Needless to say, Eleanor never found out what Alby had wanted with Thomas.

She hadn't tried to find out either. She knew Newt wouldn't tell her. Maybe the Greenie would have told her if she had asked but there were already so many things she was in the dark about that she really doubted knowing would make her understand everything that was going on. Plus, Thomas had been thrown in the Slammer that night as a punishment for going into the Maze. She knew that much. Never mind that he had saved Minho and Alby in the process. So, she hadn't even seen the newly appointed Runner.

Newt had been busy running the Glade and she had barely seen him either.

She knew Alby was awake, so, that meant he wasn't dying. Knowing that was good enough for her.

A couple of days passed.

Alby left the med-hut soon after and was soon back to barking orders around as if nothing had happened.

Everyone around her went back to their daily activities, quickly forgetting the previous days, or at least not worrying about everything that had taken place.

During the first hour since the Leader had left the Med-hut, Eleanor followed Alby with her gaze, analizing every little thing to see if the Changing had modified the older boy's behaviour in some way. He seemed as bossy and intimidating as ever. Even if she was still a bit suspicious about the whole thing, she had to admit that working and following the normal schedule helped with her anxiety a lot. So she focused on that.

The dreaded conversation came two days after the Gathering.

The girl had resolved she was going to leave Minho his space.

She had moved back to her sleeping bag by the side of the Homestead and resumed life as if she had never moved into her best friend's room in the first place. And she had tried to ignore how much it hurt having to be apart from him after she had just got him back.

She had promised herself she would wait until he was ready to talk to her, however long it took. He needed space, she would give him space. And, so far, she had kept her promise. Besides, she wasn't even sure she believed Newt. After all, it would make more sense for him to be mad at her than to have a crush on her. She was a horrible person. She was selfish and impulsive. She had said she hated him and, then, went and kissed his best friend. She wouldn't blame him if he never spoke to her again.

But, maybe, if he was angry than meant he could somehow forgive her. If, on the other hand, it was true he liked her... She didn't know if things could go back to normal at all.

The fact that Minho had been constantly busy showing Thomas the Maze and everything related to it, as the Newbie had started his new duty right after he came out of the Slammer, had made everything even easier for Eleanor. Although, that hadn't completely stopped the awkwardness as they, once or twice, caught sight of each other across the Kitchens at dinner time or around the Glade. Eleanor had simply tried to resume the activity she had been doing, and had done her best to ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She would wait until he was ready to talk to her, but she would have been lying if she said she wasn't scared of the conversation.

"Can we talk?"

Eleanor had been getting ready to go to bed when he appeared next to her usual spot. He seemed to materialize out of thin air.

She took a second to catch her breath.

"Yes, of course."

She could feel a small tingle of panic growing inside of her.

Minho gestured with his head towards the sleeping bag on the floor and she sat down without a word next to him, as he took a seat against the wall.

Eleanor tried breathing calmly but she wasn't ready to look at him. She sat by his side in silence, waiting, willing him to say something. She didn't dare speak first. She had no words. She was terrified of ruining everything once again.

She could hear him breathing next to her. Stolen glances told her he looked as nervous as she felt; but, still, he did not speak a word. With every passing second her nerves were making it harder and harder to breathe normally.

Finally, Minho drew in a large breath and spoke.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you." He sounded forced.

She inhaled slowly and almost smiled. He was still clearly uncomfortable with apologies.

"Don't be." She tried to sound calm, as she felt her guts rope jumping. "I'm sorry I pushed you."

Minho nodded.

Several seconds passed.

Say something! She begged herself.

I'm sorry I kissed Newt...

No, that was not right.

I'm sorry I'm such a bitch...

Maybe not the best.

What could she say to make him feel better? To make it alright, to make him forgive her. She couldn't even forgive herself. No amount of rehearsing in her head would give her the right magical words.

"I saw you talk to Newt." He suddenly blurted out and quickly looked away. "The other day... in the platform."

Eleanor thought he wanted to say more, but he didn't.

"Yeah..." She spoke slowly, not knowing what to say, not wanting to upset him anymore. She just wanted things to get back to normal, if it was even possible after all that had happened. "He was explaining what had happened at the Gathering."

Technically, it wasn't a lie.

"So..." He seemed to have trouble finding the words. "You and him..."

It wasn't a question.

"No, Min." She said softly, "There's nothing there."

That whole situation had thrown her so far out of her comfort zone she couldn't see it anymore.

"But- but you kissed." He looked at her for the first time, confusion written all over his features.

Eleanor nodded.

"Yes, but we shouldn't have. I- I thought I lost you Min, I was so... I don't even know," She didn't know how to express the mess in her mind. "I've never felt anything like how I felt that night. I- Fuck... I don't even know how it happened. It just did. And it is completely my fault, and I... I'm so sorry Min. I truly am."

He nodded, immediately accepting her apology.

Her throat ached and her insides burned. Maybe he could forgive her but she couldn't forgive herself.

"I just- I need to know one thing." He said, "Do you..."

He took a deep breath.

"Do you... like him?"

She sucked in a deep breath.

"I have never thought about Newt in that way. I swear." She said awkwardly, "I wasn't even aware having any kind of romantic feelings was possible in this place. "

She watched Minho wince slightly. He immediately played it cool by letting out a soft chuckle, but she had seen him do it.

"Sorry." She avoided his gaze. "That came out wrong."

"Why are you sorry? It's true."

She looked at him then but he wasn't looking at her. He seemed to be examining his running shoes.

Did that mean Newt was wrong? Had she been right and Minho didn't have feelings for her after all?

He lifted his gaze to her face and she realised she knew something she had been ignoring for a long time.

Maybe Minho saw it in her eyes too.

"I don't know how it's happened El, I just..."

Right then and there, Eleanor thought she couldn't recall ever seen him so vulnerable. She had expected him to look away but he didn't. He was much braver than she could ever hope to be.

"With everything that's happened, I don't wanna lose you." He continued.

"You couldn't." She interrupted her friend. "Min, you're my best friend. I love you. I just... I don't know, I was in my own head. I hadn't even considered there was another possibility for us. But if that's what you want..."

Eleanor grabbed his hand in hers. She had to make it right. This whole mess had been her fault. She wasn't going to lose Minho, she would go to hell and back for him.

"If that's what you want I can..." She slowly lifted her palm to rest against his cheek. His face was cold from the night air. She leaned closer. "I can..."

She shortened the distance inbetween them slowly.

"El." He cut her.

She ceased her movement.

"I like you and... you have no idea how much I want to-"

His hand caressed hers softly and removed it from his face. He moved back, away from her.

She felt colder.

"-but not like this. I would never force you into anything. You're my best friend and it's more than enough."

Eleanor sat there, suddenly wanting to cry. She felt so stupid.

Fuck... He is amazing.

Her heart swelled up.

"I'm the luckiest guy in here." He brushed the teardrop away with his thumb. Then, with a teasing tone, he added. "Well... Except for, maybe, Newt."

She scoffed but couldn't help a smile from forming.

"I already told you..."

"I know, I know." He cut her. "But he did get to kiss you."

He added a wink for dramatical effect.

Eleanor laughed.

"Ah, so kissing me is better then being my best friend, huh?"

He seemed to consider it for a moment. She hit him in the chest.

Asshole.

But she couldn't stop smiling.

It all started like a normal day in the Glade.

First, Eleanor got up. It took a few minutes to fully wake up and realise that something was wrong. Instead of the usual orange tones of the dawning sun, she was greeted by an uneven dull light. It didn't take long for her to realise the problem. The sun was gone.

Later, as she was working in the garden she could see the situation hadn't changed. Instead of what would normally be a clear blue sky there was a dull grey. The sky seemed to have closed on them, making it look like a low concrete ceiling. Maybe that was what it had been all along, a celing.

Eleanor didn't bother trying to ask someone what was happening. Clearly no one in the Glade knew.

Alby and Newt were being constantly surrounded by panicking Gladers and Eleanor could see that didn't have any good answers for them.

The athmostfere of the community didn't improve all morning. In the evening, things got even worse.

When it was time to finish up her work, Eleanor noticed Newt and Alby standing near the Box, glancing worriedly down and talking with big hand gestures. It took a few second but the it clicked. The supplies. Every week the Box came up with supplies at the same time. Every week, except that day.

Eleanor realised with sudden dread what it meant.

No sun, meant no plants. No plants meant no food for them, and specially, no food for the animals. No animals and no supplies meant, no food for the humans.

A small tinge of panic was born in her mind. Breathing heavily, she did what she had been trying to avoid all these days. She needed to talk to Newt or Alby. She needed answers.

When he saw her approach, Newt threw her a not now look but she deliberately ignored it.

"Is it as bad as I think it is?" She questioned the boys.

Alby realised her presence as she spoke.

"What do you think, shank?" Alby said roughly.

Okay, he is in a bad mood. Eleanor wasn't fazed.

"I think there's no sun and the supplies didn't come, which means they're either trying to starve us or they're trying to lure us out into the Maze."

"That's..." Newt spoke, "surprisingly accurate."

Just as Alby was undoubtedly preparing his cutting remark, Minho and Thomas decided to make their appearance.

"Hey," Minho spoke. "We were just-"

"Get on with it," Alby interrupted them, clearly annoyed at everything. "Ain't got time to waste. Find anything? Anything?"

To Eleanor's surprise, Minho actually recoiled at his friend's tone. But she knew her friend wasn't hurt. He seemed confused. As a matter of fact, she couldn't recall Alby ever being so harsh with Minho, or any of the Keepers; except, maybe, Gally.

"Nice to see you, too." Minho said, regaining himself. She could tell he had been slightly annoyed. "Yeah, we did find something, actually."

Alby would have sighed if he was that type of person. Instead, his frown only seemed to deepen.

"This whole shuck place is falling to pieces."

He shot Thomas a nasty glare, like he thought it was the greenie's fault. Thomas seemed annoyed.

"What do you mean?" Minho asked. "What else happened?"

Newt spoke, trying to calm the situation a bit. He nodded towards the Box. "Bloody supplies didn't come today. Come every week for two years, same time, same day. But not today."

All five of them unconciously glanced down towards the metal doors stuck to the dirt ground.

"Oh, we're shucked for good now," whispered Minho.

Eleanor nodded.

She was starting to feel really really scared. It wasn't like when Ben had been- or when she thought Minho was- This time she feared for herself. That primal fear awakened something deep inside her, a desire to flee, to safe herself. How could she had thought she was safe in this place?

"No sun for the plants," Newt said, "no supplies from the bloody Box. Yeah, I'd say we're shucked, all right."

Minho and Thomas looked equally terrified. Alby continued to glare at the Box, willing the doors to open with the power of his intense stare. Eleanor shared a look with Newt. His fake calmness was crumbling.

"Yeah, anyway." Minho spoke, dragging their attention back to him. "We found something weird."

Newt raised his eyebrows. "What?"

Minho started. "Okay, so we found this Griever, right. It was just there. It didn't even notice us. So, we decided to follow it..."

For about five minutes, he proceeded to explain how they had followed one of the deadly machines all the way to the Cliff where it had disappeared. Then, they had decided to throw rocks at the cliff (as one does) and found a spot in the air where the rocks would disappear from sight but not fall down the Cliff.

Minho then, finished with "Must lead to where the… you know… Grievers live."

"The Griever Hole." Thomas added dramatically.

Eleanor fought the urge to roll her eyes.

The girl thought that deduction was a bit of a shot in the dark. Even if there was a slight chance of a possibility that there was a secret hidden spot through the Cliff, which sounded riddculous to even entretain the idea. There was an even smaller chance that a full Griever could simply come and go through it like a door way.

"Gotta bloody see that for myself," Newt replied, not dismissing the idea. Then murmured, "Hard to believe."

"Sounds a bit crazy to me, guys." Eleanor said.

She was completely outright ignored as they continued to discuss the topic. The conversation was cut short when she spotted an out-of-breath Jeff running towards them. Eleanor nudged Newt in the ribs and pointed to him. The attention from the group was shifted to the new addition.

The Med-jack got to them, panting.

"What's going on?" Newt demmanded.

"She's awake!" Jeff spoke clearly. There was no mistaking it. "The girl's awake!"

Eleanor took off after Jeff, leaving the others.

She knew Minho was more interested in his hunger than seeing the girl and Thomas looked frozen, his face had adopted a light tint of green. Alby and Newt followed.

"You're not coming." Alby said in a final tone as they caught up to her.

"The hell I'm not." Was her reply.

She walked faster, hoping they wouldn't stop her.

Alby was clearly out of patience. "Eleanor."

"You'll scare her." She tried to reason with him. This was important to her. "Let me be there. Let me talk to her."

Alby was about to retort when Newt spoke. "She's right Alby. The girl is more likely to talk to her than us."

Alby grunted and seemed to swallow his pride. "Okay, but we'll be there. And you need to find out what she knows."

That was easy.

"Deal." She said.

"Hi." She said softly trying not to scare her. "My name is Eleanor. Do you remember your name?"

The girl was sat in the med-hut's bed, her knees to her chest, looking up at them with her bright blue eyes. Clear mistrust was written in her features. She didn't look scared, just on guard. Eleanor thought she looked even prettier with her eyes open.

How unfair. She thought. Then, scolded herself for giving importance to looks in those circumstances.

The girl studied Newt and Alby who stood behind Eleanor's back. Then, her calculating gaze moved to Eleanor's face.

Perhaps she decided she was harmless. She spoke.

"Teresa."

Her voice was slightly raspy, she probably hadn't spoken for days.

Teresa, okay.

"Nice to meet you Teresa." She continued to speak softly and gave her a small smile trying to get her to relax. "These are Newt and Alby. They look scary but they are harmless. I promise."

She heard Alby grunt behind her and she contained herself from rolling her eyes. There weren't going to make it easy, were they?

Teresa nodded, letting her know she understood.

"You're in a place called the Glade." Eleanor continued. "Can you remember anything?"

She shook her head. "No, well. No, I guess I don't. I thought I did but now..."

She seemed taken aback by her own words, as if she hadn't been expecting to say those things.

"That's okay Teresa. That's normal." Eleanor spoke.

She felt someone move beside her, preparing to intervine but she stuck a hand out. She needed more time.

"It's normal to not remember anything except you name." Eleanor said stepping a bit closer to her, "I didn't remember a thing when I came here. You'll get used to it, I promise. I just want you to try and remember as much as you can, okay? it's alright if you can't."

Teresa looked at the boys behind her again, and then at her.

"I- It's like I remember but I don't- I just- It's fading... I remember letters and- and..."

"Yes?" Eleanor questioned, waiting, willing for this new girl to give them some answers.

"I remember Tom."