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'The Griever Hole', Thomas had called it.

Where the Grievers live? I think to myself, this can only lead to more trouble.

Newt shakes his head, "Gotta bloody see that for myself. Hard to believe."

I couldn't agree more.

"So, this whole shuck place is fallin' to pieces" Alby pointedly looks as Thomas, "And all we know is where the damn Grievers live?"

"What do you mean? What else happened?" Minho creases his eyebrows, his posture shifting to a slant.

Newt answered for him, whilst pointing to the Box, "Bloody supplies didn't come today. Come every week for two years, same time, same day. But not today."

I never really noticed, because I haven't been here as long as he has, but he's right. Things are definitely changing.

"No sun for the plants," Newt continues, "No supplies from the bloody Box-I'd say we're shucked alright."

We all stay quiet, no one sure of what to say.

This situation just seems to be getting worse and worse. What are we going to do now?

Finally, I decide to break this damn silence.

"So, are you sure about this being where the Grievers live?" I ask, a slight quiver shaking my voice. Both Minho and Thomas nod, not even a smile breaking through on their passive faces.

"What are we going to do?"

Everyone looks at anyone else in the room, expecting somebody to come up with a solution.

"Well, since we know how they get into the Maze now, maybe we should stop them from getting in. Build a wall or something to block off that corridor" Minho suggests, Being the first to speak.

I have to admit, the boy's idea does have merit.

Newt frowns and shakes his head, "No way. Shuck things can climb the bloody walls, remember? Nothing we could build would keep them out."

But then there's that.

We are thrown into silence once more, the quiet isolating me in the cold chill of the room.

I study the faces of the Gladers in the room with me. All are concentrating, thinking of was they could help, but none are willing to voice their opinions.

The silence is shattered by people talking loudly and excitedly. The noise is coming from outside. From the other Gladers.

We all glance over to see them talking in groups. I spot Chuck, a wide smile blooming across his face. He sees us all, and quickly runs over, his smile only growing.

Newt steps forward and says what we are all, no doubt, thinking. "What's going on?"his tone going from slightly calm and rational, to serious leader guy.

Chuck points outside and yells, "She's awake! The girl's awake!"

Shock blinds my thoughts, a curtain deflecting any ray of understanding

"What?" I whisper under my breath to no one in particular.

"He said, the Greenie's awake slinthead" Minho says sarcastically, clearly knowing I had understood.

I playfully hit him on the arm, and with a small laugh, reply "I know shuckface. I'm just-" What am I? How do I feel about this girl being awake. She says she triggered the ending. How could we possibly trust her?

"-I'm just surprised is all."

I glance across the room, to see Thomas slumped against a wall, more stunned then I am. He also looks to be afraid of something. But what?

Tom ... these people ... all fading ... forgetting everything ... tell you things! ... all fading

What the hell?

I dart my vision back to Thomas. His eyes are wide and his mouth slightly ajar. He's hearing this. I know he is. But why am I?

Come on Lori! Focus, try to hear what they're saying. Thinking. I don't know, just listen!

The Maze ... Tom

Come on Lori! I urge myself to concentrate, convincing myself that sometimes it is alright to eavesdrop on one of your friend's conversations.

The Maze is a code.

What? The Maze? The Maze is a code?

Holy shit.

////////////

We all just stood still for a while, before Newt and most of the other boys left to go and see the girl. I hung back, hoping to be able to talk privately with Thomas.

He still stands there looking flabbergasted, even though everyone else had already retreated the room.

After another moment of slightly awkward silence, I slowly walk towards him, one small step at a time.

"Thomas?" No reply.

"Thomas, I really need to talk to you. Like, right now."

Thomas shakes his heading, muttering a jumbled string of words beneath his breath, before walking out of the room.

"Thomas!" I shout. "Wait a second!"

I walk out after him, to see him begin to walk around the outskirts of the Glade. Eventually, the worried boy breaks into a sprint, heading for what seems to be a popular destination lately.

The woods behind the Deadheads.

I run after him, keeping a safe enough pace so that I can see him still, but he doesn't see me and freak out.

The Deadheads is quiet and dark, like the colours have been drained. I begin to lose sight of Thomas within the bundles and cluster of leaves, trees and bushes.

I spot him, huddled up in the corner, surrounded by soft, winding ivy.

For some strange reason, he picks up a blanket and drags it over himself, covering his body from head to toe. He looks like a small child trying to hide away from the world.

I step slowly, so I don't startle him, and begin to decrease the space between us. But before I am even close to reaching him, something stops me abruptly in my tracks.

A person.

"Forgetting about you was the worst part" a kind, sweet voice informing, speaking from almost beside Thomas.

How did I not spot her before?

I quickly step behind a tree, obscuring myself from the lines of vision hopefully.

Teresa took a step forward and lent against the stone wall to Thomas' right. She is wearing a long-sleeves white shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes. I already knew she had black hair, but now I can see that she had frozen blue eyes - deep like the ocean.

She looks so different standing with her eyes open. She looks aware. She looks like she knows more than what she's letting on.

"Tom, do you really not remember me?" The girl, Teresa, begins.

They conversed about their memories, and whether or they remembered their pasts.

They also spoke of the Maze.

I'm about to walk away, when Thomas says something which catches my interest.

"How ... did you talk to me inside my mind?"

They just stand there for a moment, and I realize they must be taking telepathically.

I remember at that moment, that I can hear them if I just concentrate.

I try, but I'm too late. They've stopped talking.

"It's like if you tried to ride a bicycle here - if they had one. I bet you could do it without thinking. But do you remember learning to ride one?" Teresa says out loud.

Maybe I can't talk, maybe I can just listen, I think to myself.

As they continue to talk, I walk away quietly, hoping to talk to someone about this.

But who can I trust? Newt? Minho?

On my way out of the Deadheads forest, I bump into the boys who were in the room before.

"What's going on?" I ask carefully.

"The girl's missing" Alby spits out, his voice lined with annoyance.

They don't look like they're going to have a friendly conversation when they find her with Thomas.

"Have you seen her anywhere, Lori?" Minho asks, a straight line pulled tight across his face.

"I- I" My voice stumbles, tripping over itself. Should I turn her over to them, or give her and Thomas a little longer to talk.

"Please, Lori, all we want to do is talk to her. Find out what the bloody hell is going on right now" Newt gives me a small, loyal smile.

He thinks he can win me over just by smiling at me?

He's could, but that's not the point of the argument.

"Do you promise?" I whisper to him.

"I promise, Lori. We wont hurt her."

Alby steps forward, "Lori, show us where the girl is. Right now."

I nod, before turning and walking back the way I came. Back where Thomas and Teresa sit talking.

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