AN: I can't even explain myself. Sorry it took so long!

Madison (as Monroe), the Glade

Run, Madison, run. The voice kept telling her after she woke up this morning. She couldn't shake it off. The voice kept screaming from within, to the point it was hurting her head.

She finished her breakfast, talking to no one, not even Minho. Then, she snapped. Running to the Maze's north door as fast as her legs could carry her. Minho saw her headed there and attempted to stop her but he failed. Newt and Alby tried too, and still failed.

Gally and his team tried to block her path but she ran through them before they could make a secure human block. The Gladers stopped doing their work to see the commotion.

She was forced to be quiet. She couldn't utter a word. As much as she wanted to yell and turn the other way, she couldn't. Her eyes widened in fear. She was trapped in her own body and she couldn't do anything about it.

A strong, prominent thought made her speak.

"Minho! They're controlling me! They want me out of here!" She yelled, tears filling her vision. They threatened to spill but she held them in, with the last bit of self-control she had. Then, she ran off, away from the Glade and its safety.

Minho stood still as he tried to process what Monroe just said. Questions raced through his mind, but one of them seemed to stubbornly wiggle at the back of his mind. Why? Minho ran his hand through his hair in frustration. He hated not knowing. So, without another thought, he went after her.

"Monroe!" He was lying to himself. This wasn't Monroe. He knew of that. The day he kissed her.

Were the Creators trying to get rid of her? If so, what did she ever do wrong to deserve this kind of punishment?

He tried trailing after her but she ran faster and faster, almost as if giving him a sign not to follow. He, being a tad too stubborn for his own good decided to not follow and kept running after her. But as the chase progressed, he saw very little of her, only the blonde hair whooshing through. They wanted to wear her out. He thought. And he was helping them by running after her.

He stopped himself, to collect his thoughts and gather some strength before finishing his rounds for the day. As much as he cared for Monroe or Madison, whoever she was for them, he couldn't be the reason she'll be tired out of her mind as she tried running away from him.

Newt looked at Minho as the latter was deep in thought. Then, he just ran. That's it. He just ran. He said nothing. And Newt knew, he was going after Monroe. And technically, it wasn't against the rules.

"Gathering! Now!" Alby hollered the loudest he could. He needed answers and he needed them now.

As soon as all the Keepers were inside the Homestead, Alby paced as he collected his thoughts. The girl had run off. In his one month study of the girl, she wasn't so impulsive as to run like that. Although it was acceptable for her to run off to the Maze, seeing as she was a Runner, what she said made gears turn in his head.

If they were controlling her, could the Creators also control the rest of them?

He sighed, then speaking. "We don't shuckin' know what exactly Monroe did to have her mind controlled. But we have to be careful."

"Wait, mind-controlled? Are you sure?" Clint, Med-jack Keeper questioned.

"Yes I am, slinthead." Alby snapped. Newt said nothing as he observed the meeting.

"So, what do you think she did to get this from the Creators?" Gally queried.

"Don't know yet. But so far, you haven't noticed anything weird about her, right?" Alby answered.

"I think I know why they're doing this to her." Newt spoke suddenly. The Keepers all turned to him, waiting for his idea.

"It could be a diversion. For something much bigger." He explained vaguely.

"Why would they need a distraction? We already know that the Greenie didn't arrive today." Gally stood up from his seat.

"Will you sit down, Gally?" Alby shouted, leaving the Keeper grumbling but grudgingly following the command.

"Any ideas as to why she'd be the distraction?" Clint questioned.

"It could be the fact that she's the only girl. Having a boy controlled wouldn't give the much desired effect, right?" Newt paused to think a little before resuming. ''I mean, it'd get people talking but, now, we trust the boys, not so much when it comes to Monroe." The Keepers nodded.

"You're kinda right on that one, Newt. Monroe is definitely a little too shuckin' suspicious." A Keeper commented.

"But at least she didn't poison your food, shanks. You be thankful to her, she's been a big help in the kitchens." Frypan retorted, defending Monroe. The other Keepers had widened eyes. Alby was pointing to a space on top of the doorway of the Homestead.

A beetle blade was perched on it.

It was definitely listening to their meeting.

As Minho took one last turn, he heard her cry for help. He couldn't bring himself to save her. They're telling him not to.

I'm sorry, Blondie. I can't save you.

He exited the maze in a light jog, having 15 more minutes than usual before the Doors came to a close.

He thought of where he got the little nickname. And he remembered. He got it from the note tucked in his pocket when he entered the Maze.

Monroe yelled as she stopped running. She took deep breaths. Her feet were wobbling from exhaustion. She was thirsty and hungry. Night had fallen. She had nothing to use as a weapon. The only thing she had was the serum she'd stolen from the Med-jack Hut weeks ago.

If the Grievers managed to get to her, she can still survive and live.

She walked around, to see if there was a nook anywhere to shelter herself for the night.

At least somewhere where a Griever couldn't reach her and pull her out.

The only noises were the constant whirring and howl of the Grievers. All she needed is to be quiet. She was now in control of her body, but she was shaking, just thinking of what they, the Creators, had in store for her now that she knew they could manipulate her.

Tears fell from her eyes. She was frustrated and she didn't know how to stop it. But, she didn't stop the tears.

"Maddie." A girl's voice called out. Monroe stopped crying, wiping her tears with the back of her grimy hand.

Who was it?

AN: Promise, I'll have the next chapter up sooner than later! Sorry again.

Replies:

Embers to Ashes: So sorry for making you wait! But it's up now.

BDM9879: Thanks!

fiercetiger333: Thank you! And I intend to do so!

EnoraDixon: I'm halfway through. You should get it by tomorrow or the following day.

Thanks so much for the support and all, you guys are the best! :)