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"Cranks?" Frypan repeated The hairy cook had been silent until then, barely noticeable Thohtened than when they’d been about to battle the Grievers to escape the Maze Maybe this orse When they’d settled into bed last night, everything had seeood and safe Yeah, maybe this orse, to have that suddenly taken away

Minho pointed at the screa themselves Haven’t you heard it?"

"I don’t care if you call ’e to break through this stupid door!"

"Here," a shorter boy said, carrying a slender but solid fire extinguisher he’d taken off the wall―Thouilty for not even knowing this kid’s narabbed the red cylinder, ready to pile-drive the door handle Thoer to see as on the other side of the door, though he had a very bad feeling that whatever it was, they weren’t going to like it

Newt lifted the extinguisher, then slammed it down on the round brass handle The loud crack was accompanied by a deeper crunch, and it took only three more whacks before the entire unit of the handle crashed to the floor with a jangle of broken h to show darkness on the other side

Newt stood quietly, staring at that long, narrow gap of blackness as if he expected deh Absently, he handed the extinguisher back to the boy who’d found it "Let’s go," he said Thohtest quaver in his voice

"Wait," Frypan called out "We sure anna go out there? Maybe that door was locked for a reason"

Tho about this

Minho stepped up to stand right next to Newt; he looked back at Frypan, then onna do? Sit here and wait for those loonies to get in? Coh thebars anytime soon," Frypan retorted "Let’s just think for a second"

"Ti’s done," Minho said He kicked out with his foot and the door swung corow even darker on the other side "Plus, you should’ve spoken up before we blasted the lock to bits, slinthead Too late now"

"I hate when you’re right," Frypan gru past the open door, into the pool of inky darkness He felt a now-all-too-fa had to be wrong or the people who’d rescued theo But Minho and Neere right―they had to go out there and find soo first"

Without waiting for a response he walked through the open door, his body vanishing in the glooave Thomas a hesitant look, then followed For soo next, so he did

Step by step, he left the dorm roo out in front of hi froht as well have been walking with his eyes squeezed shut And the place smelled Horrible

Minho yelped up ahead, then called back "Whoa, be careful So"

Tho As if Minho had bu back and forth A grunt froht was followed by the squeal ofacross the floor

"Table," Newt announced "Watch out for tables"

Frypan spoke up behind Thoht switches were?"

"That’s where I’ a set of the blindly forward His eyes had adjusted a little; where before, everything had been a wall of blackness, now he could see traces of shadows against shadows Yet sos seemed to be in places they shouldn’t be It was alroaned, a shudder of repulsion, like he’d just stepped in a pile of klunk Another creaking sound cut through the room

Before Tho himself Hard Aardly shaped The feel of cloth

"Found it!" Newt shouted

A few clicks were heard; then the roohts, te he’d buure, sent it swaying away from him

"Whoa!" Minho yelled

Thomas squinted; his vision cleared He forced hihout the large roo―at least a dozen They’d all been strung up by the neck, the ropes twisted and trenched into purple, bloated skin The stiff bodies swung to and fro ever so slightly, pale pink tongues lolling out of their white-lipped lazed over with certain death By the looks of it, they’d been that way for hours Their clothes and some of their faces looked familiar

Thomas dropped to his knees

He knew these dead people

They were the ones who’d rescued the Gladers Just the day before

CHAPTER 4

Thomas tried not to look at any of the dead bodies as he stood up He half walked, half stuht switches, his terrified gaze darting between the corpses hanging throughout the roo under his breath Other Gladers were e as they realized what they were seeing; Tho He felt the sudden urge hi be taken away frohtened up as despair threatened to bowl him over

Then he remembered Teresa

Teresa! he called out with hisit with his eyes closed and jaw clenched Where are you!

"To out to squeeze his shoulder "What’s bloody wrong with you?"