The maze runner ~ Minho x Female!reader

5. The maze

Two weeks later

When Eloise opens her eyes, it's still early. She decided to get up because she knew she wouldn't sleep anyway. She had a terrible night again. The weird, negative feeling is now worse than ever but she ignores it. Walking out of her hut she can see four boys standing in front of the closed maze-doors. Minho, Thomas, Alby and Newt.

Minho had told her that Alby would join them today in the maze. He thought that as the first in command, he should see their progress -since the last time he went in the maze with the runners.

Thomas was made a runner after he begged Minho for like a whole week. Another week later Minho had trained him and now the greenie was ready to run alone in the maze.

Newt being there was not abnormal. He usually got up to see them off.

Eloise made her way over to the boys, making her presence known by tapping Minho on his shoulder. When the boy turned around his eyes lit up a little. He usually didn't get to see her until after he got back from the maze. Happy that she was there he hugged her. When they pulled away they looked at each other, smiling. They only stopped staring when they heard the other boys chuckle. Eloise looked at them confused, hoping that they would explain what was so funny but no one said anything. When she looked back at Minho he was scratching the back of his neck while trying to avoid eye contact.

Before the girl could say something about the weird situation, the doors started to open. They made a loud annoying sound and Eloise covered her ears.

The two runners and the first in command put on their backpacks, getting ready for the long day that was ahead of them. Eloise pulled Minho to the side before the maze doors had fully opened. They stood a bit further from the others but probably still within hearing distance.

"Be careful out there, okay?" She said, reminding him of their promise. "Of course She-bean, I would never break a pinky promise." He answered with a smirk on his lips before placing a kiss on her head. A little gesture he did when he was reassuring her or calming her down.

Minho walked back over to the three boys. Thoms was making kissing faces at them as the other two laughed. Eloise rolled her eyes while walking over to Newt's side giving him an elbow, making him stop laughing, but a smirk remained on his face. Both of them watch as the three boys disappear around the corner.

*In the maze*

They have been running in silence for a while until Alby finally speaks up.

"So what's the deal with you and Eloise?" He smirks, keeping his pace next to Thomas, slightly behind Minho. The boy didn't answer at first but then let out a breathy "I don't know what you're talking about." while keeping his head facing forward. "Yeah I'd like to know too," Thomas spoke, glancing at Alby. Both of them tried not to laugh. "We're friends nothing more," Minho said firmly. "Now will you two just shut up about it and focus on remembering the way?" He added. Silence followed, that being his answer.

After a while, they split up to cover more ground.

*Back in the glade*

Eloise was standing in front of the doors. The boys were standing around her, all of them waiting for the runners to come back. They were late since the doors were about to close any minute. She tried not to think about what would happen if they didn't get back before that would happen.

Newt and Gally stood at either side of her. "They're gonna make it back right?" The question wasn't directed at anyone but it was what everyone was thinking about. Newt answered the girl with only a whisper "I hope so"

The walls started to move slowly. Wind blew sand in their faces and Eloise held up her arm to protect her eyes. When she peered into the maze once again she saw movement. "There!" Chuck yelled, he had also seen it. "Something is wrong," Gally said. Eloise could see Minho and Thomas trying to carry a passed-out Alby but they were struggling to keep him up.

The boys started yelling to leave Alby and make a run for it. If they did that they still had a chance of making it. Eloise however knew that they wouldn't do that. They wouldn't leave Alby behind. She stood frozen to the ground not knowing what to do, before a thought crossed her mind. It was stupid but she had to do something. She couldn't just let them die in there.

As she wanted to run into the maze she felt two arms wrap around her upper body, lifting her feet off the ground. She started kicking in the air trying to get out of the boy's hold but he didn't let go. Tears were streaming down her cheek as she looked into the maze one last time, making eye contact with Minho who gave her a weak smile. Then the doors closed.

only then did Gally let go of the girl who was still kicking around, trying to free herself. From the moment her feet touched the ground, she made her way to the doors. Banging her fists against it before letting her head hang. "Minho.." She sobbed.

She turned around and walked back to Gally who was still in the same spot. She started pushing his chest. "Why did you do that?" She yelled at him. Gally just stood there, taking every hit. The other boys looked at her with shocked eyes. Some of them shed a few tears themselves.

After a few more hits Eloise collapsed against Gally's chest and he wrapped his arms around the girl's frame. She was still crying. "I could have saved them.." she sobbed.

"I could have saved him."

Eloise didn't sleep at all. She sat outside at the doors with her back against the wall. The tears from last night had left stains on her cheeks.

Newt and Frypan would come by now and then to 'check up on her' they said but she knew they couldn't sleep either and they just focused on her so they didn't have to face their own sadness. The girl was grateful for them though. They kept her from going insane as the night passed by at a slow pace. Too slow for her liking.

Now and then she stood up and paced in front of the door. Then going back to her spot against the wall. This would go on the whole night. She muttered their names, like a prayer. Alby, Thomas, Minho...

She couldn't cry anymore. She could only stare into the darkness of the glade.

Another hour had passed and Eloise was now standing up with her back still against the wall. She could see a figure walking her way. Only when he was standing right in front of her she could make out the features of his face. They both stood there, neither of them saying a word. The blonde boy finally spoke up after a while. "Hey love, maybe should rest your eyes for a little. I'll wake you up from the moment the doors open." Eloise tried that already. It didn't work. From the moment she closed her eyes, all she could see were their faces. The smile Minho had given her before the maze doors fell against each other with a loud crack, the way Alby hung lifelessly around their shoulders.

"I tried that already Newt, I promise I tried. But whenever I close my eyes, the only thing I see are their faces and the desperate look in their eyes. I can't do it." The boy looked at her with an apologetic look. He knew what she meant. He had it too. His best friend was stuck in the maze and he wasn't sure he would ever see him again. If he would see any of them again.

"I'm going in there once the doors open,' The girl spoke again. She wasn't asking for his permission. She knew Newt probably wouldn't let her go but she didn't care. She would go looking for the boys one way or another.

"I'm coming with you," The boy simply answered. His eyes met hers as he gave her a nod. Eloise was shocked to hear that. She would never have thought Newt would allow her in the maze since she wasn't a runner. She didn't show it though, instead she nodded back at him. Both of them were silent. Eloise had slit down the wall again but now she wasn't alone as Newt came to sit next to her. They sat there for the rest of the night, only one thing on Eloise's mind.

He'll come back. They all will come back.