The Gladers and most of the keepers had left, it was still early in the day, and they still had work to do. All that was left was Newt, Thomas, Minho and Alex. For once in his life Thomas was speechless, still struggling with the idea that he had been made a runner.

"So that was your plan hey? Make this shank a runner?" Newt asked.

Minho smiled evilly, "Worked, didn't it? Aim high, hit low. Thank me later" He clasped Thomas on the shoulder, "There was no shuckin way I'd give up Keeper. Alex has to KEEP me around now that I made it through the night."

Alex goaned, "That is never going to stop, is it? What, did you spend all night thinking of keeper puns?" Minho threw an arm over her shoulder "Something like that. Should I KEEP on going?"

Everyone just rolled their eyes.

Newt grew serious again, "Guys, these last 2..3?.. months have had more disruptions than in the last two years!" Thomas looked guilty, even though he knew nothing. Alex looked at the floor, then back up at the guys.

"Ok, guys sit down, Newt knows this already, but you two need to know this." Minho gave her a hurt look "How come I don't know this?"

"Cuz you left me behind yesterday, when you and Alby decided to go into the bloody maze, you ridiculously attractive shuckface! This happened yesterday morning when the New girl showed up."

His face made an "Oh" and then sat down on a chair, placing his elbows on his knees, his chin on his hands, and stared up at Alex, blinking rapidly, "Ok Sunshine, I'm all ears! Ready to listen and learn. Take it away! Newt, hand me your notepad and pen, I'm taking notes." Alex rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, she was trying hard not to smile. Thomas looked confused.

When does this guy NOT look confused? How is it that I trusted him to take down this WICKED with me? He better be smarter than he looks.

"Okay, so, when the girl came up I got nothing from her, there were no memories or familiarity. It wasn't until Newt MADE ME try and have a memory vision. Nothing happened until I touched-"

Newt snorted "Touched? You slapped the poor girl on her bloody forehead!"

"You made me frustrated...she won't remember..anyways, when I made CONTACT, I had another big one- like the one in the Maze, Min." He sat up straighter. Alex explained everything she could remember from her memories. Thomas looked more and more confused and kept trying to interrupt her with questions.

"THOMAS! Slim it until I'm done, I'll probably explain everything anyways, stop making this longer!" She snapped. She finally explained what she could. She took a deep breath.

"So Thomas, we were in this together, along with the girl, from the start. When it was just you, me and the girl we had had enough and came up with a plan, I have no idea what our plan was. Or how you and the girl got me here to this maze, after I was caught. I'm sure we won't ever know, but thank you!" Her voice just about broke, she was looking between Newt and Minho. They stood up and gave Thomas a one arm hug and a slap on the back, Thomas still looked like he was struggling to know what was going on.

"She can obviously take care of her bloody self, but thanks for keeping an eye on her for us," Newt said. Thomas nodded, still trying to process all the information that was thrown at him.

"So..so Gally was right? Ben was right? Is it our fault?" He asked.

Alex sighed, tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "No. It's not your fault Thomas. Or my fault. Or the new girl. We were children, Tommy. That group...the organization, the Creators, did this. They used us, abused, twisted, tortured and manipulated children for whatever sick purpose this is for-"

"WAIT...wait..Hold on." he interrupted, if he was a cartoon there would have been a light bulb pop up above his head. "You said WICKED, in your explanation...WICKED..?"

Alex wasn't sure where this was going.. "yes.. Why? What are you thinking Tommy?"

"You saw those big plaques all over the maze walls outside too, right? Minho told me you had a...uh episode when you touched one..?"

"Yeah.." said Alex a little hesitantly. Thomas was getting excited now, she could see the wheels turning, he was figuring something out.

"World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department...It's an acronym! W-I-C-K-E- D! Those letters are on the supplies and those little beetle things!" Minho looked like he was hit in the face, he was so shocked. "The Shuck! I've been here 2 years and never put that together!" he paused, then said under his breath, "Well shuck me" Alex had heard him and stifled a giggle, Minho gave her a sly side eye and winked.

"Anything else Alex?" Newt asked. She rubbed her fingers along her bottom lip, thinking hard. "No, I think that was everything.." She looked at Minho for a second then at the floor with a guilty expression. "I do have one thing, but I need to talk to Minho. Alone please." She couldn't look Minho in the eye.

"What's it about?" Thomas asked, looking between the other three. Newt looked at Alex and nodded.

"None of your bloody business!" Newt said, grabbing Thomas's upper arm and trying to pull him away.

"But you know!" He whined as Newt dragged him, "Ya, I'm her bloody brother, I know everything. Now let's go. You need a shower!"

"Oh come on, that's not fair! Does it have to do with a memory? Could it help us get outta here? Newt? OW!" Newt had smacked him on the back of the head, and shoved him out the door. He turned around and gave Alex a reassuring nod. He patted his leg, and Bark came bounding after Newt and out the door. Alex and Minho were now the only two in the Council room.

"If you wanted to be alone, Sunshine, all you had to do was ask, I'll always say yes." He sauntered over with a sly smile.

"Minho, no. I really do need to tell you something. I just don't know how.." He dropped his cocky smile, concern in his eyes, he lifted her chin to make her look at him. "Just spit it out. You know you can tell me anything." He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She took a slow shaky breath.

"Well..I haven't told you ALL the memories I've had, or at least not all the details.." Minho nodded at her, encouraging her to go on, he slipped his hand to her check, cupping it, she pressed into it, closed her eyes for a moment gathering her thoughts.

Please don't hate me.. I can't lose you again.

"I created the Grievers" she whispered, tears brimming her eyes.

"What?" he was slightly taken aback, he wasn't expecting that.

"Minho, they made me somehow, someway... I have a pretty good idea how- but in the end I created them! I had a memory of me at a table drawing them! Some creepy woman told me it was good..And she said something creepy like "WICKED is good...!"

** She was now sitting in an all white work room, paper and pencils everywhere. There were doodles and drawings scattered on the table. A hand rested on her shoulder and a crisp voice of a woman spoke "how are your creatures coming, Alexandria?"

"Good! I think I'm done! This last part, here is the tail, it has a pincher at the end, like a crab claw, see?"

"Yes, good. Very good." Said the woman's voice, it sounded sinister. "Remember Alexandria, WICKED is good."

Minho didn't say anything, his face was blank. She was scared that he was going to explode or hate her and never ever talk to her again. She closed her eyes, a tear slipped out from under her eyelashes, she took a step back, breaking the contact between them. She turned her back on him for a moment, wrapped her arms around herself, trying to gain control of her emotions.

Alex continued "Not sure if you figured it out or not..but we were together before the Maze. Friends, partners in crime, and then..more."

"Ya, I figured," Minho had walked up behind her, and placed a hand on her shoulder turning her around to face him. He unwrapped her hands from herself and held them. Alex continued, but she couldn't meet his eyes, so she talked to his chest.

"But they didn't like that. From the shattered memories I've had, they don't seem very open to the idea of any kind of relationship. They tried making me and Sonya forget Newt! But when they found out about us, I had a warning- they threatened me..and I guess we didn't care or at least I didn't care and we got caught again..." she looked away struggling to keep her voice from breaking, "they strapped me to a chair and made you watch as they tortured me, with the stupid shuck monsters I created! That still wasn't good enough for them and they strapped you to the chair and made me watch!"

She had a few more tears slip out, and down her check, her voice was shaking, "Minho I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I understand if you hate me, I made the monsters that killed your friends, that hunt down anyone who steps outside the maze, the creatures that have tried to kill you more than once! I'm sorry! I'm also the reason you were sent to his hell hole early. I'm the reason you have been here for 2 years! They used you to punish me!"

Minho had dropped her hands, he still didn't show anything on his face. She turned away again, unable to see the hurt and anger that was bound to show on his face. He was quiet for a minute.

"Min..please say something..." Alex whispered. He didn't. Instead he turned her around again. He pulled her into his chest and held her tight. "I'm sorry" She repeated again.

"Don't. Stop. Stop saying you're sorry, you didn't do nothing! It's not like YOU strapped me to a chair! I can't even remember it for shucks sake! I have zero recollection of anything from before the box! I'm the one who should be sorry, you have to relive all this horrible klunk! I'm happy being oblivious to all that. What I am mad about is I can't remember US! We sounded awesome, total rebels! I love it! Definitely sounds like us!" He pulled away to look at her, "And I love you, Alex. I don't care what we did to get caught.. I don't care what you did before the maze, you could have built this whole shuck place and I wouldn't care because I KNOW you would never do it willingly." He wiped a tear away from her cheek with his thumb.

"You're not mad at me? You still want to talk to me even after everything I put you through?" Minho smirked down at her now

"Shuck ya. You know I like to live dangerously." Alex couldn't help but laugh.

"That's better. I like when you laugh." Minho whispered as he placed his forehead against hers.

"Then do it again, shuckface!" she said with a tease in her voice, she tilted her head up, and their lips connected again. He kissed her back, hungrily, like it might be their last. Minho tangled his fingers into her hair cupping the back of her head and pulled her closer, Alex wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull his head down even closer, but there wasn't any more space. They pulled away, having to breathe. Alex tried catching her breath, but Minho slowly and gently kissed her check and then her jaw, and then moved to her ear. Her breath caught in her throat. He slowly left a trail of gentle kisses down her neck. Her breath hitched. Alex let out an involuntary soft moan, he smirked into another kiss right at the base of her neck.

Oh two can play at this game!

She slid her hands from his neck and slid them down to his chest, and then down his abs and back up and into his perfect hair. She stood on her tiptoes so she was a little taller, and slowly and every so gently she brushed her lips against his. He tried to lean in for more, but she pulled away just enough to smirk back at him, he lifted an eyebrow, in a challenge. She put her lips right next to his ear, as she ran her hands down his chest again, "challenge accepted" she breathed. She could feel him shudder, and her smirk grew, she kissed him on the neck right under his ear.

"Alex.." he breathed, his voice a little lower. His hand dropped from her hair and slid down her arms and onto her waist and with very little effort, he picked her up, she instantly wrapped her legs around his waist.

"You know I'm going to win," Minho said, his voice husky and breathy now.

"Try me" She whispered seductively, kissing his lips again, and gently bit down on his bottom lip and pulled. He tilted his head up to get more of her lips on his, his tongue licked her bottom lip gently, she opened her mouth, granting him access. He slowly backed her up into one of the supporting poles, so her back was up against it, leaving a hand free to dig into her hair again and his other hand was wrapped under her thigh for support. Alex still had her hands in his hair, she gently dug her nails into his scalp and dragged them down, and he let out a moan of his own, deep from his throat. He pressed her into the support beam, trying to get closer. Kissing her like he was starving.

"MOTHER OF A SHUCKIN BLOODY GREAVER!"

Alex and Minho broke apart breathing heavily, their lips a little swollen, faces red, panting and both their hair a mess- the one time Minho could care less what it looked like. Minho still had Alex's legs around his waist, and her hands were still in his hair, his one hand supporting her under her thigh and the other was tangled in her hair. But they turned to look at the door. Newt was standing there with a hand clamped over his eyes. Bark beside him wagging her tail tongue out.

"Can we help you Shank? You seem to be lost." Minho asked with all the sarcasm he could muster, his voice still husky, and out of breath.

Shuck me that voice is hot!

"Will you two get a room already? No one wants to see you two making out!" Newt whined, his hand still over his eyes.

"Last I checked Newtie, this IS a room and we WERE alone..." Alex retorted, still out of breath too, rolling her eyes, Minho chuckled and kissed her one last time and let her down.

"What do you want, Newt?" Alex asked, placing her hands on her hips, her face was dusted in a pink blush from having had her brother walk in on her. She was still trying to get her breath back.

"You can also lower your bloody hand, you slint-head." He dropped his hand and glared at them. "Well, it was important enough to interrupt us, what do you want?" Minho asked, irritated that Newt interrupted them, again.

Newt cleared his throat "Oh ya..right. Well to add on top of the pile of klunk, all your runners quit."

"They WHAT?" Minho roared, his mood flipping fast. "Ya, after Chris and Ben and now Alby...they don't want to go out anymore." Newt shrugged and put his hands into his pockets.

"What, are me and Tommy chopped liver? The three of us will get it done. Dream team!" Alex said, trying to encourage him.

"That's the other thing, you need to go talk to him, he's ready to go back out like right now. The only thing holding him back right now is the food Fry is making him eat." Minho grunted and stormed towards the door. He stopped and turned around when he realized Alex wasn't beside him.

"Forgetting something?" Alex asked with a hand on her hip, and an eyebrow raised.

"Coming Babe?" Alex cracked a smile.

"Shuck right I am."

Newt just rolled his eyes and followed after them. Bark at Alex's heels. Alex and Minho found Thomas on his way to the doors. Minho ran in front of him and placed a hand on his chest to slow him down "Hey, hey, where are you going?"

"Back into the maze." Thomas said with a straight face, looking at the maze doors, he kept walking.

"Hey-" Alex started, Minho cut her off, much to her annoyance.

"Hey, Thomas. What is this with you, huh? A wish? You just got out and now you want back in?"

Minho had a point, these guys had spent all night, Minho was out there a full day and night, and he was still on his feet- Alex felt slightly guilty for keeping him up, but one stray thought about 5 minutes ago and her face heated up and her stomach exploded with butterflies...

Worth it.

"Newt said that no one has ever seen a Griever and to tell about it, right? - Well I guess you two lived..but Minho, now we have one. You're me you're not even a bit curious?" Thomas threw his hands towards the maze doors, in exasperation.

"Not really, no. Last time I went to investigate a dead one it wasn't actually dead and I ended up having a shuckin sleepover with them!" Minho was just as frustrated.

Thomas took another step. Minho rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Thomas, "So, what's the plan? You're go out and dissect that all by yourself?" Minho challenged.

"I will if I have to! I it's time we find out what we're up against." Thomas finally looked at Alex.

"All right. But you're not going back out alone." Alex said.

Thomas looked relieved that someone was taking this seriously. Bark jumped excitedly, and woofed knowing something good was happening.

Alex continued, "But not today. You both look dead on your feet and you haven't eaten. No Thomas. Not today." Alex said with authority.

Thomas was trying to protest, "If that griever isn't dead or if its friends show up, you need all the energy to fight and run. And if it is dead, it won't be going anywhere. Trust me. Now Go. Eat. Have a shower. And tomorrow bright and early we will grab a few brave Gladers and Minho and I will help dissect it. Good that?"

"But" Thomas started.

"THOMAS." Alex yelled at him. "I am now your second in command, and I will throw your bloody arse in the Slammer right now so you have to rest for the day and night!"

She was shorter than him, but he shrunk a little when she yelled his name.

"Everyone go have a nap, after supper Minho will show you the map room and then you go to the Slammer for the night. Tomorrow we will come get you for our adventure. Good that."

She left no room for arguments. Minho stood there with his arms folded with a grim look on his face, nodding, looking very much like her bodyguard. Thomas deflated.

"Tommy,'' Alex softened, "It's a good idea! It's a great idea! You two just need rest. Okay? You can't save everyone if you are too exhausted to save yourselves. Good that?"

Thomas just nodded and walked away.

"I need to find Chuck '' she muttered to herself and went off in search of the kid. "Are you going to put me to bed?" Minho asked as he threw an arm around her shoulders. "I gotta find Chuck first, see if he will keep an eye on Tommy for me. Then yes. I'll tuck you into bed!"

They found Chuck helping Fry with the dishes. Or more like gossiping about the new couple of the Glade.

"SPEAKING OF THEM!" Boomed Fry, holding his soapy hands out wide when Minho and Alex walked up to the counter.

"We were just talking about you..." Fry laughed.

"All good things...all good things' ' Chuck added with a wide grin. Fry's big happy personality was contagious, and Alex couldn't help but smile wide too.

"Better be good things, cuz what are the bad? None. There are no bad things" Minho puffed his chest out.

"Well, right about now your hair would be bad.. " Chuck laughed and pointed. Minho gasped.

"How dare you! This, my young fellow, is how you wear your hair when you have a girlfriend and you-" he was cut off by Alex yelling and running over to hold Chuck's ears

"THAT'S ENOUGH MINHO! There are children's young and innocent ears present!" Alex could feel her face heating up. Frypan just laughed even louder, from deep in his gut. Minho put his hands on his hips and had one cocky smile on his face.

"Chuck," Alex said, removing her hands, staring daggers at Minho, "I need you to keep an eye on Tommy. He's exhausted, but is insisting he go back into the maze. I said no. And I need you to come get me if he tries to sneak out by himself."

Chuck nodded "on it boss!" And he saluted her and ran off.

"And where should he look if he needs to find you?" Fry asked, wiggling his eyebrows. "The showers and then my bed." And she marched away, grabbing Minho by the arm as she passed, who just fist pumped the air and hollered over his shoulder, "See ya Fry! She is very bossy! Talk to you later!" Fry laughed again and went back to his dishes.

"Min, you need a shower and a nap." Alex said opening her bedroom door. She knelt down to scratch Bark's belly. "I'll meet you back here? I gotta check on the girl and get this rewrapped after I shower" she said, holding her hand up. Minho took her hand in his, gently pulling her up and slowly rubbed his thumb over her bruised knuckles. "Newt said you punch the wall?"

Alex sighed "ya, not my smartest move. Jeff said nothing is broken, just...incredibly swollen and bruised. And sore." He brought her knuckles to his lips, and brushed them over her bruises.

"But how is that possible? He said you left a dent and not even a broken knuckle? That's impossible!" He asked.

Alex shrugged, "I have no idea, how can I talk to my sister in my head, how come I can remember when others can't..."

"I'll come with you." was all he answered.

She couldn't change his mind. So with him and Bark back outside her shower door - she tried to argue that everyone knew they were now a thing, no one was dumb enough to try anything...also with her being 2nd in command and she knew how to take them all out, but he still insisted on standing outside her shower door. When she was done, and her dirty tangled hair was fresh and combed, she stepped out and felt so much better.

"Do you want me to wait? Or should I go see Jeff and we can be done at the same time?"

"You're just going to the Med Hut?" He asked, his voice laced with distress.

"Yes love. Are you being Mr Protective?" She asked with a small sly smile, Minho folded his arms, and looked at her and she could see the amusement fade from his eyes.

"Yes. Because I almost lost you too many times since you got here."

"I'm just going to the Med Room, Love, hurry up and you can meet me. Also, I have my trusted steed by my side." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and left. Bark right behind her.

The Med Room was quiet except for the random screaming from Alby. He didn't sound as bad as Ben though.

Maybe that means the serum was working.

The girl was still asleep, she hadn't moved. Jeff was trying to spoon feed her some soup. "How's it going Jeff?" Alex asked as she sat at the end of the Girls bed. He shrugged.

"Same as always. Nothing new, we got supplies when she came up...and I think that's all we're going to get...so we need to ration things, we're okay for now...but I'm worried, Alex. The supplies only sent up 2 grief serum syringes. And they were a different colour than normal.. and we had to use one on Alby already. So we only have one more syringe!"