Newt agreed to take Teresa back to the Homestead, or whatever was left of the Homestead, to see Thomas. Theo and Minho were organizing the stack of Maps, the remnants of it.

The stack was so small Minho was able to hold it all with one fist, the margins crumbling like sand. "Is this really it?" he asked with a scoff, only to drop the papers back on the dirt. "Nearly three years of hard work, all shuckin' down the drain."

"It's better than nothing." Theo replied, although she could understand his disappointment, all of his hard work to be fruitless. She picked up the darkest map, the one she had written all over, and held it out to Minho. "It was hard, but I tried tracing over maps one through eight. And even if it is just a coincidence, it's something."

Minho snorted, but evaluated the paper anyway. It was the entire Maze of day one, sections one through eight messily copied, overlapping each other like a multi-leveled labyrinth. Shaded in the middle, was a giant 'F.'

"Well then," he stared at the rest of the maps, which were hidden under his boot. "While we were busy defending ourselves from shuck Grievers, you two go out and play connect-the-dots." but he was smiling, something so strange but so uplifting becauses smiles were rare at this time. "It's something, alright."

"We didn't look at all the maps," and she kicked Minho's shoe away, bending to grab the papers. "but we can try working from what we have, at least for now. But we need filter paper, or parchment paper."

"... what?"

"Are boys not educated in the types of papers?" she shook her head, "You know, baking paper. Wax?"

A small 'o' formed on Minho's lips. "Oh, I guess. Frypan will get mad though."

"Are baking cookies that more important than solving the Maze?" she tapped her foot impatiently.

He rolled his eyes, trying to play off the fact that a girl was seriously trying to make him an idiot, and complied. "Fine, but we're going to Alby first. And we're running over there, get used to it." that same power resonated from Minho, and a part of him missed his morning and evening runs with her.

Alby had cooped himself up in his bedroom, which had somehow remained intact for the most part. The windows were shelled open and pointed outward with splinters. Minho didn't bother knocking (there was no door) and walked in, Theo trailing behind him like an extremely petite shadow. Peeking from his shoulder, she was shocked to find that Alby's head was wrapped with gauze as well.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." it was as if he were collecting himself all this time, trying to remain as resolute as possible. He barely glanced at the two before grabbing a crowbar from under the bed, and didn't hesitate to wedge it between the floorboards with a firm swipe. The wood broke open, half the 2x4 carelessly brought to the side.

Minho's eyes flickered at what was inside, "Whoa, are those."

"The maps?" It didn't quite sound like a question from Alby, "Yeah, I copied them just in case something like this happened." he easily lifted up the heap to the floor, kicking it to Minho, who didn't seem so enthusiastic that their leader seemed so conveniently prepared. "Get out of here, go find Newt and Thomas. Do what you want." Alby said, waving him off as if he didn't care. His gaze concentrated on Theo, however. "I need to talk to you for a bit, though. Hold up for a bit."

Minho's eyes searched for hers, who looked just as confused. The girl shrugged, and without realizing it, she was rubbing her arms for comfort, as if her body were shrinking into thin air. Hesitant, Minho lifted the box of maps in his sturdy arms, and walked out the room.

"What is it?" she asked, her eyes boring into his.

He looked terrible, even worse than some of the other Gladers that have been stung in the past. His mind was spent, and his sanity running thinner than a wet noodle.

"You and Newt, I don't like it." And for some reason, Theo wasn't surprised. It didn't bother her particularly, she didn't need his opinion to mediate what she wanted, however she had a feeling Newt would think differently. "He needs to be a leader, I don't need you shuckin' anything up for us."

"That's something you can't blame me for." she replied tersely, "I think Newt is just passionate, but he isn't incapable of leadership."

"You sure have some nerve talking about him like that." Alby closed his eyes, as if he were reliving old memories. "I saw Thomas, during the Changing. On the other side," a shiver crawled up his spine, and he exhaled, "and if he somehow is connected to you, who knows what you were capable of in the past? What if you were one of those monsters that put us here?"

"Does it matter?" Theo whispered solemnly.

"No, it doesn't." the young man replied gruffly. "I'm not going to stop you from whatever you and Newt are doing. He's my best man, and I ain't stopping that shank for doing what makes him happy. He's done too much for me." he cut his sentiments short, and kicked away the crowbar by his feet. "If you really want to help, go work with the Med-jacks. They need you."

She nodded stiffly. "Thanks, Alby." she said, although she was half-certain she had done nothing remotely respectable to Alby, she still felt a lot of respect to their fallen leader. "For everything."

Nearly a quarter of the Glade's population were missing. In a matter of days, people she knew and walked passed every day, the charming smiles and even demonizing sneers were erased from the Glade, never to be found. The distinct smell of blood and antiseptic filled the air, along with burnt flesh and mangled remains. Baggers would walk in and out asking for disinfectant and masks, unable to take care of the massive amounts of remains all at once.

To the people who weren't injured, they simply carried on with their jobs. It was the only thing they could do, save for the Runners, who blended in with other tasks.

"We thought we lost ya out there." Jeff said between rounds, one boy leaving and another taking his place. "Glad to have ya, though."

The female Med-jack did not reply, but for a second stopped her meticulous work to flash the Keeper a smile, but he was already off bandaging another boy. She wiped the sweat off her brow with her arm, her hair carefully tied away in a tight chignon. The needle was slow, but mobile enough to not have the boy suffering in pain. Willing her hands to stop shaking, she tied the knot.

"I've never done stitches before," and she bit her lip as she pressed a light cloth to his forehead, "so I hope I did a good job."

"A nasty scar ain't nothing, better than when my head was gushin' out blood." her patient still managed to grin, and quickly grabbed his stuff to escape the stuffy room.

"Next!" she called like a conveyor belt, waiting for another Glader.

"Thomas is upstairs," Clint said, running a few sharp instruments under the sink. "You can check on him."

"Thomas is awake?"

"Been awake. Fastest recovery of the Changing I've seen." Clint stated, awed by the fact. "That dumb shank's up and about, been tellin' stories to the leaders."

Jeff scoffed, "He probably didn't go crazy because he already is."

Rolling her eyes, Theo pulled away from the ground, dusting off her knees. She gave them a quick wave before jogging up the stairs, hopefully with some answers. Without knocking, she opened the first bedroom where Teresa last resided, and the four of them were sprawled over the maps, with Minho cutting up strips of wax paper and Newt, Teresa and Thomas tracing.

Teresa's eyes were secretly gleaming towards Thomas with sheer admiration, probably the most profound emotion she had shown since last night. He made brief eye contact with her, before looking appreciatively at Theo. "You were always good at puzzles, just as I thought."

What was that supposed to mean? Thomas must know something from the Changing, and as she looked around she realized none of the people in the room seemed fazed by Thomas' comment. It was weird how everyone was still hunched over, tracing and retracing. It was almost childish, like a preschool project. But this was something way bigger.

"You're brilliant," Minho cut in, concentrating on getting one piece of wax paper in a perfect rectangle. "I could kiss you for this."

"Don't you bloody do it." Newt snapped, his face practically pressed to the paper as he traced a large 'A.'

"Do you guys need any help?" Theo asked, feeling like she walked too suddenly.

"We're almost done," Newt said, handing Teresa his completed map. "Can't have any more buggin' Grievers come any longer."

"Done? But it's only been—"

Minho checked his watch. "Three hours." he handed her a piece of lined paper, which held a series of words, the code to the Maze. She couldn't believe it, she was right about the pattern. It was an interesting set of words, but nonetheless the key to their future. She was both awed at herself and pressured by the fact that she did something no one else has done in over two years.

"Proud of ya, darlin'." Newt grinned, tugging his hand to hers.

Minho made a blatant gagging sound before the two shot him a deathly glare. Unfazed, he continued, "We leave tonight."

Theo paled, she knew leaving had always the goal, but that soon? The second-in-command didn't seem to notice her wavering, and nodded to his friend. "Yes. You and me will round up all the Gladers, as much as we can. I want a Gathering of all the Keepers within the next hour, to organize ourselves. Grab all the weapons we can hold. We'll convince them that it's better off having a chance in the Maze than no chance at all here." he squeezed the girl's hand one more time before forcing himself to let go. "We'll be back to get the last word out, ya here? By the time we get back be ready to bloody run, got that?"

"Right behind ya, bro." Minho pulled the two away, he knew any longer and they'd be stuck like glue, and pulled Newt out of the room, ready to spread the word. "Thomas, meet us later for the Gathering."

Theo gingerly sat down in between the two, like the point of a triangle. They were probably talking to each other, she mused, watching them pretend they didn't notice each other, but the way Teresa tried to keep her facade clear and Thomas' face a faint pink, it was pretty obvious.

"Thomas," finally breaking into her conversation, and feeling a complete third wheel she asked, "what do you remember during the Changing?"

"Well, essentially everything." as if he couldn't believe it either, that he was still up and about, nonconvulsive, and able to solve puzzles like it was normal. "We did this." he said, and looked to Teresa as if she could hold him together, but she looked away, ashamed. "And I, I brought you here."

"Maybe it was for the better." she said, hoping Thomas wasn't blaming himself. "Otherwise, these shanks wouldn't be getting out of here at all."

"Don't flatter yourself." he replied to her joke with a chuckle.

Teresa looked about done, and re-checked her work. She held up a paper, and in big bold letters, it read Push. "Theo," it was the first time Teresa said her name, so casually and almost as if they were meeting old friends, "I want you to stay with me when we go into the Maze. We'll solve the code while the boys fend the Grievers off."

It was nothing derogatory, and they all knew it. She couldn't fight a Griever, much less run into the Maze with Runner speed. She was better off doing technical stuff. "Count on it." she said determinedly, the anticipation crawling into her skin like an incessant bug. "When do we go?"

"Eager, aren't we?" Thomas said.

"Eager to get the hell out of here, yeah."

It was nearly sundown when most of the Gladers were crowded against the West wall, both determined and terrified. Thankfully, most of the Gladers were all for going out with a bang, save for a couple of stray guys. Alby was to the far right, his back to the Maze, looking forlornly to the Glade. It was desolate, like an abandoned farm. The sky was a sickly grey and the air was so stagnant and thick you could cut through the humidity with a quick swipe. The days of constantly trying to live ignorantly, taking each day with a grain of salt and hoping the next day would just be peaceful, was melting like butter through every person's fingertips.

They weren't leaving until it got dark, because then the Griever hole would be clear with the lot of them running around. Frypan had prepared a last meal before they set off, and they all ate with vigor. They didn't know the last time they'd enjoy a solid meal.

A certain pair cooped themselves up in one of the bedrooms, huddled under the blankets.

"We'll be okay?"

"Yeah." a pause. "We will be."

"We will be okay." The blond said again, his hand whitening against his spear, as if he needed to double-check that this was really happening, "It'll be okay." he had to convince himself, to say it over and over until he believed it. Disgusted, he threw the offending weapon to the side, the wood responding with a dull clang.

He shook the girl next to him, placing a gentle arm around her frail shoulders. "Thea," he said, almost desperately. "Say something."

She was unusually quiet, and almost tranced into a state of numbness. Every now and then she would shift and nod in acknowledgement, when Newt would repeat the code over and over so it'd commit to memory or just talk about the plan of action. At the very least she continued to hold his hand, which was beautifully warm and full of affection.

"Newt." she finally said, "I'm scared."

"It's normal," he chuckled, although there wasn't much humor in it. "We're only human."

"I'm terrified." she sniffled, and sharply let go of her hand to rub her eyes. "I'm going to die."

Frustration whipped through Newt's eyes for allowing her to think that way, and even more so his stomach churned uncomfortably at the mere thought, anyone could die. "Who said anything about dying?" he replied listlessly, trying to hold her hand again.

She didn't squeeze back. "It's comes with the mission. This is practically suicide, but it's the only way."

Newt flinched at her reply, trying to suppress bad memories, and held her hand even tighter. "We all have to die sometime." he said bitterly, "trust me though, it won't be today."

"I'm not giving up," she insisted, more to herself than Newt. "But I'm not as fast as Minho, or smart as Thomas, or as mentally strong as Teresa."

"Honestly, Thea. I'm pretty fed up with your buggin' Teresa-complex." Newt admitted, pressing his nose into her hair. "I don't know if you've noticed, but Minho bloody hates her." he could laugh at the thought of Minho the hothead, trying to refrain from being too much of a jerk all at once. "I kinda like the girl, she isn't bad at all. And her and Tommy boy look pretty shuckin' cute together. But I don't want her or anyone else to be the reason you don't feel capable. You're just as strong as any other Glader."

She frowned, feeling his hot breath tickle her neck. "I hope you don't feel the need to protect me."

"I wish." and he relented her, falling back onto his bed in an exhausted heap. He folded his hands under his head, his maroon eyes fixated on the ceiling. "You won't need it."

"Good. You're our leader, no matter what anyone else thinks." and she meant it, for all the times that he's acted like a coward, losing hope as quickly as a fallen soldier, he's grown a lot in a matter of days. "People look up to your kindness and amiability, not many people look up to leaders for that." he was no muscular Minho, Alby who demanded for authority, or Thomas, reasonable and calculating. "You have something that holds everyone together, which is powerful enough."

He sure hoped so. Carefully placing a hand over Theo's stomach, he pushed her into a lying position, so both their heads were cradled under the same pillow. He wrapped his own arm around her, the bed was a tight fit, but it gave them all the more excuse to be near each other. "When we get out of here, what do you want to do?"

"We?" she liked the idea of 'we.' "Hm, well I want to study."

Rolling his eyes, he pinched her cheek. "I had a feeling you'd say something lame like that."

"Learning isn't lame." she retorted, smacking his hand away. "What do you want to do?"

"Go on a date." he replied easily, and tilted his head to get a better view of the ceiling, as if he were watching their life story unfold. "A real one. With chocolate cake and flowers, not those damned weeds we always have to pull. And you'd wear one of those long things," he held his hands in the air, drawing a picture with curves and pointed ends.

"A dress?" Theo replied, unsure.

"Yes, a dress. I bet you'd look beautiful in one of those."

She scrunched her nose at how unbelievably cliché he was sounding. However, he was absolutely enthralled by the idea, as if it were a fairy tale come true. He's innocent, like her, a young child who wants to live, really live. "Then, I guess we gotta survive." she said, a smile finally cracking.

"That's always been the plan, love." Newt shifted on his side so that their legs were tangled in the sheets, and kissed her.

There was something sweet and overly buoyant about kissing each other. When their feelings were raw and open like this, it was a feeling so shy yet so addictive that they willed to keep moving. As if he were a magnet, Theo pressed more of herself onto him, gathering solace in all their warmth. They were inexperienced, and sometimes hesitant since the last time, but nevertheless always full of passion and vigor.

Left red and hopelessly drowsy, the girl pressed her ear to his chest, feeling the soft lub-dub of his heartbeat lulling her away. "Go find Alby. He probably needs you more now than I do." although the way she clutched his shirt told otherwise, she knew that the former leader needed something of substance to keep him motivated, and Newt had that.

"Bugger, Thea." he rested his chin on her head. "Why can't you be selfish for once?"

"I will be, when we don't have to worry about this buggin' Maze." she teased lightly, running a finger down the cottony fabric. "You should go, though. You have enough time, if you don't do it now you'll regret it."

"You know me too well." Newt reluctantly got out of bed, but not before pressing his lips firmly against hers for a final time. "Probably even more than I know myself." and before he had any second thoughts he bounded through the doorway, and gazed at Theo, who was still watching, curled up in his sheets. He looked around the room, absorbing it one last time. "In a way, I'm going to miss this."

"Glad you guys are here." Theo said, one hand on her hip. "I don't know what I'd do without you two."

Clint and Jeff exchanged knowing smiles. "Med-jacks stick together."

Theo held up the long, sharp blade which rested cooly against her palm, the reflection shining and diffracting. It looked awkward and misplaced on her person, as if her body were never designed to fight. Chuck as well, who was by her side, sucking his cheeks in anticipation.

"Guys," It was Alby, who for those few moments pulled himself together. "Move out!"

It was simple, brief, and like a shotgun pulling racers to the track. They ran.

(a/n) And I hate to say, that this is the ending of (part one.) Thank you guys so much for the wonderful response! I know I never really alluded that this fic will be ending, and it's kind of a mind dump and a really quick ending, but I never do well with sticking to the plot because I feel like it's redundant to requote and redo. I may or may not leave this story complete/incomplete, depending on when I feel like uploading the next chapter, or if I feel like leaving the ending like such. I do have the first chapter in draft mode, however the plot itself for the next chapters on are virtually nonexistent. I don't know if I will be continuing this fic, but I love this fic dearly. Thank you for this wonderful journey!