Secrets | TMR | One

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Each runner is lined up against the wall right by the side of the North door. Minho paces back and forth in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back as he gives out orders.

"Today, we will be going out in small groups" he announces, "Newt and Leon - you two will be with me. And Kenny? You're with Addy."

Finally halting his steps, Minho turns to face them all. "It's important that we don't wander off from each other."

"Why?" Leon questions, causing the other three runners to look over to him.

"Yea, why can't we go out on our own yet?" Kenny chimes in.

"You have heard the noises during the night, yes?" Adeline chimes in, pausing for a moment and waiting for everyone to nod their heads. "There are things out there, and you haven't seen them yet, so you don't know what they look like, how big they are, or what they're capable of."

"But we've only heard them at night" Leon points out.

Adeline releases a harsh breath, rubbing her temples with her fingers for a second while she silently counts to ten.

"Just because we haven't seen them, doesn't mean they're not there" Minho retorts.

"Right, you three," the girl starts, pointing towards Minho, Newt and Ben, "you'll take the North door. Kenny and I will take the South. You lot ready?"

Each boy nods their heads in agreement, they disperse into their smaller groups before running into their allocated doors.

The first few hours of Kenny and Adeline's day is quiet, the pair of them barely uttering a word to each other as they jog through each corridor. Kenny has been assigned the job of jotting down every turn they take, and mapping out their route. Whereas, Adeline has been tasked with cutting the ivy from the walls to ensure there is no possible way of them getting lost.

After some time, Kenny suggests that they stop for something to eat. Adeline glances down to her watch for a moment before agreeing, and they both take a seat against one of the many walls of the maze.

''I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely knackered" Adeline says, her chest rising and falling harshly as she tries to catch her breath.

Kenny does not say anything, only nodding in agreement as he clutches the side of his stomach.

He takes a moment to even out his breathing before finally answering the girl. "Yea" he agrees, "and to think we have to do this pretty much everyday."

"I don't mind it too much" the girl confesses, "it's nice to get out of the Glade."

''What? This place doesn't scare you?'' Kenny questions.

Adeline merely shrugs her shoulders at the boy, taking a small bite from her sandwich before speaking. ''Not really, no.''

''It terrifies me'' the boy scoffs, looking at the walls surrounding him as he also takes a bite from his lunch.

He hears something in the distance, causing his head to whip around. ''Did you hear that?''

''Yea, I did'' Adeline confirms, her head also facing the direction of the noise.

The pair sit, frozen to the spot as the silence engulfs them. Neither of them speak, too busy trying to focus on the noise at the end of the hall.

It sounds again, but this time it is louder - closer. The two runners spring to their feet, but stay where they are, both too scared to move in case they create too much noise of their own.