CHAPTER THREE: A FUNERAL FOR THE AGES
The air was thick with mourning as the Gladers stood in stunned silence around the newly made grave. A pale-skinned, ashen-haired boy stuck a wooden cross into the ground before the grave. Alby couldn't help but shutter as he silently read the name written in bold letters across it: George. George was the only body they were able to find. The other boys who were stuck in the maze were no where to be found. They are probably all dead, Alby thought sadly, those things probably killed them all.
The idea of something lurking in the maze had frightened everyone. A few muffled cries could be heard. Alby fought back the tears in his own eyes. No more crying! His mind shouted at him. He had already cried enough when he, Stephen, and Frank brought in George's body from the maze. The horror of the whole experience had terrified him. While he managed to refrain from crying at the moment, Stephen did not. Alby pitied him in a way. The fearless leader was now acting like a lost, scared, guilt-ridden child. Stephen was supposed to be with that group, and he knew it.
"Would anyone like to say anything?"
The sound of a voice startled Alby. It came from Stephen, who was next to him. No one responded. Barely anyone knew George. He had only been with them two days. Only two days and he was already dead. The only one who seemed to even talk to him much was Stephen.
Alby cleared his throat. He felt like he should talk, say something. After all, this boy died trying to help find a way out for everyone. The least he could do was talk at the poor shuck's funeral.
"He gave his life to help find a way out for all of us," Alby said, surprising himself at the sound of courage in his voice, "for that I thank him. And I say that we don't let his efforts go to waste. We still need to find a way out."
The last part surprised even Alby. He couldn't believe he just said that they still need to check out this monster-filled maze. It appeared everyone else felt the same way.
"You mean you think we should still send guys out there?" someone asked, confused.
"Did you see what happened to the others?!" someone else added angrily.
Shouts of approval rang out. Alby felt small. It sounded dumb, but it was true that if they planned on leaving they would have to look around. He looked to Stephen for help, but the boy avoided his glance.
Alby racked his mind for something to say, something to convince these people he was right, but he couldn't think of anything.
"I agree with Alby. The shuck might sound stupid, but he has a point."
The comment came from no where, making the disapproving crowd confused.
"What? What point? To go die?" people yelled.
"To go die?" the voice asked. Alby looked around for the source. When he found it, he couldn't help but smile. Minho. "You don't know what you are talking about you shuck-face."
Alby could tell that Minho certainly enjoyed using Stephen's newly made-up word.
"What I'm talking about is that if we go out there, whatever killed George will get us, too," the opposing voice said. When Alby located the voice, he recognized it to be the boy in the fight the day earlier with the dark-skinned boy who took Stephen's place in the maze.
"Well what I'm saying," Minho hissed sarcastically, "is that if we don't get out there and look around, we will never get back home. Besides, as long as we get back before the doors close, we should be fine."
"How do you know? Those monsters could be out there right now."
Minho snickered. "If they were out there they would have already killed us by now you dumb shuck."
Alby sucked in a deep breath. He watched the opposing boy nervously, convinced that he would hop on Minho any second like he did to the dark-skinned boy the day before. Minutes passed but he said nothing. He had been showed up, proven wrong.
Stephen shuffled uncomfortably beside Alby.
"I also agree," he announced to the crowd, "as dangerous as it is, no one will ever get out of here if we don't look around. Obviously there isn't any escapes here besides that box thing we arrived in or the stone building," he pointed to the center of the Glade, at a heap of grass and stone. Alby shook his head. Why hadn't I seen that before? The thing is shucking humongous!
Alby shakes his head in disbelief. Obviously the stone building didn't arrive overnight. He must have not paid much attention. In a way it looks like a mossy rock, with all the ivy covering it. I guess his eyes just didn't notice…but still…how could he be so oblivious?
"But," Stephen continued, "we all know the box could be dangerous and…George…well George and I already checked out the building. It is nothing but a room."
The tone of sadness was apparent as he said George's name.
"So we enter the maze?" Frank asked.
"Yeah…we enter the shucking maze and find our way out of this wretched place," Stephen said so coldly that not a voice dared to oppose.
"And…I will enter tomorrow," Stephen added.
The voices no longer held back.
"Tomorrow?!"
"Isn't that a tad early?"
Stephen raised his hands for silence.
"I said I am entering tomorrow," he growled, "if you want to come, fine. If not, stay out of my way."
Alby's heart sped in his chest. So Stephen was serious about this after all.
"Well you can count me in!"
Alby's speeding heart seemed to come to a sudden halt as he saw Minho step forward. This guy just never seems to sit back. He always has to be in the middle of things.
More volunteering voices rang from the crowd. Alby could see the boy who was in the fight yesterday slowly shake his head in disapproval.
Should I go? He wondered. After all he seemed like a weak shuck compared to Minho and Stephen. They were running around in monster-filled mazes while he cries and plants trees. Of course he was the only one to actually see the monster yesterday. The only one to know exactly what they were up against.
"Sounds good," Stephen smiled grimly, "I saw some sneakers in the supplies, watches too. I will find out what time the maze doors close and we will start our expedition in the morning."
Nods of agreement came from a few Gladers, but Alby just stood still, un sure of what to do.
"And until I return," Stephen announced, voice higher, demanding all attention, "this shuck next to me, Alby, is in charge. No questions asked."
Alby could feel the blood drain from his face as every boy in the Glade turned to stare at him. Only then did reality set in.
What the shuck is he talking about? Leader?