Gally's PoV:

The other Keepers and I sat around in a circle. A heavy silence filled the room, as we all tried to figure out what to do. Thomas sat close beside me - he was allowed to come into the Gathering for safety. With Ben missing and most likely searching for Thomas, I wasn't about to let my boyfriend out of my sight.

I felt so bad. If it hadn't been for me, Thomas never would have loved me and he never would have had a psychotic asshole chasing him.

"How in the world did Ben get out?" Thomas asked.

Newt shook his head, baffled. "No bloody idea."

"How close was the guard standing to the Slammer?" I asked. "Maybe he took his keys."

Alby shook his head. "We already checked with both guards who were rotating," he answered. "They still had their key to the Slammer on their keychains. And as you know, we only gave out a Slammer key to a few of the Keepers."

"Besides, we had our best guards watching that bloody shank," Newt said. "Ben never would've gotten the key without them noticing."

"Well, he's not magic," I scoffed. "And we have to figure this out. If Ben was able to get out, maybe other shanks we lock up in the future could get out, too."

"Yeah, I'm surprised no one got out in the past," Newt said. "This is a first."

"We need to make sure no one else can get out of the Slammer," Alby agreed, "but first, we have to find out how Ben did it. And we also have to have some kind of protection for Thomas."

"Me?" Thomas sat up straighter.

"Ben wants to kill you," I pointed out. "And it's...it's all my fault."

"Of course it's not!" Thomas wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his shoulder. God, he was so sweet. "Ben's a psychopath."

I looked up as Newt ran a hand through his long hair. "We should send people to look for Ben," he said.

"Definitely," Alby replied. "And we need to have Thomas on 24 hour watch. The rest of you shanks, be careful, too. There's no telling what a psychopath might do, and he might not just be after Thomas."

"And I want to be with Thomas at all times," I said.

Thomas looked a little embarrassed. Well, this was payback for him embarrassing me earlier. I tried not to grin - this wasn't really the time. "I don't need anyone babying me."

"Oh, boyfriends do it all the time." Newt waved a hand dismissively.

"Since when do I baby you?" Alby asked, and Newt laughed.

"You told him to eat his vegetables last night," Frypan said, and there were several laughs. Newt smiled smugly, and I had to laugh too.

"All right, whatever, shanks," Alby said. "But are we clear on the plan? Everyone agree? 24 hour watch on Thomas, look for Ben, figure out how he got out. And then Banish the shuck out of that guy." The Keepers nodded. "Good that. Meeting dismissed."

"Can I talk to you?" Thomas pulled me around a corner as our friends left the room. "Do you really blame yourself for everything with Ben?"

"He wouldn't be after you if you didn't love me." I didn't meet his gaze.

Thomas lifted my chin, and my heart skipped a beat. "I want to love you," he said, and I stared at him, surprised.

"People get hurt around me, Thomas," I told him, tears filling my eyes. I did not want to cry in front of Thomas.

"Is that why you push everyone away?" he asked me. The back of his fingers brushed against my cheek, and I leaned back against the wall, his face close to mine. I felt a sudden need then, a craving, to have his lips on mine, and I kissed him. He kissed me back, deeply, and I poured my heart into the kiss, all the feelings I had bottled up inside me all these years. Thomas groaned as I ran my fingers through his hair, his lips soft and gentle against mine.

My heart was racing when he pulled away. I pulled him back against me and kissed him again. He sighed into the kiss, his mouth gently caressing mine. My head spun. Thomas made me crazy.

"You know," I breathed in between kisses, "even though we're taking our time, it wouldn't be so bad if we were to make out a little."

We made out a lot.

Thomas and I also talked just as much. We were still getting to know each other, of course, and we didn't even know the little things. "What's your favorite color?" I asked him at one point.

"Gray," he answered. His fingers brushed against the bare skin under my shirt, and it drove me nuts.

"Gray?" I repeated. He nodded. "What made you choose gray, of all colors?"

"I don't know," Thomas admitted. "I guess it's just because I like plain clothes and stuff. A lot of my shirts and pants are grey, so I'm kind of used to it. Although I don't know what I'd wear if we weren't trapped in here."

"Something a hell of a lot more exciting than the clothes we have here," I pointed out.

"Well..." Thomas smirked. "You took off my shirt, so I'm not sure what could be more exciting than that," he said, grinning as I felt my face heat up.

I swatted his arm playfully. "Ugh, you annoying shuck-face!" Why did he keep teasing me?

Thomas was laughing now. He pulled me closer, and I couldn't keep my gaze locked on his. All that exposed skin of his was exciting, and Thomas was hot.

"My eyes are up here," he teased.

I smirked as I looked up at him. "I wasn't looking at your eyes," I said. I was flirting with him - badly, but still. I tried.

His lips brushed mine, briefly, before he pulled away. "I don't want to do anything you aren't comfortable with," he said.

I don't know what came over me then, but I leaned down and pressed my tongue against Thomas's bare stomach, licking his navel as I dragged my tongue up his body, finally stopping to come face to face with him.

Thomas was gawking at me, and I blushed furiously. "Oh my God," he gasped. He pulled me into a hot, hungry kiss that I quickly broke away from - before things got too out of hand.

"I...I still think we should wait," I said.

"Gally, I'm fine with that," Thomas reminded me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I settled into his arms, smiling up at him. Thomas was so sweet. "What did I do to deserve you?" I said as he leaned down and kissed me softly. After a few long moments, I pulled away from the kiss to yawn, and Thomas smiled.

"Get some sleep," he said. I nodded and rested my head in the crook of his arm, falling asleep quickly.

Thomas's gaze met mine as I lay back against the pillows. He kissed me deeply, his hands sliding up under my shirt, caressing my bare skin, I gasped, my heart beating furiously as I pulled his mouth back down to mine. His kiss was hot and hungry, and suddenly - I didn't know how - neither of us had a single piece of clothing on. I glanced downward and tried unsuccessfully not to blush. "Thomas, I - I want you," I gasped, pulling him against me. We both gasped that time at the feeling.

"Are you sure?" he asked me. I nodded. He kissed me again, his hips grinding against mine, and I gasped as he -

I woke up. "Thomas?" I choked out, clearing my throat as I sat up, my skin hot and damp with sweat. Thomas was gone. "Thomas?" I called out again, louder. Nothing.

I got out of bed. Judging by the quietness of the hall, it was pretty late. I went downstairs into the Homestead's living room to find Alby and Newt sitting on the couch, talking quietly. Besides me, they were alone in the living room. They looked like they were in a pretty serious discussion, and Alby's hand rested on his boyfriend's shoulder. Newt looked worried, but he nodded, and he leaned in for a kiss.

I cleared my throat again, and the couple sprang apart, looking at me with matching startled expressions. "Where's Thomas?" I asked. "Have you seen him?"

"No, I thought he was with you," Newt said. "Where are the guards outside your door?"

"There were none," I answered, my blood running cold.

Newt and Alby's eyes widened. "Let's go look for him then," he said.

"What if Ben got him?!" I exclaimed as we left the Homestead.

"He's got to be here somewhere," Newt pointed out. Then he paled. "Unless..."

"Unless," I said, "Ben took him out into the Maze."

AN: Haha another cliffhanger! Hope you guys liked the chapter and review please :) Reviews really do keep me writing