I lean against the door, straining her ears to hear what was going on but I only catch a few snippets of the conversation, mostly consisting of Newt telling Gally to shut up. It's been hours but suddenly, the door swings open, sending me stumbling for my footing, and Gally barges out yelling, "-Kill you if I have to!"

I didn't catch what he'd been saying before but I'm not sure I want to. As the angry boy stalks of he shoots me a malicious glare, seeming barely able to restrain himself from kicking me, or worse. I peer into the room through the ajar door to see the boys staring in silence. Tommy sits frozen, his face stricken with fear and eyes cast to the ground. I want to run inside and hug him, but one of the boys stands and closes the door, casting an apologetic look towards me as he does.

I grumble to myself, upset that they still weren't finished even after Gally's grand exit. My thoughts drift back to the first memory I received. The similarities are uncanny. Gally had gotten upset and stormed out in the memory just like he had today, only this time the reasons and location were different. Then again, I don't know the reasoning or location for either. I know I'm in the Glade but I have no idea where the Glade really is. I could be on entirely different planet for all I know. But what really bothers me is that I have no idea where I'd been in the memory.

I squeeze my eyes shut, straining my brain to search the locked up memories for answers. I push back through my memories, all the way to waking up into the Box, but it's as if there is an invisible wall keeping me from wandering any further back. Finally, my efforts reign in results.

"Addy?" Thomas walks over to where I sit on one of the many bunks in the dormitory. My heart is heavy thinking about all the other girls that used to occupy the other beds. "It's time."

Everything tells me not to go with him, but I know that fighting will do me no good so I grudgingly leave the safety of my bed and go with him. I try to get myself excited knowing that I'm finally going to be reunited with my friends, but I can't bring myself to fake anymore emotions.

"You'll be alright," my brother promises. "You'll fit right in. You always have." A hint of jealousy taints his words. "You're smarter then them. I know you don't want to be, but it's true. You'll solve it the moment you get in there."

"Thanks Tommy," I mutter, my voice void of emotion.

Tommy gives me the side eye. "Don't you trust me? You'll be alright. I've been doing everything I can to make the transition as smooth as possible. You know that."

I nod and Tommy embraces me. I want to stay in his arms where it's safe, but he let's go and leads me to the door.

Tommy and I walk down a long, empty hallway. His hand grips around my arm tightly but I feel lucky that he's my only escort. Many of the others weren't so lucky. He leads me towards a door and my panic grows. I swallow, trying to force the anxiety down, and breath deeply while reminding myself I'm going to see the girls again. Sonya and Harriet. My best friends. I'll be happy.

Tommy pushes the door open and I walk through, forcing myself to be calm. I can't have a panic attack or I won't get to do this with just my brother. I'm in a white room containing only a rolling steel tray containing a variety of tools that remind me of those one might find in a dentist's office but larger and significantly more powerful, and a cot covered in a thin, crinkly paper for sanitary purposes. My anxiety rises again, though I did my best to force it down. I clench my teeth and remind myself again that I just have to escape the Maze and get to the boys. Then I'll be fine. It'll all go back to normal.

"Tommy, please," I beg. "Please don't do this!"

My brother looks down guiltily. "I have to. You know that." He steps closer and I back away.

"Please," I whisper. "I don't want to forget."

Thomas leans in to give me a hug and urgently whispers in my ear. "Listen, I think I've found a way to weaken the Swipe. It won't stop you from losing your memories, but you'll lose them slower and gain them back quickly. I'm going to wake you right after the chip so you'll have to fake it until you're in the box. Once you're there, write down everything you can remember, just in case. The strain on your brain might knock you out still, so be quick. I'm going to convince them to not give me the Swipe, so I'll get back to you as soon as possible." He slips a pen up my long sleeved shirt as he pulls away. Loudly, he says, "It'll be ok. You knew this had to happen. I love you Addy."

He doesn't wait for a response before plunging a needle into my arm. As the world fades to black, I notice that he pulls it out before the liquid is entirely gone.

"Everything's going to be alright, Addy. I promise." The words slur together and I fade into nothingness.

I open my eyes, gasping. What. Just. Happened. I think. Why would my brother do that to me? What was he doing to me? My right arm stings as if remembering the pinch of the needle piercing my skin. Was Thomas the one that stole all of our memories? He was talking about losing them before he injected the syringe so that must've been it's purpose. He didn't give me the full dosage though so he must've meant to stop me from losing my memories. I suppose it worked because they are coming back and it seems that I'm the only one experiencing that.

But what about the girls? I wonder. In the memory, I'd been constantly comforting myself with the thought that I would see the girls again, but I'm the only one here. There are no other girls.

"Addy?" Chuck's voice breaks me from my thoughts. "You alright? You look like a shuck ghost just klunked right in front of you."

I smile at the boy and roll my eyes at his joke. "I'm fine, thanks Chuck. Just thinking."

Chuck nods and his mess of dark curls bounce. The door opens and the boys pile out quickly. I stand up and search the crowd for my brother, Newt, or Minho. Of course they're the only ones I don't see.

"Oh, sorry Addy, I've just remembered. I've got to get Thomas. Where is the Greenbean anyway?" Without waiting for an answer Chuck knocks on the door and pushes it open.

The three boys I'd been looking for all turn as he walks in. I follow. Thomas is grinning and I grin back, relieved knowing that means good news, but his smile vanishes when he catches Chuck's eye.

"What's wrong?" Newt asks, walking over.

"Medjacks sent me," Chuck begins but Newt interupts by making for the door. "Er, he doesn't want you. Alby's been asking for Thomas."

Thomas' eyebrows shoot up in surprise and he glances at me as if asking for help but I don't know what to do. Newt's face falls as Tommy and Chuck leave, but he doesn't protest. He shakes his head and declares, "No way I'm not goin' with them." Newt makes up his mind and follows the other boys out.

"Wonder what that's about." I'd almost forgotten Minho was there until he spoke.

"Yeah," I agree. "So what happened?" I ask, finally remembering the entire reason I was here in the first place.

Minho grins mischievously. "Let's just say, you're welcome."

"I'd thank you, but first I'd like you to tell me why I'm thanking you. That was an incredibly vague answer." I raise my eyebrows expectantly and pop a hand on my hip.

"I helped the Greenbean get off with just a day in the Slammer and made him a Runner," Minho states proudly.

"What?" I gasp. "I thought it was really hard to become a Runner!"

"It is! Your brother is lucky I was there to help him because there's no way he would've never become one without me." Minho's ego continues to grow, a feat I never thought was possible.

"When are you going to make me a Runner too?" I ask.

Minho chuckles uncomfortably. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen."

"And why's that?" I ask, staring pointedly as if daring him to tell me I can't.

Minho opens his mouth and closes it again. I can almost hear the words, "cuz you're a girl" on his lips, but Minho intelligently keeps his mouth shut. "Listen," he says finally, "it's really hard to be a Runner."

"You're a Runner," I point out. "I can do anything you can do. And more."

Minho rolls his eyes. "You wish."

"I could! You just won't give me a chance because I'm a girl!" I accuse.

"That's not true!" Minho says. "We don't give anyone a chance as Runner because it's too dangerous! Plus, we don't need any more Runners. Thomas takes the last spot."

His points are fair, much to my dismay. "If it's too dangerous, why does anyone go out?"

Minho pinches the bridge of his nose and puts a hand on his hip in annoyance. "Because we want to get out of this shuck place!"

He's right again so I move on to my next point. "Thomas ought to have a partner. Since he's a newbie and all. I could do it. I'm fast."

"Shuck it," Minho mutters. "Thomas doesn't need a shuckin' partner! That kid killed a Griever! He's the last Runner I'd give a partner! Just drop it. You'll never be a shuck Runner and that's that."

"You don't get to tell me what I can or can't do! I'm probably faster than you but you don't want to admit it!" I declare my voice filled with challenge rather than anger.

"We'll see about that!" He hollers stretching his legs. Minho's ego can't back down to a chance to show off. "First to the East Wall and back. Ready? Go!"

I pump my legs as fast as I can and let the wind rush through my hair. Minho pulls ahead of me and I push myself harder. How am I able to run like this? I can't just show up and be able to run as good as the best Runner in the Glade. I think. I must've trained before. Wherever that was.

I brush the cold stone of the Wall with my fingertips and turn as fast as I can back to the Homestead. Minho and I are neck and neck so I put on a sudden burst of speed and barely scrape a win.

I turn around, walking backwards, as I taunt Minho and rub in my victory. Just then, Newt and Thomas are walking out to get food and we collide. I flail my arms in an attempt to balance myself, hitting Thomas straight in the face, and tumble to the ground right on top of Newt.

"I'm so sorry!" I gasp, jumping up and stretching my hand to help him. Guilt manifests itself as heat in my cheeks.

Newt takes my hand and pulls himself up, but doesn't let go yet. "You seem to like crashing into me!" He chuckles. My blush deepens, but he's not entirely wrong. Finally, his chocolate brown eyes flash in realization and he notices that our hands are still clasped together, dropping his.

I awkwardly let my hand fall to my side, muttering my apologies. "Hungry?" Newt asks.

I look back at the others before responding. Minho asks, casting me a suggestion glance. His black eyebrows pop up twice and I glare at him.

"You want to eat?" Thomas moans. "I'd more likely puke after what I just saw." Looking at him, he does seem a bit green. I cringe at myself for not noticing until now and walk over to rub his back.

"Well I am," Newt declares. I notice that his own cheeks are still scarlet and smile against my will at it.

"I second that!" Minho agrees.

We steal sandwiches and veggies from a grudging Frypan, he still hasn't fully forgiven Newt and I for using his kitchen, and plop down to eat. Tommy only picks at his food so I rest my head against his shoulder in a lame attempt to comfort him. The question of what he did to me in the memory lingers in my mind, but he doesn't remember. He's still my brother and I'll try to console him, but I don't want to ask about what happened with Alby. Hearing his anguished screams is enough.

We've got to get out of here. Adds. It's the first time Tommy has spoken in my head for a while. He gives me a depressing look as the words glide into my head.

I know. I think to him. I know. We will. I hope.