Chapter Fourteen

Amelia's standing outside a dilapidated police station holding an old woman's hand. She knows she's young, even though she can't see herself. What she can see are soldiers marching down a street, pushing people out of their way as they storm down the block. She knows that they're bad, but she can't remember why. She's angry, furious tears streak down her face as she loses the hand of the woman she was with. Angry tears become frantic. She's searching through the crowd. Just then, she hears someone call her name. She turns around to see a boy about a year older than her, with dark hair and the same brown eyes as her. He smiles once he sees her, approaching as if they were familiars. "It's okay," he says, grabbing her hand, "You don't have to be afraid anymore." She pulls away, she doesn't like him, she can't remember why. He starts shouting her name, "Amelia!" She's running, pushing through the mass of people to get away from his voice. "Amelia!" it only get's louder, "Amelia! Amelia! AMELIA!"

"Amelia!" she awoke with a violent jolt, almost screaming until she saw Newt sitting next to her on the ground. The Glade, the Maze, she was still there. It had just been a dream. "Are ya alright?" he asks, concern present in the crease of his eye brows. They had started to sleep next to each other about a month ago near the Box since they enjoyed talking late into the night, both of them refusing to admit the real reason.

"Yeah, it was just a nightmare," Amelia answered as she sat up, wiping the sweat off of the back of her neck.

"Ya want to tell me the bloody truth one of these days?" he asked. She had been getting nightmares more and more recently, but she never talked about them, and she didn't want to. She only shook her head in response, not in the mood to argue with him about how they needed to be honest with each other. He put a hand on her back, earning a smile from her in return.

She liked Newt. She liked Newt much more than she could ever remember liking someone. She didn't know if he felt the same way, and she really didn't care. She knew how she felt and that was enough for her, and they didn't have time for anything else in the Glade. She didn't think it was love, but again she didn't have anything to compare it too. The two of them just clicked, and they understood each other better than themselves, even though they were both stubborn, argumentative people. Newt had calmed down a significant amount from when she first met him. His leg didn't hurt as much anymore, and his attitude had developed a very gentle, kind, caring tone, despite his arguing with Amelia. They had a system, a way with each other no one else had.

The two got up, and the Glade began it's normal workings. As the sun began to set, it seemed as though it would be the same as any other day.

The Gladers were sitting down for dinner when it happened. Gally and Spencer were to Amelia's left as her and Newt sat across from each other on the end when that familiar, splitting pain seared through her skull. She fell to the ground as she heard the voice scream, barely even noticing her friends beside her. AMELIA! AMELIA YOU HAVE TO GO! MINHO'S COMING AND- but the voice didn't continue, and it didn't need to. As Newt and Gally were helping her back on her feet, Minho came sprinting into the Glade, but he wasn't alone. Pursuing him was the most horrifying creature Amelia had ever seen. It's bulbous flesh bounced as it's metal spikes clicked into the ground, it's whole body spinning and whirring as it passed through the doors. One of the petrifying truths about the Maze most of them had only seen through safe, thick glass. A griever.

Gladers ran in all directions. There was no organization, and no real place for anyone to run. Amelia shook off the pain from the voice and pushed herself to move, pushed herself not to be frozen in terror, though the fear made her want to never budge again. Newt grabbed her by the hand and pulled her toward the Homestead, running in the same direction as Nick, Alby, and Spencer. "We have to hide!" he shouted. Her eyes searched for Gally, but she couldn't see him. They were almost to the door of the Homestead when she looked back, trying to find her friend, but nothing. All she saw was Minho running for his life. The griever had made it to the Box, and then turned left toward the Med Shack where others had taken shelter, leaving Minho running toward the kitchen. She watched it all in dismay before she turned back to Newt inside the Homestead, who was ushering her to come inside. She stood there for a moment, knowing she could easily run in there and hide, hide with him. She could be safe, but there were still Gladers running around outside, they were still in danger. She looked up at the sun, realizing what time of day it was. The doors, she thought, an idea forming in her head.

And then an urge took over her whole body. A look formed on her face, a look of determination. A look that said she wouldn't just wait for it to be over, a look that said she had to do something. A look Newt would be forced to witness from another one of his closest friends. She made a decision. She had to act fast.

Without wasting any time, she ignored the shouting of her name from Newt and Spencer as she ran toward Minho in the kitchen. "Minho!" she shouted as she busted through the door and found him leaning against the counter, trying to catch his breath.

"What the shuck are you doing? You're going to get yourself killed!" he asked through pants, but she didn't respond, she just ran into the back where she knew Gally kept his secret Moonshine. Moving as fast as possible, she grabbed one of the mason jars, a rag, and a pack of matches.

"Come with me! We have to lure it out!" she shouted, and sprinted out of the kitchen toward the Med Shack. She didn't wait to see if he followed, she'd just figure it out on her own if he didn't. She reached the outside of the Shack where the griever was circling, antagonizing the gladers trapped inside, like a lion stalking its prey. She was dowsing the rag in moonshine when Minho ran up beside her.

"What's your plan?!" he asked, looking ready to fight.

"If we can get it out to the Maze the doors will close and keep it out there for the night!" she shouted, handing him the jar and rag.

"What about us?!"

"Let me do it, I have an idea. Just let it chase me and stay behind it," she said as she lit the rag.

"But what if it-" A crash from the Shack interrupted him. Amelia saw the griever dragging someone out.

It was Gally. She screamed. It was now or never. "Throw it!" she shouted, and Minho did.

Right as the jar made contact with the griever, it ignited and thrusted the monster into a violent rush of flames. Somehow she knew that wouldn't kill it, but it was enough to get it's attention. It spun toward them, leaving Gally somewhere on the ground. She started to run and wave her arms, shouting "Hey! HEY OVER HERE!"

It worked, it started chasing after Amelia. She ran. She ran as fast as she could, continuing to shout and make as much noise as she could to keep its attention on her. She could only pray that Minho understood what she meant and would keep up. She looked behind, it was gaining on her. Just like her first day in the Glade, she ran for the Maze with every ounce of energy she had. She pushed herself to pick up speed, closing the gap between her and the doors.

Ten feet. Five. She heard the familiar sound of the doors beginning to move, it was going to work. They were closing, the griever was inches behind her. She pushed with a last rush of a adrenaline, and for the first time in her life, crossed the threshold into the Maze. What she did next came as naturally as breathing. Instead of continuing to run into the Maze, she changed her movements in an instant and dug one foot into the side of the door that was stable, lifted the other one onto the door that was closing, and propelled herself. She pushed up with all her might and found her legs going over her head, flipping herself backwards over the griever. As she flipped she could see it was almost in the Maze, stuck right in between the doors. She landed on the ground in the Glade right next to Minho. The griever was attempting to turn around and head back for them. Minho looked at her, and they nodded, knowing what to do. They ran with all their might and jumped, shoving their feet into the creature's disgusting flesh and pushed off, shoving it completely into the Maze as they ricocheted off and hit the dirt. A second later, Amelia heard the familiar BOOM.

The doors closed. She lifted her head, the Glade had been sealed off for the night, and no other grievers could be found. She laid her head back on the ground and looked over at Minho, who leaning up and looking around. They were both panting, listening to the sound of the other Gladers running over to them. They had done it. He looked over at her, smiling a cocky half smile as he said, "Good choice," and laid his head down on the ground.