It wasn't possible. There was no way that he stood here. Right in front of her, his heart still beating in his chest. She couldn't believe it. He looked the same. His freckles coated his face, and his eyebrows were arched, his nose scrunched as the sun glistened on his sweat. 

"Gally..." Thomas muttered. Aife said nothing, she could feel the anger rising in her chest, and she was suddenly aware of the extra eyes on the gladers. The silence was deafening. Before anyone could move, Thomas leapt forward and threw his fist into Gally's jaw, causing his head to snap to the side as he fell onto his back. Thomas chased after him, straddling the traitor before gripping onto his shirt and hovering his fist above his own head, getting ready to send down another blow.

 Unfortunately, just before he could, Newt interfered, grabbing Thomas's balled fist and pushing it down to his side. 

"Thomas, stop, stop. Stop!"

"He killed chuck." Thomas spat, his teeth chattering with anger as he breathed deeply. 

"Yeah, I know. I remember, I was there too. Alright? But I also remember, that he was stung, and half out of his mind," Newt reasoned, his tone low as he spoke to the raven haired boy, who was still dead set on beating the life out of Gally, "Just calm down, alright?" 

At that, Thomas slowly released Gally, pushing himself off of him before stepping back a bit, next to Aife and Frypan, who remained in place. 

Gally stood up, cracking his jaw and pushing his tongue against the inside of his cheek before tilting his head, "Kinda had that comin'. Anybody else? Fry? Newt? Aife?" He offered, avoiding eye contact with them as he listed names. 

Aife did nothing, she only stood there, with a look of disbelief on her features. 

"You know this guy?" Jorge questioned in Frypan's ear. The said boy spoke without taking his eyes off Gally. 

"He's an old friend. . ."

"How?" Newt croaked, his tussled hair fell over his forehead as he shook his head, "Ho-how-how is this possible? Wha- we watched you die." His tone was harsh as he spoke. 

"No, you left me to die." Gally corrected, and Aife nearly rolled her eyes as she scoffed lightly, "If we hadn't found you when we did, you'd be dead right now." There was a beat of silence before he glanced down at the floor, and back up at them. 

Aife noticed that he was barely making eye contact with her. 

"Minho. . . WCKED has him here." Newt informed, "We're lookin' for a way in." 

Gally paused, "I can help with that." He then moved to turn around, "Follow me."

"We're not goin' anywhere with you." Thomas protested lowly, shaking his head in what looked like disgust. Gally turned back around. 

Aife slowly placed a hand on his forearm, her eyes not leaving Gally's figure. Her face held what looked like amusement, and her eyes were narrowed In curiosity. 

"Suit yourself. But I can get you through those walls." Gally had insisted. 

Aife paused for a moment, they'd come all this way. It was no coincidence that they had ran into the former glader. 

"Well, show us the way." Aife ordered.  Newt's head snapped to her, his eyebrows furrowed in shock as his gaze traveled up and down her face. Gally simply nodded his head, nodding his head in the direction he intended on leading them before doing so. As they walked through the garage, Aife allowed her eyes to wander as Gally's words filled the air. 

"After the Maze, I got picked up by a group headed to the City. They realized I was immune, patched me up," He shrugged his shoulders, "And brought me here. To Lawrence."

"This groups been at war with WCKED ever since they took control of the city. But WCKED can't hide behind those walls forever." Aife heard Gally say over the murmers of the masked men who walked throughout the garage. 

"The day is gonna come. And they're gonna pay for what they've done." He rumbled lowly. Gally stopped walking, turning toward them as he glanced behind him. 

"Listen, uh-- He doesn't get a lot of visitors. So. . . let me do the talking. Alright?" The traitor reasoned, before abruptly turning and leading them forward, not waiting for a response. "And try not to stare."

The gladers remained in place for a moment before following. They made their way into an open room, plants and candles everywhere. Books were stacked along the shelves that were mounted against the wall, and Aife could hear a low murmuring sound. She pulled a face. 

They made their way down the steps, and Gally placed his weapons on a nearby chair. Suddenly, a voice echoed throughout the room. 

"Gally," Up ahead, was a silhouette that stood in the sunlight. A table filled with plants laid out in front of him. His hair was tussled, and he was bent over, seemingly reaching for something that was hidden behind the table. 

"Glad to see you made it back. Jasper told me what happened," He straightened his posture, his head slightly tilted back as he let out a deep groan. 

"There was a slaughter," Gally informed, shrugging his shoulders as he avoided eye contact. They still couldn't see the mysterious man, "There's nothin' we can do against those guns."

The man, Lawrence,  fidgeted with a rose in his hand, and stood next to what looked like an IV pole, "No, but they can only poke the hornets nest so long. . . Before they get stung," He brought the rose up to his face to sniff it. The man shifted ever so slightly, and Aife furrowed her eyebrows at the fact that he was missing his nose. 

"Now who are these people. And why're they here?" He sounded exhausted, not bothering to cast a glance at his guests. 

"We need to get into WCKED," Aife said, pushing away her anger for the said boy. For now. Gally whipped his head around to see the girl staring at the having no nose man intently, "Gally said you could get us through the walls." 

She still looks the same, Gally thought to himself, yet so different. 

At that, the Lawrence looked over, leaning against the wooden table before pursing his lips together, "Well, Gally should know better than to make promises that he can't keep."

The said traitor was now looking nervous, glancing around as he held his breath in his throat. He had told them he could help them. But now? He just looked like a liar. 

Lawrence sighed before gripping his IV pole, wheeling it to his left side so he could walk closer to the group of invaders, "Besides, that wall is only half your problem. Getting inside WCKED is impossible." He informed. 

"There might be a way now." Gally said, pushing his tongue against his cheek. 

"But it doesn't work without Thomas," Aife finished, tilting her head towards the said boy, who moved to stand next to her smaller figure. 

Thomas glanced down at Aife, his eyebrows pulling themselves together and slightly clenching his jaw, before reluctantly turning back toward Lawrence. 

"Is that so?" The noseless man mused. He shakily stepped forward, the light shining on his face and allowing his features to come into view. He had large scars, holes, on the right side of his face, that looked like barnacles, almost. He had moved closer and closer to Aife, and she could feel his warm, foul breath fanning over her face. 

Aife heard shuffling come from behind her, and could feel a body lightly pressed against her backside in a protective stance. 

Newt. 

"Do you know what I am?" His gaze flickered over to Thomas, "I am a business man," He whispered. 

"Which means that I don't. . . take, unnecessary risks," He looked back at Aife, "Why should I trust you?" 

"Because we can help you," Thomas muttered lowly, "You see, if you can get us through those walls, we can get you what you need." 

Lawrence tilted his head in curiosity. 

"And what is it, that you think I need?"

"Time," Thomas replied quickly, glancing at his IV bag and seeing that the blue liquid was almost emptied out, "Every last drop." When that runs out, there was a high chance that Lawrence would be dead. 

Lawrence exhaled, "Is that what I need," He mused. 

"We're getting something we both want." Thomas said, and Lawrence paused before wetting his chapped lips. 

"I'll tell you what. Two can go for now," he reasoned, "The rest stay down here with me." 

When Thomas said nothing, Lawrence declared, "Just  a little insurance to make sure you find your way back," His tone was unsettling, and Aife could feel Thomas stiffen beside her in discomfort. 

The gladers glanced at each other in uncertainty, but yet, they said nothing. 

"Do we have a deal?" Lawrence questioned, looking back at Aife once more, and narrowing his eyes before stretching his right hand out towards Thomas, offering a shake

Thomas hesitated before gripping, and shaking the mans old, wrinkly scarred hand firmly, causing Lawrence to smirk, "Gally, show em' the way."

______________________

I am definitely going back to edit every single one of these chapters.