The Rogue Variable

Chapter thirty-three

It was five minutes. Only five to get all the keepers huddled inside. All of them had eager expressions, all laced with dread. The mustiness of the room was multiplied by ten, everyone knew what was happening. I sat at the far end by Minho. "Attention! I declare this gathering begun!" Alby shouted, and the room fell silent. Newt was a ways -away, by the middle of the line, next to Alby's chair. "We need to discuss what will happen to Ben, as it turns out, the arrow did not kill him,"

He gestured to Newt, who stood, "he broke one of our rules, he hurt another glader. Not to mention, that he's a builder, and he got stung by a Griever. He's not even a runner, so that's two rules he broke. But, he could've gotten off the hook. It appears that the changing made him crazy, nuts. He attacked a bloody newbie and Joannah, a keeper. She had to be put on bed rest! He went out there with the intent of murder, brought a bloody knife," he finished.

He sat down, while alby rose, "I believe banishment is the only course of action. We'll go one by one, each of yah shanks, say what you think. Ain't no idea too stupid, but let's try to make it serious, alright?" There were murmurs of good that in response. They went one by one, as said.

Zart said that he agrees, banishment. Same with Andy. Frypan quietly agreed, from what I could tell he was friends with everyone. When we got to gally, he gave me a sad look. "Um, I know you guys expect me to stand up for Ben, after all, he's a builder and I don't like Thomas very much, but- he attacked my sister, and also, he plain and simple broke the rules. Banishment," he solemnly announced. Newt muttered a banishment, along with Minho. It was my turn, but, I actually didn't really know what a banishment was.

"Okay, I'm not saying anything until I completely know what a banishment is. I'm guessing it has to do with throwing them out of the maze?" I asked, and alby began to explain, "we push them towards the maze right before the doors close. We have a collar to push them. And... After, in the morning, the Grievers always leave the collar," he bluntly said. My mouth opened closed, like a whale.

I was at a loss for words, "you kill them?" I hissed. "No..." Newt said. "It sounds like killing to me!" I exclaimed, rising from my seat. The old bandages were still in place, and when i stood, they could all see spots of blood seeping through my shirt. "You're bloody injured, you need to be fixed up, so you don't have a say," Newt said. I shook my head, "no," I hollowly laughed, "you just don't want me to have a vote. You want to kill him! He's my friend!"

"He tried to kill you, Joannah. It don't matter friend or not. That's attempted murder, and he succeeded in causing pain. Ain't got no time to argue," Alby exclaimed.

The realization dawned on me. Ben tried to kill me. He had broken two rules, which is as bad as me, but I didn't resort to murder. "Banishment or no, Joannah?" Newt asked. I just sat down, and stared at the floor silently.

"Well, you ain't disagreeing so that's a yes," Alby said, "it's unanimous. He'll be banished at the closing of the doors. This gathering is dismissed,"

Everyone turned to leave, but I didn't. We had just signed someone off to death. But I don't disagree. If it had been someone I didn't know, I would've made the decision quicker. But I knew Ben. And sad as it was, the monster that attacked me in the forest wasn't Ben. Ben is gone.

And that is one more person suffering death by Griever because of me.

The coincidence is uncanny.

Everyone had cleared the room except for me, sitting in my chair. Or so I thought, "are you bloody going to leave?" Newt asked. I still hadn't looked him in the eye since what happened. And now, I did.

Sadness was evident in his eyes, and it hurt to look. I stayed quiet, for I had nothing to say. He sat down next to me. "This is why," I whispered. "Why what?"