Hearts and Minds

Who Doesn't Love A Little Exercise?

"What the shuck were you thinking?!" Minho hissed, his arms crossed across his chest. It had been a good twenty minute of silence as they sat by the walls and then another ten of Minho chewing the two of them out. Yet Artemis wasn't really paying attention to his ranting. On the contrary, the only thing she was paying attention to was the way his arms were flexed when crossed. Artemis was a simple woman, she had very simple thoughts and needs. She would not deny herself the pleasure of looking at something so beautiful. "Hey! Shebean, my eyes are up here."

Artemis felt her face flush slightly at the fact they were probably going to die and all she could focus on was the boy's arms. "I'm flattered, really am. You're gorgeous, by far the prettiest glader. But we will probably be dead within minutes so flattered or not, it won't work out." This time instead of being embarrassed Artemis couldn't help rolling her eyes and putting her hands on her hips.

"Hey, you never know. We could make it!" She argued, not noticing how quiet and broody Thomas had suddenly become. She threw her braid over her shoulder, letting it hang from her back. Minho scoffed, leaning against the wall. His face shifted from one of anger into one of defeat. Like he had already accepted he was to die.

"We can't. Nobody survives the shucking maze, didn't they tell you that?!"
"I mean, of course they told me that. They've made it very clear that nobody has survived a night out here. No one ever said they couldn't!" Artemis pushed back, trying to convince not only him but herself that they could make it through the night. Minho let out a cold laugh, looking at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Even if we could survive, which is a big if, we'd have to leave Alby behind because if we don't keep moving then we're definitely griever dinner. And you wouldn't have ran into this death trap to save us just to leave him behind." Minho explained, looking at Artemis as if he had won the argument. She furrowed her brows and hummed slightly as she looked around. Her eyes landed on the ivy that cascaded over the walls, trailing up and down as she reached over and yanked with all her might. Her lips curled up into a small smile as she turned back to the boys.

"I've got an idea!"

"This is a terrible idea!" Minho grunted, pulling at the vine with all his might. Even with three of them it was hard to carry Alby higher and higher with the vine. Artemis scoffed, pulling once again. She was in front of Minho with Thomas standing behind the boy.

"Well you weren't giving any bright ideas!" She huffed out, heaving again and again to get Alby high enough that he would be safe. Finally they had made it, leaving Artemis to quickly tie the ivy down as the boys held Alby in his spot. All three of them let out heavy breaths of relief. Minho looked at her, giving her a cocky grin.

"Beautiful, strong, and sassy. I believe you're the best thing to ever happen to this Glade." Minho said, earning a laughing from Artemis. She was basically looking death right in the face at that moment and instead of cowering she was laughing at a pitiful attempt at flirting from the boy who had yelled at her for ten minutes. Artemis was going to say something back when the sound, oh the horrific sound echoed around them.

Click. Click. Click.

Artemis felt her body shiver by itself, her throat suddenly dry as she tried to swallow. It wasn't long before the sound crept closer. Only when the shadow was visible on the opposite wall, did any of them actually react. Minho was first, taking off like a shot. "Split up! It'll make it harder for them to catch us." And with that he disappeared around the right corner. Thomas was next, not even bothering to say anything as he took off. He went to opposite way, dashing down the left side. Which left Artemis to kick her feet against the ground and run forward. Artemis could hear the clicking still, she couldn't tell if it had gotten further or closer.