Write, Wrote, Written discussion

Amy :)

This is something I wanted to share here. It's a small fanfic based on the Maze Runner boks, from group B. And I added a lesbian couple. No TMI.

Anna's memory

Prologue
She remembered the journey in the box as if it were yesterday. The rumble of the machinery as it took her up. How slow it went. And the constant hum of the lift and of course also the darkness. She felt well in the dark, she didn't know why, but she felt safe. Even though she did not know where she was, or how she got there, the dark helped her, gave her solace. It always did, then, and after.
After the long climb the box finally stopped, and she waited for whatever might come next. There wasn't anything else she could do she'd been around the box a couple times after she woken up, to see if there was a door, or some switch, just anything. But there wasn't. Only cool metal. And so she sat and waited.
At last the door above her head opened and bright light flooded inside and she had to cover her eyes. Blinded she could hear voices above her. She couldn't really tell how many, but obviously they were discussing her, laughing.
She tried to look but the light hurt her eyes and she had to shield them again. But after a while she tried again, still shielding herself, and saw a little over thirty girls standing around the box, pointing and laughing. She turned around in a circle to take them all in until she felt dizzy and fell back down on her butt. The crowd laughed, and then they lowered a rope into the box, but none came in. She looked at it and noticed that at the end was a loop, a loop for her foot. She stood up and went over and stepped into it, her hands grabbing the rope, and just as she did someone gave the command to pull her up.
When she came to the edge she felt hands grab her and pull her out, letting go of her when she was fully out. She lay there looking up at the faces that, once more, crowded around her. Her panic rose, and she started backing away, but there wasn't really anywhere to. She only bumped into the legs of people standing behind her, and when she did the crowd laughed again. Someone touched her, presumably to help her up maybe, but she jerked away, got up and broke through the crowd running, eyes closed, concentrating only on getting away.
"WE GOT A RUNNER!" Someone shouted after her.
She ran and ran, not looking where she was going. After a while she heard people shouting after her that she had to stop, that she can't go there. That she cannot go out. She opened her eyes and stopped dead. Before her was a giant opening that lead into some system of corridors, it seemed. At that moment she turned around and for the first time looked around where she actually was. She saw giant walls encircling what seemed to be a square area, with some trees and buildings. Each one of the three remaining walls had also an opening like this one, before which she now stood. She then looked at the crowd and saw several people were running after her, still shouting. Her panic rose some more. Where was she? And more importantly, who was she? All she could remember was her name, Anna.

Chapter one
That was a year ago. And many things changed since then. Well, some did. She didn't particularly like to talk and keep to others. She was a loner in a community, which didn't go down very well. They all played like a big team, but she was no team player. It took the others a long time to really accept this. They tried to talk to her, engage her in conversations and activities, but failed miserably.
It took them a long time getting used to it. But she did her part. And when she got the tour of jobs she immediately got close to the animals. She enjoyed working with them, and she was very good. Better than any other, actually. And according to her personality and attitude they often underestimated her, like they did with jobs. Harriet, now one of her very few close acquaintances, reckoned her to be a Slopper, someone who cleans the bathrooms because they aren't good enough for anything else. But she proved them all wrong, and now Harriet was close to her. Soon recognizing her talent and intellect, which doesn't mean it's not there if you don't talk much. However, it did affect her performance at first. It's hard to do proper work when you hate to ask.
But she came a long way since then, and was now a proper Glader. Well, sort of...
"Say something! Your constant grunting and nodding really ticks me off!" Beth erupted.
"What do you want me to say? She's got an infection. But you can see that for yourself." Anna answered calmly and without an expression.
Beth gritted her teeth. "Yea, but how could it happen and what about it?"
She shrugged, giving her the same look. "How am I to know? I take care of them, yes, but I cannot know everything, can I? And I'm no doctor either, but I'd say some penicillin can fix it."
Beth's face flushed a fierce red, and she stomped away cursing under her breath.
Harriet came over and clapped her on the shoulder. "You know how to tick her off." She nodded towards Beth.
"Well, I didn't mean to, but her questions were rather silly." Anna answered her.
"You never mean to, but you always do." Harriet fired back.
She shrugged again. "That is not my fault. I'm barely ever asked any sensible questions."
Their leader laughed and clapped her on the shoulder again. "Maybe not, but some questions have to be asked, even if the answer is more or less clear, you do have to understand that."
"I do understand that, and I did give her an answer. It's not my fault a nod isn't enough." Anna answered shrugging.
Harriet shook her head and left her to her work.

***

After the little argument the life in the Glade went on more or less as usual. The work with the Stockers, that's what people who worked with animals were called, Livestock raisers, was fairly easy, as long as you kept out of Beth's way, which wasn't usually the way for Anna. She didn't like to admit it, but they really had something going between them. She could firmly feel how Beth despised her. Every little thing she did could set her off, and Anna quickly learned not to care. She did at first and it upset her. She did not understand, but she noticed that Beth was easily set off by many things. Not as much as with Anna, but still. The best way was to let it go.
Anna did, and the argument now forgotten she chatted with her friend Jane, another Stocker. She was about the same age as her and been there only for about three months but the two of them became friends very quickly, and Anna liked her a lot. Actually, she liked her more than just as a friend. She loved the auburn, wavy hair, her full red lips and freckled cheeks. Yes, she loved her, but had not told her so. Anna was fearful it wouldn't go well, and might lose her. Her heart ached, for every moment was a blessing as it was a curse, being with her, but not fully.
And Anna's thoughts were becoming darker by the day. She’d never been optimistic, rather the opposite, and her thoughts were already dark enough because of their situation in the Glade. Being sent here by who knows who, trapped and their memories wiped, except for their first names. Not knowing who she was, not knowing why she was there, and just by being there, depressed her. That was no life. Being closed in a box of stone with some trees, never allowed going out, only having their work and themselves, which frankly depressed her even more. It seemed to her as futile existence, and every day gnawed at her. And it began to show a long time ago.
"I still don't get why they didn't make you the keeper of the Stockers." Jane said to her. "I mean, you run it here better than Beth ever could."
"Oh, that'd be hilarious, wouldn't it? I can see her head exploding." She said sarcastically. "Be real, they'd never take someone like me, and honestly I'm glad."
Jane wiped her forehead and asked, "But why?"
Anna gave her a look that said do you have to ask? "I don't want to be the boss and be responsible. It's hard enough already." She said darkly.
Jane gave a worried look but Anna took no notice. She stopped her work and watched the south gate. It was evening and the gates would be closing soon, and exactly through that gate the runners would be coming back. Especially Sonia, her other friend, and closest confident and like a sister to her, who knew all her secrets. Sonia was older, about seventeen and been here much longer than Anna. She was tall and in great shape, which was necessary for a runner. She seemed delicate under her veil of blonde hair and soft face with piercing blue eyes, but she was tough. And actually the keeper of the runners, who were eight people in all, running the maze every day, mapping it and trying to find a way out. And every evening Anna watched those doors, through which Sonia ran every day, to see she got back safely.
And today was no different. Sonia came running through those doors with her partner, Marie, who was a smaller, about 5 feet 2 tall, Asian looking girl. Anna did not know her well. Only what she heard from Sonia.
They both kept running towards a small concrete building with a metal door where, Anna knew, they were going to draw their maps and compare them with previous days, to find a pattern, Sonia had told her. Anna smiled one of her rare smiles and got back to work, she'd talk to her later, knowing they had a lot of work to do now.

Later on all three of them were sitting around a cozy fire, the light slowly fading around them. Anna was looking into the flames, allowing herself to relax, feeling better with both of them close.
"So, how did it go?" She asked not taking her eyes from the flames.
Sonia knew it was directed at her. How many times had she heard this question? "Pretty much as usual, nothing new again." She answered looking over at Anna, whose expression did not change, but Sonia knew that inside her a fire burned, consuming her. "But don't worry, we will find something. There is no giving up!" She added quickly hoping they would, or it might be too late for her.
Anna's eyes never left the flames. "I know you will. You never give up. You will get them out." She said to no one really.
Sonia's worry became more pronounced than ever in her expression. Them. Not us. But them. She didn't count herself in. What she had in her mind, she wondered. She wanted to say something but bit her lower lip.
Jane noticed too. "What do you mean them?" She asked worrying. "We all will. You, I, Sonia, Harriet and all the others as well, we all will make it. One for all and all for one." She told her.
"Yes, exactly!" Joining in. "We are a team!"
Anna only smiled sadly. But nothing could prepare them for what would happen tomorrow.

Chapter two

The morning didn't suggest anything to be out of the ordinary that day. The runners got out into the maze and the rest of the Gladers got to their work. Even Anna's spirits were higher than usual and she talked to Jane while working.
But everything changed in the afternoon. Anna had just been cleaning the goat pen when out of the corner of her left eye she could see a stumbling figure coming from the direction of the south gate. Anna turned to look and saw Marie. She seemed at the end of her strength and looked very pale. But why was she back so early? And more importantly, where was Sonia?
Anna's heart raced as she let go of her shovel and ran towards her, apparently the only one who had noticed so far. She ran quickly as possible and caught Marie just as she was to fall over with exhaustion.
Anna held her firmly. "What happened? Why are you back so early? And where is Sonia?" She blurted out questions at her.
"She......she got.........got stuck there. Stuck......in the......maze." She managed between breaths.
"What? What do you mean stuck? It's the middle of the day!" Her temper rising.
"I...know.....but the wall......just.....just closed. We've....been running......the fifth when the wall closed behind her." She managed and threw up.
By this time Jane, Harriet, Beth and the others arrived. "What happened?" asked Harriet.
"Sonia got stuck in the maze." Anna answered for Marie, who had collapsed against her.
"Stuck? What do you mean stuck?!" Beth blurted out.
"I don't know, she said the wall closed." Anna told her, her own temper raising more.
"Okay." Harriet took over. "MedJacks! You take her away and take care of her." She commanded. “Keepers to me, we have to discuss our next step. All others back to your jobs!"
"Discuss?!" Anna exploded. "What do you mean discuss?! We have to get out there now! We have to help her!" By now she was shouting.
Harriet raised both her hands. "And we will, but we can't go out there with no plan whatsoever. We have to prepare." She reasoned with her.
"But then it may be late!" She wouldn't let it go.
"You listen to me now, okay?" She told her putting her hands on her shoulders. "We won't let that happen, right? We will only quickly prepare for it, right?" She looked her deep into her eyes.
Anna looked wide eyed, but took a deep breath, and after a while nodded, "right."
"Good that." Harriet said and turned to the keepers. "You come with me, quick!" She told them. "And you go back to your job!" She turned back to Anna, jabbing a finger at her.
Anna nodded and slowly went back. But when the keepers went past her, running towards the homestead, she quickly turned on the spot and run towards the door as fast as she could. Jane saw her from the corner of her eye and shouted after her. The keepers heard her and stopped, but by then it was too late, she disappeared outside.

Anna ran as fast as she could and used what she knew from Sonia, trying to memorize her turns as best as she could. Left, right, then left again and one more, and right again. And also she marked her way through. Every now and then she cut a piece of ivy with the blade she always wore with herself, strapped to her side. She took a right, another right and then left, cutting of another piece of ivy. The maze wasn't easy, and it was giving her a claustrophobic feeling. The great walls towering above her, there being no other way than to follow its path. She had to stop and calm herself. If she continued like this she'd only panic and get lost totally, never finding her way back, not to mention help Sonia.
She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, calming her mind. Then she went and cut off a bigger piece of ivy, making a bigger marker out of it for herself as much for the others, who for sure were coming? After that was done she set off again. Taking a left turn and then one more, keeping her mind focused. She ran on and on, but after a while she needed to stop to rest. She was breathing hard. "And I thought I was in good shape," she thought to herself.
But just as she wanted to set off again a piercing cry rang through the maze. Anna's heart almost stopped. It was Sonia.
Anna set off as fast as she could manage in the direction from which the scream came. She took a right turn at an intersection and then ran down a long corridor until she came to a dead end where she saw a big, fat Griever cornering Sonia, her face a mask of horror. It was nearing her, reaching out with its mechanical arms. Anna stopped dead in her tracks. She never saw a Griever before. It had big slimy looking body, metal rods protruding from it. She could see Sonia leap onto the beast in a desperate attempt to fight her way over it, but it caught her with one mechanical arm. At seeing her friend get caught by the beast she came back to her senses. With a war cry she ran forward and leaped onto the thing, kicking and cutting with her knife, trying to get the arm holding Sonia free, but to no result. The beast held firmly, and it didn't intend to let its prey go.
Anna had to dodge a saw, and then got a minor scratch over her back from its claw. But then she got stabbed in her leg. She let out a scream but didn't stop fighting. Together they pulled at the mechanical arm until it came free from the thing. The monster let out a violent scream. Anna thought they had won, but too early. Suddenly Sonia let out a painful yelp, and Anna turning to look what happened saw that she got stung.
Anna stared in horror at her friend falling to the ground, and in that instant as if something snapped in her and she started stabbing at the things body, not paying attention where or how, only stabbing as much as she could, cutting the thing open, yellow liquid streaming from its wounds, getting onto her hands, face and soaking her clothing. The Griever let out a deep cry, twitching, trying to get her off, but filed, Anna was now a machine mind set only on one thing. Kill.
Anna stabbed furiously until her arm ached and she fell back with exhaustion, finding the thing already dead. It must have been for some time, but she took no notice. Breathing hard she looked at the disfigured thing, yellow liquid oozing from every wound. She collapsed on the cold ground, all the adrenaline slowly retreating and she started to shake. Did she really do that? After a moment she looked at it again, shocked. Was she really capable of this?
After a moment she remembered Sonia and shuffled next to her. She quickly looked her over and found only one wound and that from the syringe. She was unconscious already and seemingly in great pain, but if she brought her back in time they could cure her. She gathered her in her arms and tried to stand up, which failed. He leg, after the Griever's stabbed her lower thigh, betrayed her and they both fell forward. Anna held her leg, gritting her teeth, unable to breathe, the pain too much.
Finally after a while it let go and she could breathe again, by now seeing black spots in front of her eyes. She'd never get her to safety like this.
Anna gritted her teeth, gathered Sonia in her arms again and used the wall to help herself stand up. She let out a high cry when she put weight on that leg, but she remained standing. She stood like this for a moment to get used to it, at least a bit. And then she slowly limped away from there, using the wall to help herself.
She made slow progress, too slow. She'd never get them home safely. Not to mention if they should meet another Griever. She was in no shape to fight off another one. So her only option was to somehow notify the others of their location, and so she began to scream at the top of her lungs for help while still slowly walking down the corridor, slowly getting to its end.
But after a while she had to stop, for she felt dizzy and didn't want to kip over again. She took deep breaths, while resting with her back against the wall, favoring her better leg. But soon was walking again, determined to get them as far as possible, taking the left at the intersection, knowing for sure that was the direction she came from, wincing at every step, using the wall again for help.
She looked above and could see the lights progress. Despair gripped her. They were alone in the maze. Alone and injured. They could not survive here. And again she cried for help, cried as loud as she could. And her cries were heard.
Around the corner came Harriet, Beth, Jane, a girl named Ariel, and one more whose name Anna didn't know.
"What happened?!" Harriet asked shouting from afar.
"A....a Griever," she said breathless. "Left around the corner and right down a corridor." She told them.
"So we must hurry before it comes!" She said quickly.
"Dead." Anna managed.
Beth stepped forward. "What? Speak clearly you shank!" She yelled at her.
"It's dead." She told them. "I......I killed it," her eyes wide.
"You did what?!" Beth asked shocked.
Harriet thought for a moment. "Okay. Okay, you, Ariel and I will go have a look." She told Beth. "You two stay with them." She commanded the other two, and they set off to have a look at the Griever.
The girl, whose name it turned out to be Simone, took Sonia from her to look at her wound and tried to give her some water. In the meantime Anna took a canteen from Jane and took a long swing. When she was finished Jane turned to her. "What the hell were you thinking?!" She had tears in her eyes Anna could see.
She looked down at the ground. "I don't know. I....I just wanted to help her. She is my friend." She told her.
"You almost killed yourself!" She yelled at her almost sobbing. "Why couldn't you wait?! They would have found her!"
Anna turned to look her straight in the eye, her temper rising now. "If I didn't she'd be dead now! The Griever had cornered her! They'd never have got here in time!" She shot back.
Jane shocked at her outburst as well as upset looked away. "But you could have died too." She said in a small voice.
Anna's anger left her as fast as it came at the look of Jane, and she felt bad. "I'm sorry; I didn't want to worry you. I just felt like I had to do something."
After that they fell silent, Simone looking at the two of them, then returning her attention to Sonia. And in silence they sat till the three came back, ashen faced.
"I have never seen anything like it." Beth said looking she might be sick, but looking straight at Anna. And there was something in her eyes, but she could not say what.
Harriet shook her head. "Let’s get them back home now." She said and took Anna. Beth took Sonia, and on the way they changed when they got tired. But they made good time and were back in the Glade before the gates closed shut.
They were both brought straight to the MedJacks. Sonia got the serum and Anna had her injuries treated. Her back wasn't so bad, but her leg had to be stitched, and she wouldn't be able to walk properly for a while.
In the meantime the keepers discussed all that happened, and when they were finished Harriet came up to her and Anna could see the rest of them looking at her darkly.
"How do you feel?" She asked business like.
"Like a piece of klunk. But glad to be back." Anna answered honestly.
Harriet nodded. "Rest now, your fate will be decided in the upcoming days. After all the keepers had a gathering and best after we can question Sonia." She glanced towards her. Then turned and walked away, leaving Anna open mouthed back.

Several hours had passed since they got back and Harriet left her there so coldly, and though she was very tired she did not fall asleep. Quite the opposite, she was wide awake. Wide awake and her mind was spinning furiously.
She couldn't help Sonia getting out of there safe. No, she got stung. She got stabbed herself. Her fate was to be decided. Would she get banished? And now Jane was upset with her and wouldn't talk to her. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. And it was mostly all her fault. And she blamed herself only. She messed up, and badly.
All that was going round her head, till she couldn't take it anymore, she could not stand it. Stand this place. Stand herself. She slowly got up, the night had long settled down and the MedJaks were asleep. She took a knife, a piece of paper and a pencil. She sneaked out, scribbled something on the paper. Then, for a last time she looked around and said a silent goodbye, then took the blade to her flesh.

***

Jane couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing, and all she could think of was Anna. Yes, she was mad with her. Mad about abandoning her and rushing off into the maze and almost getting herself killed. But she also understood. She knew how the two of them were close. Everyone knew they were like sisters, even started calling each other that.
She was also mad with herself. Almost losing her without being able to tell her how she felt. She knew she liked her the first time she settled her eyes on her. And knew she loved her after the first time they talked. She admired her looks, her strength, but most of all her beautiful personality. And she didn't care if they were stuck here for the rest of their lives, not as long as she could be with Anna.
And that is when she made her decision. Decision to go over and confess her love, even if Anna didn't feel the same she had to do so. She may not have any other opportunity. Not after all that happened.
She took a deep breath, got out of bed and after putting her shoes on set out for the homestead, where she was kept.
Holding her lamp high so she could see where she was going she made her way towards the homestead, trying to be as silent as possible to not wake up anyone. She didn't want anyone to know where she was going and what she had in mind.
But then she noticed something in front of her. As she came nearer she could see it was the shape of someone, lying on the ground and something around them. She came closer still and stopped, white with horror. It was Anna in a pool of blood.
She came close and knelt next to her in her blood. She looked at her, and could see her wrists were slit. She was still holding the knife in her left hand and something in her right as well. Jane crept closer to look at it, unable to let out a single tone.
It was a piece of paper streaked with blood. She took it from her hand and close to her lamp. It was a poem, plus some other words. She read it carefully.

My heart aches but I feel numb
My thoughts dwelling in the dark
Thinking how futile it is to try
To continue and live this life.
People say try and fight
But they don't understand
I already lost this fight
Leaving slowly this world behind.
Drawing a fine line with my blade
To open both my wrists
And let my life wash away
And leave this world and this pain.

I am so sorry
I love you Jane

Chapter three

Anna slowly woke up, looking at the ceiling of the Homestead. She was alive. How was that possible? And why? Her eyes filled with tears.
One of the MedJacks noticed she was awake and came close. "You gave us quite a scare." She told her without any humor. "What were you thinking?"
"What do you think I was thinking?" Anna managed sluggishly. "How?...How come I'm alive?"
The MedJack looked at her, her name Catherine, Cat for short, Anna remembered. "Jane found you in the night. She wanted to have a look at you and found you almost dead, and roused the whole Glade. And then we got you."
"Jane." She said in a whisper, tears flowing. "It couldn't have gone worse. I'm such a klunk head." She said sobbing.
"Yes, you are." Cat told her. "You couldn't have hurt her more." She said giving her a hard look. "She wanted to go and tell you she loved you."
Anna's eyes snapped open and she looked at her. "What?" She breathed.
"You heard me."
Anna's sobs became more violent. Cat continued all business-like. "Sadly we don't have any way to give transfusions, so your recovery was longer and still will be. Besides, you will be under surveillance, so you can't do this again."
"How.....how long?" She managed between sobs.
Cat raised her eye brows. "How long were you out?" She asked and without waiting for a confirmation she continued. "Two days. You missed the newbie."
Anna managed to put her sobbing under control. "And Jane? How is she? And how is Sonia?" She asked.
"As for Sonia, she isn't well yet, but should be soon." She told her. "And as for Jane, well, how about you ask her yourself?" She said with the same hard look from before. "But first, you should eat," she said giving her a plate with a beef steak and potatoes. Anna took it without looking her in the eye or saying anything. She ate quickly so she could go looking for Jane.
When she was finished she quickly stood up, swaying on her feet she fell back on the bed. Her legs were quite unsteady and she felt weak, but she managed to stand up and slowly she stumbled out, supporting herself by leaning on the walls.
She got out and had to take a moment to rest. She was far from being well. A couple people noticed and gave her a hard look, then turned away from her, ignoring her. She decided not to care and went off to look for Jane. And it didn't take long. As usual at this time of the afternoon she was working. Anna found her with the pigs.
"Jane?" She called out, a little weakly. But she didn't answer her call. More, she didn't even turn her way, as if she didn't hear her. Anna sighed, she was in big trouble, her insides knotted and she felt like throwing up. But there was no turning back. And so she came nearer and called her name again. Nothing.
Anna stood there for a while and then decided to go close. She walked up directly to Jane. "Hey." She said uncertainly. No answer.
She looked down. "I'm really sorry Jane," she said taking a deep breath.
Finally Jane turned to her. "Are you?" She asked tears streaming down her cheeks.
Anna felt horrible. "Yes, I am," she said honestly. "And I'd like to explain."
"You wanted to kill yourself," her tears flowing faster now. "What is there to explain?"
Anna felt like crying herself. "There is. And I will, just, please, give me a chance." She said holding her hand up for her to take. But Jane didn't move an inch.
She took a deep breath. "You know I haven't been well before," she swallowed hard. "Truth is I've been so depressed with the life here. Trapped like the rats." She said, her tears now flowing too. "Each day was eating at me. It was always the same, unable to go out to really do something. I hated each day!" She told her fully sobbing now. "But then you came and I knew you were special. Special to me!" she touched her heart. "I fell in love with you." She paused, Jane still motionless. "But I feared to tell you. I feared what your reaction might be, and that I might lose you. And I could never take that." She was crying harder now. "I loved to be with you, but being unable to tell you hurt. It hurt so much! But I tried to be your friend, so I could be with you." She continued, shaking now. "Every day was eating at me, and then the thing with Sonia. I wanted to help and failed, making things only worse in the end. She got stung, I almost got killed, and you were angry with me and didn't talk to me, and rightly!" She said, her voice rising and people turning in their direction. "Everything went down the drain in that one day and most of it was my fault. I just couldn't take it anymore! It was too much!" She paused for a big sob. "Everything around me crumbled and I could see only dark. I just couldn't anymore. I hated myself and my life!" She fell to her knees crying, unable to say more.
Finally, Jane let her shovel fall and knelt beside her, not touching her. "Yes, I've been angry. But I should have known you'd do it. Everyone here knows you are like sisters," she herself crying hard now. "I just should have known. But when I found you in a pool of your blood it broke my heart," she looked at Anna. "Never have I seen something so horrible. I thought I lost you." The last words were breaking Anna's heart. She messed up big time. Was she really so selfish?
"I am so sorry." She sobbed. "I really am! I've been selfish! And now I did lose you." She said looking away.
"And who said that?" She heard Jane say, and whipped her head around, eyes wide. Jane smiled a fragile smiled and slowly hugged her and Anna hugged back. "Never, ever do that again to me." She silently sobbed into Anna's ear.
"I promise I won't. Never again," hugging her tighter as much her strength would allow.
"Good. Because I love Anna," she told her, hugging her tighter.

After many minutes they broke their embrace, dried each other’s tears and Jane helped her to her feet. She looked into Anna's eyes and slowly closed the gap between them and placed a soft kiss on her lips. In the background they could hear some cheers and they both smiled. Then they kissed again, this time much longer.
"Well, it's about time!" Harriet called from afar. Then when she was close slapped Anna on her forehead. "It'd be much better, however, if it'd be in the usual manner." She said giving her a hard look.
Anna looked away. "I know. I'm sorry."
"I'd feel much better if you actually looked me in the eye when you say it." She scolded.
Anna sighed and heavily looked up and into her eyes. "I'm sorry," then looked away again, unable to bear her look.
Harriet sighed heavily. "You know what? The two of you have the d....." She was saying when the alarm went off in the Glade, both Harriet and Jane looking shocked and confused. And it was just at the look of their shocked faces that Anna remembered. The newbie came yesterday. There wasn't supped to be one in the next month. What was going on?
They all ran to the box and threw the door open. Everyone stood around so tightly packed that there was no chance going through and have a look. So Anna and Jane had to wait at the back of the pack. But muffled chatter broke out and they could hear that it was a boy. And he seemed dead.

As it turned out he wasn't dead. Just in what seemed to be a coma. And the rumor went around the Glade that he said the newbies name, Rachel, when he woke up momentarily, establishing he wasn't dead, and then fell back into that comatose state.
Not to mention about the note he had in his hand. But Anna thought it quite straight forward. Well, it was straight forward. It read, "He's the last one, ever." If that wasn't clear then what was? The box wouldn't go back down. Apparently they were entirely on their own now.

Chapter four

The next couple days went by in a sort of anticipation. Anticipation what else would go wrong. Two newbies in two days, one of them a boy, and then the box wasn’t going back down. How were they to survive? And as it comes many were mistrusting of the two newcomers. They blamed them for what had been happening. But how could they be responsible? After all they also landed up here like all the others, and no memory, except their names. So, how could they?
But of course, no one would listen to Anna. She didn't have any say in anything. Yes, it was quite odd to have a boy sent up, since only girls came up ever since the beginning. But he was still in the same boat as them. No one would believe and she didn't even try. She rather concentrated on her relationship with Jane, and of course, repairing her relationships with Harriet and Sonia. The good thing was though that the keepers had decided not to punish her more. At their gathering they agreed that her actions were irresponsible and she broke the rules. But she did save Sonia and then really punished herself. They all agreed not to push it. But there also were the people who were supposed to watch her twenty-four hours a day in case she would attempt again. But she wouldn't. Not anymore. Her life took a turn.

They sat together under a tree, leaning against it, Anna in Jane's arms, just after lunch. They were surprisingly granted some free time from Beth. And they were enjoying it. Anna was sitting with her back against Jane, and Jane playing with her hair.
"This feels good." Anna moaned.
"Yea?" she asked kissing her temple and Anna moaning a yes as an answer, smiling. "Good." She smiled and started nibbling at her ear.
Anna moaned and leaned into her, enjoying it, happier than ever. And after a while turned around, wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing her. Only shallow kisses, they felt the best. Jane running her hands over her back, holding her tightly to herself, and then gently squeezing Anna's butt.
Anna broke the kiss and giggled and so did Jane. Anna then looked deep into her eyes, "Thank you." Jane smiled and answered with another kiss.
Anna sighed after they broke the kiss. "I could stay like this forever."
"I know I could too." Jane answered her.
But that wasn't meant to be.

A couple hours later news went around the Glade that the boy was awake, and apparently his name was Aris. It also came out that he did know Rachel, but didn't know from where or how. But the most disturbing news however was that he supposedly knew something about the maze. Could they finally get out?
At this news the mistrust towards the two newbies grew, but would they really throw away maybe their only chance of getting out? It had been two years since the exploring of the maze and never was found anything. And now their first clue arrived in the box.
There were some calls to imprison them both, but they were rejected very quickly. Anna wanted to help but was told to keep her nose out of things she had no business in.
Jane hugged her. "Don't worry they'll do the right thing." She tried to encourage her.
"I really hope so."

The evening neared and the Gladers were slowly finishing their work. Also Anna and Jane went back to work to distract themselves from the events around.
Anna didn't really noticed the time, but when she was about to finish with the pigs she heard some shouts laced with panic and confusion, and turning towards them she saw some people running towards the gates.
"What's going on now?" she thought to herself. And then it clicked; the doors! They were still open. But they weren't supposed to be. She looked over at Jane her panic rising. Jane's face mimicked her own feelings. They weren't protected anymore.
The keepers commanded everyone to move as much as they could into the Homestead and barricade the windows and doors. They were all going to spend the night inside.
People quickly went to work barricading both windows and doors, moving provisions inside, some tools. Just anything that could be needed and would fit in there. Sadly they had to leave the animals outside to their own fate. They'd never fit inside together will all the Gladers. Anna felt worried for them and very sad, and so she went to them to say a goodbye in case they didn't make it.
With tears in her eyes she and Jane made their way slowly towards the Homestead when they heard shouts coming from the gates. The Grivers were coming.
The two of them quickly hurried inside, followed by the rest, barricading the entrance door. And inside they waited what would happen. Somehow they had to make it through the night.
The Homestead was packed to bursting. People sitting or standing everywhere, waiting what would happen. Those nearest to the windows silently watched what was going on outside and passing whispered reports.
Slowly the Grievers neared the Homestead. You could hear those deep moans and the metal bars crashing into the concrete as they rolled nearer and nearer. After a while the cries of the animals went up. Anna covered her ears, not able to bear it, Jane hugging her.
Then the first bars bit into the wood of the structure. Slowly they were circling it and climbing it. People jumped away from the windows.
You could feel the tension inside. It was as if a flood came inside and was crushing you. People trying make themselves as small as possible, waiting what the monsters would do. Every minute felt like an hour. People were barely breathing to not make a sound. But they knew they were inside. They knew well.
The first bang went up maybe half hour later, or it might have been five minutes, in one of the rooms down the hall and the Griever took a girl named Veronica. And when they had her they retreated for some reason. The monsters got one of them and then all just left. They were just toying with them, watching how long they could take it.
After the Grievers left they all tried to get some rest and sleep. Anna and Jane slept curled in an embrace in the hall. Their sleep was troubled and they woke up several times, but in the end managed to get several hours.

They were woken up in the morning by people walking around and talking in hushed voices. They both got up and then they all went out, being greeted by an even-layered gray sky. It didn't really look like a sky, but more like a ceiling.
A big discussion broke out, which was interrupted by Harriet storming in giving out tasks. The Homestead was in need of mending and reinforcing.
The Stokers went to have a look at the animals. None survived. Some of them broke down in tears at the look of their mangled bodies. It was one big slaughter. They didn't stand a chance. Other members came to console them. Sadly there was no time for a burial. Preparations had to be made. Then there was something about the newbie, something about the maps. Also the runners have been sent out as usual and they all hoped they'd find something. They really couldn't last long like this.

It was hard to tell when the evening neared when the sky above was always the same. And time passed slowly. There wasn't much to do, the Glade lay in ruins and all they could do was hide.
Things changed when the runners returned. They reported they found the place where the Grievers go during day. Apparently there was a hidden entrance beyond the cliff. They saw them jump and just vanish in the nothingness that lay beyond. So they tried to throw stones in the same direction and they vanished too. The opening wasn't big, but big enough to go through. They reckoned there might be a way out and so they lowered some ivy into the opening.
It all sounded very strange. How were they supposed to go over the Grievers? They sure wouldn't just let them walk past. And how could they be sure there was an exit, anyway?
The keepers decided to investigate further tomorrow and called for everyone to go inside. The two newbies came too and announced they hadn't made any progress yet.
The doors were barricaded and people found themselves some place to sit or lay down. Anna and Jane were again in the corridor, hugging and talking in whispers.
It didn't take long for the Grievers to arrive. Their moans and cries could be heard from afar. They were quite close when suddenly they could hear excited voices. It was the boy, Aris, talking to Rachel, Harriet and Sonia. Anna could hear it was something about the maps. And then they saw him running down the corridor. Apparently he wanted out. The others tried to stop him but he was far ahead. They could hear him downstairs throwing open the door and commanding the girls down to barricade them behind him, and he went off towards the map room. The others crowded around the windows to look if he made it. Anna could see him avoid some by diving to the right and then leaping over another and straight for the little building. “What was he after?” she wondered. The beasts went after him but he was faster. Quickly opened the door and slammed it behind him just in time for a couple Grievers to slam into them.
People watched his achievement and were discussing it passionately. But everyone backed away from the windows when they saw the beasts change course and head for the house. They couldn't get into the concrete building and stopped bothering with it.
They swarmed the house once more, people inside only waited who else would be taken. Would it be like yesterday and only one of them taken? Where would they get in?
Again they didn't wait long for the answer. It's been downstairs and they got Ariel, the girl who helped them get out of the maze. After that they retreated again.
And so once more after it was over people laid down, waiting what the morning may bring.

Chapter five

The morning came and before anyone could go out Aris came storming back, saying something about how he cracked the code. No one of course understood what he was talking about.
The next thing Anna saw was Harriet, Sonia, and Rachel running after Aris, whose face was flushed with excitement. She watched them leave, her heart beating hard in her chest. What was happening? Oh how she wanted to go with them! Not to be able to do anything drove her insane.
Jane saw it in her eyes and hugged her close to herself. "It'll be okay. You'll see." She whispered in her ear.
Anna's eyes filled with tears. She was on the edge again, but she willed herself not to go there and hugged her back.

No one in the Homestead made their way out. People's spirits were crushed. How could they survive like this? There was nothing better to crush their morale than the Grievers taking them one by one. And all they could do about it was crouch inside?
Anna really hoped they would come up with something. Not just for her sanity's sake but for them all, most of all Jane. No matter what happened she wanted to protect her. She never could take it, if anything happened to her.
She kissed her forehead and said to her, "We will get through it. We have to!"

An hour or so later the four of them came back and called everyone to them. So they all walked out since there was no way they could all fit in one room.
Harriet stepped in front of them. "After all this time in the Glade and searching the maze we may have finally found a way out." She announced. "It's not hundred percent, but we," she motioned to the four of them, "believe it is the only way. Aris will explain the rest." She motioned for him to step forward.
"After I have awoken from my coma I had this thing on my mind," he began. "I thought it must be a memory, 'The maze is a code,'" he motioned with his hands, "and last night after talking to Sonia I had an enlightening idea. The runners kept drawing maps and comparing them, but only to their own sections. What they had to do was to compare them to each other." He motioned again. "That is all they had to do, and what I had done. I compared maps of the same day and put them carefully together to have a whole picture of the maze. And I found what I believed about the maze, that it is a code," he lectured. "And it really is! Each day spells a letter." He pointed out, and as Anna looked around the faces all around mimicked her own, which was pure astonishment. And he continued, "And when I went through several it spelled out whole words. And they repeated themselves. It's a code and where there is a code there is a place to put it in. There must be some sort of computer or something to put it in and open a door, which we believe is situated inside the hole where the Grievers go, as to guard it and to make it as difficult for us as possible." He finished, slightly out of breath.
People around just stood there staring at them. It all went too fast. They probably expected them to cheer, agree, or just do something, but people were shocked into silence. So, they maybe could get out but would have to fight Grievers?
At that moment Beth stepped out and came in front of everybody. "You know what they are trying to do, right?" She asked the group. "They came up with a sheer insanity of a theory and want us to risk our lives for it. Risk our lives for a maybe." She gave them a disgusted look.
"Yes, but at least we came up with something!" Aris fired back.
Beth pretended to be shocked. "And am I supposed to throw myself on my knees before you now?" She countered. "We are only going to get killed!" She turned back to the group, emphasizing the last word.
At this Sonia stepped forward as well. "We are going to get killed anyway! One by one! Or did you forget how the Grievers were coming the last couple nights!" She jabbed a finger at her chest. "We can go and at least do something rather than sit here huddled inside like animals!" Her voice was rising in anger.
"Oh yea, beautiful! We don't even know how many there really are! There could be as many as we are here, or more! How do you want to fight them off?" Beth was now yelling too.
"With all we have! Spears, knifes and machetes, of course!"
"You want us to go against a Griever with a knife?" She asked in disbelief.
"Why not?" She asked back. "Anna did kill one with only a knife." She said motioning towards her.
Beth threw her arms up in mockery. "Don't drag the menty into it!" She said jabbing a finger now at her.
"Hey!" Jane fired at Beth. "Don't call her a menty! She is not mental!"
"Oh really?" she asked rising her eye brows. "So who tried to kill herself here?"
Jane suddenly darted forward and punched Beth square in the nose. She fell backwards with a yelp, holding a hand to her face. Anna quickly rushed up to her to catch her before she could attack again.
Beth slowly got up still holding her face, staring at Jane with hate in her eyes. Jane didn't flinch and stared back.
Harriet quickly stepped forward and between them, hands in the air in front of her. "Whoa! Stop it!" She said and turned to the group. "We can argue the whole day and it will lead nowhere. What we need is to decide." She reasoned with them. "We can either, try our luck in the maze and fight our way out, or we can sit here and wait what will happen." She looked them over. "The choice is yours." She motioned with her hands. "We are going to try."
No one said anything, or even moved for some time. Then whispered discussions broke out. Anna only looked at Jane, who nodded and together they walked over to Sonia, Harriet, Rachel and Aris, the four of them giving them a tight smile.
The Gladers watched them go and as if that was a signal several more walked over and slowly but surely most walked over to them, until a small group remained back. Harriet waited for a moment longer, and then nodded, "It is your decision. We won't make you do anything."
With that she turned to the new group and started giving out orders. We had to get spears, knifes, machetes and some food and water for the way.
When all was packed and everyone was armed the group made their way into the maze, their way led by Sonia.

The group had to make its way slower since many weren't used to running so much, not to mention were in the maze for the first time. So to keep together and not lose anyone they had to go slower. But they still made a good time and after a couple of breaks they arrived at the cliff, and as they neared they saw Grievers lining the path facing theirs. The group slowed down and eventually stopped, Sonia going forward to have a look at the turn left directly to the cliff. There were also many Grievers, all guarding the way, which only hardened Sonia's belief and she went to report it.
"So they are all guarding it?" Someone in the group asked.
"Yes, they do, which only convinces me even more that that is the way out." She told them.
"And so what do we do?" Someone else asked.
"Well, we have to make way for Aris and Rachel for them to get into the hole, and then buy them time to look for the computer and punch the code in." She said shrugging.
People around Anna seemed to get mentally prepared for the clash. But how do you prepare when facing such monsters? Nevertheless she attempted to get herself in the zone. She looked over at Jane who looked back and squeezed her hand.
Anna then nodded at Sonia, "Ready."
Sonia nodded back, "Okay," then looked at Aris and Rachel. "You two stay between us." She paused and then yelled, "LETS GO!" And with that ran around the turn and straight for the Grievers.
The others followed suit. Each took one. Sometimes they could fight two against one. The grievers too got going and went for them, and the ones who been at the intersection closed the gap behind them. So, if it should happen they'd have to retreat they couldn't.
The Gladers tried to push them aside to make a path. And after some fighting they finally did and Aris and Rachel ran through as fast as they could. Coming to the edge of the cliff they took one last glance back, Sonia yelling at them to go. With the ivy still in place in the opening of the hole to help them aim they jumped inside.
In the meantime the Gladers were fighting the Grievers off like lions. They managed to get down several of them. Sadly so did the beasts. A couple of them took a girl to Anna's left, but she couldn't say who it was, the Grievers were on top of the poor being and all she could see was a big, red stain, nothing about her recognizable anymore.
Anna finished with hers. She stabbed it with her spear and then cut it open. Then she went help Jane, who was struggling. The beast was getting the best of her. But with Anna's help they managed to overwhelm it, stabbing the spears into its head. Or what seemed like it.
Anna then looked around. Their fight seemed to be going well, they seemed to be winning. When suddenly Anna heard a deep cry above them and saw a big, fat Griver above their heads just as it let go, falling down towards Jane. Anna reacted with instinct and pushed her away. She saved Jane, but got caught in the fall herself, however. The beast landed on top of her, its bars piercing her leg in several places.
Anna let out a high scream of agony and from the corner of her eyes she saw Grievers coming her way. And they were close.
Jane quickly got to her feet and went to help Anna, but there were too many of them for her to take. Some other Gladers came to help. Harriet did, Marie and one more. But the grievers were on her already and Anna started screaming at the top of her lungs as they tore on her.
The small group fought bravely but they could not fight them off, they were too many. Anna gathered her wits for the last time and shouted at them, "Go! Just GO! LEAVE ME!" and then got lost under a Griever.
Jane wanted to attack again, tears in her eyes, but the others took hold of her and pulled her back, her kicking and screaming Anna's name.

It took a couple more minutes of fighting before the Grievers suddenly shut down. People stared at them in mistrust, but after a while figured it must have been Aris and Rachel somehow and cried in victory.
Jane quickly run to where Anna was and told a couple Gladers to help her to pull the beasts away. And after a bit they did, Jane gathering Anna in her arms, but it was too late. Anna was dead.

Epilogue

They had to carry Jane away, otherwise she'd stay behind. But that was not an option. They lined the bodies of their fallen friends by the wall and then all went through the hole.
There were about twenty-six people to begin with and now there were only seventeen left. They lost nine people in the fight and they all felt heavy-hearted. But nothing could match the grief of Jane. She was looking down at the floor and talking to no one. People tried to make her feel better, but to no avail.
In the end the rest of them all got out. They met with a woman in white, and for a very strange reason Beth. Beth acted very strangely and was saying something about being controlled. Then out of nowhere threw a knife and hit Rachel in the chest. She bled to death.
But Jane took little notice of this. She was in her own world now. Things were happening around her, but she was in a sort of trance. She had to be pulled behind to actually do something.
All her thoughts were with Anna and were thinking of the day they first met. Anna came to her and sat next to her in silence, while in the meant time Jane cried. Anna then put an arm around her shoulders, when Jane had no more tears they talked a little. Anna explaining how it worked in the glade and that they all were the same. They came up in the box, freak out, and after that got a tour by Harriet.
Jane was very glad for Anna's kindness and took to her very quickly. It's been like they knew each other already and she just came back. Came back and helped her.
She fell in love with her shortly after. Anna would never say it but she had a shining personality once you took the time to actually get to know her. But strangely not many did.
Then at first she felt threatened by Sonia, but learned quickly they were like sisters, nothing else going on there. If only she told her earlier.
If only she could have helped her. But she was gone now, gone forever and all she could think about was her. Of her beautiful hair, her eyes, her voice, about how she always treated her nicely. She was a gentle and loving soul. And it was gone.
Jane was devastated and she could only think of her, but she made up her mind. She would fight for Anna. She'd fight and stay alive. She was sure that's what she would want.
And also she'd spread her story. She'd tell anyone she'd meet, like now.

She died, but in my heart she will live on. Her memory will live on.

Hi Amy...nice seeing your writing again. Keep up the nice work.

Sora wrote: "Hi Amy...nice seeing your writing again. Keep up the nice work."

Wow, thank you!

Had to do something, it's helping

So how's it been?

Sora wrote: "So how's it been?"

Not good. Am a lot depressed

Mm...sorry to hear that. Really.

Thank you

How about you?

Amy wrote: "Thank you

How about you?"

Eh... only getting worse.

I'm really sorry to hear that, I really am

It's fine.

Today I'm just sorry for how I treated you guys. I really am a shitty person. Idk.

Oh Sora. I feel sorry too. And it's not like I'm not guilty too. Got a big mouth and seemingly a talent to fuck up things

SoraBunny, Amy, we are all works in progress. The fact that you both have seen an error in something you have done, proves you are both making better, positive progress :)

Great story Amy :D

ALiStAiR (Prostitute of Feelings) wrote: "Great story Amy :D"

Thank you ^-^

No worries. I regularly ruin shit too. ^-^ I just really miss you guys but it's my own fault we don't talk.

Sora wrote: "No worries. I regularly ruin shit too. ^-^ I just really miss you guys but it's my own fault we don't talk."

It'S my fault as well. And I miss you too