"Has he said anything?" Newt asked as we slipped into the room.

"No" teresa answered quietly.

Alby sat slumped against the wall, sweat dripping down his face. His hands shook. I dropped to my knees in front of him, Thomas close behind.

"Alby... alby, are you all right?" Newt asked

"Hey, alby" Thomas said gently

"Alby" I tried, my voice low but firm.
"We might've found a way out of the maze. Do you hear me? We can get out of here" I say

His head shook slowly. His eyes, red and wet, locked on mine.
"We can't. We can't leave. They won't let us" He says

"What are you talking about?" Thomas asked

"I remember" he said

I leaned forward.
"What do you remember?" I ask

His gaze darted between Thomas and I.
"You. And Thomas. You were always their favorite, Thomas. Always. Why did you do it? Why did you come here?" Albys voice cracked.

Before I could process it, shouts erupted outside. Newt turned toward the noise, but I stayed, frozen in front of Alby.

He put his head in his hands and started to sob.

I stood, ready to follow the others- but his hand shot out and grabbed my arm.

"Alby?" I whispered, startled.

His bloodshot eyes rose to mine.
"You were always the star. They praised you. They loved you. Your father-" he stopped himself, choking on the words.

My blood went cold.
"My...father?" I whispered back, barely able to breathe.

But Alby broke down again, head dropping, sobs shaking his chest. No answer.

I stumbled back, pulse pounding. Father. What the hell did he mean?

I shook it off- couldn't deal with it now- and sprinted outside.

The maze doors still stood wide. And then, with a grinding scream, every single opening along the walls began to slide open.

"Chuck, go to the council hall" Thomas instructed

"Winston, go with him. Barricade every door except one. Go, now!" I say, and they bolted.

Then something in me switched. I had done this before.

"Alright, listen up!" I turned toward the crowd
"Get the others- hide in the forest, in the trees. Go!" I yell, my voice steel though my insides shook.

"Minho, grab every weapon you can- spears, knifes, anything sharp. Thomas, Teresa- you're with me to help with alby." I finish

The ground trembled. Screams echoed. I turned back toward the doors just in time to see two grievers turn the corner.

"Everybody hide! Go!" I shouted, and everyone ran.

"Teresa, let's go!" I said, grabbing her arm as I saw her frozen.

We sprinted through the gardens, crouching low.

"Shh" I hissed, pressing the group down.

The silence didn't last. A griever tail lashed out, snatching Zart into the air.

"No! Zart!" I screamed, reaching- too late. He was gone.

"Run! Get to the council!" I shouted, and the group scattered. Thomas and Teresa kept close as we rushed to get Alby. Jeff and Clint half-carried him toward us.

"We gotta go" I yelled

"What's happening?" Alby croaked

"They're here." Thomas said

"Grievers?" He asks

Before anyone could answer, another boy screamed as a griever dragged him back.

"Run!" I shouted, shoving the group forward. A griever lunged from the side.

"Thomas- get them to the council room!" I ordered, sprinting the opposite way.

"Reyna!" Thomas's voice cracked, but I didn't slow.

"Just listen to me, damn it!" I snarled, sliding under a swinging tail.

I grabbed a spear from the dirt, then a knife by the kitchens, sprinting hard. The chaos was everywhere- screams, fire, crashing metal. Teresa hurled a burning drink into a griever, its screech cutting the air, and the group bolted again.

Alby collapsed, falling hard.

"Duck!" I screamed, launching my knife into a grievers eye. Minho and the others rained spears down on it.

"Go, go, go!" I pushed them forward.

Almost there. Then I saw a boy stumbling with a griever on his heels. Instinct kicked in. I lunged, tackling him out of the way.

"Get to the council!" I yelled, shoving him up.

The griever swung for me. I rolled, snatched my spear, and drove it into its mouth. Black goo sprayed as it shrieked, then I sprinted again.

"Reyna, come on!" Thomas yelled from the door. I dove through just as Minho slammed it shut.

We pressed against the barricade as the griever slammed into it. Then it climbed. A tail punched through the roof, yanking the support beam.

The ceiling caved in.

Screams. Dust. I shoved debris off me, scrambling to my feet. A boy cried for help- Thomas grabbed him, but the griever dragged him away.

I felt Chuck clutch my arm. Then another tail smashed through, swinging straight at him.

"No!" I yelled, shoving him aside, and the tail coiled around me instead.

"Reyna!" Thomas's scream tore through me as it dragged me upward.

"Pull her back!" Thomas shouted. Newt, Minho, Teresa- hands gripped me, pulling, straining.

"Dont let go!" Thomas yelled

"No shit!" I snapped, though my voice cracked. Tears stung my eyes as my grip started to slip.

"Please, please- I don't want to die" I muttered. My chest heaved.

Alby- broken, bleeding Alby- grabbed a beam and swung it at its tail, again and again, until it dropped me.

I fell straight into Thomas's arms. He held me up, eyes burning into mine.

"Thank you" I whispered, my voice shaking.

"Thank you, alby" I nodded, turning toward him.

He nodded weakly- then another tail shot through.

"Alby, no!" Thomas and I screamed as it wrapped around him.

He clung to a splintered beam. We each grabbed an arm, straining.

"Thomas, Reyna- get them out" Alby rasped.

"No, please-Alby, no" I begged, tears slipping.

But he just smiled at me.
"I'm sorry" he muttered

And the griever yanked him away.

"No!" My scream tore from my chest.
"Alby!" I yelled

I ripped free and ran outside, only to stumble to a stop.

The glade was unrecognizable. Fire. Smoke. Rubble. Bodies. The world was ending.

"Where is everybody? Who's that-?" Someone started, but then gally stormed forward and punched Thomas.

"This is all you, Thomas! Look around!" Gally yelled, thrashing against the boys holding him back.

"Back off, gally, this isn't his fault" Minho snapped

"You heard what Alby said. He's one of them! So is she!" Gally roared. Pointing at Thomas- and then me.

"One of who?" Newt demanded

"They are one of them and they sent them here to destroy everything and now they have! Look around! This is your fault!" Gally spat, glaring at me.

I froze, albys broken voice still echoing in my head: your father.

Before I could speak, Teresa's voice cut through:
"Thomas" she said

I turned. He held a griever stinger to his shaking hand.

"I need to remember." Thomas said, eyes flicking to me.

"Thomas-" I breathed, shaking my head.

And then he stabbed it into his own leg.

"Thomas!" Teresa screamed, catching him as he collapsed.

"Where's the other vial?" I yelled, sprinting to his side.

Teresa fumbled with it before finally holding it in her hands.

Then my eyes snapped to gally.

"You" my voice was venom.

"Reyna, no" Minho and newt caught my arms as I lunged for him.

"You see what you did, gally?" I screamed, fighting against them.

"He did that because of you! If he dies, i swear I will kill you! Do you understand me? You did this!" I yelled

"Rey-it's okay. He'll be okay. I need you to stop" newt begged, trying to steady me.

I finally stilled, chest heaving, eyes burning with fire I couldn't put out.