˚ ༘✶₊˚. ⊹ ˚ . FIRST ACT
❪ THIRTEEN ♥︎ ₊˚༢࿐
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( description of self harm )

MAE KEEPS HER HEAD hung low as she walked past Alby's room, not wanting to see him tied to his bed as he tossed and turned in pain. She stood beside Jeff, who had allowed her to come along because she was a MedJack. Though, Gally was far from happy from being left outside, even though both Thomas and Minho followed in closely behind.

"Jeff, what's going on?" Newt questioned. "What's the matter with her? Why wouldn't she wake up?"

Mae frowned, "We all saw her come up at the same time, how're we supposed to know, Newt?" She says. The blonde raised an eyebrow at her attitude, and Mae quickly closes her mouth.

"What she's trying to say is, we got our jobs the same way you did." Jeff adds. "We don't know."

Newt turns to Thomas expectingly, "Do you recognize her?"

The boy falters, and Mae frowned at his obvious hesitation. "No," He said.

"Really?" He pressed. "Because she seemed to recognize you."

"What about the note?" Thomas changes the subject.

"We'll worry about the note later."

"I think you should worry about it now," Thomas insisted.

Newt clenched his jaw, "We've got enough to deal with at the moment."

"He's right, Newt." Jeff says, "If the Box isn't coming back up, how long do you think we can last?"

"No one said that." Newt tried to ease. "Let's not jump to any conclusions. We just. ." He thought for a moment, not knowing what to say. "We'll just wait until she wakes up and see what she knows. Someone's got to have some answers around here."

"Mae," Minho muttered, catching her attention. She hums, looking at him. The boy discreetly points to her sleeve, which was seeping through with blood, his face twisted with worry. "You okay?"

Mae's breath sharpens. She'd forgotten the cuts were there, and out of nerves she scratched at her arm, opening the wounds that were trying to heal. Mae didn't noticed. She was overwhelmed with everything that didn't even realize she was hurting herself by mistake.

"Will you excuse me a moment." She tells them kindly, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned her arm behind her back and walked out of the room.

Mae had ran straight for her hut, not stopping to talk to anyone else ━━ not even Chuck, who called out her name in worry. Gally, who had stopped his conversation with Winston to watch her go, dropped his shovel and followed after her.

She flung the blanket up and entered, quickly stripping away her dress. A small panic settled in her chest at the blood, and Mae grabbed a half empty water bottle and poured the rest onto her arm.

She stood in nothing but a short white nightgown that stopped at the knee. Mae winced, patting away at the blood before opening her draw and pulling out her gauze. She frowned, unable to unravel it and do it herself.

Gally pulled up the blanket. "What happened?" His voice was firm, no room in allowing her to lie as he grabbed the gauze from her hands.

"I just scratched it open, that's all." She mumbled, her face heating up in embarrassment.

"Sit down." He tells her. Mae sits down instantly, and he grabs at her arm and putting it on his lap.

She watched silently as he worked, her breath hitching whenever his hand grazed over her skin. His face was pinched in concentration, and Mae found herself leaning her head against his shoulder in exhaustion.

He didn't stiffen like he normally did, simply continued to work until her arm was completely wrapped up.

"What do you think about all of this?" His question was cautious and guarded, like he was dreading to hear the answer.

Mae sighed, burying her face deeper into his shoulder blade. She didn't want to talk about this, not when she knew she had a different opinion than him. She didn't want to argue with Gally, "I don't know."

His brows furrowed. "You don't know?" He repeats.

The blonde shrugs. "It's all a bit fast, don't you think? I just hope that girl wakes up soon, maybe she'll have some answers."

Gally holds back a scoff. "She's dangerous, too. She comes up a day after him, and first thing she says is Thomas' name? That can't be a coincidence, Mae."

"I didn't say it was." She backtracks, moving her head away to look at him. "I'm just saying it doesn't matter now. They're both here, same as us. I think we should worry more about getting out then fighting against each other—"

He stands up quickly, "Getting out? Why would you want to leave? Especially after last night, do you not realize how dangerous things are getting?"

Mae closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. "It's okay to admit you're scared, Gally—"

"I'm not." He seethed, though they both knew it was far from true. "I'm just being logical. We're safer here, Mae."

"Are we?" She stands up, her voice cracking with unavoidable tears. "Because I don't exactly feel safe!"

He quickly grabs her hand, his face flickering between concern and determination as he said, "I'll protect you, Mae, you know I will. Once we get back to normal—" He cuts himself off with a sigh, running a hand through his hair in hopes to ease himself, "I know we can build a life here, in the Glade. It won't be easy but it'll be safe."

"Is this really what you want?" Her question was just above a whisper, but Gally could hear it clear as day. "You want to stay here for the rest of your life? Aren't you even a little bit curious about what's out there?"

"I want to be with you." He said firmly without even thinking. Mae's eyes widened slightly, and Gally felt his face heat up. "Don't act so surprised. I don't give a shit what happens to everyone else, I just care about you. If that's selfish, I don't care. We can be together here, in the Glade, where it's safe."

But that was the difference between Gally and Mae, a different that they'd never see eye-to-eye on. Because while Gally cared about protecting only each other, Mae cared about protecting everyone. She cared about what was best for everybody.

And while Gally's selfishness was from the good of his heart, Mae couldn't bare it.

Then her mind drifted to Nick, her leader, her friend, who died just so the others could push forward — to find a way out of this labyrinth. What kind of person would she be by ignoring his sacrifice? By staying here and pretending that being in a cage was normal?

"Mae. ." Gally began, reaching up and brushing back a lock of her hair.

Her breath hitched, looking up at him and only feeling guilt. Here was Gally, a boy who never said how he felt, who always kept his guard up, expressing all the emotions Mae had been so patiently waiting for.

This was what she wanted, so why did it make her feel so bad?

"I don't think I'd ever stop fighting to be with you," He tells her, his face twisting in embarrassment at his words. No going back now, tell her. Gally swallowed his nerves, "Mae, I. .I really—"

She knew what he was going to say. She knew it, and it made her heart speed up and her chest hurt. Mae realized that couldn't handle it. She didn't want him to say it, even if she felt the same way, she couldn't bare it.

Because if Gally told Mae that he loved her, it would make leaving him behind harder.

"Mae?" It was Thomas.

The girl quickly pulled her hand out of Gally's, forcing herself to hold in a relieved sigh as Thomas pulled up the blanket and popped his head inside.

"Hey, I—" He froze, his eyes drifted to Gally, "Everything okay?" He steps inside. "What happened?" Mae realized why he looked so concerned, she had been crying.

"We're fine." Gally responds, his fist clenching at the sight of Thomas, "Kind of busy here, Greenie, so if you could just—"

"I wasn't asking you, Gally." Thomas said swiftly. It seemed he wasn't as scared of Gally as he was before, and it made the Builder's shoulders tense. "Mae, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," She says, moving between them with a comforting smile. "Is everything all right?"

"I just need to talk to you," He says, shifting on his feet as he glanced at Gally, "Alone."

Mae mentally winced, and turned to Gally would a small smile. "We can talk about this later, I promise."

He gave a stiff nod, and left without another word. Thomas waited until Gally was far enough away before taking a seat on Mae's bed. He glanced at her arm, which was now bandaged and out of his sight, but what Mae failed to realize was that her other arm was out and exposed.

Thomas furrowed his brow, examining the other arm. It cuts trailed up from the wrists to the forearm on each side, all in different directions, never in a straight line. It made his stomach twist. Was this what Chuck meant, when he said no one was allowed to talk about what happened after Mae survived the night in the Maze? Was this the aftermath?

"Please don't stare," Mae says softly, snapping him out of his thoughts.

His face heats up in embarrassment, and he quickly nods in understanding, "Sorry."

"It's all right." She whispered, taking a seat beside him. She stared at him for a moment, taking in the way his brows creased and his hands shook, "You aren't okay. ." She notes.

"I just. .I have a lot on my mind," He tells her. "And Chuck says you're always a good person to talk to, and honestly I really wanted to see you. ." He admits. "I just feel really guilty about these things—"

"Because you lied to Newt," She says, her voice soft and barely audible. Thomas froze, looking at her with panicked eyes. Mae took this as he moment to continue, "About the girl. You said you didn't know her. . .but you do—"

"I don't—"

"Maybe not on the surface," Her eyes searched his, trying to show him that she wasn't against him. "But you felt it, didn't you. .she felt familiar to you," After a moment, he nods. "She felt familiar to me, too." She admits.

Thomas' shoulders sag in relief. He knew it. He knew there was a reason he felt so drawn to Mae. She understood him, she didn't judge him or accuse him, she listened. He felt completely safe in her presence, like he could tell her anything.

So, he did.

"I feel like I've been here before."

He waited for her to cut him off, like all the other Gladers had done, but Mae simply listened.

"I knew that I wanted to be a Runner, a-and that girl, I knew her from somewhere, somewhere from before. And I've been having these visions, flashbacks about all these different things. ." He sucked in a breath, waiting for her to call him insane.

But, Mae reached over and squeezes his hand. "That must all be overwhelming for you," She says softly, "I'm sorry you felt like you needed to keep all this a secret. . .you must've felt so alone."

Thomas didn't know why, but in that moment his eyes drop to Mae's lips. His breath hitching, mesmerized by the naturally pink cupid's bow that moved with each comforting word. He found himself leaning into her.

"You're familiar to me, too." His voice dropped to a soft whisper, as if he was telling her his deepest secret. "I look at you and. .I can't explain it, it's like I just know everything is going to be okay."

Mae felt her heart squeeze at his words. She hated that she felt it, too. That being around him wasn't complicated or overwhelming. He carried a nostalgia that Mae felt safe in.

"Is there another reason," She voiced, turning her head away slightly, "That you've come here, I mean."

Thomas falters, "Oh, uh. Yeah—" He clears his throat, "I need your help. I'm going back into the Maze to find the Griever we killed, get some answers. I was, I was going to ask you to join me."

Mae froze, "Me? You're asking me?" She felt her mind spin.

Going back in the Maze? Asking the Mae to go back in the Maze was like asking a Griever not to sting you. But, she did want answered. And she did want to find a way out of the Maze in Nick's honor. She can't exactly do anything if she doesn't go back out there.

She felt stuck. On one hand, the last thing she wanted to do was relive her time in the Maze — which was only a month ago. But on the other hand, she felt obligated.

Sensing hesitation, he continued. "Newt said that no one has ever seen a Griever and live to tell about it, right? Well, we have. Me, Minho. . .and you. You're telling me you're not even a little bit curious?"

She mentally groaned. That was the exact thing she told Gally only moments ago, she'd be a hypocrite for saying otherwise.

"Minho would never let me step foot near the entrance," She tells him. His shoulders sagged in relief at the mere possibility that was she was thinking about it, "We'd get in serious trouble. Besides, I-I couldn't do it."

There it was again, her doubts. When it came to three years of the Gladers constantly reminding her that she wasn't good enough to do much besides stand there and smile, it gets to you. Surviving the night in the Maze didn't shake away the feeling of being a liability, it didn't stop her from not being enough to survive.

Nick was supposed to show her how to prove them wrong.

"I've been here for three days, and can already see how these people treat you." He says, "But I know the truth. Mae, you are the first person to ever run into the Maze and survive the night. The first person."

The way he said it made it seem like some kind of hero. But if that were true then why wasn't she able to save Nick?

Thomas grabs her hand, "Mae, you're capable of doing so much more, I know it. You wanna get out of here as much as I do, you want answers too. And can I be honest?"

She nods quickly.

"I think you're a badass," He grins.

Mae let out a genuine laugh, reaching up to wipe away the tears from her eyes. She felt her nerves wash away, she felt more determined then she ever had.

Yes, Nick was supposed to show her how to prove them wrong, but Thomas was here to help her now.

"Do you even have a plan?" She asked.

His eyes widened, "Seriously? You'll help?"

She gives a shaky breath. "This is what Nick would've wanted. To find our way out, to leave this place." She looked at him with the type of smile that made his heart leap, "And I trust you."

He nods. "I think it's time to find out what we're really up against." He pauses for a second, motioning to her attire, "Do you, uh, have anything to run in?"

Mae looked down at her dress, tilting her head in thought. "I think I can come up with something."

ﾟ✹ ｡･:*: ✧ ⋆·˚ ༘ * 🌷 ✶ ･:

MAE STARED AT HER REFLECTION in the old dirty mirror, adjusting the hem of her dark red t-shirt — which she had taken from Nick's old room. The exact room she was standing in. No one was allowed in there, and Alby didn't exactly have time to clean it out but Mae knew it was the perfect place to be when she needed to be alone.

She tightens the straps of the cargo pants, frowning at the multiple pockets and the uncomfortable fabric. The pants were baggy, and she needed to double-knot the front. Then, Mae slipped on a pair of shoes. The Creators gave pairs every year when asked but Mae never used hers until now.

She felt different. Mae loved her dresses, and her braids but there was something about undoing her hair and slipping on a pair of pants that made her feel more mature.

With a deep breath and a firm nod, Mae pulled the straps on her backpack and ventured out of Nick's room, avoiding any eyes when she ran passed Homestead and towards the woods.

A large grin appears on her face when she noticed Thomas, leaning against a wooden structure and moving his hands in a very impatient manner. He hadn't noticed her yet, and Mae used this as a way to walk up beside him.

"Look at us," She voiced, making him jump, "Sneaking around."

Thomas grabbed his chest, "We aren't sneaking around." He says.

"So if I raise my voice very loud—" Mae giggled when Thomas pressed his palm against her mouth, pushing her back against the wood with a panicked expression.

"Shh!" He muttered. His eyes trail down at her clothes, slowly removing his hand over her mouth, "You clean up, nice."

She gives a small shrug, "You look absolutely the same." He gives her an amused look, and she adds, "But you always look nice."

A snapping twig causes the mood to shift, and both Mae and Thomas quickly straighten. Minho appears, Frypan, Winston and Zart — Keepers. Chuck pushes slightly through them, too.

"Will this be enough?" Minho asked him, before his eyes fleet to Mae standing slightly behind Thomas, "Oh, absolutely not—"

"I'm going," She said firmly.

"No, you're not." Minho snapped, pointing back toward the Glade, "You're going back," He looks to Thomas, "What were you thinking? Mae?"

"What are you wearing?" Zart looks horrified at her lack of dress and braids, "Who is this person?" He asked Winston.

"She can handle it," Thomas defends.

"If Newt and Gally found out—"

"Newt wouldn't be as mad if I have you with me," She reminds him. "And as for Gally, he might be a Keeper but he's not mine."

Minho looks to Zart, Winston and Frypan, all of them having a silent conversation. Then, they all nod at the same time and turn back to Mae.

"Fine," Minho agrees, pointing at her. "But you stay by me at all times, you got that?"

She nods happily, "Good that."

"You guys all know what we're doing here, right?" Thomas reminds them, mostly looking to Chuck.

"Minho trust you? That's good enough for me." Winston tells him.

Thomas gives a firm nod, "Okay. Let's go."

Mae gives a shaky breath, and together the Gladers had run across the Glade in a silent unit, making sure to keep their heads down in the tall grass before running straight toward the South Doors.

She felt the presence of Chuck beside her fade, and quickly turned around. He looked horrified, his foot just barely touching the Maze entrance. It was then Mae realized she was fully inside of the Maze, she hadn't even registered it.

"Chuck, you okay?" Thomas asked, moving back toward him. "What's going on?"

Chuck couldn't bring himself to say he was scared out loud, and it made Mae smile in understanding, taking a place beside Thomas and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"It's all right, Chuck, we understand." She reassured him.

Thomas nodded in agreement, "Hey, you know what? I need you to stay here anyway," He says softly, "Keep guard and make sure no one knows we're gone, all right?"

Chuck gave a firm nod, relieved that he wouldn't have to go into the Maze.

"We'll be back." She tells him.

Without much thought, Thomas grabs Mae by the hand, their fingers entwining together as he led them both down a corner. Neither of them even realized it, running together down multiple passage ways.

She felt sick being back there, like she would run into the corpse of her old friends who had died in this Maze — but no, those were only in her dreams. This was her reality, and her reality consisted of trying to find her way out of here.

"Come on!" Minho bellowed.

The group of six stops in front of a narrow pathway, and even from there Mae could see the still claw of a dead Griever, which was smushed between a closed door.

With a soft tug, Thomas had moved them toward the Griever. Releasing her hand only when he knew it was safe.

"That's disgusting," Zart voiced, holding his stick firmly in his hands with a grossed expression.

Thomas steps forward, "There's something in there."

"You mean, besides the Griever pancake?" Frypan continued.

Mae tilted her head, "Looks more like a smushed jam sandwich," She corrects. The others nodded in agreement.

She saw it too, the flashing red dot from inside the wall. It blinked in a slow manner, making a soft beeping noise with each flicker. Minho had instantly stepped forward, never one to be scared.

"Woah, what are you doing?" Zart panicked.

Minho turned, giving him a look before shoving his hand into the entrance, fishing for the blinking light.

The Griever claw whirls to life, and Mae screams out. Thomas and Winston had pushed themselves in front of Mae instantly, causing her to stumble back at their force as all the boys crowded away from the Griever.

"I thought you said it was dead!" yelled Frypan.

"Was it a reflex?" Zart suggests.

"You hope," Winston scoffed.

Then, Thomas had an idea, "Come on. Let's try and pull it out."

With a sigh, Mae grabbed one part of the Griever claw, waiting for the others to grab their part before they all counted to three and gave a hard tug. It took them two good tugs before they managed to pull the claw out of the wall, causing them all to stumble over each other.

"Are you okay, Fry?" Thomas asked, reaching down and pulling Frypan up from the floor.

"Yeah, thanks, brother." He responds, turning to pull Mae up. "You good, Mae Mae?"

She takes his hand, and wipes off the dirt from her pants, "Never better."

They watch as Minho grabbed the slimy flesh of the Griever, pulling out the blinking mental part with a slosh of goo. Mae holds a hand over her mouth in disgust, and Zart goes the extra mile of heaving a little. Winston looked unbothered, Slicer things.

"What the hell is that?" Thomas voiced.

Minho exams it, "Interesting." He mumbled.

"Okay, whatever it is can we take this up back at the Glade?" Frypan asked. "Because I don't want to meet this guy's friends."

"He's right," Minho nods. "It's getting late, come on." He hands the object to Mae, trusting her most of all as they made their trek back toward the Glade.

Mae scrunched her face at the goo, but takes her time to examine it herself. WICKED. The object read, the bold letters sitting above a group of random numbers. Mae ran her finger over the large red 7, a frown appearing on her face.

     "What was there? In section seven, I mean." She pressed. Nick visibly stiffened at her question, and she backtracked. "Sorry. . ."

     "S'okay," He gives a shaky smile. "It was like. .a bridge and I think some kind of door, didn't really get a good look cause of all those Grievers. Dozens of them."

Is this from the same place Nick had been? Did it have something to do with the bridge and the door? Mae's shoulders tensed at the thought.

They were far closer to solving this than ever before.

my ankle might be snapped
but yk I gotchu guys with an
update, I've been slacking a
little bit <33

Thomas and Mae 🤝 Chuck's parents

10. 25. 21