|12| Crushed

    We set down Alby after a while of walking to give their arms a break.

    A loud screech echoed on the walls. "This isn't going to work," Minho told them, frightened. "We have to leave him here."

   "Minho." The girl glared at him. "Help us find somewhere to put him. He doesn't deserve this."

    Minho groaned and threw his head back.

   "Where? Andréa!" He threw his arms out. "There's nowhere for him to go!"

   "The ivy?" She asked. "What about the ivy?"

    Thomas walked over to a wall full of it and pulled on it. "These are strong enough we can get him up there."

   "Fine but we have to work fast." Minho relented helping them tie Alby securely before hoisting him up the wall. They got him to a thick layer of ivy and Andréa pulled some vines to cover Alby as much as possible.

    A mechanical sound grew close and Minho freaked out as he saw a griever not too far from them.

   "I'm sorry." Minho apologized before running off.

   "Min-" she stopped herself from yelling his name and helped Thomas.

    The footsteps came closer and they ducked to hide in the ivy. Parts of their body stuck out as it didn't provide enough coverage so all they could do was hold their breath and wait.

    As the mutant passed by it made a clicking mechanical noise accompanied by a low growl. It was haunting and they were both relieved when it turned the corner.

    Andréa pointed out where Thomas could tie the ivy to and he jumped out and made sure it was secure before ducking behind the wall as the griever turned around.

    Andréa held her mouth as she tried not to panic too loudly. A few minutes go by before Thomas whispers her name so she can come out.

    They walked around quietly hoping to find somewhere they could hide. Their plans got dashed when goo fell onto Thomas' shoulder and a griever fell down in chase.

    Andréa let out an involuntary scream before booking it. Thomas followed quickly as they rounded a dark corner before they split up.

    Andréa cursed to herself as she ran in the opposite direction. The thing seemed to only care for Thomas for now and she did not plan on it becoming interested in her.

    She knew unfortunately Thomas would be on his own until he lost that ugly creature from hell. He was fast and savvy so she hoped he'd make it.

    She looked back to make sure she was good before falling and colliding with Minho. She groaned but quickly got up.

   "Dick." She muttered.

   "Andréa thank god." He sighed in relief. "Come on we have to get to the next section." He urged her in a different direction than she was running.

   "Next wh-" before she could speak he yanked her with him.

    They went around a few corners before finding Thomas and no griever.

    She almost smiled if she wasn't still panicking.

   "You are two crazy sons of a bitches. Come on." Minho started running again with the two.

    The griever started chopping at the ivy it was stuck in and the three did not plan on meeting the ugly flea monster again.

    A wall behind them moved and Minho let them know the walls were finally changing.

   "We can lose him down here!" Minho pointed out as the wall in front started moving. Andréa followed him down rolling her ankle over a rock when they stopped. She cursed but tried not to let it affect her.

   "You okay?" Minho asked.

   "Yes." She grunted as they looked at Thomas who was still at the other end.

   "Come on what are you doing get down here!" Andréa yelled at him.

   "Thomas!" Minho yelled at the boy. They watched as the griever ran full speed before Thomas started running to them.

   "Faster!" She yelled.

   "Don't look back!" Minho advised him.

    They continued yelling at him until he was through and by the time he got out the walls had closed on the griever, a nasty green color oozed from the griever as its body was crushed.

   "I think you're the crazy one," Andréa told Thomas. She shook her head.

   "Come on you two. The nights are not over and I'm the only one who knows got to get back to Alby and out the doors.

    Andréa just prayed that was the worst of it as they slowly made their way through the maze.

***

    Chuck stood with Newt at the opening. Neither could accept that the four were gone.

    The boys who had been standing with them were halfway back to walking to their jobs.

   "They're coming. I can feel it." Chuck told Newt.

   "Let's hope." They had stood there since they opened and everyone gave it a few minutes but slowly they decided to walk back.

   "Yes! Look!" Chuck shouted.

    Thomas and Minho were carrying Alby back while Andréa trailed behind with a small limp.

    Newt was glad to see them all coming back but anyone could look at him and see he is not pleased with Andréa or Thomas.

    Chuck kept cheering as the boys rushed back to help with Alby.

    Andréa fell into Newt's arms and he held her tightly. "Thank god you are alright." He kissed her hair and held her tight. "That was stupid Andréa but I'm glad you are okay."

   "What happened out there?"

   "How did you guys make it out?"

   "You saw a griever?" Chuck asked.

   "Yeah," Minho spoke. "He didn't just see it he killed it." He panted.

***

    Gally was the first to speak at the gathering. Andréa and Thomas were essentially on trial and every Keeper stared at them.

   "Things are changing, there is no denying that. First, the girl comes up, then Chris and Fry hear a griever during the day, and now Ben gets stung in daylight and then Alby now our greenies have taken it upon themselves to go into the maze, which is a clear violation of our rules here."

   "Yeah, but they saved Alby's life." Frypan interjected.

   "Did they? For 3 years now we have co-existed with them now you killed one of them. Who knows what that could mean for us?"

    Newt spoke up this time, "What do you suggest we do?"

    Gally looked to everyone. "They have to be punished."

    She looked to Newt immediately. What Gally wanted did not sound good. She felt her stomach turn and she put her hand to her mouth to drop the urge to throw up. The boys including Chuck who was the loudest disagreed.

   "Minho you were there with them what do you think?"

    Minho sighed, looking at the two before speaking. "I think that in all the time we have been here no one has ever killed a griever, when I turned tail and ran these dumb shanks stood behind to help Alby...look I don't know if they are brave or stupid but whatever it is we need more of it I say we make them Runners."

    Andréa was shocked by the answer. She didn't expect Minho to let them know what he did. The idea of being able to help escape however sounded pleasing to her ears. As much as she enjoyed her and Newt's time together she yearned to be let out and let their relationship slow down so they don't feel so forced and awkward.

   "Runners? What??" Frypan was surprised. "Minho let's not jump the gun, here alright?"

    If Newt had anything to say he didn't speak up. Instead, Gally angrily said, "If you want to through them a parade that's fine but if there is one thing I know about the maze it's that you do not-"

   "Enough," Newt spoke. "We will take a break and gather again later to decide. Right now we need to cool off."

    With that Newt briskly walked out leaving a mad Gally behind.

    Andréa shared a look with Thomas before leaving as well.

   "What are you thinking Thomas?" Andréa asked.

   "I'm thinking we have to go back into that maze. If Alby was stung by one maybe they could be the answer."

    "You think Gally will just like you even if you fix their leader?" She asked.

   "No, but it might help the others."

   "Hey wait up." Minho jogged up to them. "Where are you going?"

   "Back into the maze."

   "Do you two have some sort of death pact or something? We just got out now you want to go back in?"

    Thomas explained to him what he just told Andréa and Minho reluctantly agreed to help him.

   "But the Runners quit this morning. After Alby, they're not excited to go back out. Why are you?"

   "Think about it. You have been working to get out right? Well, this could lead us to our escape."

   "Alright well give me half an hour. I'll meet you at the woods."

***

    Andréa stood with Thomas waiting for Minho. It didn't take long for him to show up with Frypan, Winston, and Zart.

   "Is this enough?" Minho asked.

   "Yeah." Thomas nodded. "Let's go."

    The six of them ran off into the maze with Minho leading the way to where they had left the creature. Sure enough, it was smooshed into a different wall with one leg sticking out.

   "That is disgusting," Zart said.

    Andrea stepped a bit closer seeing a red light blinking in the darkness. "There's something in there. Attached to it."

   "What besides a griever pancake?" Frypan asked.

   "It's a light." She pointed to it and Minho walked up to it to get a good look.

   "Woah woah what are you doing?" Zart asked.

    Minho didn't answer just stuck his arm in. The leg retracted and scared Minho causing him to back up.

   "I thought you said it was dead?" Fry asked.

   "Was it a reflex?" Zart suggested.

    Winston replied with, "You hope."

   "Well come on." Andréa gestured to it. "Let's try and pull it out. It might mean something."

    They all grabbed a part of the leg and counted down before pulling with all their might. With a gross wet sound, they pulled it out and fell back with Andréa falling onto Frypan.

   "Thanks for the cushion, Fry." She laughed as she got up and offered him her hand.

    He saluted before saying, "No problem glad to help."

    Minho picked up a piece of the griever that was making a beeping noise and took it out. The metal object was embedded in its gross flesh and Minho pulled it out.

  "What the hell is that?" Thomas asked.

    Minho examined it before seeing WCKD and a digital screen that had the number 7 on it. "Interesting."

   "Whatever it is can we take it back to the glade because I don't want to meet this guy's friends" Frypan asked.

   "He is right it's getting late we should get going." Minho suggested before taking off back to the glade.

    Andréa didn't know what she expected to find but she hoped if the object didn't help Alby that it would at least help them escape.

***

    The group gathered in the room while Minho went to grab Newt and Gally. Meanwhile, Andréa looked at the object. She saw it had a code on it and furrowed her brows.

    Suddenly her vision went blurry and she stumbled grasping onto Thomas before falling over and passing out.

    Thomas caught her before she could hit the ground and he yelled for the boys to get the Medjacks.

   "Andréa? Hey." He called to her but there was no waking her up. "Andréa."