All the cliffhangers!!!

Okay, so once again, there is gonna be more dialogue from the actual book. Sorry

Everyone, please send word that the sequel is out!

Also please continue to comment and vote please!!

Thank you all once more, and just a reminder:

I DO NOT OWN THE MAZE RUNNER SERIES, NOR, DO I OWN THE CHARACTERS. OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE FROM THE SERIES.

*+*+*+*+*+

Newt lay on the bed, playing with the chain around his neck. He couldn't help but read the letter from Lori, over and over. He wanted to memorize every last word.

"Are you okay?"

Newt sat up, hearing the person speaking to him, wanting to see who it was. Clara. His blood boiled at the sight of her. She was the reason why Lori and he hadn't spoken those last few days. That's all he had wanted within that time. To just sit and get to know Lori better. But he didn't get the chance, because of the girl standing a few feet away.

"I'm fine" He grunted.

"Look, I just wanted to apologize. I heard that man bring up the girl you liked, and I just -" She takes a moment to compose herself. "I feel really bad about what I did."

"Well, you should. You ruined everything. She's gone, and she probably left thinking that I don't love her."

"You love her?" Clara asks barely above a whisper.

Newt had had enough, he stood up and sauntered out of the room, leaving Clara alone in Lori's room.

Newt decided to make sure that all the Gladers were fed. Afterwards, he went to find their shuck 'Leader', hoping that he'll have something for Newt to do.

He found Minho and Thomas, talking in the bathroom of the room where they found the boy, Aris.

"What're you two hiding for?"

Minho turns to Newt, slapping Thomas on the back of the shoulder. "We're not hiding. Thomas is just whining about his life and wishin' he could go back to his mommy."

Newt bit back his anger, not in the mood for Minho's comments. "Tommy, you went through the Changing, got some memories back. How much of this stuff do you remember?"

Thomas eyes seemed to cloud over, showing that he was most likely thinking hard about his answer. "I don't know. I can't really picture the actual world outside or what it was like being involved with the people I helped design the Maze. Most of its either faded again or just gone. I've had a couple of weird dreams, but nothing that helps."

The three boys discussed basically everything they felt that was of importance. What the Rat Man had said, the sun flares, the disease known as the Flare, the testing, the experiments, how the Maze was connected. Nothing seemed to make actual sense.

"Well, we've got stuff to figure out," Newt points out. "And I need help to make sure the bloody food's not gone before we leave tomorrow. Something tells me we're gonna need it."

"You're right, "Thomas nods. "Are people still chowing down out there?"

Newt just shakes his head. "No, Frypan took charge. That shank's religious about food - I think he was glad to have something to be the boss about again. But I'm scared people might get panicky and try to eat it anyway."

They discussed their little food issue for a few more minutes, before Newt decides to change the subject. "Anyway, I was thinking we need to get organized, get things back together. Act like we did in the bloody Glade. Last few days have been miserable, everybody moaning and groaning, no structure, no plan. It's driving me psycho."

"What'd you expect us to do?" Minho scoffs. "Form up in lines and do push-ups? We're stuck in a stupid four-room prison."

Newt just flicked a hand in the air in Minho's direction. "Whatever. I'm just staying, things are obviously going to change tomorrow and we gotta be ready to face it."

Thomas looked very confused, as if unsure of what Newt was saying. "So, what are you getting at?"

Newt took a second to take a look at both boys. "We need to make sure we have a solid leader when tomorrow comes. There can't be any doubt who's in charge."

Minho scoffs once more. "That's the lamest shuck-faced thing you've ever barked. You're the leader, and you know it. We all know it."

Newt couldn't help but feel a smidgen of belief towards what Minho was telling him, but he had other ideas. He shook his head, "Bein' hungry make you forget the bloody tattoos? You think they're just decorations?"

Minho is marked as 'the Leader', therefore, he is going to bloody well lead, Newt thought to himself.

"Oh, come on. You really think it means anything? They're just playin' with our heads!"

Newt didn't bother answering what Minho had countered with, he just took a step forward and pulled down the back of Minho's shirt, revealing the boy's tattoo. Everyone remembered that he is branded the Leader, Newt just wanted to remind them both.

Minho shrugged off the blond's hand, before shooting out many sassy statements. No different to his usual personality. What a leader he will make.

"So, now that I've made my point, shank, I need to ask you something."

Newt crossed his arms over his chest, nodding his head, gesturing for Minho to ask his question.

"What's with that fancy thing hangin' round your neck?" He pointed, referring to Lori's necklace.

Newt took a few moments, trying to think of a way to respond, where he didn't sound crazy. In the end, he settled on pulling the letter out of his back pocket and handing it to Minho.

The boy's eyebrows rose in confusion, as he retrieved the letter. He opened it, still looking puzzled as to why Newt had handed him a slip of paper. His eyes slid along the words, devouring each once, then again, trying to comprehend what he was actually reading.

"She- she's alive? And that" he pointed to the necklace once more. "That's hers?"

"I think so" Newt ran a hand through his hair. "I hope so."

By that time, Thomas had snatched the letter away from Minho. He appeared just as shocked as Mihno by the end of the page.

"Woah, man, I'm sorry. I promise, we're going to find her."

Newt nods his head in appreciation. He liked that he could count on his friends for anything. No matter what, the three of them, they could always help each other.

Newt had taken back the letter, folding it carefully and returning it to his pocket. They all stood there, unaware of how to continue their conversation.

Eventually, Minho shattered the peace.

"So," he drawled out. "Shuckface is in love?"

It went silent once more, before both Thomas and Minho began laughing.

Newt had been glaring Minho down, but he gave in, chuckling lightly at the thought. He never thought he could, but he loves someone. The concept was interesting.

/\/\/\/\/\

At exactly five o'clock the next morning, every digital watch in the building rung out an alarm, letting them know that it was time to get up, and prepare to leave through the Flat Trans into the Scorch. To find the Safe Haven. To find Lori.

The boys all went to action, filling plastic bags with water, and pillow cases with the food left behind by Rat Man.

Finally, they're all crowded around the area where Rat Man had appeared the night before, awaiting the thing called a Flat Trans.

"We've got three minutes," Minho informs everyone, taking on a serious demeanour. About time too, he's meant to be the Leader, and everyone knows that he is capable of such. "Everybody sure they still wanna go?"

No one was vocal, but they did all nod their heads. Maybe they were like Newt. Afraid that if they spoke, it would only prove that all of this was actually happening.

"Anybody change their mind overnight?" Their Leader asks. "Speak now or never. Once we go wherever we're going, if some shank decides he's a sissy pants and tries to turn back, I'll make sure he does it with a broken nose and smashed privates."

Newt drops his head into his hands, groaning audibly. Well, Minho definitely knows how to lighten the mood, doesn't he?

Spoken boy turns to Newt, a shockingly stern look pasted to his face. "Newt, you got a problem?"

Newt looks up, surprised by Minho actually taking control of their situation. "Uh . . . no. Just admiring your bloody leadership skills."

Minho retorts, by pulling down the back of his shirt, leaning over so that Newt is able to see his tattoo. "What does that say, slinthead?"

Newt felt his face turn red, looking around the room as all eyes were on him, waiting for his response. "We know you're the boss, Minho. Slim it."

"No, you slim it," Minho shot back, pointing his finger at Newt. Wow, very inventive, throwing my own insult back at me, Newt thinks to himself. "We don't have time for that kind of klunk. So shut your hole."

The boys were unsure whether Minho was completely serious, or acting so that he fulfilled his role. But there wasn't really much time to think it through, as a Glader on the other end of the group shouted, making it public that it was six o'clock.

And as if on cue, the invisible shield before him turned fogging, blemished with pale spots here and there. Then, it just vanished, before leaving behind a shimmery surface of graphite grey.

"Come on!" Minho yells to the room of Gladers, as he hikes the strap of his bag up higher on his shoulder, holding his water bag in the other hand. "Don't mess around - we only have five minutes to get through. I'll go first." The Leader turned to Thomas, pointing. "You go last - make sure everyone follows me before you come.

The boys agrees with Minho, wiping his forehead, before heading to the back of the pack.

"See you shanks on the other side." Minho says, before stepping into the murky grey wall, being consumed within half of a second.

Newt desperately wanted to follow him straight away. He wanted to find Lori as soon as humanly possible.

Aside from his feelings, he did what he knew was right, and stayed back to help Thomas shepherd all the boys, and girl, through the Flat Trans.

"Hurry," Thomas mutters loudly, once the room only contains him, Newt and Aris. "We've gotta hurry."

Moments later, Newt was following Aris to the wall. After Aris passed through Newt stepped forward, cautiously putting one hand through the wall. A second later, his body was engulfed, then another second, and he was in a dark room.

He didn't say anything, but he did hear Thomas calling out, searching for the others.

"Everyone be still and shut up!" Minho shouts so that everyone can hear his voice. "Thomas, was that you? Are you in here?"

So, either Minho is checking that everyone's went through before Thomas, or he's playing favorites. His favorite being Thomas, of course.

"Yes!" Thomas yells in return. "I was the last one to come through. Did everyone make it?"

"We were lining up and counting off nice and easy till you came stumbling through like a doped-up bull. Let's do it again. One!"

No one said anything, so the boy who came through cries out, "Two!"

They finally made it to twenty-one, Aris going last after Clara.

"Good that," Minho starts talking once more. "We're all here, wherever here is. Can't see a shuck thing."

"Too bad we don't have a flashlight," Thomas says lightly. Wow, he has spent way too much time around Minho.

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Mr. Thomas," Speak of the devil. "All right, listen up. We're in some kind of hallway - I can feel the walls on both sides, as far as I can tell, most of you are to my right. Thomas, where you're standing is where we came in. We better not take any chances of accidentally going back through the Flat Trans thingamajiggy, so everyone follow my voice and come toward me. Not much choice but to head back down this way and see what we find."

They all started shuffling down the hallway, one by one to avoid any accidents.

After some more walking, whispering noises sounded from above, stopping everyone in their tracks.

They all attempted to quieten themselves.

"Did anybody get what it said?" Newt calls.

Winston was the one to reply to Newt, "Couple of words. Sounded like 'go back' right in the middle."

"Everybody slim it and listen real hard this time," Minho orders.

The voice seemed louder now that they were all silent.

"Once-chance deal. Go back now, you won't be sliced."

More creepy, yet chilling words, most likely from those who made us go out here in the first place.

"Just keep going!" Minho proclaims. "I can't take this much longer. Just go!"

But before anyone had the chance to move, Frypan's voice is intervening. "Wait a minute. The voice said this was a one-chance deal. We have to at least think about it."

People began to voice their beliefs to the situation as well. After more people disagreeing with each other, they finally set on the decision to continue down the creep passage way.

It felt as if they had been walking for a while now. Newt had hoped they were near the end, when a scream rung out from a dozen or so people in front of him. The person sounded absolutely terrified, screaming louder than what Newt believed to be possible.

He and Thomas pushed through the line, reaching the boy who was thrashing all over the ground, as if fighting something.

The mystery boy's screams grew louder, he was obviously in agonizing pain.

"Hey!" Thomas yells to the boy on the ground. "What's wrong with you?"

Newt stood as Thomas leaned over the boy, before tackling him. Limbs were flying everywhere, mainly squaring in on any part of Thomas the boy was able to hit.

"Stop it! What's wrong?" He was screaming,

But they boy didn't stop. Not until it sounded like someone had gagged him.

"Tommy, what'd you bloody do?"

"It wasn't me, swear! I don't know why he's stopped yelling" Thomas trailed off, as if he had answered his own question. And he had, because, instead of finding the boy's head, Thomas had found a large, smooth ball of cool metal upon the boy's shoulders.

/\/\/\/\/\

Within half an hour, the Gladers had reached the top of a staircase, which when they opened, a massive wave of heat had escaped, and lit up the darkness. That is, before Minho had shut the door.

After that, Winston had been attacked by one of those head-eating-metal-orb-things, followed by an actually successful act of bravery by Thomas, to remove the blob from Winston's now permanently scarred head. Lovely to look at, I can tell you that.

And now, after everyone had calmed down, Minho had informed Thomas and Newt that those three were going to be the first to go outside and take a little looksie. Newt and Thomas had agreed, so they emptied their packs, due to Newt's idea, and used them for protection against the harsh sunlight that would be streaming before them at any second.

"How do I look?" Thomas asked the other two, wrapping the sheet around his head like a scarf.

"Like the ugliest shanky girl I've ever seen," Minho responds without even missing a beat. "You better thank the gods above that you were born a dude."

After a minute or two of silent worry radiating from them all, they finally faced the heat. Literally.

Newt had made a comment or two about how Minho will probably end up in hell, not that Thomas disagreed, and they were searching for where to go next.

They had pulled all the Gladers up out of the hallways, and began to walk. On their way, they had encountered two people who had claimed to be Cranks. At first, the group didn't believe them, since the first Cranks they had met had tried to rip their throats out. But these two, they said something about not being past 'the Gone'. Whatever that mean.

And now, they all are resting, relaxing in the moonlight. They thought they could have one night, but no. Things were just working a bit too well for them.

A scream ripped out through the night. It was soon loud, it felt as if it could tear down the stars in the violet sky.

At first, they all thought that maybe there were gonna be Grievers chasin' them around the place again, but Thomas decided to point out that it could be one of many creatures that WICKED has probably created.

They had decided to ignore the woman screaming, everyone sitting down to replenish themselves.

They walked a bit longer, then stopped once more, taking a "potty break" in the words of their fearless leader.

"Hey!" Thomas yelled at the Gladers, pointing to something not too far away from where they were seated. "Looks like a little building up there, just a few minutes away, to the right some. You guys see it?"

"Yeah, I see it," Minho informs Thomas. "Wonder what it it is."

The boys stood watching the building, when the screaming stopped, and a female figure stepped outside. Newt wanted to believe it was Lori, but the hair was too dark. And by the look on Thomas' face, he's guessing that the girl is Teresa.

They decided that someone should go and see what was going on. Thomas jumped up the opportunity, but the other weren't so sure.

"Let's all go over there," Minho suggests. "She could have an army of psycho girl ninjas in that shack of hers."

"Psycho girl ninjas?" Newt repeats.

"Yeah. Let's go."

Thomas was very sudden, shooting an arm out to barricade the dark haired boy. "No! You guys stay here - I'll go talk to her. Maybe it's a trap or something. We'd be idiots to all go over there and fall right into it."

"And you're not an idiot for going by yourself?" Minho questions.

They all said a few more things, before Thomas left.

A few minutes after Thomas had left, the remainder of their already small group was sitting on the dry ground, talking among themselves. But something stopped them all. Footsteps. Not coming from the shack, but the opposite direction.

They all looked over to see, what they hoped was a person, walking their way. Short and lean, hair waving in the warm air. They kept moving closer and closer, until their features were more definable.

A girl, who is short, wide eyes, pale skin, and hair the color of the evening sun.

Newt rose to his feet, too afraid to say her name. All the boys followed suit, standing around him.

They heard her voice from where they stood, relief evident. "Minho? Fry? Is- is that you, guys?"

Minho nor Frypan answered, everyone was just too bewildered.

Newt finally moved, walking towards her at the same pace she was walking towards them.

They stopped a foot or two away from each other, and Newt still couldn't speak, so Minho said the words for him.

"Lori? Is that really you?"