Chapter 41

Thomas sprints from the Slammer toward the smoke at the Map Room, torn about leaving Teresa locked up. He finds Gladers gathered around an unconscious, bleeding Alby, with Newt tending him and Minho furious that Thomas left to speak with Teresa amid the disaster. The Map Room is charred and the trunks appear destroyed.

Minho reports Winston discovered Alby half dead near the blaze, and they first suspected Alby before noticing he had been attacked. Speculation briefly turns to Gally or even Grievers, but Minho dismisses blame as irrelevant. Thomas insists Teresa should be freed and that he has an idea that could still use the Runners’ recollections if the Maps are lost.

After tense pushback, Newt unlocks the Slammer and releases Teresa. Standing with Thomas, Teresa’s presence irritates Minho and Newt, but Thomas explains her fragmented memories: the Maze may be a code sending a message rather than a path to escape. He asks if the Runners remember enough Maps to test a theory.

Minho and Newt exchange a look, then reveal their secret: they hid the real Maps in the weapons room and placed decoys in the Map Room, prompted by Alby’s warning and the Ending. With hope restored and time short before more Griever attacks, Minho agrees, and they move to retrieve the hidden Maps so Thomas and Teresa can pursue the code.