#the moment where the things i've heard about this passage instantly make a whole new level of sense

[fictionadventurer]

It's a shame that Thomas is forever known for his doubt, because he has one of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the Gospels.

Doubt is only where his story starts. He's the only skeptic of the group because he's the only one who wasn't there at the first sighting. It's easy for the others to believe--they've already seen Jesus. Thomas, by only believing what he sees, is doing nothing less than what the other apostles have done. Yet as soon as he sees Jesus, he expresses faith that goes far beyond what they have shown.

His response to seeing Jesus isn't, "Oh, they were telling the truth." It's not, "You really are Jesus," or even, "You really are alive."

The first thing he says is, "My Lord and my God!"

This isn't just Thomas confirming facts. This isn't him building a scaffolding of observation and logic to work his way to understanding. This is him falling headfirst into the bright light of truth. He instantly understands that this is much more than one man risen from the dead, that the world is far more glorious than even the other apostles believed. His God is standing before him, and he doesn't hesitate to adore.

Thomas believes because he sees, but this belief goes far beyond what he can see. His exclamation isn't just an acceptance of the reality in front of his eyes, but a belief in a reality that is impossible to see or know without the gift of faith that comes from encountering the Risen Christ. The revelation and the faith are divine gifts, and Thomas' response to them is beautiful, and I think he deserves more credit for it.

[nothingbutfangirlsmut]

The Maze Trials: A Gally Fanfiction

Pairing: Gally x Emi(OC)

Summary: Emi, first girl the Glade has seen. Tougher than she looks and more than ready to prove it. Since day one her and Gally have been at each other's throats. Fighting constantly and not just with their words.

(Gally fanfiction which will include smut. It also has an actual story line. Think of it as an AU to the original Maze Runner. It'll mostly follow the main story line with some changes. Mostly focusing on Emi and Gally and their relationship.)

Chapter Twenty-Six

I had found out from Chuck that Thomas and Minho did in fact go into the maze. The young boy had also told me about strange loud sounds from inside the maze. I ran outside with Chuck to see a small group of gladers at the entrance. As soon as I reached the group I saw the two runners coming around the corner. A moment of calm washed over me knowing they were both safe. They ran inside past the group. We all followed them needing to know if they had found anything else.

"What the hell is going on out there?" Newt questioned the two.

"What the hell have you done now Thomas?" Gally asked harshly.

"We found something. A new passage. We think it could be a way out." Thomas stated as we all walked in a group.

"Really?" Newt and I asked at the same time.

"It's true. It opened a door. Something I'd never seen before. Think it must be where the grievers go during the day."

"Wait, woah, you're saying you found the griever's home and you want us to go in?" Chuck asked looking at them like they were insane.

"Their way in could be our way out Chuck." Thomas said simply.

"Yea or" Gally started as he shoved his way past Chuck and I to get close to Thomas.

"There could be a dozen grievers on the other side. Truth is, Thomas doesn't know what he's done as usual." Gally shouted.

The group stopped as Thomas whipped around to face Gally. The veins in his neck popping out as he strained to keep himself under control.

"Yea, well at least I did something Gally. What have you done? Huh? Besides hide behind these walls all the time." Thomas said sternly standing toe to toe with the builder.

"Let me tell you something Greenie, you've been here three days. I've been here three years." Gally stuck his fingers in Thomas' face.

"Yea you've been here three years and you're still here Gally! Alright? So what's that tell you? Maybe you should start doing things a little differently!" Thomas shouted in his face.

"Guys" I said sternly trying to step between them.

I placed a hand on both their chests trying to ignore the tingles that appeared when I touched Gally.

"Maybe you should be in charge Thomas. What about that?" Gally said as he wrapped his hand around mine stepping closer to the other boy.

"Guys! It's Alby!" Teresa's voice suddenly shouted from behind us.

We all turned to face her. Gally was still holding my hand tightly. I didn't mind it. I was happy to have this contact with him even though he didn't realize he was doing it.

"He's awake" Teresa added once we were all looking at her.

I felt Gally let go of my hand as we all went straight for the hut. Jeff was outside the door as if guarding it. He stopped the group by holding up his hand.

"Newt, Thomas, and Gally you can go inside. The rest of you have to wait out here." Jeff said opening the door.

The three boys stepped inside followed by Jeff then the door closed behind them. What kind of klunk is that? I've been here just as long as them. I need to know what's going on as much as they do. A hand on my shoulder pulled my concentration away from the door.

"Come on let's grab something to eat." Teresa said with a small smile.

I nodded feeling my stomach growl at the mention of food. I followed Teresa over to Fry's shack. He smiled and handed us both a tray of food. The two of us sat away from the boys. It was nice to have another girl here to keep me company.

"Can I ask what happened with you and Gally?" Teresa asked while keeping her eyes on her tray.

"He doesn't want to leave the Glade and I do. I think Thomas can get us out of here. Gally thinks Thomas is just screwing everything up." I stated quietly.

"Maybe he will come around. I mean he has to understand that your brother is just as important to you right?" She asked quietly.

My head snapped up to look at her. My brother?

"How'd you know that Thomas is supposedly my brother?" I asked her.

"I just assumed. I saw the two of you side by side in the look out. You look just alike. You have the same hair, features, and even make the exact same facial expressions. I just figured you were brother and sister." Teresa shrugged.

"We don't know for sure but like you said we do look alike and I had a dream the night before Thomas arrived where I had called him my twin brother." I explained.

I could see the sun setting in the distance turning the sky a light pink. Something felt wrong. I glanced around the Glade looking for anything that would make me feel this uncomfortable. As I scanned the Glade I saw just that. I jumped to my feet scaring Teresa.

"The door!" I shouted.

Instant chaos erupted in the Glade. The boys started shouting frantically.

"Shut it!" I shouted gaining everyone's attention.

They all stopped in they're tracks to stare at me.

"I want all of you to gather torches and any weapons you can find. Do it now and meet back here. Move it!" I shouted the order.

All the boys ran off to do as I had told them. I grabbed Teresa's arm to pull her behind me as I ran for the Med-Jack's hut. I didn't bother knocking on the door. I threw it open gaining everyone insides attention.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gally asked harshly.

"The doors" I panted.

"They're still open" Teresa finished for me.

All of their face's instantly paled as they exchanged glances. The boys including Alby who was now back on his feet ran out of the building. The other gladers had come back with torches and weapons. Most of us grab a torch and ran to the door. This has never happened. A sudden loud screeching sounded from behind us. It didn't sound like a Griever though. We all turned to see the wall opposite of us opening. I never even realized there was a door on the wall but there it was slowly opening up. The same horrible sound came from the right then the left. All four sides were open exposing us from every way.

"Hide!" Thomas shouted frantically.

As soon as he shouted that word every glader took off running in different directions. I heard the sudden and ear piercing screeches of several grievers from behind us as we ran. I was running beside Teresa as we both followed behind Thomas. We ran into the field of tall grass as quietly as we could. We stopped right in the center and huddled down in a group. I could hear the metal legs of the grievers and their menacing snarls growing closer. We all looked at each other all of us with a look of true fear on our faces.

A blood curdling cry from one of the gladers behind us had us all back on our feet. A griever had impaled him then tossed him away. I was frozen with fear and shock. I'd never seen anything like that in my life.

"Go! Go! Go! Go!" Thomas shouted pulling my arm as everyone else ran.

We ran back towards the main part of the Glade where most of the huts stood. A griever suddenly busted threw a small hut turning it into rubble as it came face to face with us. Every one shouted and skidded to a stop then quickly moving to go another direction. Teresa grabbed one of the jars of Gally's concoction. As she threw the jar I threw my torch. Both objects hit the griever at the same time making it burst into flames. It let out a painful screech as it staggered.

Thomas ushered us another direction away from the now burning griever. I glanced back to see the griever putting itself out. Then it turned towards us with another nasty snarl. We ran into the open Glade as fast as we could. I could see  gladers being picked off one by one by the grievers. Alby tripped causing him to fall to the ground. I almost fell on top of him but I caught myself in time to help him back to his feet. The griever was right in front of us now.

"Get behind me!" Thomas shouted as he threw his arms out to protect us.

The griever snarled and growled at him.

"Come on!" Thomas shouted at it.

Two spears flew threw the air both landing in the grievers face. It screeched as it tried to shake off the spears.

"Come on! Over here!" Frypan shouted as he and a few others ran towards us.

The griever broke one of the spears as it turned to face us again. I turned to run following behind the others. My heart was hammering in my chest. I didn't want to die not here not now.

"Over here!" Chuck shouted from the door of a hut as he held up a lantern.

We all turned running straight for the younger boy. Once inside Thomas and I grabbed whatever was closest to us to barricade the door. We stood in the middle of the hut all frantic and scared. The griever was circling the hut outside. It's snarls loud enough to be heard as it moved around. It banged on a part of the roof but it seemed unable to break through. It paused as we all huddled together. It banged harder causing all of us to back away in fright. It started moving again like it was looking for a way in.

"Stay back guys" Newt whispered.

The metal tail of the griever punched threw the ceiling making all of us shout and fall backwards. The whole roof seemed to cave in around us the next second. The room filled with dust making it harder to see and breath.

"Everyone alright?" Newt asked.

We all looked around as if to check that everyone was there but in the middle of all this chaos I had no idea who was with our group aside from a few people.

"Help! Help!" The sudden muffled scream had as moving.

One of the gladers was pinned under the fallen roof. Several of us moved to grab his out stretched hand but he was quickly pulled away by a griever before we could touch him. Another griever started scratching at another wall.

"Get away from there!" I shouted at the two standing close to the wall.

The griever's tail punched threw the wall grabbing the glader closest to it. The other glader standing close by was Chuck.

"Chuck!" Thomas screamed as a griever grabbed him.

We all darted quickly for the young boy. Thomas had grabbed Chuck's hand. I grabbed his other arm. We pulled trying to free him from the griever.

"Chuck don't let go!" Thomas ordered the boy.

"No shit!" Chuck shouted in fear.

In any other circumstance I would have laughed. Right now my brain could only focus on trying to save my friend. A sudden war cry from beside me had me turning to see Alby with a weapon. Our leader seemed to go mad as he used the wood as a club to beat the tail of the griever. He didn't stop until we all fell backwards with Chuck as the griever let go. Alby hit it again until it retreated from the hut. He screamed out of the hole at the griever.

"Chuck you okay?" Thomas asked him.

"Yea I'm fine" He groaned as we all tried to get back to our feet.

"Thanks Alby" the boy said turning to look at our leader.

We all heard the griever before we saw it. Before any of us could do anything it broke threw another part of the roof instantly grabbing Alby. Thomas jumped up quickly grabbing Alby's hand as he had done to Chuck.

"Thomas! Get them out!" Alby ordered him.

Alby pushed back from Thomas letting the griever take him.

"Alby!" Newt and a few others shouted as we rushed to the hole.

Our leader was gone. Alby was gone.

"Thomas!" Teresa screamed.

I turned to see Thomas heading for the door.

"Thomas no!" I shouted.

"Don't go out there!" Teresa shouted as we both tried to grab for him.

He easily avoiding our hands as he burst back out into the Glade. A horrible quiet settled around us. Only the sound of the crackling fire around us and the distant screams of gladers being drug into the maze.

"Where is everybody?" Teresa asked.

We all knew the answer to that but none of us dared to speak it.

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