The First Girl

Newt was lying in his hammock, thinking. He hadn't slept much that night. He had been awake, constantly worrying a lot about his friends stuck in the Maze. Even Thomas too. He couldn't understand why Thomas would just run in there like that knowing full well that he would be trapped in there too.

Whether it was bravery or stupidity, he could not understand. Reaching inside his collar, he pulled out a long rope pendant attached to a donut shaped rock which was green. Engraved on it was the letters N + T. It must of meant the initial of his name and someone else's. But who's? That he didn't know.

He pulled out another necklace. It was a golden chain with half a heart which had the word brother engraved along the side. Looking at it reformed a deep void in his heart. He had loved one who he was so desperate to find, to love again.

"Newt!" a sudden voice rung in his ears.

Quickly Newt stuffed the pendants back behind his collar. He turned his head and saw Chuck rushing up to him. He looked quite petrified.

"What is it Chuck?" he swung his legs over the side and sat up.

"Have you seen Edward? I can't find him anywhere! He wasn't in his hammock! I've looked everywhere!"

"What?!" Newt immediately stood up. "Guys!" he cupped his hands over his lips. "Wake up!"

His loud shouts made everyone wake up. Some groaned. Some fell out of their hammocks.

"What is it Newt?" Gally complained angrily.

"Edward isn't in his hammock!" He announced.

Everyone gasped.

"I want you all to check the forests, the huts…everywhere!"

Instantly everyone rushed off in different directions. Gally however was slower, considering he hated the newbie.

"Chuck, are you sure you looked everywhere?" Newt asked.

"Yes! I've checked the tower and even near the Maze gates! He's not there!" Chuck looked rather scared.

"Don't worry Chuck," Newt clasped his shoulder. "We'll find him!"

"Guys!" Frypan's shrill shrieks made them turn to watch him frantically sprint to them. "You've gotta come see this!"

He brought them over to a section of the massive stone walls on which long vines of ivy snaked down.

"What about it Frypan?" Newt asked.

"Look!" Frypan pointed to a large pile of vines and leaves that fallen. "And look at this too!" he pointed to some muddy footprints just in clear view of them.

Chuck raised his head looking higher and higher up. "I think…" he breathed hoarsely.

Newt turned to him, denial covering his expressions.

"I think he climbed up,"

"There's no way he could have climbed up!" Newt retorted. "Not with a wounded hand and at such a high height. I mean where would he even go from there?"

"Newt! You see the signs!" Frypan exclaimed Chuck. "All those vines that had fallen down, those footprints! How could those vines had fallen down unless someone climbed up them?"

Newt wanted to deny the estimation again when Gally and some other Gladers including Zart and Winston came running up to them.

"There's no sign of him Newt," Winston said.

"We've looked everywhere," said Zart.

"It seems our Greenie here didn't listen and just stupidly close to climb up," Gally crossed his arms and looked up. "He's more stupid than he looks,"

"Don't say that!" Chuck shouted. "He was just worried for his brother! I would probably do the same thing if I was in his shoes,"

Before the argument could continue, they heard the clanking of wheels. The gate was opening again. With no choice, everyone dashed to the opening doors. They stared breathless outwards, hoping, praying that their friends would return. They waited for a long period of minutes. Nothing.

With deep regret, Newt hung his head. "They're not coming back Chuck," He turned his back and waddled away.

Chuck refused to believe it. He believed in his new friend. If Edward can get up that wall, surely he can survive a night in that dreadful Maze.

He remained glued in his spot whilst everyone wandered off to do their own hobbies, hoping to get their minds of the fact they had lost some friends.

Just before the little boy considered giving up waiting, he spotted something in the far distance. He yelled out: "Yeah! They made it! They made it!"

Surprise by his shout out, Newt turned around and saw a miracle. It was Edward and Minho carrying Alby towards them with Thomas stalking a little slower behind.

Instantly a crowd of boys gathered around the entrance as the four survivors made it through. Jeff and Newt helped Edward and Minho gently place Alby on the ground. Thomas meanwhile collapsed on his knees, panting with exhaustion reaching his hand behind to sooth the stinging his back wound was causing.

Everyone patted the boy's backs in relief, relieved that they had surrived.

When everyone saw Thomas, they became horrified.

"Thomas," Newt kneeled beside him. He gasped in shock seeing the rip in the back of his shirt.

"It's fine. It's not that bad," Thomas assured.

"What the hell were you thinking Greenie 2?" Gally questioned grabbing his collar and hauling him up.

The boys pulled the egotistical Keeper of the Builders off the boy.

"I climbed up the wall to try and find my brother,"

"If he hadn't come, I wouldn't be here," Thomas protested, unable to watch his brother get berated by the rude Keeper.

"Did you guys see a Griever?" Chuck asked.

"Yes," Edward said. "I saw loads of them,"

"They didn't just one," Minho spoke up. "They killed it,"

Everyone stared at Thomas and Edward with looks of shock and disbelief.

"We have to hold a council meeting," Gally spoke up.

"For what?" Thomas asked.

"For your trial,"

"Trials for what?!" Edward complained. They had just rescued Alby, killed a Griever to survive and now they were getting punished?

"Are you seriously asking that?' Gally snapped. "Your brother broke the walls! Then you stupidly climbed up the wall, risking your life!" he gestured to the nearby vines which served as Edward's rope to climb up the tall walls.

"We'll hold it later," Newt said. "But right now we need to tend to them," Newt leaned down beside Thomas and hooked an arm around his neck. "Jeff, help me! Clint! You help Minho get Alby up! Chuck check on Edward!"

Jeff slung Thomas's other arm round his shoulder and he and the Second in Command helped walk sluggishly towards the Medical Hut, followed behind by Minho and Clint with their heavy leader and Chuck with Edward.

"What the hell have you done to your hand?!" Chuck snapped at Edward.

Edward cradled his wounded hand which was bleeding more than ever. "It took so much strain climbing up that wall!" He felt his heart fall seeing the upset look on Chuck's face. "I'm really sorry I did that Chuck, but I was so worried for Thomas. I just…I just couldn't just sit in there while he was in there! Struggling to survive!"

For a brief moment, he was almost tempted to tell Chuck about the girl's voice in his head, but he resisted. His new friend would think he was crazy.

"Yes it was crazy. But it was almost quite brave of you," Chuck looked rather proud of his courage.

Edward smiled again.

"Don't smile just yet Greenie 2," Gally made him jump and then frown. "You're still going to punished for breaking the rules,"

Edward pushed his face forward to meet Gally's. "I don't care about rules. I care…about the well-being of my brother and friends. And if it wasn't for me, Thomas wouldn't be alive. And neither would Minho and Alby,"

Gally just frowned back so Edward ushered himself along and Chuck ran with him.

Thomas was seated on one of the beds inside the medical wing. He watched Alby get placed on one opposite him.

He eyed Newt looked at him with great concern. "You alright?"

"Yep,"

"You're goanna need to take your shirt off. We gotta clean all that blood off,"

Thomas pulled off his shirt revealing a blood-stained back. His wound was stretched from his left shoulder to the right of his lower back.

"OH man…what did that Griever do you?"

"It scratched me,"

"I'm afraid that's goanna leave a scar," Jeff said. He poured some water into the bowl and soaked a cloth in it. "This is goanna sting,"

"Please just get on with it," Thomas said. "I can handle it," He suddenly felt a wave of stinging when he felt the water come into contact with his back.

Edward sat opposite him with Chuck next to him.

"What happened to your clothes?" Chuck asked Edward, eying all the gooey stuff, stuck to it.

"Don't ask," he growled. The feeling of being splashed on by the fluids of those Maze Monsters

"You're goanna need a new shirt too," Newt spoke up. "And a new bandage,"

Jeff went over to Edward and unravelled it. The wounded was worse than ever. "We told you to stay off this hand. And do you listen? No you don't,"

"It's not easy to climb with one hand," Edward defended himself as Jeff started tending to it again.

"What you did was very reckless," Newt berated him. "What were you thinking? Climbing up that wall? If you'd slipped…"

"I couldn't just sit in this place whilst my brother was in there running to survive. It just didn't feel right to do nothing," Edward spoke up. "Surely you would do the same thing if you were in my shoes,"

Newt seemed to sympathise and nod.

Edward pulled off his shirt and got given a new blue shirt.

"Good thing the Box provides new clothes every month aside from food," Newt said. "You doing alright Tommy?"

Once again, his nickname for him sent a strange feeling surging through Thomas. "I'm fine," he reached behind his back again feeling his lash mark which had become a long thick line of red. He sighed, dreading the thought of bearing this mark of remembrance.

"It's really not that bad Tom," Edward assured. "Now come on. It's time to face our punishment,"

Thomas pulled on a new blue shirt and stood up. "Edward, you shouldn't be punished for this. It's my fault…"

"If you're getting punished so should I," Edward dictated clearly. "Where you go, I go,"

Thomas was rather touched. His brother would alsways stick by his side through thick and thin.

A council meeting was held in the Glader Hall at the far corner of the Glade. Edward and Thomas were seated on two seats at the far back, awaiting their trial.

Edward gently grasped Thomas's, not out of fear but out of consolation. Thomas accepted it and smiled slightly. Newt and the Keepers were in front of them whilst the other Gladers including Chuck sat on seats near the entrance. Chuck looked over at Edward, giving him a motivating smile.

"Things are changing," Gally began. "There's no denying that. First Ben gets stung in broad daylight, and then Alby. And now Greenie 1 over here…" he pointed at Thomas, earning a frown from Edward. "has taken it upon himself to go into the Maze. Which is a clear violation of our rules here. And Greenie 2…" he pointed next at Edward, earning a darker frown…. "…decided to sneak out of the Glade, recklessly endangering his life as well as breaking the rules too,"

"Yeah, but Thomas saved Alby's life and Edward saved him too" Frypan said.

"Did he?" Gally challenged. "For three years, we have coexisted with these things," he pointed at the brothers again. "And now, you two have killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us?"

"It's not like we had a choice!" Edward stood up, exasperated with his new rival. "What would you have us do? Just stand by and become a midnight snack!? We did what we had to survive! You'd do the same thing too!"

"Sit back down!" Gally ordered. "You don't get to speak!"

"And you don't get to insult us like that after what we did to save Alby!"

Gally was about to retort again when Newt stood in.

"Enough!" he ordered. "Both of you!"

Thomas just stood up and gently pulled Edward, who constantly frowned darkly into Gally's back into his seat. He soothed his shoulder, non-verbally telling him not to make things worse than they were.

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Newt asked.

"They both has to be punished," Gally spoke again.

This led to a chorus of protests, particularly fro Chuck.

"Minho…" Newt turned to the Keeper of the Runners. "You were there with them. What do you think?"

The brothers wondered whether Minho would support with them or agree with Gally.

"I think, in all the time we've been here, no one's ever killed a Griever before," Minho spoke, "When I turned tail and ran, this dumb taller Shank stood behind to help Alby. And this shorter Shank decided to go and help him even though it would mean risking his life. Look, I don't know if they're brave or stupid…" Edward frowned again. "…but whatever it is, we need more of it. I say we make them Runners.

Once again the Gladers protested, half agreeing, half disagreeing. Chuck broke in out into a state of chanting out the brother's names but he stopped when he realised he was the only one doing. Edward however showed some gratitude with a genuine smile. They were becoming really fast friends.

"Look, if you wanna throw the newbies a parade, that's fine!" Gally snapped, igniting silence again. "Go ahead. But if there is one thing I know about the Maze, it is that you do not–"

Before he could finish, there was a sudden alarm ringing from outside. Instantly everyone dashed out, the brothers following behind them.

"Chuck!" Edward called. "What's going on?"

"It's the Box," Chuck looked rather shaken. "But that's impossible. It's not supposed to arrive for another month,"

Quickly the Trio followed everyone to the Box. Newt and Gally pulled open the metal doors. Newt leapt down into the Box that had come up. Everyone crowded around the ledge.

"Newt, what do you see?" Frypan asked.

Thomas and Edward squeezed through to get a better look. When they looked down, they were met with a shocking sight. It was a girl with long black hair and pale skin.

"It's a girl," Newt said. He looked down again. "I think she's dead,"

Thomas peered a little down. "There's something in her hand," he pointed to her outstretched palm.

Newt bent down and saw a piece of folded paper. Taking it from the sleeping girl's hand, he unfolded it revealing a message.

"What does it say?" Edward asked.

"'She's the last one ever'" Newt looked up at the Gladers with a questionable look. "What the hell does that mean?"

Nobody could say anything.

Out of all the boys, Edward peered down the hardest. For some reason, she seemed…familiar. To everyone's surprise, he jumped down and knelt right next to the girl.

"What are you dong?" Newt asked.

Ignoring Edward reached forward a hand and touched her skin. The moment it made contact, the girl woke up. Edward stumbled back against the wall.

Everyone above stumbled back a bit too. The girl's eyes were aimed up right at Edward.

"Edward!" she breathed quickly. She tried to speak again but her tiredness overtook her. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep again.

Edward felt his heart jump. It was the same voice he had heard in his head. Looking up, he saw a rows of questionable looks. Thomas however looked rather concerned and petrified.

"Still think I'm overreacting?" Gally asked, distrust clearly expressed in his tone.

Edward just looked down at the girl, clearly petrified and pale.

"Let's get her to the Medics," Newt spoke. "Clint! Jeff!"

The two Med-Jacks jumped down.

"Come on Edward," Newt clasped his shoulder.

Edward looked up and saw Thomas offering a hand, he took it and he was pulled up.

The brothers entered the Medical Wing a few moments later. Looking to one of the beds, they saw Alby breathing heavily in his sleep. Black veins were marking all over his body.

Edward looked rather scared.

The four stood in front of the girl on the bed.

"Why won't she wake up?" Newt asked Jeff.

They just shrugged.

"She must be in a coma," Jeff said.

"We'll just wait until she wakes up and we'll hear what she says," Newt decided.

Thomas noticed Edward glancing carefully at the girl. "Do you recognise her Ed?"

Edward turned to him. He didn't look threatening but he looked rather questionable, the soft type. "No," he said. It was half true at least.

"Are you sure? Because she seemed to recognise you," Newt looked a little bit suspicious. Not on purpose of course.

"If I knew her name or who she was, I would tell you," Edward said, truth painted all over his face.

"What about the note?" asked Thomas.

"We'll worry about it later," Newt said.

"No. I think we should worry about it now," Edward jibbed. "The Box hasn't gone down. If it's how we get our supplies, we should really be concerned,"

"He's right Newt," Jeff said. "How long do you think we can last?"

"Let's not worry now," Newt tried to resolve their discomforts. "We'll just wait till she wakes up and see what she has to say. And Edward once she wakes up, you have to ask her how she knows your name,"

He didn't serous but Edward could detect how important it was.

"I will,"

Sendig a glance at his brother, they gave each a nod. They walked away.

"Where are you guys going?" Newt asked behind them.

"Back into the Maze," Thomas answered.

The moment they exited, they were suddenly blocked by Minho.

"What is it with you two a death wish?" He was really starting to think they were very crazy. "We just got back out and now you guys want back in?"

"Newt said no one has ever seen a Griever and lived to tell about it right?" Thomas asked, earning a nod. "Well, now we have one. Are you telling us you're not even a little bit curious?"

"Not really,"

"Well we surely are," Edward said.

"What are you two goanna do? Go out and dissect that thing all by yourselves?"

"Have the other runners left yet?"

"No," Minho turned to all the runners who were talking with Gally. "They quit right away this morning. After Alby got stung, they're not in a hurry to get back. Why are you two?"

"Minho, it's time to find out what we're really up against,' Thomas spoke up.

Minho considered for a second. Then he made his mind. "Fine. But you guys aren't going there alone. Meet me in the woods in half an hour," he took off.

Thomas and Edward turned to each other and grinned. They shared a fist bump.

What did you all think? And Newt's necklaces. Can you guess what they represent? Please send reviews and late me know what you all thought. I would love to hear your opinions.