Chapter 15

Minho landed awkwardly on his side; he rolled several meters before coming to a stop. He could honestly say he had never jumped out of a jet before. He looked upwards – the monstrous Tiger jet looming above him. It hung there for a few seconds – before flying back into the distance it came from.

The plan was simple.

He was to be dropped off ten miles away from the clearing, so he was too far for any Glader to see him. He would then walk towards the clearing – and turn up as if he had simply wondered off that night and got lost. He would make up some story about his journey– everything would then return to normal.

He would become leader again.

Then he could create hell.

Brenda woke early once again; her cold body craving warmth from someone, something.

Day five without him – she thought.

She stretched her arms upwards – embracing the small, peaceful moment she had.

Then the feeling of sick came again.

She cussed – before reaching out to her left and grabbing a bucket. She kept one handy now ever since it had started. She vomited for a few minutes – the stench itself making her vomit a little more. After the ordeal was over – her stomach growled for food.

She guessed the time was around 9am, an hour too early for breakfast. She made her way to the clearing anyway – her messy hair giving her an odd look.

No one else was there, Frypan danced around his makeshift kitchen – as he always did. He saw her approach and welcomed it with a smile.

"I've got something just for you dear" he shouted out.

He presented a warm plate of sausages, eggs, beans, and bacon. Not only had he gone to the effort of making her an early breakfast – but the plate itself had way more food than normal.

"You need more calories now don't ya" he added.

Brenda gave him a brief hug, and then rushed off to eat her breakfast in peace.

She had settled down near the trees, and had just begun to tuck into her breakfast when she heard footsteps behind her.

She turned around to welcome whoever it was – but stopped in shock.

"Hello sweetie" Minho said.

Brenda wolfed her breakfast down as Minho stood in the middle of the clearing. He span around – meeting the gaze of all the Gladers who had rushed to wake up and come see him. Some people noticed Brenda's generous breakfast portion as they passed her – but no one said anything.

Everyone's attention was fixated on Minho right now.

A couple of hundred questions must have been thrown at him but he ignored them all. All he did was wait patiently until everyone was either sitting or standing around him. It was then – that he finally spoke.

"Hello, everyone. I understand how surprised some of you may be to see me standing here. I am not dead. During the night off the forest attack I was briefly dead yes, but Thomas saved me. I made the foolish mistake of wondering off without him – far into the distance. I camped out in some field for a few weeks before I found my way back here."

Gally stood in the middle too; he remained quiet until Minho had finished talking, and then quickly went to speak.
'Minho…It's great you're back but there's something you should know" he said quietly.

"Spit it out then"

"Sonya is dead"

Minho went to snap back – but stopped. He began to process the words that had just come out of Gally's mouth. He then started to shake his head, crouching down to the ground as he did so.

"Minho I'm sor-"

"Just shut up Gally!" Minho cried, interrupting him.

"I don't even know why you're standing here in the middle. Why can't I see Thomas anyway?" he quickly added.

"I'm the leader – and Thomas is gone" Gally muttered.

"What? I don't understand" Minho asked inquisitively, his tearful face looking up towards Gally.

"You've got a lot to catch up on"

A few days passed before Minho was able to face anyone again. His behavior was odd; he acted differently to how he had ever acted before.

It had been a week now since Thomas had been whisked away – and nobody seemed to be over it yet – most especially Brenda. He was all she ever thought about. Losing him had turned her mind crazy. The sun rose and fell quickly each day; time now passed unnaturally, far different from how it should do. Minutes either seemed like seconds or hours and hours appeared as minutes or days. Everything was so confusing – as if the world had been flipped upside down – the natural balance of life disturbed.

It was evening and everyone was sleeping.

Gally surveyed the area – looking over the sleeping bodies of those who he had been instructed by Thomas to look after. He spotted Brenda in the corner of his eye – her chest rising and falling slowly. He felt sorry for her.

He heard footsteps behind him; and turned to meet Minho.

"Lets go for a walk" Minho instructed, nodding his head towards the forest – out of sight from everyone.

"I don't really fancy one, go to sleep" Gally snapped.

"Make an observation and then answer me again" he replied curtly.

Gally laughed, and looked down Minho.

He stopped at his arm.

Minho held a beautiful, 8" dagger – and he was pointing it directly towards Gally's stomach. It was so close that the slightest shift of his hand would put it through his skin.

No one was awake to see what was happening.

Gally gulped, and then did as he was told.

When they were out of sight – Minho pushed Gally towards the floor, slamming his face into the ground.

He followed him forward – slamming his knee into his pack. Gally cried out in pain.

No one came.

Minho leaned forward – until his mouth was close to Gally's ear.

He then whispered.
"Only I – will be the leader here"

Gally was given no second to argue back, his voice cut off as Minho plunged the knife into the back of his neck. The blade went through; it cut through his flesh and embedded itself into the grass that was under it. Gally convulsed for a few seconds – before becoming completely motionless.

Minho smiled wickedly.