It was almost time. Newt had come with a change of shirt and fresh bandages, for Alex's side. She changed her shirt, much to the pleasure of Minho.

Eye roll.

"Get over yourself Shuck face. Tes, can you help me re wrap this quickly?"

"Come on Sunshine!" He pouted.

"Slim it."

Minho just smirked at her and winked. Alex rolled her eyes, Teresa just giggled awkwardly while she helped Alex wrap her side.

"Well, Tommy, I guess it's about bloody time, so pretend you're still passed out." She instructed, she turned thoughtfully to Minho, "Will they try and banish you Min? They didn't let you out..but I guess you volunteered to be here, so I guess you drew your line in the sand.." Alex said.

Thomas lay down, just in time, Gally's goons showed up. They seemed a little hesitant. Alex narrowed her eyes at them, and folded her arms across her chest. "I knew builders weren't that bright..but I thought you guys would be smarter than this. But get on with it. We don't have all bloody day..Don't back out now, cowards."

They unlocked the doors, "Minho, Gally is giving you one last chance..."

Minho raised an eyebrow, "Really? Now why would his eyebrowed majesty do such a generous thing?" He sassed.

The boys shrugged. Alex turned to Minho, her back to the door and she breathed only for him and Teresa to hear, "Do it. Makes it easier. Get a weapon."

Minho's face dropped to stone, his eyes hardened. He stepped up to her and kissed her quickly. "Love you. But I'm sorry."

He walked past her and climbed out, without a backwards glance. The builders looked back at the girls and Thomas who still lay facing the wall, pretending to be passed out. They grabbed Teresa and pulled her out, wrapping a rope around her wrists. They tried to grab Alex, but she smacked their hands.

"Touch me and I will break your fingers." She growled. They backed off, knowing she was serious. "I'll follow, but don't even think about touching me with your treacherous hands." They just backed up, and 2 other boys jumped into the slammer and grabbed Thomas.

Henry led them towards the West door, where Gally was waiting with the rest of the remaining Gladers. She saw 3 poles staked into the ground, right in front of the door.

Well, this is a new development..

She could see Newt, who nodded at her. She saw Frypan, who she could see he had just about every kitchen knife stuffed into his belt. She made eye contact with Minho, who let a cocky smirk grace his face for a second. She winked back.

Man that sexy smirk of his.

She saw Chuck creeping along the deadhead trees, carrying all the weapons, Bark at his heels.

"This is such a waste." Gally frowned with his arms crossed, glaring at the girls.

"I know right?" Alex mouthed off, raising an eyebrow at him, as the guys dropped Thomas onto the ground. The guy holding Teresa's rope tied her rope to the pole, above her head.

"Why isn't she tied up?" Gally demanded.

"Oh they tried. But unlike you, my threats are actually threatening." There were a few chuckles from the Gladers. Alex smirked at him.

"Gally... It doesn't feel right, man." Frypan called from the crowd.

"Yeah, what if Thomas and Alex are right? Maybe they can lead us home." Winston said, skeptically.

Gally rounded on him, anger flashing over his face. "We are home. Okay? I don't have to cross any more off that wall!" Spit was flying from his mouth.

"You think banishing us is solving anything?" Teresa asked.

"No." He simply said, turning back to the girls. He continued in a calmer voice, "But this isn't a banishing. It's an offering."

"What? Wait!" Theresa panicked, her eyes darted to Alex.

"Gally, what are you doing?" Someone from the crowd called.

Gally rounded on the crowd of Gladers again, anger twisting his face. "You think Imma' let Thomas and Alex back into the maze after what they've done? Look! Look at our Glade! This is the only way. And when they get what they came here for... everything goes back to the way it was."

Alex scoffed, rolling her eyes "Are you listening to this? He has said the same things over and over. How will things go back to the way they used to be? You want to live behind giant stone prison walls and be hunted by monsters the rest of your sorry shank lives? We all know there is a way home. The doors won't close, the Grievers will come get the three us, sure... but they will come back for you too. Gally, this isn't our home, you shuck face. It never was and never will be."

"Why are you all just standing there? He's crazy!" Teresa yelled at the crowd.

"You shut up. Gally pointed at her.

"Oh please." She rolled her eyes again.

Gally was nothing but a big bully who was scared of change, and her showing up was all the change he could handle. She ignored him and looked at the boys watching, making eye contact with them.

"If you stay here, they are going to come back. They'll come back, and they'll keep coming back... until we're all dead!" She said evenly. It was a fact, she knew the creators were going to eventually kill them all.

"Shut up! Tie them up!" Gally screamed, turning to his goons, gesturing to Alex and Thomas. They hesitated when Alex raised her eyebrow at them, "I dare you." she hissed. She would make good on her threat.

"Did you hear me? I said tie them up!" Gally screamed again. Two guys went to grab Alex and another 2 went to grab Thomas off the ground. Alex saw Thomas jump up and elbow one guy, in the face. Mike's hands flew to his face letting go of the spear he was holding, Thomas grabbed it and hit the other guy, in the stomach with the end of it. He turned so his back was facing the entrance, holding the point of the spear towards Gally. At the same time Alex grabbed one of the arms reaching for her, she spun on her heel so her back was facing his stomach. She flipped him over her shoulder. She had to duck to avoid the fist flying at her, but she spun around and kicked the guy in the back of the knee, sending him flat on his stomach on the ground.

Frypan had rushed forward and cut the rope holding Teresa. He handed her an extra long kitchen knife. Chuck had sprinted from the cover of the trees, along with a limping Bark. He tossed Alex her bow and a quiver of arrows. Chuck moved into the small pack of Gladers in front of the maze door. In a swift movement she swung it onto her shoulder. She had to duck again, avoiding another fist, she spun on her knee at the same time nocking an arrow, raising the readied bow, pointing it at Gally and his goons. Newt had knocked out another one of Gally's guys and made his way over to the small group of escapees. Minho had taken his machete from his pack and holding it at the back of Gally's neck. Gally froze. Minho slowly circled around him, keeping the point touching his neck, until they were face to face. He cocked an eyebrow then he slowly backed up into the group, beside Alex. Keeping the blade ready.

"Slick moves Babe. It was pretty hot." He smirked, not taking his eyes off Gally.

"What can I say? I'm a total badass." She smirked right back not taking her eyes of the group in front of her.

"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" sneered Gally.

"You don't have to come with us, but we are leaving. Anyone else who wants to come, now is your last chance." Thomas called.

"Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you-" Gally tried to calm the crowd of Gladers.

Alex cut him off, "No! We're not TRYING to scare you. You're already scared. I'm scared. Tommy is scared! But I'd rather risk my life out there than live the rest of it in here!"

Thomas nodded and continued, "We don't belong here. This isn't our home. We were put here. We were sent here. At least, out there we have a choice. We can make it out of here. I know that. Alex knows that! Newt and Minho know that"

Winston hesitated and walked forward, and then Jeff and Clint came to their side, along with Matt who was supporting Pedro. In the end, about 35 Gladers joined their group, only leaving Gally, and his builders.

"I'm sorry, Gally, it's over." Alex looked at Gally, she saw the fear behind his stone exterior. She wasn't sure if it was the possibility of him being controlled again, like before, or if his fear was from his memories...or he was just a coward, but she tried one more time, she didn't want anyone left behind here. "Gally...Just come with us."

"Good luck against the Grievers." he sneered at them and turned away.

The crowd of Gladers waited by the door for a second, organising weapons. "Someone should give a pep talk." Minho suggested.

"Well, go ahead." Newt encouraged. Minho frowned for a second, thinking. He straightened up , put his hands on hips, looked at the guys "Be careful." he said as dryly as possible, "don't die."

Alex actually face palmed with a snort of laughter.

Such a Minho thing to say.

Newt rolled his eyes. "Great, we're all bloody inspired!"

Minho looked at him, crossed his arms. "You wanna do better? Floors yours" and he stepped back beside Alex.

"I was inspired babe" Alex whispered, leaning in.

"Thanx. I thought it summed everything up nicely." He shrugged, with a small smirk. Newt banged the butt of his spear on the ground. All eyes turned to Newt.

"After more than 2 years of being treated like mice, tonight we're making a stand! Tonight we are taking the fight back to the creators, no matter what we have to go through to get there! Tonight they better be scared!" Alex let out a loud battle cry, which was followed by the others cheering, and yelling, pumping each other up. They grew so loud it sounded like a whole army, ready to fight to the death.

While Alex lifted her bow into the air yelling, Minho took a moment to look at her, she turned her head meeting his eyes. The world around them faded, it was just the 2 of them. Nothing else mattered. Alex turned to face him. He mirrored her actions. His eyes taking in everything about her. Alex's eyes flicked over his face, too. Memorizing every scrap, every curve of his face, every detail. It hit her, this could be the last time she could see him. She choked back a cry that rose up. She flung her arms around him, pushing down the rising anxiety and fear of possibly losing him.

"Minho. I love you!" He wrapped his strong arms around her waist lifting her toes off the ground.

"I love you too Sunshine." He gave her a squeeze, then whispered "Please be careful. Don't act the hero." He whispered into her ear. He moved his head to placed his forehead on hers, "Please Alex. I know how much you want to get everyone out safe, but..." he sighed sadly, "Just use your shuck brain..and...and come back to me." He said softly. Alex looked into his warm brown coffee coloured eyes.

"Cross my heart," she murmured. He cupped her face and kissed her, possibly for the last time. It was a quick kiss, but it was full of passion and feeling. All their concern, worry, love, care and anxiety crammed into one kiss. They pulled away as the cheering died down.

"INTO THE MAZE! WE RUN!" Thomas cried from the front.

"After you babe" Minho bowed. She grabbed his hand and they ran into the maze together. Alex whistled for Bark, and the three ran into the maze helping lead the rest of the Gladers to freedom.

They ran for a while. The other Gladers kept pace for a little, but soon the non runners slowed down and the group started to spread out. Newt insisted he was fine, running at the back 'to make sure no one was left behind'. Alex knew his leg was bugging him, but she didn't say anything. Everyone ran in silence, the nerves of what they had to do next were rising. Alex looked around her at the faces of the boys, they were all mixed with determination and fear. Alex glanced behind her, and noticed Chuck was really far behind.

"I'm going to run with Chuck." She said between breaths. Minho nodded. Alex slowed down Bark following her. She kept pace with her little friend.

"Hey chuckles. How are you holding up?" He just shrugged. He was breathing really hard, his chubby face red. She looked back at him, she could see the fear, but he was trying so hard to be brave. He was such a good kid.

"Chuck. I love you." Alex blurted out. Chuck came to an abrupt halt and looked at her confused, then a big smirk appeared on his face.

"Are you gonna kiss me like you kiss Minho? I've heard from some of the guys..." He winked at her. "You might want to break up with your other Boyfriend first!"

Alex laughed so loud that from the front Thomas and Minho turned to see what was up. "Ha! Chuckles! You're HILARIOUS!" She said dryly. "I MEANT, like a little brother! I love you like my little brother. Seriously! When we get out, I'll help you find your parents."

She promised. Chuck hugged her around the waist, and buried his face into her shoulder. Alex wrapped him up in a hug. "Thank you Alex! Thank you for being my friend. If I ever had a sister, I hope she would be like you." He smiled up at her.

"Any time Chuckles. Now let's go kick some Griever butt!" They ran to catch up with the group.

The group finally made it to the blades. The non runners were turning in circles, mouths open.

"Come on! Move! We're almost there!" Minho yelled from the front.

They took the last corner and slowed to a stop. All the Gladers were breathing hard. Alex, with Bark beside her, made her way to the front, where Thomas, Minho, Newt and Teresa were gathered. Thomas peeked around the corner and pulled his head back fast. The blood drained from his face.

Not a good sign!

"Is there a Griever?" Chuck piped up from the back.

"Yeah." Thomas breathed.

"Well we knew we were going to have to fight. Bloody creators weren't going to let us waltz out of here!" Newt remarked.

"Wow, way to state the obvious" Alex deadpanned.

"Truth" Minho nodded, pointing at Alex, he was trying hard to hide his smirk.

"Alex, that sass is not helping!" Newt rolled his eyes.

"I think it is.." She shrugged. Newt rounded on Minho, pointing an accusatory finger at him "This is your bloody fault!"

"How is that my fault?" Minho questioned.

"Because she wasn't this bad until she hung out with you!" he hissed.

Alex smacked Newt on the back of the head, "Newt. focus." she scolded. Newt gasped and glared at her. Minho snorted with laughter. "You're right. She learned from the master"

Thomas stepped in between them and raised his voice. "Okay, there is a Griever. Pretty sure it's the one you fought the other night, Alex! It looks like a pincushion, and the claw on its tail is all bent weird."

Minho, Teresa, and Newt all peeked around the corner. All three came back with shocked faces. "How the shuck did you manage to mangle the metal like that?" Minho asked, mouth open in surprise.

Alex shrugged her shoulders. "Same way I shot an arrow across the Glade, punched a wall without breaking anything, could arm wrestle Alby being controlled by creator." she said thoughtfully, "I'm just that shucken awesome."

The group all groaned and rolled their eyes. Everyone was quiet for a moment. Alex pulled out the cylinder metal key from her thigh bag, it was quietly beeping and flashing a number 7.

"CHUCK" She called. He came pushing his way through the group of guys. "You take this, Chuck. Stay behind us." Alex ordered him, handing her little friend the key. She wanted him away from the thick of fighting.

"It's okay. Stay with me." Teresa said as she tied her hair into a pony. "I'm not a very good fighter, so you and I will operate the door. Deal?" Chuck nodded.

"Once we're through, it will activate and the door will open." Thomas instructed the two.

Minho turned to Alex, his face serious, he grabbed her shoulders, "I want you to stay with them!"

Alex's eyes widened, "I think the bloody shuck not!" She scoffed. "I'm the best fighter you have! No shuckin way I'm staying out of this fight!" She insisted.

He deflated. "Well it was worth a try." He muttered.

"We do this together, MinMin. Lets kick some Griever butt!" Everyone in the front group nodded.

Thomas turned to the rest of the Gladers, he thumped his spear on the ground "We stay close, we stay together...we got this. We get out now... or we die trying. Ready?"

The Gladers all thumped their spears on the stone.

"All right. Let's go!" Alex yelled.

They all ran around the corner and came face to face with not just one Griever,.

But four.

Everyone skidded to a halt. "Huh this just dandy, '' Alex muttered.

"That mouth is gonna get you in trouble one day" Minho muttered back.

"You like this mouth! And like I said before it's this mouth or I break down and cry. So suck it up, Buttercup."

He just rolled his eyes with a small smirk, "I do like to kiss that mouth."

"Tommy, I thought you said there was only one!" Alex asked, annoyed.

"There was! I don't know where those others came from!" He panicked.

The Gladers packed in tightly. Newt, Thomas and Minho turned to try and figure out the best plan to get past. Alex on the other hand stepped forward, patted her leg, Bark followed without hesitation. She nocked an arrow. She took another few steps without anyone noticing. She was a few meters away from the group before someone finally noticed she wasn't with the group.

"ALEX WHAT THE SHUCK ARE YOU DOING?" Newt yelled at her.

"Doing something useful!" She yelled back. "You guys keep discussing the plan. It's really working!" She sassed.

"Shuck sakes Alex! Remind me why I love you, you sarcastic stubborn pain in the ass?!" Minho huffed.

"Because you told me you like to live dangerously, and I'm a shucken smoke show, that's why Min," She shouted back as she raised her bow and pulled the string tight.

"She's got ya there Min." Thomas said drily.

"Touche" Minho said.

Alec took a deep breath, aimed for the eye of the center Griever. With a yell of challenge she let it lose. It flew true. And hit the eye. The Griever screamed and reared backwards, stumbling into the one beside it. She nocked another arrow and let it fly. This one hit the eye of the Griever beside it. She missed the third Griever's eye, hitting its forehead. She pulled another arrow from her quiver. She let it fly. A fourth Griever reared back screaming. She was really pissing them off. They were now tangled together. She heard the boys behind her yelling.

"GET TERESA AND TOMMY TO THE DOOR! CHUCK'S GOING WITH THEM!" Newt yelled from behind. Alex just nodded in understanding as she let fly another arrow. A Griever had managed to untangle itself and came charging. Minho came rushing past her, screaming a battle cry, charging the monster. That got the Gladers moving, it was the spark that set the fire. The rest of the Gladers came yelling past her, into battle.

Alex and Bark stood their ground. Her feet planted letting arrow after arrow fly, each one finding a mark. She heard the clash of metal on metal. The screams of human and monster. Thomas, Teresa and Chuck held off for a few seconds, and then in a train of locked hands they sprinted past. Alex had one arrow left. She pulled back and aimed, but at the last second, she heard Chuck call for help. Her target changed and shot at the tail that was coming for him. She let the arrow fly with a yell of her own. The arrow pinned the tail into the stone wall. Thomas used his spear to push the Griever enough so they could make it past, and disappear into the frenzy. She stood dazed for a second.

How the shuck did I do that?

She shook her head, slung her bow over her shoulder and sprinted headlong into the battle, pulling out her knives. Her dog by her side. She ducked under one Griever swinging at its legs. She just made it out from under it as it collapsed, its back legs mangled. Frypan was there by her side with a spear trying to push it over the cliff edge.

"WE GOT IT LIL LADY!" Frypan yelled at her. A few more boys came to help push it.

Alex slashed while the boys pushed. They managed to roll it off with a yell. Alex turned and tried to find Newt or Minho, and to make sure Tommy, Tess and Chuck were okay. She saw Minho and Jeff slashing and hacking another Griever.

Okay for now. Where's Newt?

She saw Newt, Matt and Thomas trying to push another Griever over the edge.

Tommy? The shuck, he's supposed to be with Tes and Chuck.

She raced over, knocking something sharp out of her way, and kept going. She made it beside Newt and Matt.

"THE SHUCK TOMMY! GO HELP TES AND CHUCK. I GOT THIS!' She yelled over the noise of battle.

Thomas nodded and ducked under a leg. Newt had to duck too, avoiding decapitation. Matt had disappeared. The Griever screamed at them. Alex crossed her knives over her head, blocking a Griever tail swung from behind it, over its head. As she pushed it away with one she used the other one to stab the Griever. It screamed and backed away. Together Newt and Alex jumped forward to take it down once and for all. Together yelling defiantly, slashing and stabbing. As the Griever was flailing, it managed to slice her forehead. But they took it down.

Matching scare to the shuck box scar. Just call me scarface.

Newt pulled her away "you okay?" He painted.

"Ya, it's just a little blood."

He looked at her skeptically, "Alex, your head is bleeding!"

"REALLY? I HADN'T NOTICED THE BLOOD RUNNING DOWN MY FACE!" She yelled back as she used the back of her hand to wipe it out of her eye. Newt rolled his eyes.

"Together? Siblings for the win?!" Alex asked, nodding at the fight.

"Together." Newt nodded. They ran back into the fight.

The Gladers managed to push a few of the Grievers over the edge of the stone cliff bridge. More kept climbing up the sides, like the disgusting spiders they are. For every Griever they pushed over the edge or killed, two more took its place.

"WHY ISN'T THAT SHUCKIN DOOR OPEN YET?!' Minho screamed over the racket of metal and human screams. He had shown up beside Alex, at one point, pushing, slashing stabbing, hacking and ducking.

"I SAW CHUCK ALMOST FALL OVER THE EDGE, THEY SHOULD ALMOST BE THERE. LET'S GO!" Newt shouted back. Minho nodded and took off, followed by Newt. Alex went to follow. A metal leg slammed into her back, sending her flying forwards. She hit the ground hard.

She lay there stunned, gasping, trying to breathe. Someone dropped beside her, he leaned over rolling her over.

"ALEX! ALEX? Are you alright?" It was Matt.

He had a big slash on his face, but seemed unharmed otherwise. Alex just gasped, her lungs weren't working properly. Matt tried to help sit her up. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a claw coming. She still couldn't breathe. She tried to push him out of the way. She wasn't fast enough. The claw grabbed Matt around the waist and tossed him away. All she could do was watch as his body hit the concrete wall. Blood splattering the wall where his head slammed it and then his limp body fell into the abyss of the black Griever cliff. Her gasping for air stopped. She couldn't breathe anymore anyways. The noise around her stopped, all she saw was blood and dying friends.

"NOOOOO!" She screamed.

Griever slim and motor oil fluid mixed with sticky hot red blood of her family. She saw carnage everywhere. She felt a hand pulling her arm, she couldn't take her eyes off the place Matt had hit the wall. The person was trying to talk to her. Trying to tell her something. Her hearing wasn't working. The person stopped pulling and crouched in front of her. Blocking her view of Matt's blood splatter.

"COME ON ALEX. THEY GOT THE DOOR OPEN. LET'S GO!"

Minho. Minho was in front of her. Her wild eyes tried to focus on his face. Her hearing came back. Her head was nodding "okay...okay." She gasped.

Minho pulled her up and ran down the corridor pulling her with him, yelling at the other Gladers who were still standing to back up, pack together. As they ran they had to jump over bodies. She slipped in a pool of blood, she landed on her hands and knees, covering herself in someone's blood. She didn't know who's. She turned her head to see, but wished she hadn't opened her eyes. She meet the cold lifeless eyes of Pedro. He was laying on his side, blood was still oozing out of his wide open stomach. She gagged, tears blurring her eyes, blurring her sight. The metallic smell of blood mixed with motor oil from the Grievers turned her stomach. She could taste the blood in the air. Minho pulled her back to her feet, and practically dragged her the rest of the way. He pushed her through the opening towards the back of the group. He turned around to help the rest of the guys keep the Grievers at bay.

Alex tried to wipe her bloody hands on her pants. It wasn't working! Her breathing was coming in short gasps.

Chuck rushed up to her, grabbing her. "There is some kind of code!" He yelled urgently.

"EIGHT NUMBERS! ALEX, ANY IDEA?" Teresa yelled from a computer that was built into the side of the stone wall.

8 numbers ...8...numbers...8 sections of the maze...the rotation...! SHUCK! What was the sequence? I can't remember! Minho made me memories it! SHUCK SHUCK SHUCK!

"MINHO!" She screamed. "THE SECTIONS OF THE MAZE! WHATS THE SEQUENCE?" Alex pushed through the guys.

"WHAT?" he screamed back, he was at the front of the group, with Newt and Clint and Frypan. They were pushing a Griever with their spears.

"The sections of the maze, what's the sequence?" She yelled.

He glanced back at her yelling in-between grunts and breathing "Seven! One! Five! Two! Six! Four!" She turned and yelled the numbers to Teresa who punched them in as fast as she could.

"HEADS UP!" Newt yelled. A Griever came crashing down from above. It landed on top of Minho.

"MIIIIIINNNHOOOOO!"

The scream ripped from her throat, she tried pushing her way to the front. He was laying on his back, holding his spear sideways, the only thing holding the Grievers mouth from ripping his face off. Minho was yelling and using every bit of strength to hold it back.

"MINHO!" Alex shrieked again. She pushed A.J. out of the way. Her heart stopped beating. Her world froze. All feeling left her body. The Griever screamed in Minho's face.

"GET. OFF. OF. ME!" Minho grunted through a clenched jaw.

She was NOT going to watch Minho have his face eaten. Newt had grabbed her, holding her back. She screamed again, her heart breaking. She felt this rush of something hot flooding through her blood system. A surge of power, with ease she pushed Newt off, making him fall. She launched forward and pulled back her fist and swung it forward into the Griever's face with a scream. The mechanical face crumpled into itself. It drew its head back enough for Minho to scramble back a little. Alex reached and grabbing onto his runners vest, yanking him up and back. He was on his feet. She turned and shoved him backwards to safety.

A leg from the crumpled Griever lashed out. She felt the cold steel tip rip her back open. Her blood splattered into the floor. She arched her back as she fell forward with a scream of pain.

"Jeff! JEFF! NOOOOO! JEFF!" She heard someone yell. Alex felt pain searing cross her back. She heard a Griever scream and a sick wet ripping sound. She felt something warm splatter her from behind. She withered in pain. She felt hands grab her and pull.

"What's the sequence?" She heard Teresa yell from far away.

"Come on!" Someone else yelled.

"NOOO!"

From right beside her she heard Minho yelled frantically, "Six! Four! Eight! Three! You got it?"

"Keep holding! Almost there, come on!" Newt screamed from the other side. All she could feel was the sharp stinging pain, and hot sticky blood. The big heavy stone door slammed shut. What was left of the Gladers backed up, Minho dragging Alex with him. The second stone door slammed shut, squishing a Griever in the process. There was only one more door and one more Griever. They had to hold it back. It screamed, as it raced at them. Thomas was fumbling with his broken spear. Before he could get a proper hold on it, small black fuzzy thing jumped over Alex and into the face of the Griever with a loud snarl of defense and challenge. The Griever shrieked and stumbled back, just enough for the door to slam shut.

"BARK! NO NO NO NO!" Alex wailed.

With what remaining strength she had, she ripped herself from Minho's arms and threw herself at the closed stone door. She banged her fists on the door. She let out a heart wrenching sob, and pounded on the stone. Causing the walls around them to shake.

"No no no no!" She sobbed.

Alex doubled over and slid down the wall, sobing. Not only for her beloved dog. But for Matt. And Jeff. And Alby. And Pedro. And Zart, and the countless others. Everything was black. Maybe her eyes weren't working. Maybe she was in hell. It sure felt like it.

How is this freedom when you feel this broken? How is this freedom when it costs so much?

She felt a gentle hand on her head, it slid down to her face. And a strong arm pulled her close to their chest. She sobbed onto their chest. Her body was so tired. And so sore. The strong arms slowly unwrapped and she looked up to see Newt's sad brown eyes, also filled with tears.

"I'm sorry Alex."

She wiped her eyes with a shaky hand.

"Ya well." She shoved her emotions back down with a shaky breathe. "We knew we would have to fight, the creators weren't going to let us waltz out out of here...and we knew we all weren't going to make it. Let's go." She pulled away and tried to stand. But stumbled and had to hold onto the wall.

"Stop! You're hurt!" Minho's voice said beside her.

"Ya. And so are the rest of us!" She hissed, her back stinging. He wrapped an arm around her carefully. Together the three walked to the front to where Thomas and Teresa were standing. As she passed by, what remained of the Gladers whispered "did you see she totally destroyed that Griever?"

"She was literally shaking the walls!"

"She left fist prints in the shuckin wall!"

Newt, Alex and Minho came to a stop beside Thomas and Teresa.

"The door opened down there!" Teresa nodded down the hall, where a sliver of bright yellow light was coming from.