Chapter 17:
Avery got up the next morning feeling a little bit strange. Her head really hurt. She had noticed Minho was still sleeping. So she got up headed outside. Newt and most of the other Gladers were already up and doing their chores. Avery knew that there was going to be a gathering today. She was allowed to go because they always need a girl to shine light on some subjects. Sometimes if the gathering's were too serious she wasn't allowed in.
"Avery, the gathering will be in one hour. Make sure to be there." Newt said walking past her.
"I'll be there." Avery said and went to get breakfast. This morning Frypan had porriage. It wasn't Avery's favorite so Frypan always had appels sliced up in it.
After breakfast Avery helped around. She helped Chuck pick up some garbage that was laying around the Glade. She helped the gardeners in the gardens, picking some fruits and vegetables. When an hour was up she made her way to the gathering room, which was a room just outside the Homestead. She entered and noticed that most of the Keepers were already there. She took her seat next to Minho's and waited for it to start. Once all of the Keepers where there and they were all settled in, Newt started.
"Alright shuck faces, Thomas here has broken our number one rule, never go in the maze, but he did survive a night out there and helped save Minho and Alby. Now one by one each and everyone of you will share your ideas of punishment, I will right them down. Then after everyone has gone, I will have thr final say. Frypan your first." Newt said. Avery saw Frypan shift in his chair.
"Well I think that Thomas here shouldn't be punished, because he did save two lives and yes I know that he broke the number one rule, but still." Frypan finished. Newt nodded and wrote something down. Winston went next, and Avery could care less about what he had to say, Winston was a shucking slinthead anyway. She listened thought when Gally had to talk. She knew he would be up for punishing Thomas, Gally didn't really like him.
"I think the bloody Shank should be punished. He broke rule number one of the Glade. I don't give two shucks about who he saved. He needs to be punished." Gally said. "I say a whole week in the slammer, no food or water." Gally was angry. Newt nodded and scribbled something down. Avery then again zoned out.
About ten minutes later it was her turn to speak. She wasn't last which was kind of a relief. She didn't really know what to say. Thomas looked at her, hope filling his eyes. He knew she would have some effect on the other Keepers, seeing as she was the only girl here.
"Well, yes Thomas here did break our first rule." She started. Some of the Keepers who voted against punishment sniggered, "But," she continued. "He did save Minho and Alby. Plus he risked his life. Which he didn't have to do, by the way. " Avery said. "I think that Thomas should have a small punishment but not a big one. One night in the slammer. No food and no water." Avery said sitting back down. Thomas nodded at her in thanks, which she returned. Newt yet again wrote something down.
"Alright Minho, your turn." Avery saw Minho take a deep breathe before speaking.
"Well, I was out in that shuckin' maze with Thomas. But you know what I did? I got scared and ran off, while Thomas stayed behind and tied Alby to the wall to get him out of sight of the Grievers. I ran, then after a while I decided to turn back. When I finally found Thomas, I saw him in the midst of four Grievers. He did this cool trick, which saved both of us in the end." Minho said out of breathe. "I personally think he shouldn't get punished, but something else."
"Well what then? You want him to become a runner?" Newt asked Minho while looking at Thomas. There was a few minuted of silence before Minho responded.
"No, I want him to replace me, as Keeper of the runners." Minho stated. The room went balistic. Newt however wrote it down non the less. Once writing it down though, it took him a nice while to calm everyone down.
"Everyone Shuckin' listen. Minho he isn't replacing you. Your the best, and it will stay that way. I do, however like the idea of Thomas becoming a runner. So Thomas you get one night in the Slammer then the next day you will be a runner. Now it won't be tonight, because tomorrow you will get some training with Minho, then tomorrow night you will be in the slammer, no food or water. Dismissed." Newt yelled. Avery jumped a little. She looked over at Thomas, who was no getting up out of his seat after everyone cleared the room. The only people left there was Avery, Thomas, Minho and Newt.
"Congrats Thomas. Can't wait to have you as a fellow runner." Avery said shaking his hand. Thomas shook her hand.
" Thanks Avery." Avery left. Leaving the boy to work on the rest of the plans for Thomas. She was just happy, totally forgetting about her headache until a loud noise came from inside her head. She dropped to the ground, clutching her head. The fell completely forward. No one had noticed her. Well not yet. But when they did, she was out cold.