Freezing Fire - The Maze Runner

Chapter Twenty Five - Escape

My leg muscles were aching from running, and I was reminded again of why I wouldn't have been a Runner even if I was asked to be. Then thoughts of Runners trailed onto thoughts of Minho and then I realised he wouldn't get to see the escape he had worked for for three years. Tears trickled down my cheeks as I ran on. I couldn't stop. For Minho.

Jack, a Runner who had been told where exactly the exit is by Minho, was leading. I could see the confidence in his steps, and knew he knew where he was going. I sent a little thank you in my head to God. Yes, after everything I'd been through, I was Catholic.

All you could hear was the panting breaths of the Gladers and their footsteps. In the silence we seemed so loud. No one spoke. I knew what we were all listening for: I was listening for it too. A sound a Griever was coming. Somehow I knew we would face trouble on our escape. If the Creators had put us in this Maze, they wouldn't want us to get out.

A Beetle Blade scuttled across the wall and into the ivy blanketing the Maze walls. "Of course," I whispered to Frypan, who was running beside me with a surprisingly even pace. "W.I.C.K.E.D will be watching." Frypan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, probably commanding the Grievers to wait for u-" He was cut off by a sound. A scraping noise that echoed through the corridors. Everybody stopped. "Uh oh," I knew what that meant. A Griever was coming. We weren't going to make it out alive, at least not all of us. I gulped. "Ironic." Frypan said as the noise slowly faded. I nodded, unable to speak.

The incident with the Griever made us all realise the dangers of the Maze. As we went, our footsteps were quieter, our breathing forced to be silent. I felt as if I could see everything in perfect detail, from the small drops of dew on the ivy leaves to the tiniest of pebbles on the ground. I was listening hard, hoping that we wouldn't come across a Griever.

I looked around at all my friends. Issy, Newt, Frypan, Chuck, Thomas. And I knew I couldn't bear to lose another. And so I ran. I ran smack into a slimy yet hair beast, the flesh sucking me in. I pulled myself out with a wet slop sound. Gagging at the smell, I stepped back, and realised the smell was the stench of death as I looked into the monstrous eyes of a Griever. How had I not heard it coming? Everyone stepped back in unison, me stepping back the furthest. Raising my spear in a shaking hand, sweat dripping down my face, I stared at the Griever until it shrieked. Stabbing frantically at the monster, I screamed, unaware I was even doing so. It was a batle cry, and all the Gladers joined in. Charging at the creature, we yelled, stabbing it with our spears until it backed into a corner. Then, a moment later, it lay dead, mauled to pieces by angry and revenge-needing Gladers.

The group of Gladers stood there for a minute, panting. "Being mad is exhausting," a Glader who I had never had the time to learn his name, breathed. Then another, whose name I think was Julian, laughed. It was nervous, shocked laughter, but laughter all the same. Relieved, we all started laughing. Then a single click stopped us, the silence engulfing us. "Another one," I whispered to Frypan. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, and his expression was so terrified, I put a hand on his shoulder. He calmed slightly. I turned, leaning into Newt. "I love you," I whispered, then ran towards the noise.

It felt like the first time I had told Newt that. Was it? I hoped I would get to say it again. I prayed as tears streamed down my face and Gladers came on my heels to fight our way out of there.

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The rest was a blur. I barely felt it as the Grievers' sting buried itself in my chest. The pain came as it pulled it out. The pain came when I heard Newt and Issy scream. I fell to the ground on my stomach, pain rendering me still except for the tears running down my cheeks as I choked and spat. Blood. I felt hands tugging me and I was facing the sky, in Newt's lap, his face and Issy's, streaked with tears, leaning over me. "I love you guys," I whispered, my voice breaking. "No, no, no," Newt told me. "You will live. You have to," he buried his face in my hair and I raised my arms to hug him. It required a great amount of effort. I felt a thin stream of blood run out of my mouth as I smiled weakly at Issy. The pain fired through my veins one more time as it all faded to black.

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No, I promise I'm not heartless. The next chapter reveals some things, so that makes up for it I guess? Oh and a few chapters ago I lied, it wasn't the only one in Issy's perspective, the next one will be also. Thank you for reading! P.S If I can reach 200 views (I know, sounds sad) by the end of this book we will have a sequel! Love y'all, have a good day/night. Bless you all.
AvoKitty3