Break or Bind | TMR | The Maze Runner

11

The keepers had a gathering at the Homestead this afternoon, and of course Frypan also participated, which leading to me to take his place for cooking the dinner. At least I hope the session finishes well before dinner time.

Yeah, so here I am, in the kitchen, with a bucketful of potatoes waiting to be peeled. With a knife in my right hand and a potato in my left, I started peeling the potatoes.

To be honest, there was something that bothered me from Minho's words earlier. But I didn't get to ask for further details because he had to attend the gathering soon. I pondered, will one day I become a Keeper too? Certainly not unless Zart gets into an accident or dies, which I hope never happens. Then there is also Newt, he is the second most influential person after Alby. He proves himself a leader with Alby's unstable state. Of course it's not as smooth as it looks, Newt is overwhelmed, and also sometimes I hear bad words from Gladers who are talking away from the crowd.

Lost in thought, I was pulled back by hearing the commotion outside. It was getting late, the sun was almost setting. Frypan isn't back yet? God, did I starve the Gladers and make them go riot out there?

I rushed out of the kitchen into an open field. It's just that what I imagined didn't happen, the Gladers weren't complaining about being late for dinner, they were all running in all directions with panic etched on their faces.

I realized too late, when the sounds of a herd of mechanical beasts entered the Glade from behind the Maze, I just stood still and stared.

"Oh no.." I said weakly. Even though I never saw its form directly, it was clear that the creature matched the characteristics Zart explained, "..Griever, they're coming.."

[Minho POV]

The keepers are seeking a mutual agreement on a new maze exit, but they are held back by the fact that the exit is where the loathsome creature appears. Yes, the exit is in the Griever den. I never would have thought that a day would come when I didn't run away, but instead came to their place of residence. So crazy.

"How can we trust this new kid? What if it's all a trap, leading us all into a mass grave?" Gally protested.

"That's very possible..." Said another Keeper.

"Come on, Shank. Stop being such a coward. We have to get out of this place sooner or later, and somewhere out there is the way out." My reply shook off Gally's negative judgment, to which he immediately glared, "No, the Glade is a safe place. Why would you want to go death-defying when you can live safely and comfortably? Everything we need is already provided for here, it only remains to streamline what we get considerably then life will be just fine."

"Yes, Gally's right. I prefer our life here now." Another Keeper replied.

"Hey, stop being a loser! Listen to me, Shuck face, we will live and die according to our own will, no one can make that decision but ourselves! We've been trapped in the Glade for years, and now is the way out! It's right in front of us. " I reply.

All the Keepers loudly voiced their opinions at the same time. But all became silent when the commotion outside the homestead grew louder.

All the Keepers rush out to find out what happened.

Newt stopped a Glader whose name I can't even remember, "Hey, what happened?"

The Glader stammered, "Door, the Maze door won't close."

Suddenly the statement just now made all the Keepers dumbfounded.

That door is the only barrier between us and the Grievers, if it doesn't close then...

Ddrrrrrttt...

A loud sound followed by a thump came from the door to the south which was always closed, then it was followed by other doors.

Thomas swiftly made the order, "Everyone, go find something to defend yourselves..."

Newt instructs the Gladers to retrieve a makeshift weapon from the tool shed.

Gggrraaaaahhhh!!!!

The Griever's voice drew nearer, growing louder by the second.

There was a moment of silence in the Glade, until the sound of the Glader's screams coming from the west broke it. The poor child must have met his end.

"Everybody, hide!" Thomas ordered that no one protested this time.

Immediately I followed the group running to the sugarcane tree, but my feet stopped instantly, and immediately turned around.

"Minho!" Thomas shouted. "Hurry up, we have to hide!"

I paused for a moment "No.. Where's Maeve? Has anyone seen her?!" I screamed at whoever was listening.

"Maeve?! Maeve?!" I shouted again.

Suddenly Frypan appeared again from behind the sugarcane trees, "Kitchen, she should be in the kitchen cooking dinner. Hurry up, I hope she's still in there."

"Thank you buddy." I said briefly.

"Minho! Where are you going?" Thomas shouted following behind me.

Without looking up I said "I have to find Maeve, she should still be in the kitchen, well fingers crossed."

"Come on, man. Maeve can take care of herself, she's smart, so she'll find a safe hiding place. We're so vulnerable out in the open like this, so let's head back."

"No! How many times do I have to say it, I can't leave without making sure Maeve is alive!"

"Why are you so fixated on Maeve? I told you she's a smart girl, so she'll..." Before Thomas could finish his sentence I cut him off "Can't you see? I love her, Thomas!"

Thomas suddenly froze, after a few seconds he came running back beside me "Sorry. Let's go find Maeve together."

I just nodded in agreement and focused on running quickly towards the kitchen.

The kitchen door is wide open, when I step in Maeve's presence in the kitchen is confirmed as zero.

"She's nowhere." Thomas reported after checking the other side of the kitchen.

Damn it. where did she going to?

I walked hastily around the kitchen one more time before being petrified. Blood, splattered on the ground. Is.. no.. oh God, please don't..

Thomas pulled me out of the kitchen "I'm sorry, mate. But we don't have time anymore, we have to hide soon too."

[Ends of Minho POV]