Her hearing was the first thing that came back. She could hear shuffling, a voice. A deep voice. She recognized that voice. And then a fuzzy female voice, like someone yelling from far away,
"Alex...?"
She recognized it...her head was buzzing but this time it sent pain everywhere through her body, like hot wires sparking. She let out a whimper of pain. She sensed movement beside her, it seemed frantic.
A...le..x..?
The female voice sounded like it was screaming under water. Another spark of intense pain, like fire in her brain. And lava spreading through her veins. She let out a sharp cry. This time she felt a hand on her forehead and one holding her hand. The hand on her forehead disappeared followed by something cool. That soothed the fire in her head. Her mind was still buzzing.
"..A...l..e..."
This was the worst explosion of pain. Every nerve in her mind felt like it was on fire, being ripped apart. She screamed. She could feel her back arching from the excruciating pain. The voices beside her were frantic now and she could make out a few words.
"Was she stung?"
The buzzing in her head slowly faded, and as it did the white hot pain faded. Like the aftermath of a fire, her mind still felt like it had hot embers floating around and full of smoke.
What happened? Why am I here? Where is here?
She forced her body to relax, her eyes weren't working, but if she forced her ears to work, maybe she could figure out what was going on around her. There was definitely more than one person. The cool sensation was back on her forehead. She sighed in relief, feeling her muscles unclench.
"Well this seems to help!"
"Okay...but was she stung?"
"As far as I can see no. I don't know what's going on!"
She struggled to open her eyes. They were so heavy. She tried again. Still couldn't open them. The third time she used everything in her to just open her eyes. She was hit by blinding light. Alex shut them again quickly. She opened them a second time. And then a third. By the fifth she groaned, it was so bright it hurt.
"SHE'S AWAKE!" a voice boomed right beside her.
"Shhhh! Quiet shuck face. Everything hurts!" She moaned. She heard a relieved chuckle
"She nearly dies, and then has some weird mind glitch and still manages to sweet talk me!" She peeked an eye open, sitting on her bed, right beside her was Minho. He looked tired, and a little pale, his hair wasn't as spiky as it usually is.
"You look like klunk." Alex groaned. This time he threw his head back and laughed loudly.
"You should see yourself!"
"Well that was rude. Lets see how you look after fighting 2 grievers!" Alex huffed quietly. Minho leaned over her, all the playfulness gone, his face was serious, scared almost.
"You scared me so shuckin bad!" He whispered, "I thought I lost you!" He was getting louder, anger evident in his face, "Thomas, Fry and Jeff had to hold me back. I had to watch you take on 2 shuckin Grievers alone! Don't ever do that again! Alex! Please, don't ever, EVER, do that to me again!"
Alex scrunched her forehead. She was confused.
"What happened? The last thing I remembered was being grabbed and then falling..."
She looked up into Minho's eyes. They softened, "Ya, you threw the knife, the other claw grabbed you and flung you around like a shuckin rag doll, but then it looked like you pulled the claws apart...like somehow you had, like, superhuman Viking warrior strength and pulled it apart, you dropped and they...just left..."
He sat back, his eyes wouldn't meet hers now. She turned her head to look at him better.
"What aren't you telling me Minho?" She asked quietly. He didn't say anything.
"They were a bloody distraction" said a British voice from the door. He limped into the room and sat down on the empty chair. He had a white bloody bandage around his head. Alex was even more confused.
"What the shuck happened to you?" She tried to sit up but hissed at the sharp pain in her side. Her hand flew to her side. She pulled the blanket back and her ripped blood soaked shirt up, wrapped around her waist was a white bandage with a big blood soaked section.
"Great another bloody shucking scare." She muttered. Minho leaned over her, and gently kissed her, "you mean Valkyrie battle scars. Also, they are hot." She blushed a little as he winked at her.
"Guys? Still here!" Newt whined. Minho laughed at his awkwardness. "How unfortunate. You should leave then, Shank."
Alex and Newt rolled their eyes, She slowly rose to her elbows, and the boys helped her sit up. "Okay. From the beginning. Explain."
Newt gave a heavy sad sigh, he leaned his elbows on his knees, "It wasn't until after Minho got to you, did we realize those 2 shucking things were just a distraction!" Alex was silent, waiting for more.
"While you took on two by yourself... and like the whole homestead watching what a badass you are, another one snuck in from a different door and took someone. When it had the kid, all 3 of them took off, that was the same time it dropped you, they took off." Minho added.
"It was like they KNEW you would fight. Like it was planned."
Alex's heart sunk into her stomach. Everything she did wasn't enough. She failed. She felt her eyes prickle with tears.
Minho grabbed her hand, "Hey, it's not your fault Alex!"
"But ...I failed. I was supposed to keep everyone safe!" She looked away, blinking rapidly. She had balled the blanket in her fists.
"That's a big commitment to place solely on your own shoulders Alex. It's not only YOUR job. We are a family, a team, we keep each other safe" Newt said softly, but firmly. His eyes were kind, but his face was stern. Minho nodded.
"You gave us a fighting chance. You also gave..no GIVE everyone courage." Minho said with all sincerity, "Even me." His eyes never left hers. She swallowed hard. She still felt like it was her fault, she failed.
"Who?" She asked quietly, "who did it take?"
Newt looked at the floor, "Adam."
A pang of guilt stabbed her heart. She knew the name and his face, but that was about it. She hardly knew some of these boys. Alex took a shaky breath, trying to keep her tears in check. Alex's eyes flicked to Newt. "What happened?"
There was a knock at the door. The three looked to see Jeff, Clint, Teresa, Frypan, Chuck and Thomas in the doorway.
"Everyone wanted to come see our hero." Jeff said as he waved a hand. Alex smiled sadly at them. Everyone pushed in. Teresa came to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"How are you?" She asked, her eyes taking in every detail. Alex shrugged. "As good as taking on two biomechanical monsters could feel." Teresa eyed her up, but cracked a small half smile.
Jeff folded his arms, and nodded at Teresa, "She's a good MedJack. She helped patch you up."
Alex beamed at her "That's awesome Tes!"
"She also patched your brother." Alex turned back to Newt.
"Okay, you were about to tell me what happened." Gesturing to his head.
Newt cleared his throat, "Gally is what happened. He was jacked, came running into the room a few minutes after you left, yelling about Grievers coming once a night until we're all dead, how it's all 'Alex, Thomas and the new girls fault'. He tried to rip the boards off the window, the ones he nailed up! Slint head. He tried to swing one at Teresa. Hit me instead. Tommy and Minho managed to subdue him, he was jacked! I was out."
Minho picked up the story, "Newt's on the ground, Teresa jumps over to try stop the bleeding, that's when I see out the window arrows flying at shuckin Grievers! I can hear screaming and a dog barkin'. I run down the stairs, but was stopped and held back by.." he gave some very angry glares at a few people., "When you dropped and those things were leaving, we saw a third one and a boy screaming. I ran to you, I thought you were dead! Brought you to Jeff."
When Minho finished, Chuck said quietly from the back of the room. "We didn't even hear the other one!"
"Chuck, Bud, come here." Alex said, waving him over. She patted the other side of her bed, he came and plunked down, making Alex wince a little. "Okay, Bud, tell me." She took his chubby little hand in both of hers.
"I was in the back room, and I guess while the other 2 were fighting with you, another one crept up, and smashed the window and grabbed Adam and dragged him off." Chuck sniffed, he was trying very hard not to cry. "We tried to get him back.."
Alex let tears slide down her face. When Chuck saw her tears his wall broke and he let out a sob. She pulled him gently into her chest and hugged him tight, letting him cry.
He's just a child! A shucking CHILD! He shouldn't be seeing klunk like this! This isn't right! This is sick and needs to end.
She looked up at the other boys, wiped her tears. "How did Gally know about Grievers coming and taking a kid every night?" she asked, thinking out loud, but no answers came. The boys all shrugged, lost for answers too. She looked back up to the people around her, determination on her face and fire in her eyes.
"This needs to end." She whispered. They all nodded in agreement.
At that moment there was another knock on the door, everyone turned to look, there standing in the door was Winston. And he had his arms full with something black and fuzzy.
"Bark!" Alex whimpered. Winston came over to the bed, with some difficulty, the room was very full. He laid the dog at the end of the bed. Alex looked up at Winston, tears still in her eyes
"She's not..?" She couldn't even say the word.
Winston shook his head, "But I don't know what else to do. She took a pretty hard hit." He replied, looking at the floor. Alex put a hand to her mouth trying and failing to hold back a sob.
Minho said as he scooted closer to her, trying to hold her while she still held Chuck.
"I can't loose her! I had her as a puppy from before!" Her voice was weak and shaking.
"You did? How do you know?" Minho asked quietly, stroking her hair.
"I had a memory dream of finding her in some dessert place...but I had her from before! She was my buddy, my partner...They took her from me!" Tears poured down her face.
"Would explain the connection you two have right from the start...hey, hey Sunshine, she's a fighter just like you. She'll pull through!"
I can't loose you! Please Bark! We have been through so much!
She heard a soft whimper. She pulled away, Bark was stirring, she lifted her head.
"BARK!" she squealed. Bark gave a very soft woof. She reached out an arm to pet her beloved dog. Bark gave her hand a little lick and Alex's stomach settled, and relief washed over her. The fire back in her, she sat up straight.
No more time for boo hooing, we gotta get out of her, we need a plan!
She closed her eyes for a moment, counted 4 deep breaths, when she was done it was time to stop crying and do something. She opened her eyes, and looked around at everyone, meeting everyone's eyes. She packed her emotions away. For now.
"All right. We need to get out of this room and get to work. Minho, you and Tommy still good to go back to the door? I guess I won't be able to come with you today, but I can help Newt and Tes with those maps." Thomas looked at Minho who nodded.
"Ya we got it, we'll suit up right away, and then Tommy Boy, we run." Tes was nodding as well.
"Good that. Jeff, Clint? I guess you can restock the first aid bags, make sure we take inventory of what we have left." Both boys nodded.
"Fry...we need to start rationing what we have left, Winston...same with the animals." Both boys looked nervous, but nodded in agreement. They got up and went to find help to start rationing what was left of their food supplies.
Alex continued, taking control of the current situation from her sick bed, "Good that. Zart needs to harvest everything we can, and that's the last of our supplies. Now, what was done with Gally? And has anyone seen Alby?"
Newt rubbed his bottom lip, thinking. "No, I actually haven't seen Alby since he left with you. I'm such a bloody idiot, I should go check on him!"
Minho stood up, and placed a hand on Newt's shoulder, "Thomas and I have to go there anyways. I'll check."
Before Minho left he leaned over and as his lips made contact with Alex's lips, his eyes snapped to Newt, just to mess with him. Newt huffed and rolled his eyes. Alex giggled quietly, against Minho's warm lips. Her brother's constant frustration with their PDA was very amusing and so easy to teas him with. She reached a hand up to the back of Minho's neck and pulled him closer and kissed him again, harder this time. Minho's eyes lowered to Alex and then closed.
"We get it ya shanks!" Newt whined as he pulled Minho away and shoved him towards the door.
"Bye babe, see ya soon. Come on there Tommy Boy!" And they left. Alex sighed, she missed that shuck face already.
"Alright back to business." Alex sighed, "Gally?" she asked.
"Oh ya, right. Thomas and Minho knocked him out, and tied him up, and some baggers took him to the Slammer once we knew the Grievers were gone." Newt answered. Alex nodded.
"Okay, I need to change and we need to get on those maps." She looked down at Chuck who was still snuggled into her. She gently lifted his chin and wiped a tear, "Chuck. I know this is scary. I'm scared too. But right now, we need to be brave. Do you know what that means?" He shook his head, his curls bouncing.
"Being brave means doing the right thing, even when we are scared. So, I'm going to need you to be brave." Chuck nodded, "okay...I think I can do that."
"Good that! Can I ask you a big favor?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Chuck hesitated. "I need someone I trust to watch over my trusted four legged friend here. Think you could do that?" She asked very seriously. Chuck broke into a big smile, nodding making his curls bounce again. Alex smiled too, "Good that!"
She looked at Teresa, "Can you help me change? This shirt is disgusting." She gingerly slid to the edge of the bed, "Hey Jeff, can you toss me the bottle of pain reliever?" He grabbed it off the shelf and tossed it over. Newt held out a hand and Alex accepted gratefully. The girls made their way to their room to change.
Teresa helped take the shirt off and helped her get into a clean one. Once she was cleaned and Teresa rebraided her hair, the girls went downstairs. As they made it through the front door they heard yelling. Alex turned to the noise, and nudged her friend.
"Look. Smoke! Come on!" The girls headed towards the commotion. The pain meds kicked in, making moving around much easier. They were half way across the Glade when Alex realized they were heading to the map room!
"Oh SHUCK!" Alex yelp, and speed up. She pushed through the crowd to the front, and saw smoke billowing out of the door, Minho yelling and ragging, Newt was kneeling on the ground beside Alby.
"What the shuck happened?" She asked as she knelt down beside Newt.
"Minho and Tommy saw smoke from the map room, and found Alby on the ground with a bloody head, the maps on fire! They pulled him out! And with some help put the fire out." Alex's stomach dropped. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Teresa had made her way over too, she put her small hand on Alex's shoulder, "You should go to Minho. I'll take over here." Alex looked up to see Minho by the trees, still yelling and throwing things. She nodded and got up and cautiously made her way over to Minho.
"Hey, Min?" Alex asked quietly. She hadn't seen this side of him before, so she was a little cautious. He spun on his heel to look at her. His face twisted with rage.
"GONE! 2 YEARS OF WORKING MY SHUCK ASS OFF AND ALL THE HARD WORK GONE! BURNT TO THE GROUND. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT! EVERY DAY I RISK MY LIFE TO GET THOSE MAPS. AND GONE!" His face fell into despair and with one last throw of a stick, he sunk to the ground, his head in his hands. He let out an angry sob. Alex crouched down in front of him, wrapping her arms around him and pulled him into her chest, squeezing him tight.
"I can't even imagine what you are feeling."
He pulled away, "YA YOUR RIGHT! You have NO IDEA! I've been here for 2 SHUCKING YEARS trying to find a way out! You have been here, what? A few months? YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" He yelled at her.
Alex closed her eyes for a second, when she opened them she looked at the ground, she knew he was hurting and angry, he was right though. She didn't know what being here for 2 years would be like. But his words were still painful. She looked back up to look him in the eyes.
"You're right. I don't know." He glared at her, but he was listening, she continued, "But what I DO know is that we will find a way out, despite this." She gestured towards the smoking room, "We WILL get out of here, Min. We have that key and it led us to a way out! Yes, those maps are gone and that bloody shuckin' sucks! However, I know you. And YOU know that maze like the back of your hand! And that griever key might have been an accident... But ANY way out is still a way out. Right?"
Minho was quiet for a while, snapping twigs, grinding his teeth. He threw the last piece of the snapped twig into the trees, he sighed heavily. He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry Alex." He said to his knees.
"Min, I'm up here." She said gently, and lifted his chin so he was looking at her. He used the back of his hand to wipe the tears. Alex smiled sadly at him, and cupped his cheek.
"I'm sorry. I was...angry...I didn't mean to take it out on you. It wasn't your fault." Alex leaned in and kissed him gently.
"I know Love, it's all right. But you're right, you have been here so long. And to keep going every single day, to find a way out...that takes so much courage and hope. And stubbornness. SO mush stubbornness! " She smiled at him, "You give the rest of the Gladers a reason to keep going. You have done so much for the Glade and the Gladers."
He didn't say anything, just buried his face into her shoulder, Alex wrapped an arm around his shoulders and her other one she placed at the back of his head.
"We will be Okay, as long as you're beside me." Alex said quietly, kissing the top of his head.
Thomas came jogging over, unaware of the situation he just walked in on. "Hey, are we going? We're burning daylight! Come on man! You can snuggle your girlfriend later!"
"Hey Thomas?" Minho asked, without moving his head.
"Ya?" Thomas asked, confused.
"Shut up." Thomas huffed. "Go grab my bag and water. Meet you at the door." Thomas rolled his eyes and left. Minho lifted his head and sat up.
"Go find us a way out, Keeper of the Runners. That key is our way out now." The fire and determination came back into his eyes.
"You're right Sunshine. I gotta stop my whining and do what needs to be done."
"I know I'm right, I'm always right. Did you question my wise words of wisdom?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled quietly.
"You win Babe."
He stood up, and held out a hand and helped her up, and wrapped his arms around her waist, careful not to hurt her stitches. "What would I do without you?" He asked.
"Probably stab everyone on one of your murderous rampages?" She answered with a sly smile and a wink. He just pulled her close and kissed her, when he pulled back "Very true." Alex smiled up at him. "I gotta go meet Thomas, sure you don't want to come with? You're better company than that shank." He leaned in, and whispered into her ear, "and I could think of some things we could do instead of running." He cocked his eyebrow and slipped into that sly sexy smirk.
"Minho!" she gasped and pushed his chest her face grew hot. .
He laughed, his smirk never left. "Fine. Fine. Just me and the shank then." Alex rolled her eyes, her face still burning. "Stitches. Remember? Don't want to rip anything.. yet. Especially if we're going to have company again tonight."
Minho stepped close again, "I know. I'm just teasing. Rest. I'll see you later." She raised up onto her tip toes and kissed him goodbye. She watched him run to the wall and meet Thomas and run into the maze together. A shudder went through her, it was hard seeing him run in there since his night in there.
An arm wrapped around her shoulders. "You have no bloody idea the effect you have on him." Alex looked up to Newt. He looked down at her, "Seriously. I've seen him snap like that twice and both times we had to lock him in the slammer to calm down. I've never seen him slim it that bloody fast before. You both are good for each other." He squeezed her shoulder.
"Honestly I would be so lost without him, Newt... You and him keep me anchored and glued together when I fall apart." She rested her head on his shoulder. Newt scoffed, "Me? Really? Doubt it. When you go into those episodes I just make sure no one around is hurt, Minho is the one who brings you back."
"That may be so, but Newt, you're my brother, my actual blood! You were..no ARE my best friend right from the moment you jumped into that cage. I would do anything for you! I love you Newtie!" And she wrapped her arms around his waist. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
"Well, I guess now that we don't have maps to study...what will we do?" Newt asked.
"Try and scavenge what weapons we can from that cellar, help secure the Homestead.." They were quiet for a little while. "We should probably leave as soon as we can, I don't want to stay here being picked off one by one." Newt nodded in agreement.
She spent the rest of the morning in the MedJack room with Clint, Jeff and Teresa. They organized everything they had into piles and then sorted that into bags for Keepers, and a few other Gladers. When they were done Alex and Teresa handed out the kits. Once that was done, Teresa went to help Frypan. Alex went to the slammer. She had some answers to get. She marched over to the slammer and crouched down in front of the door. Inside on the floor, leaning against the wall with his head in his hands, was Gally. He didn't seem to notice her presence. She sat down and let out a small hiss of pain. Gally finally lifted his head. His eyes widened in surprise, and then narrowed in suspension.
"What do you want?" He spat.
Alex sat there for a minute, a hand on her side, holding her stitches. She looked at him evenly. "I want to know why you hate me so much. Why do you hate Tommy so much."
Gally just scoffed. "Because ever since you came here, everything has been going wrong. I saw you and Thomas in my memories and I have a gut feeling you guys are the reason for all this, you did this."
Alex sighed, "Gally, that's the same klunk you've been spewing for a while. Anything new?"
Gally huffed. "No. I don't trust you. Or him...or the new girl."
Alex nodded. She was thinking, her thumb rubbing her bottom lip.
"Gally?"
"What?" He snapped.
"You know we used to be friends before the maze. You were in MY memories. We were friends." She sighed. He just clenched his jaw. She looked at him, thinking, "Do you remember the gathering?"
He looked at her confused. "What gathering?"
It was Alex's turn to look confused. "The one right after Thomas and Minho got back from the night in the maze. Do you remember what happened after you and I argued?."
He stared at her blankly.
"Gally, do you remember the outcome of that meeting?" She asked hesitantly. He looked down at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't think so... what happened last night?" She questioned him. Gally looked back up at her.
"What...what do you mean?"
"I mean, after Minho, Tommy and I got back, we got ready for Grievers. What happened inside the homestead? I wasn't there."
"Hammered all the windows shut, making sure everyone was inside. I saw you and Alby leave. And..and then..." he trailed off.
"Gal, how did you know the Grievers were only going to take one Glader a night? They only took Adam. They didn't even bother killing me, and I was literally in their clutches. How?"
He just opened and closed his mouth a few times, his eyes wide, but he stammered "What..what are you talking about? Why would grievers only take one?"
"You don't remember anything, do you?"
He shook his head. "I do...but more like a dream."
"Interesting." Alex stood up with some difficulty and started to walk away, when Gally scrambled to his feet
"WAIT!" He called. Alex stopped and turned around. "I don't like you. I don't trust you. But it wasn't me. I swear. It was me...but not me doing it. It was like someone was inside my head. Does that make sense?"
Alex nodded.
It's the same as Alby.
She found Newt sitting at a table, eating an apple. She plunked down beside him, "Gally was being controlled...just like Alby. I knew something was off at the gathering!" Newt looked over.
"Interesting theory."
"Well, he's a slint head, and we never got along here, but his weird behavior makes sense. Did you notice his eyes and body language at the gathering? What about last night?" Newt shook his head, "no I was a bit preoccupied."
Shuck. I'll ask Minho when he gets back.
Alex sighed. "Okay, what's next on the bloody agenda?"
She spent the rest of the afternoon pulling weapons from a still smoking Map Room. By the time everything was pulled up and piled in front of the map room, her lungs were burning from inhaling all the smoke. She dug through the pile and found a few extra full quivers, she flung 2 over her shoulder, restocked her holsters with knives. As she stood up, Newt came over, arms folded with a sour expression.
"We need a gathering."
Alex nodded "Ya, we need a plan for tonight, also we need to hear what Minho and Tommy found...maybe we can leave this shuck hell hole!" Alex stretched her sore muscles, wincing when she pulled the stitches in her side.
"These stitches are annoying. You think Jeff could take them out?" She started walking towards the homestead, Newt hurrying to catch up "I doubt it. Know how much blood you lost yesterday?" Alex sighed, looped her arm through his and they walked towards The Homestead.
10 minutes later everyone- but Thomas and Minho- were cramped into the council room. They had let Gally out for the meeting.
"All right settle down ya Shanks!" Newt yelled. He turned to Alby who was still sitting with the Keepers even though he insisted he wasn't the leader anymore.
"Do you want to say anything?" Alby looked up at Newt and then at Alex. He stood up staring at the floor.
"Ya..I officially resign as leader. That changing...it messed with my head...Newt is now Leader and Alex is 2nd." There was some murmuring, the gladers already knew Alex had stepped into that role, but to hear it officially was different.
Things are definitely changing, their fearless leader was stepping down...this can't be encouraging.
Alby was quiet for a moment, still talking to his shoes, "It was me." Alex looked at him, he had tears sliding down his checks, the hopelessness in them was hard not to see.
"What was you, Alby?" She asked standing up.
"It was me. I burnt the maps..IT WAS ME!" he screamed the last part. "They wont let us leave..." There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room, everyone was shocked and it was silent.
"What the bloody hell?" Newt asked.
Alex's anger crashed over her like a wave, she stormed over and shoved him in the chest.
"The shuck is your problem? Huh? Minho risks his life for 2 years and this is how you repay him? Burning all the hard work? What about the rest of the runners? Huh?" She shoved him again, right in his face, "What a shucking wonderful leader you are! You selfish slint head, burning the only hope we had! YOUR SHUCKING LUCKY THOMMY, MINHO AND I FOUND ANOTHER SHUCKING WAY OUT OF THIS PLACE OR ELSE YOU LITERALLY KILLED EVERYONE HERE!"
Newt and Frypan had to pull her away.
"IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED? YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE SO YOU SENTENCE EVERYONE TO A BLOOD GORY DEATH?!" She screamed at him, while Newt and Frypan held her back.
"Slim it!" Newt hissed at her. Alex ripped her arm from his grip, still breathing heavily, glaring at Alby.
How can someone be so shuckin' selfish? He had no right!
"A leader does what's right for the whole of the community, not what he wants to do. Everyone here wants to leave this shuck hole- with the exception of Gally- You had no right!" She hissed at him. "LOOK AT ME!"
He finally lifted his face, and it showed how broken and lost he was, maybe some guilt mixed in but Alex was still angry at him. There was silence in the room. Alex took a deep breath. And turned to look at the Gladers.
"We need a plan for tonight. We wait for Minho and Tommy to report what they found. We need to be ready for whatever comes. Gally so wonderfully informed us that we will have Grievers visit every night, and pick us off until were all dead." She told the Gladers with authority. She rolled her eyes, having a hard time controlling her temper
"And he shuckin wants to stay here." she muttered as the Gladers got loud. This was news to them, about the grievers.
"Way to break it gently to them" Newt whispered. Alex shrugged, she was done with gently.
"SLIM IT!" She yelled over the noise. When order was restored she continued, "Ya, that's some news to take in. However, we have weapons...We can distribute them out and we will fight. Those shuck Creators won't take us down that easily! WE FIGHT! After more than 2 years of being treated like mice, tonight we're making a stand. Tonight we're taking the fight to them. Tonight the Grievers better be scared."
Soon shouts and battle calls broke out, rising in volume, filling the air like thunder. They all left the hall to go get battle ready.
Minho and Tommy should be back by now... where the shuck are they?
Alex's anxiety started to creep up.