MIZPAH, tmr | minho

𝖎𝖎. alternative ending

ALTERNATIVE ENDING II

Aurora and Minho were running Section Three, occasionally mapping it and having a nose around. Aurora had an arrow resting in the bow, ready in case she needed it. But she always hoped that she wouldn't.

Lunch was the same as each day: leaning against a wall, eating the sandwich's that Frypan had prepared, drinking mouthfuls of cold water and the occasional scattered kisses.

Aurora packed her lunch things back away and stood up, dusting her trousers down which were caked in dust and mud. Minho just leant against the wall, looking smug because his trousers were perfectly clean.

"You smug shank." Aurora muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at Minho's expression.

All of a sudden, the ground beneath Aurora and Minho began to frantically shake. Aurora swallowed — this didn't seem good. She glanced at Minho who had a similar expression of concern woven onto his face.

"I don't like the feeling of this." Aurora murmured as she picked her bow and arrow up again, "We should head back to the Glade."

Minho seemed to have that exact same idea as he removed his sword from the sheath that was attached to his belt. "I agree, let's get out of this shuckin' Maze for today."

The two began to run back towards the Glade, as fast as their legs would carry them. The ground beneath them kept shaking, as if it was following them. The Maze walls looked like they were going to crumble and fall any second.

Not long left to run, Aurora thought as she kept running, almost there.

Minho was running slightly ahead of Aurora, although he kept looking back — making sure that she was still behind him. If the day couldn't get any worse, Section Three began to change, the walls turning and moving — defying all laws of physics and everything that was humanly possible.

"Why is the Section changing?" Aurora gasped, running even faster, "It's not meant to change until next week!"

"No idea!" Minho shouted, "We've got to keep running!"

No way! Thanks for that, I really had no idea.

The walls began to move closer together and they were running straight through it. It was a death trap. The two walls they were running between were almost shut, Aurora and Minho had to sideways run in order to fit.

They glanced at each other and nodded, Minho slowly down slightly so Aurora could grab onto his hand.

"There's a fat chance that we ain't gonna get out of here alive." Minho said as the couple ran through the closing Maze.

"So optimistic." Aurora replied, smirking at Minho and holding his hand ever so tighter.

"Yeah I know," he replied, rolling his eyes. "But I want you to know that I love you."

She smiled and squeezed his hand as their feet continued to slap down loudly onto the Maze floor. "I love you too."

They smiled at each other before running again, their legs beginning to ache and feel on fire. Minho pulled Aurora along as they went a different route back to the Glade, in order to avoid the closing Maze walls however the destruction and change seemed to follow them like a shadow.

They ran with all all their might, turning round sharp corners and backing up as pieces of the Maze began to fall, intent on crushing them to death. Their hands remained joined, heartbeats in sync, as they continued to run. Aurora thought that she could hear her heavy heartbeat in her ears.

They came to a quick stand still as they tried to regain their breath back, Aurora bending over with her hands on her knees as she panted like a dog, her throat feeling sore and dry. Minho was leant against one of the walls, hands resting behind his head.

"I say if we continue to run through Section Nine, cut through to Section Seven and then run through Sections Four and Five, we should be back at the Glade." Minho said, Aurora nodding as he explained their plan. "Anyone shuckin' clue why the Maze wants to kill us today?"

She shrugged and laughed quietly. "Your guess is about as good as mine." Aurora said, standing back up straight to prepare to run again. She walked over to Minho and gently kissed him on the lips, him bringing a firm hand to her waist. Aurora pulled away and smiled: "Ready to go again?" she asked.

Minho nodded and stepped away from the wall, bringing his hand to intertwine with Aurora's once more.

The pair took off like a bullet, sprinting through the Maze as sounds of destruction echoed behind them with loud crashes and bangs. Aurora gulped and glanced at Minho who seemed to have the same reaction as her.

They entered Section Seven and sprinted for several minutes before taking a sharp left turn into Section Four. The destruction continued to get louder and louder, it seemed as if the Creators were hell-bent on killing Aurora and Minho that day.

Aurora was sweating heavily as her muscles began to tire once more however the Glade seemed so close within her reach. Minho squeezed Aurora's hand tightly before they made a right turn and headed into Section Five, the Glade being mere minutes away.

"We're almost there." Minho panted, gripping Aurora's hand as they turned a corner. "Not much further."

Their feet slapped harshly onto the floor as they finally reached the safety of the Glade, Aurora collapsing to the ground to catch her breath.

She looked up at Minho and he pulled her into her arms, finally feeling safe and never wanting to leave, the horrors of the Maze permanently behind them.