I didn't sleep that night. None of us did. Gally had thrown Thomas, Teresa, and i in the slammer. The air was heavy, like the whole glade was holding its breath.

Thomas's head rested on my leg until he finally stirred awake.

"Thomas. Are you okay?" I asked

He sat up, rubbing his temples.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Chuck asked, his voice almost cracking.

I looked up- newt and Minho knelt beside him, both staring down at us.

"What happened?" Thomas asked

"Gallys taken control. He said we had a choice, either join him, or get banished at sundown with you." Newt said

"And the others agreed to that?" Thomas asked

"I didn't have a choice." I admitted.
"But for everyone else? Gallys convinced them that you're the reason this all happened" I say

Thomas's jaw clenched.
"Well, he's been right so far" he says

"What are you talking about?" Minho asked

Thomas drew his breath.
"This place. It's not what we thought it was. It's not a prison, it's a test. It all started when we were kids. They would give us these challenges. They were experimenting on us. And then people started disappearing. Every month on the dot like clockwork" he said

"They were sending them up into the maze" newt said, catching on.

"Yeah, but not all of us" Thomas said

"What do you mean?" Newt pressed

Thomas's gaze hardened.
"Guys, I'm one of them. The people who put you were, I worked with them. I watched you guys for years. The entire time you have been here, I was on the other side of it. So were you" Thomas said, glancing at Teresa.

"What?" She whispered

"Teresa, we did this to them." He said, his voice breaking.

"No. That can't be true" she shook her head, refusing it.

"It is. I saw it" he says

I swallowed hard.
"Was I?" I ask

Thomas blinked at me, confused.
"Thomas, did I work with them?" I ask

"Reyna-" Newt started, but I cut him off.

"Thomas, answer the question!" I snapped.

He hesitated.
"Yes. But you weren't with us. They had you in something called-" he starts

"Project Titan" I finished for him, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded.

"Reyna, what are you saying?" Minho asked

I finally lifted my eyes to them.
"I haven't been honest. I've remembered more than I told you. I was in a different maze- for four years. It wasn't like this one. It was built for kids in Project Titan. They tested us in everything- speed, strength, combat. And I...i passed" my throat tightened.
"Because I made the grievers. Every death out there? That's on me" I finish

The silence was crushing. Newts eyes were unreadable.

Teresa whispered.
"Why would they send us up here is we were with them?" She asks

"It doesn't matter" Thomas said, still staring at me.

"He's right." Newt cut in. His voice was firm, steady.
"It doesn't matter. Any of it. Because the people we were before the maze don't even exist anymore. These creators made sure of it. But what does matter is who we are now, and what we do right now. You both went into the maze and found a way out." He said

"But if I hadn't, Alby would still be here" I said

"Maybe. But I know that if he were here, he would be telling you the exact same thing. Pick up your ass, and finish what you started. Because if we do nothing, that means Alby died for nothing. And I can't have that." Newt admitted

A smile tugged at my lips despite everything.
"Okay, momma newt. But we gotta deal with gally first" I said

Thomas's mouth twitched.
"I have a plan for that" he says

"Of course you did" I muttered, rolling my eyes.

They dragged us out at sundown. Two boys carried a limp "unconscious" Thomas. Teresa was tied up. Two more had their hands locked tight on my arms. When they dropped Thomas to the dirt, gally looked down at him like he was trash.

"This is such a waste" he muttered

"Gally, this doesn't feel right man." Winston said

"Yeah- what if they are right? What if they can lead us home" Jeff added

"We are home. Okay? I don't want to cross anymore names off that wall." Gally snapped.

I scoffed.

"Want to say something, Reyna?" Gally sneered.

"Yeah. You're a dumbass. This place isn't home. And you can't expect us to rot here just because you're too scared to leave. I'd follow a greenie into the maze before I'd follow you anywhere" I spat

His face twisted.

"Banishing us isn't going to solve anything." Teresa cut in.

"You're right, it won't. But this isn't a banishing. It's an offering" gally said

"What? Wait! Gally, what are you doing?" Teresas eyes widen.

The boys started tying her tighter. Mine shoved me forward, but I dug my heels.

"You really think I'm gonna let Thomas or Reyna back into the maze after what they've done?
Look around you! Look at our glade! This is the only way. And when the grievers get what they came here for everything goes back to how it was." Gally yelled.

"Are you listening to this? Why are you all still standing there? He's crazy!" Teresa yelled to the crowd

"Shut up" gally snapped.

"If you stay here, the grievers are going to come back. They are going to keep coming back and keep coming back until you're all dead." Teresa said

"Shut up! Tie him up!" Gally spat, but the boys don't move.
"Did you hear me? I said tie him up!" Gally yelled, and they started at Thomas.

"Now, Thomas!" I roared, driving my elbow into one boys ribs and kicking the other to the dirt.

Thomas surged up, knocking the rest aside. Knives flashed as Minho slashed Teresa free, then me. Newt tossed me a blade. I caught it, stepping toward Thomas's side.

Gally smirked.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" He said

"You don't have to come with us, but we're leaving. Anyone else who wants to come now is your last chance." Thomas called out

"Don't listen to him, he's just trying to scare you" gally snapped

"No, he's not! You're already scared. Hell- I'm scared! But I'm done shutting down. I'm done letting them use me. I want us all to get out of here. I want every single one of you to survive. We deserve better than this" my chest heaved, my voice low.
"Don't let them keep us trapped. Out there- we at least have a chance." I say

Silence. Then Winston stepped forward. Then Jeff. One by one, more boys crossed to our side.

"Gally" I begged.
"it's over. Just come with us. Please" I say

But he just glared, his face stone.
"Good luck against the grievers" he said

He turned and walked away.

I exhaled sharply and tightened my grip on the blade.
"Let's move" I call out 

We ran as one- feet pounding, weapons clenched.
"Everybody this way! We're almost there" Thomas shouted.

We reached the passage. Thomas and I moved to the front. I peeked past the wall and cursed under my breath.

A griever crouched by the doors, waiting.

"Is there a griever?" Chuck whispered

"Yeah." I nod

"Shit" Chuck muttered

"Chuck, you take this. Stay behind us." Minho said, handing him the key.

"It's okay, just stick with me" Teresa whispered to him. She glanced at me- I nodded back.

Thomas lifted his voice slightly, steady and sharp.
"Once we're through, it will activate. And the doors will open. We stay close, we stick together. We will get through this, or we die trying." Thomas said

"Bossy Reyna, any words of encouragement?" Minho teased, even now.

They all looked at me.

I smirked, twirling my spear in my hand.
"Yeah. Let's kill a griever- and stay alive while doing so. Time to rain down hell on WICKED" I say

Weapons lifted. Our war cry tore through the air.

And we charged.