."

"So basically I'm ban from Maze more like it?" I ask.

"At lest I let you down easily mate," Newt says apologising.

"They need me, I have to protect them from the Griever's, we can't lose Thomas and Minho cause of mistakes!" I yell wailing my hands around in frustration.

"The bloody hell are you talking about?"

"It was me- I put you all here, I worked with creators before the memory wipe. I made the Griever's."

The three of them stood quite and suddenly taken back, looks of anger and frustration of disappointment. Of fear of me…..

"It can't be?" Minho finally commenting Thomas face is full of confusion.

"That's why- That's why I don't care if I die protecting them or any of you," I say falling to the ground on my knees in tears. "Nothing I ever do can erase my mistakes, I deserve more then death…..

"That's not true Ross, we all make mistakes," Thomas says to cheer me up.

"Stop, I don't deserve redemption…"

Getting up to run away from my friends, a firm hand yanks me back. It was Newt who held me from running. "Mate that's the past, get over it and man up," he says starring me dead on, as Minho grabs and punches me in the chest.

"The unforgivable thing here is feeling sorry for yourself, were getting out of here, just you watch."

"You're right."

"As my best friend, I expect you not to be a crybaby," Thomas scolds.

Moments pass as my friend's accept me for my mistakes, Thomas and Minho are off running as me and Newt head to the Homestead.. The air of urgency is apparent as Frypan tries to subdue it with food for the guys. Newt had to go tend to work with Alby, he still had a job to do and I had mine. Grabbing a bite to eat in this helter skelter was hard, but I'm join by Nox, as we head for the map room. Once again their was blood curdling sound among the shacks.

Inside the map room, there was only a few lines he'd manage to uncover. I was at a lost with it as well. Hour upon hours wasted, as I try to contact Thomas who doesn't answer. I was nervous and terrified of the slightest outcome of the open doors. It was well near return time, but nothing matters, there isn't a sense of urgency to rush back. That was careless thinking. On my end, all I and Nox manage to make out was the word Push….

What ever the hell that meant? It was something that has my mind boggled. What could push represent, what does it mean, I think to myself drowning the world out. I felt comfortable doing this, but I tend to stare into space.

"Hey," calls out Nox, which I'm in my defense I was still calling out for Teresa.

"Greenie.…"

"Yo Greenbean!" His voice knock me back to reality.

"Wha- What?"

"Shouldn't 'they've made it back by now?" His words hitting me like a ton of bricks… Which has me going into a mad sprint for the south door. No matter how much I call out for Thomas, there is no answer.

Running past Newt who tries to keep pace is left behind, as I Orwell is by the south door. His face meets my, as he standing in my way.

"Move Orwell," I command.

"I can't let you go out there-"

"Move now or else!" I growl cutting him off mid sentence.

"I can't let you go alone," I was going to say before you so rudely interrupted roomie.

"Oh no, I'm not putting you in risk."

"With the doors open, I'm at risk here or on there at this point," he says not budging.

"He's right you know," Toven cuts in hold three large lit torches.

The two of them both prevent me for finding Thomas and Minho, as Newt has caught up. His limp a little worse from the run. Taking a torch we leave behind Newt who was a little more then pissed. As Gally tackle's me to the ground.

"Your ban from the Maze freak!" His hatred for me seem heighten to new levels.

"Gally get off me," as I see Toven and Orwell held by his cronies.

The next thing I know a feel a sudden realise from Gally weight as Newt had tackles Gally.

"Do what you gotta do Ross, just bring them back unharmed."

With a simple nod I pick up the torch and head off as the cronies release Toven and Orwell to aid Gally. The three of us run down the dreadful corridor, combing section by section, sticking together at all times. It was my job to protect them with my life. A hour later and no Griever's no Thomas or Minho. I can't figure why the guys follows me after their ordeal not to long ago. I guess I was an inspiration for showing that no matter a risk you look after friends. The torches were a small reprieve in the dark dismal Maze.

We're coming guys were ever you are? I'll find you… With all the doors open and the Maze no longer in a state of flux, they'd could be anywhere in the entire Maze."Thomas, Minho shout if you can hear us." All three of us yelled aloud. I began to clasps my fist in fear. Another hour went by, still nothing or no one. The three of us began to fear the worse.

"Who knew that place was this massive?" Toven said in pure awe.

"Ross we should begin to expect the worse," Orwell gulps to force out the inevitable words. I couldn't give up, no not now.

"For fuck's sake Thomas answer me!" I yell at the top of my lungs with full conviction. "Damn it Minho, quit messing around."

Toven pulls me back into a firm hold."Bro, we've been here for hours and no sign of them. It's time to head back and report the news."

"Roomie we did our best. It's time we return and prepare a ceremony to pay our respects."

"It's not fair, not at all," I begin to sob mournfully. "We're suppose to make it out all of us. That was his goal and mine. Damn it all to hell."

There was a long pause as they allowed me to morn, it was the most heart breaking moment in my life. Thomas was dead, so was Minho. How could I dare run the Maze with out either of them, without crying. But I know they would want me to be strong and carry on what they started and free everyone. My tear stain eyes drench my shirt as a cool wisp of air float's through the Maze.

Turning back around we head for the long trek ahead. The torches still bright as a pile of clothes are scatter apart. It was from a runner. They've too had met their end here. This place claimed to many lives. I notice Toven and Orwell has stopped.

"What's the matter?"

"These clothes belong to a friend of ours, before the changing and incident," Toven spoke low toned.

"I'm lost…"

"The guys name was Ben, he was a good fellow, people liked him, but he got stung and freak out and try to murder Thomas," Orwell added.

"How he end up here though?"

"He was banished to the Maze. We watch our friend be forced out his only home. Such a cool dude, I guess that's why it's called the changing, you lose yourself."

"That's horrible, thatncould of been me…."

"Now you see why we defend you when the time came. Couldn't watch a new friend who was innocent be thrown to the Maze."

We took a few moments to gather ourselves as, Orwell hands out water bottles. Now a good time as any… Remembering the path we took was hard, but not too difficult. My head ache in pain, my heart felt hollow. I couldn't- didn't want to believe they were gone. I want to rip through every last remaining Griever. All one hundred and fifty of them alone if I must. Violence was my every thought the closer we got to home.

X

Rip…

Tear…

Ensnare….

Destroy….

Mutilate…

Annihilate…

Obliterate….

Crush…

These words scream out to me. I want carnage and rampage to guide my blades and action's. Self safety futile, I wouldn't stop till I was done or dead. It was the only thing I could do at this point. The forty-five min mark was near till we'd be home. I could send them on their way.

"Guys keep heading this way, you'll be back in no time. I've got unfinished business with the Maze!"

"Like what? You'll die if you go picking a fight."

"No not pick a fight. A fight states both parties have a fair chance at victory," I say evilly. My voice deeper than before.

"Then what?" Yells Orwell in disgust.

"Mass Genocide," I say flatly.

The next thing I knew, a fist goes barreling Into my gut with force, which knock both the wind and conciseness out of me. Everything grows dark. I awaken some time later being dragged by both guys who have us nearly home. I couldn't be mad at them, but I wanted vengeance on the Griever's. I guess they couldn't lose a third friend tonight. I remain quiet as dragging continues. I can hear them talking.

"You think he could of done it?"

"Done what, kill all the Griever's?

"Yeah….

"With his anger alone he would of wipe their population down by half. But if enough had swarmed him, I honestly don't know man."

"With Thomas gone, we're all he's got. It hard to think we're still older then him."

"Yeah with what he's done in such a short while, you tend to forget he just a youngster."

I knew they care about me. And now I was certain I'd lay down my life for them hands down. As we reach the Glade my eyes are scrunch up hot with tears. I was beside myself.

"Your such a crybaby you know that?" A voice laughs out. Looking up in front of me was Thomas, holding his hand out."

"You prick I thought you we're dead," I say tackling him to the ground, my body weight holding him in place.

"Sheesh man it was just a test," he says squirming under my weight.

"What test? The hell's going on around here?"

"You pass with flying colors mate."

I finally let go of Thomas to see Newt clapping and cheering. Minho was as well which turns to Orwell and Toven. The group smiles and laughs, like a bunch of madmen.

"All of this was a test, to see if you were really one of us or a spy," Minho confeses.

"Sorry roomie, had to be sure. Only the few of us knew."

"What about Gally stoping me?"

"That was his own gripe with you," Newt answers.

"Lets get you some food Ross," Thomas says grabbing me along as the rest follow.

In a small area by the kitchen we take seats on the ground. Each with a tray of food, I myself was given a huge cookie. I was tad upset and I wanted to beat all of there asses for putting me through this. Thomas sits beside me and Newt is one the other, Minho is with Toven and Orwell. I ate the food and stood quite as they all talked. Most talks were about the danger of not having a sun. That we're going to die if we stay.

"I'm mad at you all, just to reiterate."

"We know mate, but you shown you had what took to protect and rescue friends in need. So to that cheers," Newt said passing me a small mason jar filled with a warm yellow substance. Taking a sip I spit it back out. It was like drinking dog piss.

"Just so you know, when were free I'll get you all back. I was about to commit genocide on the Griever's.

"Bro I think it's time you went to bed."

"Also Alby has forbid you from running, he want you to figure out the map," Minho sighs.

I simply nod, and head to my shack. Thomas follows after. I march in anger. I didn't find it cute being tested. I felt hurt as if I was untrustworthy. He keeps up with me very well, not sure what to say.

"Look Thomas, I'm glad you're alive. But right now I want to be alone."

"And I get that man, I just need a favor…"

"Which is?" Still I haven't turn to face him.

"Tomorrow when I return, I want you to teach me how to kill Grievers the real way," he asked as I turn to face him.

"Sure…."

I say walking away and back to the shack. I felt sick but my bed comforts me to sleep. It wasn't a easy night but it was doable. I just hope things get better sooner then later...