The girl was floating. She could feel the weight of her body against something hard, but she was floating. There was a melody, a lullaby, she tried to discern the words to no avail. The more the girl focused, the farther it sounded, fading.

A faint sweet touch on her forehead.

The she was floating, literally floating. Water surrounded her form, she felt small, fragile but completely calm and... happy. She felt happy, at peace, like she was home; where she was supposed to be.

A faint voice called out to her. She had been expecting it, as if she had been waiting all the time to hear that voice that felt like home too. The girl knew they were calling for her, even though that was not her name that echoed. Somewhere in a hidden cupboard of her mind she had hid that voice, that touch, that name, her name.

The veils of her unconcious were slowly stripping away. The girl started to realise she was waking up, slowly, densely, coming out from a very thick fog.

The pain, however, returned all at once and she groaned involuntarily. She didn't think her head had ever felt that heavy.

"Eleanor?"

That was not her name. Wait. Yes, it was.

Opening her eyes took a lot of effort and the bright lights made her shut her eyelids as soon as she had opened them. She stayed like that for a few seconds, trying to understand where she was and what had happened.

"Clint, she's awake."

Her head was pounding and a sharp pain in her side made her inhale.

"Sh, sh, sh, Eleanor, take it easy."

She tried opening her eyes again, slower, and that time she succeeded. Two worried faces stared down at her.

"Jeff, what-"

Her fainted whisper had sent a small wave of pain through her body. She clenched her eyes, a few tears running down her cheeks.

"You're okay. You need to take things slow, okay?"

Eleanor nodded slowly, even that made her head feel dizzy.

"You were attacked," The Keeper explained, "you'll be okay but you lost a lot of blood. We patched you up as best as we could but I think it will take a while to heal."

She could hear the apology in his voice as she diverted her gaze from his pitiful stare.

The young girl looked down at her body but a dirty sheet, that might have once been white, covered her form. She moved her arms slowly, lifting the piece of cloth from her torso. A wide gash covered her right forearm. She remembered the attack but she was still taken aback by the bandages covering her middle. The memory of everything that had happened weighted down on her. She didn't even think of feeling embarrased as she realised she had no shirt on, only her now red-stained sports bra. The wounds were still visibly fresh as there were wet red stains over the white bandages. She felt lightheaded as she diverted her gaze, closing her eyes.

One of the med-jacks covered her body up again.

She tried to order her thoughts.

"How long have I been asleep?" Eleanor looked at the young boys.

"A few hours." Clint replied. "How are you feeling?"

Eleanor ignored the question, realising something suddenly.

"Who was it?" Every time she spoke the pain increased but she paid it no mind. "Who did it take?"

Jeff and Clint shared a look.

"Alby." Jeff said.

Eleanor didn't say anything. That wasn't right. It couldn't have taken Alby, they needed him. He was the motor of the Glade, what kept people from killing eachother or desperately jumping of the Cliff. They needed him, now more than ever.

The young girl tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She couldn't think about that now. She needed to hear the full story.

"Did they-" She fought against the choking feeling, "Did they take anyone else?"

The med-jacks shook their heads.

"But I saw-"

She stopped herself. She had been delirious, she wasn't sure what she had seen.

The boys didn't say anything, patienly awaiting for her brain to work it all out.

"So... everyone else is okay?" She asked, feeling guilty for the relief she experienced. She had expected the night before to be a masacre.

"Well..." Clint began and his eyes travelled to the other side of the room. Eleanor followed his gaze to a drawn curtain that covered what she knew was the other cot in the room. "Thomas stung himself."

"You mean he got stung?"

Jeff shook his head, "No, he stung himself. Picked a big needle that had fallen from the Griever and shucking stabbed himself with it."

Eleanor frowned, "Why would he do that?"

They shrugged.

"Beats me." Clint said, "He's one crazy shank."

The girl stole another glance at the curtain. "Yeah..."

She couldn't understand what had driven the newbie to do such a thing.

She shook her head. She still needed information. "So, what else? What's happening?"

She felt ashamed to admit, even to herself, that she had expected someone to be there with her, worried, waiting for her to wake up. But she couldn't hide from herself the disappointment at not seeing Minho there, or Chuck, or even Newt, who always seemed to be worried about her well-being. She immediately felt guilty for being so selfish. There were much more important things happening outside of the Med-hut.

"Everything's a bit crazy, no one really knows what to do." Said Clint.

"Newt has ordered everyone back to work but some people are not doing anything." Jeff explained, "Well, the builders are reconstructing the damages."

"Although that's clearly not going to protect us." Clint shurgged.

Jeff sighed. Eleanor had to agree with the med-jack, the walls of the Homestead had not stopped the Grievers the first time, they wouldn't stop them the second. However, her mind didn't ponder on that for very long.

"What about the runners?"

"I think most of them left this morning to check the Maze."

Eleanor nodded, already knowing Minho had been the first to volunteer. In fact, it had probably been his idea. He wouldn't stand still, doing nothing.

A rustling sound came from the other side of the curtains and the med-jacks left her side to check on the Greenie.

"Wait." She exclaimed and groaned right after, too much effort. "What about the girl?"

Clint turned at her outburst. "For all I know, she's still locked up."

Elenor nodded and closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. The pain had overwhelmed her.

"Get some rest." The young med-jack ordered.

She exhaled, exhausted after that short conversation, not even thinking of disobeying.

The next time she awoke was to the screeching of a door. A soft moaning greeted her and someone muttered something under their breath. The girl laying on the cot opened her eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light. The med-jacks were no where to be seen and the noises came from behind the curtain.

The door stood open, Newt a step from it holding something in his hands. Eleanor watched as he observed the other occupant of the room, visible from the door. His face was considerably paler than the last time she'd seen him, the bags under his glassy eyes more pronounced. As his gaze turned to her, Eleanor didn't have time to pretend she hadn't been observing him.

"Hey." He spoke gently as he approached her bed. She smiled softly in return.

"How are you feeling?" His eyes had softened and filled with concern.

The girl shrugged, thinking it the best answer. She felt the embarrasment of being, once again, laying in this room in his presence. He glanced over her form for a moment, although she knew he couldn't see anything through the old sheet she felt exposed.

"Oh," He remembered, "I bought you something to eat."

He took the final strides towards her. "May I?"

At her nod, he took a seat on the side of the bed resting, what she could see was a small bowl, in his lap. With great difficulty, Eleanor brought her hands up on the bed to prop herself upwards. The pain made her close her eyes but she managed to half-sit up against the pillow and the wall. Newt observed her with a worried expression but he didn't try to help and she was glad.

"I thought you'd bring me a sandwich." She attempted a joke.

Newt half-smiled, "Med-jacks' orders."

The older boy chuckled at her obvious disgust as she caught sight of the content of the bowl.

"It's soup."

"That's not soup." She retorted.

He laughed loudly. A whimper sounded from the other side of the room and they felt silent, slightly ashamed. It didn't seem right, laughing and joking.

"Thanks." She said as he passed her the bowl. To her surprise, it was warm.

Trying to hide her discomfort, she slowly picked up the spoon but she wasn't fooling him.

"Let me." He said, going for the spoon.

"No." She spoke firmly. "I can do ti."

And she set to it. The pain was worth avoiding the embarrasment of being spoon-fed like an infant. Every movement was painful but her pride kept her going. Her pride and the thought that if she couldn't even feed herself, what hope would she have against a Griever when they came that night. The food was better than it looked and she was very hungry so that helped. For a few minutes the only sounds in the room were the spoon against the bowl, her slurping and the Greenie's soft moans.

"How are you?" Eleanor asked after a while, knowing she probably wouldn't get and answer but having to ask either way. She wouldn't outright ask him about Alby but she wanted him to know he could if he wanted to.

He shrugged in response as she had done before. "Everything is..."

Silence.

"I know."

"I don't have answers," he confessed, "For anything. But everyone expects me to."

Eleanor didn't pretend to understand how he felt. If more kids died she would feel sad or scared but he would feel responsible, and that was worse, way she didn't know how to make him feel better.

"What's the plan?" She asked.

"Hold off for as long as we can." He replied clearly unconvinced.

He saw something in her face. "It's a bad plan." He admitted.

She snorted, nodding. A small smile broke through Newt's face.

"It's a bad plan, " She admitted, "But what choice do we have? Listen to the crazy shank who stung himself and proposes we throw ourselves off the Cliff?"

She pointed at the curtain. Newt shrugged.

"It's starting to sound less crazy by the minute."

"How could it possibly sound less crazy?" She asked, baffled.

"It's where they took..." He cleared his throat, "Last night, it's were the Grievers went after the attack."

"They went to the Cliff?" She asked, "Wait, How do you...? Minho!"

She hadn't been delirious, she had seen him leave the homestead. He had followed after the Griever throught the Maze. The reckless idiot.

Newt didn't answer, propbably wary of her change of attitude. But she knew. "He followed them, didn't he?"

Eleanor glared at him as if the blonde was somehow responsible. He didn't talk.

"I saw him. That son-of-a-..."

The girl threw her head back and closed her eyes. None of it felt real anymore. Too much had happened. She hadn't comprehended, not yet. She knew Alby was gone and someone else would be taken that night, but it didn't feel real. Minho risking his life to follow a monster through a gigantic Maze was the tip of the iceberg, everything felt surreal.

"I'm gonna kill him. I will literally murder him." She spoke, still with her eyes closed.

"Although I would love to see that, don't get me wrong. I really can't let you murder our best runner." Newt said amused at her behaviour.

She opened her eyes, "Not even a little bit?"

"Sorry."

Their bubble was interrupted as the door was throw open and the smiles fell. Two builders burst through the door.

"There he is." Gally had appeared behind, he didn't acknowledge their presence as they moved behind the curtain that was being drawn back.

"Hey, wait!" Came Clint running, " You can't be in-"

Gally's hand was in his throat in a second.

"Hey!" Newt was on his feet in a second.

Eleanor sat up in shock, and soon regretted it as her wounds screamed.

"Gally, what are you doing?" Newt's voice was full of authority.

Gally let go of the boy but his expression didntshift. He looked more menacing than ever.

"He-" He pointed at Thomas, that could then be seen thrashing around lightly, blue veins visible through his body. "-is going to the slammer with his shank girlfriend."

Newt opened his mouth to speak.

"And you-" Gally continued, "are no longer in command."

"What the fuck, Gally?" Eleanor couldn't help herself.

Newt didn't reply straight away, he seemed to be analysing the tall boy.

"Gally, don't do it." His voice was calm but strong, full of an unsaid warning.

The keeper of the builders gave a short signal with his head. His minions seized Thomas who didn't even stir.

"Stop!" Eleanor yelled, feeling powerless. "Why are you doing this?"

She tried to get up. Newt put a hand on her leg halting her movement. Her middle throbbed making her slightly dizzy. The two boys carried Thomas out the door but their Keeper stood gazing between them. His gaze lingered on Newt's hand for a second but when he spoke he looked at her.

"They want to make us leave. I can seen it in their eyes." He spoke slowly at first.

"Gally, they don't-"

"This one," He nodded towards Newt. "And your stupid boyfriend and that stupid Greenie" He spoke faster, getting carried away. "They want to get out but they won't let us. There's no escape, we'll all die. We have to stay."

His eyes were pleading and for the first time in years he didn't glare at her with anger, he looked desperate.

"Gally..." She didn't know what to say. He closed his eyes as if hearing his name pained him physically. "You might be right but this is not the way."

She immediately knew that had been the wrong thing to say. His gaze hardened and he left the room.

"Stay here." Said Newt. "I'm gonna fix this."

He ran off before she could say anything, with Clint following after.

"Wait!" she yelled to the empty room.

Quite a long time passed until she managed to get herself out of the door. She rationalized that Thomas staying in the Slammer for a few more minutes whilst he was still unconcious wasn't worth reopening her wounds, so she took her time.

The Glade was empty as she made her way towards the Slammer. The short way there she could see the wreckage the Grievers had left; dents on the ground and completely pulled out trees, broken wood and branched everywhere. The hole of the Homestead looked much bigger from the outside. It was terrifying, she tried to ignore it. As she caught sight of the building she had been looking for, she was surprised to find it as vacant as the rest of the Glade.

Eleanor had never taken interest in that concrete building. It stood close to one of the walls, sheltered by a few trees. A small barred doorway the only window to the inside.

A girl's screams could be heard as Eleanor approached the building.

"Hey! Hey! Assholes!"

When she was close enough, she could see the new girl's arms were reaching through the bars of the door. Her face pressed against it too, trying to see as much of the outside as she could.

"Teresa." Eleanor adressed her. She spotted her quickly.

"You're that girl. Elena, or something?"

"Eleanor." She corrected her, not annoyed in the slightless. That girl had had the worst first days any Greenie probably ever had.

Eleanor had reached the door, so Teresa moved back.

"What's wrong with him? What's going on?" She demmanded. Her big blue eyes accusatory.

Eleanor breathed in. "Okay, I'll explain everything, just bear with me for a moment."

Teresa thought for a second but then nodded.

"Do you know where everyone else is?" She questioned the newbie.

"I don't know. Those brutes just came in here, ignored my questions, threw him on the floor and locked the door." She was clearly angry and annoyed. Eleanor was once again surprised about how little fear she displayed. "What's wrong with Tom? What were those noises last night?"

She should have known the Greenie wouldn't have any answers. She breathed. "Okay."

She was already exhausted from her short walk. Even if she wouldn't feel guilty about not giving Teresa answers, she knew she couldn't simply run around the Glade looking for the boys.

She slowly leaned against a tree, letting herself slide down until she sat on the ground, breathing hard. Teresa waited patiently, possibly because she knew she was about to get her questions answered, probably because she could see the large bandages and could see the state the other brunette was in.

"Okay." Eleanor repeated, "I'm assuming you got the tour."

Teresa nodded. "From that big scary looking dude, yeah."

Her wide blue eyes observed the other girl with vapid attention.

"Alby." Eleanor clarified, feeling lightheaded. That was going to be harder than she had thought. "So you know the walls of the Maze didn't close last night."

She nodded again.

"Okay." She tried to focus, "There are these creatures in the Maze that..."

For a few minutes Eleanor tried explaining everything as best as she could, patiently answering all the Greenie's questions until she seemed to have a grasp on the situation.

"So..." Teresa started after a few seconds of silence when she'd seemed to let everything sink in. "To summarize, there's no way out. We're all gonna die."

She sounded awfully calm about that conclusion. Eleanor almost found that statement commical. She was surprised by how well the new girl had taken the deaths and their current situation.

"We don't know, he seems to think there is." Eleanor nodded towards the inside of the room.

The taller girl was confused, "If he thinks we can leave why did he, what was it? got stung?"

But Eleanor did not answer. She froze for a second finally understanding.

"He wants to remember." She whispered.

"What?" The girl questioned but Eleanor was already struggling to get to her feet.

"I'm sorry." She said out of breath taking a second to breathe through the pain. "I'll be back, I need to find Newt."

"Okay." Said Teresa unsure but the young girl was already walking away. "I don't know who that is but okay. Just come back!"

"I promise!" She called out, loudly enough for her to hear.

"I'll just... stay here." Teresa's voice still reached her.

The pain had intensified and she was sure she had opened one of her wounds at one point. Everything felt unreal. Eleanor almost giggled. That is one curious Greenie, she thought.

When she finally found Newt near the Homestead, he seemed to have given up trying to convince Gally. Feeling exposed to the Gladers' gaze, they found a secluded place behind the building and sat down. That time she accepted his help. He informed her that the majority of the Gladers had taken the builder's side and proptly scolded her for leaving the med-hut. Eleanor couldn't be less bothered about his opinion on her well-being at that moment. The first fact, though, worried her. It made no sense, and when she voiced her outrage, he explained.

"You have to understand, they are scared. Gally's been here three years and some might not like him, but they know him, respect him in a way. And Tommy just got here and he's doing all sorts of crazy klunk."

Eleanor nodded, that, she understood. "But what about you? They respect you. They trust you."

Newt shrugged. "I clearly don't know what I'm doing. Alby was the leader..."

He didn't say 'not me', but she heard it in his voice.

"And you think Gally knows what he's doing?" She had never seen him so defeated. She knew he hadn't given up, but she could see his faith in himself was gone, along with the Glader's. But Eleanor's wasn't. If someone could save them, it was Newt. "Just because he has made a decision, doesn't mean it's the right one."

"You're right, but they won't listen to me."

The girl looked into his eyes. "We'll fix it. You can still save them, it's not over yet."

Before he could argue, she took charge.

"Here's what we're gonna do: We'll talk to Minho and the runners, maybe the found something, and if they haven't I'm pretty sure we can get them on our side. Then, we're going to wait for Thomas to wake up."

Newt frowned, "But that could take days."

She knew that. "I think he's our chance to get real answers."

At his confusion, she tried explaining the conclusion she had reached.

"It's a bit of a stretch." Newt said after pondering it. "How do we know he'll have any information to share? No one has come back from the Changing with answers. Well, nothing we could make sense of, anyway."

"I don't know, but I think it's worth a shot. With Minho's knowledge of the Maze and whatever Thomas can tell us, we'll come up with something."

Eleanor knew, and she could see it in Newt's gaze, that it wasn't a very solid plan but she had a hunch, a feeling about the crazy Greenie.

"Also, we need to find Chuck." She added. "I'm not letting him out of my sight."

Newt nodded at that. "Okay, we'll find Chuck and we'll wait for Minho in the map-room."

That wasn't as far as him agreeing with her plan but it was something.

"Wait," She said surprised. "Inside the map-room?"

Was she really about to see the forbidden inside of the room?

He nodded, getting up. "So we have something to do while we wait."

He extended his hand towards her.