"Well that was successful." Newt says, holding up a bottle of water. We had gone back to the building with a small group of gladers, and collected the rest of the supplies. Disappointingly there had been no food, but at least we wouldn't die of dehydration.

"Yes it was." Mal says proudly, using a piece of broken wire to tease Kay. The kitten pounces, attacking the wire and shaking it until she's satisfied it's dead. After finding the water, Kay had become a bit of a celebrity, earning some treats and handmade toys from the other gladers. Everyone wanted a turn to play with her. It was a funny sight really, a bunch of teenage boys all playing with a tiny kitten, funny and adorable.

As the rest of the group continues their conversation, I silently slip away, leaving the kitten in Mal's care. I was shocked that Minho once again ignored me all day. After what I heard last night, I assumed he would talk to me today. Apparently, I was wrong. I was especially hurt by the fact that he hadn't tried to fix it yet, how much could he really care if he wasn't even willing to apologize? Usually when we fought, it was over in a matter of hours, even our longest fight had only lasted a total of one day. The longer he ignored me, the more worried I became. As angry and hurt as I was, I just wanted Minho back. My Minho, not whatever the scorch had turned him into.

Mulling all this over in my head, I decided that I wanted to be alone for a while. I walked for a ways, zig zagging randomly through the streets before finding an empty two-story building near the edge of town. I wanted off the ground, and out of the way of any passing cranks. Once inside however, I realized that the only way up onto the second floor was to climb a pile of twisted metal beams. Slowly and cautiously I made my way to the top, breathless but proud of my achievement. The view from the upper floor window was breathtaking, I could see for miles. Endless scorched earth lay before me, with not even one green plant to break it up. Whatever happened to the world, it must have been truly terrible.

Sighing, I sit down on the floor, opening my back pack in search of my notebook and a pencil. "Oh where is it?" I huff, riffling through the many items scattered in the bottom of my bag. Suddenly, something is flung out of my bag, fluttering through the air before landing softly in my lap. Curious, I pick it up, temporarily forgetting about the pencil I was searching for. I hold up the object, which turns out to be piece of paper folded neatly into a triangle. Quickly I unfold the paper, pressing it to the ground to flatten out the wrinkles. The paper is covered from top to bottom in messy handwriting, jumbled words seemingly scribbled onto every available space. I cover my mouth in shock when I begin to decipher the note.

Skylar,
I don't know if I will ever see you again, so I'm writing this just in case. Hopefully, even if you can't find me, you can find your backpack. I'm not really sure what to say or how to say it, but I just wanted you to know this:
I couldn't have handled the past few months without you, and you're the best thing that ever came to the glade. I don't want to leave you, but I couldn't just leave Alby either, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not listening when you told me to be careful and sorry for all the other klunk I've put you through. You're beautiful and I love you Sky. I hope I'll live to tell you this in person, but I'm not sure how much time we have left. I can hear the grievers coming now. Wish me luck. If I don't make it, know that it wasn't your fault. Don't give up, Get them out. Oh and Take care of Newt for me.
Love, Minho.

By the time I've finished reading, I'm sobbing uncontrollably, unable to contain the outburst of emotions. He must've written it the night he was stuck in the maze. I can't believe I missed it for so long, and it just makes his recent actions hurt even worse. That was the Minho I knew, the one who would never leave a friend behind, who would die protecting someone he cared about. That was my Minho and I really want him back. Giving up on trying to get over it, I curl up on the floor and let myself cry. Not caring if the noise attracts cranks, not caring if the ceiling comes crashing down on me, not caring if the gladers leave without me. I don't have the energy to fight it any longer.

Eventually I quit crying, and just lay there silently on the floor, wondering what I did to deserve such a screwed up life. No one could deserve this, could they? But it's not about what we deserve, it's about what we get and how we deal with it. I decide that if I make it out of this alive, I'll take WICKED down brick by brick, make sure they can never do this to anyone else.

Suddenly, I hear the crunch of footsteps on broken glass the floor below me. I freeze, listening for the slightest hint as to who, or what is wandering around. Whoever it is, seems to be staying just as quiet as I am. I shift, propping myself up on my arm in an attempt to peak through the whole in the floor and catch a glimpse of the mystery person. I'm starting to seriously regret my decision to wander off without telling anyone. I could die and no one would know I was even gone. I realize I wasn't serious about not caring what happened, I was just overwhelmed. Stupid Skylar, just Stupid.

I'm almost close enough to see over the edge, when I hit a rock, sending it bouncing down the debris and onto the bottom floor. Wincing I back up, hearing the scraping of metal as whoever is below me starts to climb. I look around for somewhere to hide, but I'm trapped with no where to go. I pull out my knife, readying myself for a fight. I'm considering jumping out the window when I hear whoever it is slip and fall, landing on more broken glass and debris. Shattering them with a loud crash.

"Shuck it." The voice calls out, beginning to climb again.

Minho. Sighing I quit panicking and sit down, nervously waiting for him to make it up to me. I'm not sure how I feel about seeing him right now, but I'm just glad it isn't a crank. Maybe if he doesn't hear anything he'll turn around and leave again, I think, deciding to remain still and quiet. I hear him fall again and despite myself, I laugh, slamming my hand over my mouth the instant it comes out, but it's too late.

"Sky is that you?" He calls out from below. I'm not sure whether or not to answer, so I keep my mouth shut. "I know it's you, I'm coming up anyways so you might as well admit it." He says, and I hear him begin to climb again.

"Do you need climbing lessons?" Is the reply I decide on. Neutral, not exactly nice, but not exactly out of the ordinary as far as our jokes go.

"Sky, look I know you're mad at me." He sighs, knowing for sure now that it is me. "I get that you don't want to talk to me."

"Well duh." I respond flatly, although not entirely true. I do want to talk to him and fix it, but I don't want to deal with what it's going to take to fix it. And obviously if I wanted to talk I wouldn't be hiding.

"I don't blame you, you should be mad at me." He says, finally making it all the way up and pulling himself over the edge. Sighing, I help him up. I may be mad at him, but he's still one of my closest friends, and I don't want him to fall again and get hurt. "I should have apologized earlier."

"Well that's new, Minho admits he was wrong." I sneer, rolling my eyes. It's a cruel thing to say when he's apologizing, but I can't help it.

"Hey, I'm trying ok." He says sadly, "but just because you're mad doesn't mean you should go running off like this every time you don't get your way."

"I thought you didn't care what I did?" I snap, turning and walking away from him. I feel tears sting my eyes, just being close to him hurts when I know he's not really mine anymore. I don't know how much of this I can stand.

"Skylar..." He says, huffing at me in frustration. I'm being mean, and I know it, but much to my surprise, I don't really care. His words must've cut deeper than I thought.

Again to my surprise, I find myself heading to the window. On the other side is a small fire escape a few feet below, connecting it the the building next to it. But Minho doesn't know that. So when I jump out of it, he screams.

"Shut up or you'll attract all the cranks." I laugh, popping my head back up to look through the window. His shock and confusion is noticeable.

"Sky I thought you jumped." He says, looking like he might cry. I suddenly feel bad for it, I didn't know it would effect him that much.

I attempt to laugh it away, "I did jump, right onto the ledge."

"Don't do that again." He says sternly, ignoring my teasing. I nod solemnly, feeling rather guilty when he starts to slowly walk towards me. The look on his face scares me, and I wonder why he's so upset, until I remember. Newt. A silent 'O' forms on my mouth. My guilt just tripled. When he gets close, he holds out his hand, and I allow him to pull me back up into the room.

Despite everything, the second I'm back in the room he slams me into his chest, hugging me so tight I can barely breathe. "Please don't do that again." He whispers, running his hand through my hair. The action hurts to much, and I push him away, starting to cry again. Guilt or no guilt, I was still, very, very upset.

I'm so confused by my own emotions that I don't even know what to do. I just stand in the center of the room crying. "I don't even...." I stammer, seeing the hurt look on his face, "I don't know... I don't know...." It's all I can say, and it's true. I don't know. I don't know anything, I don't know what's going on or what to do, or what to say, or how to fix this, or how to get us out of this stupid desert. I don't know if I can get over it or if we will make it out alive. I just don't know.

With a listless glance I meet his eyes, "say something."