"So it's gonna take a bit to find this, the Maze changes every day." Minho explained "But it shouldn't be too far from what I remember from the Maps."
"As long as we can find it I'm okay with that." Alby said
The trio continued to round corridor after corridor, unfortunately it all looked the same: stone walls, stone floors, an abundance of ivy vines. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally found it, Minho crying out in victory was the telltale sign. The ugly Griever looked the same as it did when they left it, it's slimy body was spread on the ground, unmoving, a repulsive pool of goop surrounding it. A few spikes and mechanical weapons hung out of its body, limp.
"There she is. Isn't she beautiful?" Minho sighed sarcastically. Clara snickered at the remark.
"Mhm." Alby furrowed his eyebrows, trying to figure out how they were going to take the massive thing back to the Glade. He stepped towards it, hesitating as his boot hovered over the puddle of slime. "Shuck it." he stepped in, the ground making a squelching sound that grossed out both Minho and Clara equally. Alby grabbed hold of one of the creature's many arms, and tugged at it. The metal spike held, so Alby pulled it again, moving the Griever a foot forward. Minho clapped and Clara stared in awe.
"Alright." Alby commanded "Grab hold of an arm. We're gonna pull this sucker back."
"Aye aye, Captain Alby." Minho saluted, sauntering over to the body and taking one of them in his gloved hand. Clara reluctantly did the same.
Alby, Minho and Clara pulled and pulled, slowly moving the dead Griever through the pathways. It took much effort from all three of them, and soon they were exhausted and covered in sweat. They took a break to catch their breath and drink some water. When they were finished, the assumed their positions again.
"Only a little bit longer, shanks." Minho panted "It's almost-" Minho was cut off as the supposedly dead Griever sprang to life, brandishing its assortment of weapons and spikes with a fresh ferocity. They barely had anytime to run before it began slashing at them.
"RUN!" Alby shouted, grabbing Minho and Clara's arms and shoving them forward. The Griever stayed close behind them, swinging its weapons out at them. One slit Clara's upper back and she shrieked. When they rounded one corner Alby's shoe caught a stray stone and he fell, smacking his head the stone floor.
"Alby!" Clara cried, skidding to a stop. The Griever was approaching fast, he'd be killed if Clara didn't get to him. She ran to him, helped him up, but unfortunately it wasn't in time. The Griever whipped out one of its arms and stung him in the back. Alby groaned and fell to the ground, his body tensing up. Minho came from behind and grabbed Clara's arm, dragging her to a rift in the stone wall that was big enough for one or two people.
"But Alby-" Clara began before Minho's hand clamped over her mouth.
"SHHH!" he said sharply "It'll leave him."
Clara and Minho sat quietly, waiting, the only sounds their heavy breathing and the Griever's clicking machinery.
Newt sat at a picnic bench, biting his nails. It was way past noon, and Clara, Alby and Minho hadn't returned. If he wasn't worried enough, that did it for him. He heard whispering, and looked up to see Chuck and Thomas talking to each other in hushed voices.
"What's wrong with him?" Chuck murmured, jerking his head towards Newt. "Looks like you did when you popped out of the Box." The blond scowled at the kid's insult.
"I don't know," Thomas replied "why don't you go ask him."
"I can hear every bloody word you guys are sayin'. Newt called out, making the Newbies jump in surprise. "No wonder people hate sleepin' next to you shanks."
"What is wrong with you?" Chuck asked "No offense, but you look like klunk." Newt was too worried to be offended.
"Every lovin' thing in the universe." Newt replied, staring past them at the West Door. "The girl from the Box. Keeps groanin' and saying all kinds of weird stuff, but won't wake up. Med-jacks're doing their best to feed her, but she's eating less each time. I'm tellin' ya, something's very bad about that whole bloody thing." Newt sighed "Shuck it. But that's not what really has me buggin'."
"Then what does?"
"Alby, Minho and Clara." he muttered. "They should've come back hours ago. They were supposed to come back by noon. Just enough time to get to the dead Griever, explore for a bit, and be back before the doors close."
"Maybe they're just exploring and having fun." Chuck offered innocently. Newt stared at him harshly. Fun? He can't be bloody serious, he thought.
"Why don't you and some others go into the Maze and look for them?" Thomas asked. Newt tensed, his fists clenched from where they rested on the table. He couldn't control the look of terror on his face, but quickly shook it off.
"Sending out search parties are forbidden." Newt said, his voice shaking "Lest even more people be lost."
After what felt like an eternity, there was finally silence. No more whirring and clicking. No more groaning. Clara slowly peeked her head out of their hiding spot, checking for any signs that the Griever was still there. Nothing. Minho stepped out, swiveling his head to make sure the corridor was monster-free. No sign of one. Minho gave a thumbs up and the two friends quickly made their way towards Alby, who was lying on the ground where Clara left him, untouched any further than the sting on his back. Minho shook his head and gripped under his left arm, Clara taking the other. Together, they hoisted their leader into a standing position and slung his arms over their shoulders. Alby was no help, his body was completely limp. It also didn't help that he had a heavier muscle weight to him, unlike Clara and Minho's lean figure.
Clara and Minho slowly dragged Alby with them as they navigated the rest of the way home, careful not to move him too much so he'd be quieter. Clara worriedly watched the sky as it got darker and darker by the minute.
As the Runners returned from the Maze for dinner, Newt limped from Door to Door, praying that Clara and his friends would turn up. But there was no sign of them. None of the Runners had seen or heard anything. Thomas and Chuck joined him as he paced around the West Door, running his hand through his hair nervously.
"Where are they?" He asked to no one, his voice strained.
"Why don't we send out a search party?" Thomas asked once again.
"Bloody he-" Newt started, annoyed. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to keep his cool. "We can't. Okay? Don't say it again. One hundred percent against the rules. Especially with the buggin' Doors about to close."
"But why?" Thomas persisted "Won't the Grievers get them if they stay out there? Shouldn't we do something?"
Newt had heard enough. Thomas didn't know anything about the Maze, he had no right to argue with him. He turned toward the Greenie, his face flushed red.
"Shut your hole, Greenie!" he said furiously. "Not a bloody week you've been here! You think I wouldn't risk my life in a second to save those lugs?" Newt put his hands on his hips, the urge to break down burning in the back of his throat.
"No... I... Sorry. I didn't mean..." Thomas stammered. Newt's face softened, knowing that there was no point in getting more worked up than he already was.
"You don't get it yet, Tommy. Going out there at night is beggin' for death. We'd just be throwin' more lives away. If those shanks don't make it back..." he paused, his heart tearing to pieces at the thought "All three of em swore an oath, just like I did. Like we all did. You too, when you go to your first Gathering and get chosen by a Keeper. Never go out at night. No matter what. Never."
"Newt won't say it." Chuck said, his face sheet white "So I will. If they're not back, it means they're dead. Minho's too smart to get lost. Impossible. They're dead." The boy walked away without another word, defeated.
"The shank's right," Newt said solemnly "that's why we can't go out. We can't afford to make things worse than they already are." He put a hand on Thomas' shoulder and let it drop to his side, his eyes welling up with tears. "The Doors close in two minutes."
Newt's words hung through the air like the final toll of a bell. He walked away, doing his best to muffle the sobs making their way out of his mouth.
Right as he'd reached the Homestead, he hear the familiar boom, followed by the grinding sound of stone on stone. It was over, just like that. Before he could make his way up to his room, he heard shouting coming from the West Door. It was Thomas.
"Newt!" the Newbie screamed "They're coming! I can see 'em!" That was all it took for Newt to break into an uneven run back towards the Door.
Clara and Minho were absolutely drained, downright exhausted. For hours they had to carry Alby through the Maze as his condition slowly deteriorated. There were more close calls with Grievers as the sky grew darker, and Clara was worried she wouldn't make it. Actually, she highly doubted it. She jumped when she heard the 'boom' of the Maze Doors closing. They were close.
They turned a corner and caught someone's eye: Thomas. His eyes went wide as saucers and he yelled for someone. A wave of relief crashed through her at the sight of Newt limping towards them, his face white with horror. He was still a long ways away, and the Doors were only 10 feet from closing. They weren't going to make it.
"CLARA!" Newt shrieked, obviously knowing he wasn't going to make it in time. Clara winced at the heart-wrenching sound. She used every ounce of strength she had to keep moving. To get back to him. Minho stumbled and fell, dropping half of Alby's weight to the ground. The sudden change made Clara falter and drop to her knees. She heard Newt yell again, but not at her.
Don't do it Tommy! Don't you bloody do it!"
Five feet. Four feet. Three. Two. Clara saw Thomas move towards them, sliding through the walls just as they were not yet closed. She could see Newt over Thomas' shoulder and she panicked, knowing it was probably the last time they would see each other.
"NEWT!" she cried painfully, calling out to him with the last bit of will she had.
"CLARA-"
Newt's terror-filled scream was cut short by the resounding crash of the walls finally closing.
