Shadow of the Maze | Maze Runner [1]

TWENTY-FIVE

[ ELECTRA ]

❧

The first thing Electra noticed was the blood. The redness was spreading everywhere, staining Thomas' hands as he tried to press onto the wound.

"Hold on, Chuck." Thomas' voice cracked and his body trembled. "Don't die... fight it. Someone get help!"

Electra wasn't sure what she could do, and it didn't seem like the other Gladers were sure either. She trailed her eyes upward and saw multiple Gladers turn away from the sight below them. Newt hesitated moving closer, but ultimately stayed where he was glued to the floor, and raised a hand to his mouth to cover his sobs. Minho stood completely frozen beside her, his eyes not even blinking.

Chuck managed to fetch a small wooden doll from his vest. His voice was a struggling whisper, "Take it."

Thomas shook his head profusely. "No, Chuck. You're gonna give it to them yourself. C'mon, we're out. We made it."

"Thomas. Take it," Chuck said more firmly. "Find my mom... tell her..."

Blood gurgled in the back of his throat and the boy couldn't finish his last sentence. Slowly, a trail of crimson seeped out of the side of his mouth, while his eyes looked up motionlessly at the ceiling.

"Chuck," Thomas whispered, before shaking the boy. "Chuck! No... Come on, wake up, Chuck."

Thomas shook Chuck harder, but the boy was limp. Thomas closed his eyes, stifling a few cries, before shaking the boy again, screaming out his name. Again, when Chuck was unresponsive, Thomas rested his head on the younger boy's chest and the cries finally came to the surface.

Electra felt a lone tear escape one of her eyes and slowly bent down, placing a hand on Thomas' back.

"Thomas—" Electra started but Thomas pushed her off him, sending her falling onto the floor.

"I promised him!" Thomas' voice shook with rage. "I promised I'd save him, take him home! I promised him!"

Minho was by her side before she realized she was on the floor. He helped her stand up as Thomas went back to Chuck's body, embracing the younger boy in a tight hug. Electra wasn't sure where the feeling was coming from; she wanted to say something to make everything better. But there was nothing to be said. Nothing to be done.

Something clicked behind her. She turned to see a door slide open, and people in black suits stormed into the room. They all held guns, and Electra's first instinct was to dodge the incomers and escape to the outside world behind them if that's what was even beyond the hallway. Instead, the people shouted at her before she could make a move.

"We don't have time to explain," a man with heavy facial wrinkles hidden behind a mask yelled. "Just follow me and run like your life depends on it. Because it does."

One of the people hastily grabbed onto her arm and shoved her in the direction of the open door. Electra glared up at the soldier before looking back at Thomas, who was still leaning over Chuck's body.

"Get up Chuck! Come on!" Thomas screamed, hugging Chuck closer to him.

The soldier pushed her again, and Electra wanted to bring out her knife and fight. Then, Minho grabbed onto her hand. She looked up at him, and he slowly shook his head before pulling her forward.