Chapter Ten

I looked at the blood seeping through the wrap over the cut on his arm.

"I'm sorry," I gulped. "For everything."

He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Nobody is perfect."

Shivers ran down my spine and my body heated up. I wanted him closer.

Stop Joan. Stop thinking about Gally like that.

Thomas eyed us before turning and jogging out of the shack.

I looked at Gally then took after him. Gally wasn't far behind.

Once we saw saw the large concrete door still open, we froze.

"It is happening," Gally mumbled.

"What?"

"The end," he looked at me. He was scared.

He seemed to be frozen, so I grabbed his hand and pulled him after the crowd that was gathering at the door.

"You let her out?" Asked Fry as we joined them.

I noticed he had a black eye and a swollen lip.

"I'm sorry Fry," I softly touched his arm. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I'm here to help now."

"Well we are gonna need all the help we can get," he scoffed.

Then a loud clank made us all jump. The walls behind us began opening. The same noise came from our left then the other side.

All the doors were open.

All the boys were panicking.

"Chuck, go to the Council Hall and start barricading the doors. Winston, you go with him. Get the others. Tell them to go to the forest. Go hide, now! Minho, I want you to grab every weapon you can find. I'll meet you at Council Hall. Let's go. Teresa, you and I are gonnago get Alby, all right? Come on," Thomas yelled orders.

A shrill screech came from the maze just as grievers ran around the corner and towards us.

"Run!" I yelled and took off towards the council hall.

Gally grabbed my hand and yanked me through the corn field. Boys screams came from every direction.

"The box," Gally yelled to us.

Once he opened the doors he pushed me in and helped others down before jumping in.

My heart was racing and I was horrified. This was all happening so fast.

Another boy came to the doors. Gally began to open them, but a griever grabbed him before he even had a chance.

Okay Joan, do something.

I though to the wires running unger my skin. I am one of those monster. No, I am more than them. I can think.

Think of something.

Fire. Fire is their weakness.

I grabbed the doors and pushed them open.

"Where are you going?" Gally grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Hell, most likely," I said and shoved him off.

He looked at me like he was having an internal argument with himself before he put his hands up.

"Boost out," he said.

I quickly put my foot in his hands and jumped out.

He pulled himself out and told the other boys to stay.

I grabbed a torch and ran in the direction that Thomas and Teresa went.

Focusing on my body, I could almost feel the wires moving under my skin. I put all my attention on them. They were part of me. If I can take on five boys when the wires take control, I needed them to work for me now.

Thomas and the others were in a face off with a griever.

I can do this. I am a machine, I told myself, trying to hype up for what I was about to do.

Pushing hard off the ground, I threw myself into the griever. We both stumbled and it fell on its side just long enough for me to stab the torch into its stomach.

The machine oil mixed with its slime started on fire and it let out an unnatural screech.

I looked to Thomas and saw that he was staring with his jaw dropped.

"Lets go!" I snapped.

Well, I am stronger than I thought.

We were running to the Council Hall when another griever came up behind us.

Thomas pulled up his spear and stood off with it.

"Go! I got this," I said.

Thomas looked at me, back at the griever, then took off. The others in tow.

"Joan," Gally said.

Once I looked over to him, he threw me a knife, which I surprisingly caught mid air.

Before it had a chance to charge, I ran forward and slid under it, shoving the blade into its soft stomach.

Its clear like blood spilled onto me and drenched my front.

I rolled out and took off towards the hall.

"Come on," Gally yelled as he held open the door for me.

I ran as fast as I could and dove in. Gally closed and locked the door behind us.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said and let my eyes adjust to the dark room.

The roof creaked as a griever crawled on it.

Everyone was silent.

I snuck through the crowd until I stood next to Chuck. Reaching over and putting my arm around his shoulder, I began to comfort him.

Then a grievers tail claw shot through the wooden roof and pulled a log that was supporting it out, causing the roof to collapse.

We all quickly rushed to the other side.

Griever claws began shooting in and grabbing boys.

I pushed Chuck behind me just in time for a griver tail to shoot in and grab me.

Its tight talons dug into my waist and I yelled out in pain.

"Joan," Thomas yelled and grabbed my arm.

Other boys ran forward and pulled me against the griever.

My body felt as though it was tearing into two and pain coursed through me.

"Don't let go," Gally yelled.

"Wasn't planning on it," I choked out.

Alby cam forward and began beating the tail repeated until it let go and I dropped to the floor.

Gally pulled me up and tucked me under his arm.

"Thank you Alby," I said.

He nodded. Another griever reached in and grabbed him.

Thomas and I raced forward and grabbed his arm.

"Get them out." Alby said looking between us.

Then he was gone, just like that.