A Way Out

Bittersweet

"Told you you couldn't keep up!" Minho yelled, looking over his shoulder as he ran and I was right behind him. 

I rolled my eyes and said, "I'm just taking it easy on you Minho." 

he chuckled and I smiled. We both kept running before he abruptly stopped and I fell into his back. "Ow- what-" I began to say when I realized why Minho stopped. The maze had changed and we were standing right infront of a wall. 

He cleared his throat and said, "Let's call it in early and head back." 

I nodded and we both jogged back in silence. When we finally got out of the Maze, I realized Ben still wasn't back. "Where is he?" I mumbled. 

"He'll be back," Minho reassured me, "Let's go get some food and you need to wrap that knee." He motioned towards my scraped knee and I nodded. 

We both went to Frypan who smiled at us, "My two favorite runners!" He said. I smiled and he handed us some food. 

"Thanks Fry," I said. He flashed me a smile and said, "Anytime." 

We went to the medjacks and I smiled at Winston. He smiled back at me and said, "Your a regular at this point Kendra."

I chuckled and Minho said, "She always overworks herself trying to be faster than me." 

I rolled my eyes and said, "Whatever Minho."

He winked at me and Winston laughed. He bandaged up my knee and put his hand to check my heartbeat as proceeder and I winced. He furrowed his brows and said, "Can you take off your shirt?" 

I nodded and threw my shirt off, leaving me in a sports bra. I suddenly realized there was a small gash on the underside of my chest. 

"Oh shit," Minho said. 

I groaned and Winston said, "Maybe you should take a break from running for a day or two." 

I sighed and Minho said, "I'll take care of her don't worry." 

I rolled my eyes and Winston wrapped my chest and then said, "Just throw the shirt in the dirty pile, I'm cleaning the clothes today." I nodded and tossed my shirt in the cleaning pile. Leaving me and in just my sports bra with the bandages around my chest and my navy cargo pants. 

Minho and I walked over to where the rest of the runners were sitting and I slolwy sat down. Minho chuckled and I flipped him off. 

"What happened to you?" Nick asked me. 

I sighed and said, "I don't even know I feel like I'm always hurt." 

They all laughed and then I saw Chuck walking by, "Hey Chuck!" I yelled. 

He smiled and started to walk over to us, "Hi guys!" He said. I smiled and said, "Where's Thomas?" 

"Not sure, last I saw him he was with Newt, hey you want to go sharpen the spears with me I don't want to do it by myself," He asked. 

I nodded and said, "Sure let me-" I cut myself off with a groan at a failed attempt to stand up. 

Minho reached a hand out to me and helped me up and I smiled. He messed up my hair and I said, "Okay let's go Chuck." 

We walked off to the weaponry and we started to sharpen the spears and blades. I sharpened my lucky blade and attatched it to my cargo pants. 

About twenty minutes later I saw Chuck fiddling with a wooden figure. 

I furrowed my brows and said, "What's that?" 

He looked up at me and said, "I made it for my parents." 

I smiled and said, "I hope that one day you will be able to give it back to them." 

"Well with you being a runner, I have no doubt I will." Chuck said and my heart broke a little to know that Minho and I both have not made any progress on getting out. 

But still, I said, "I think so too." 

- 

A little later, Minho and I sat in the mapping room with Alby. 

"Anything at all?" Alby asked. 

I shook my head, "No. This morning sector seven led to absoluetly nothing." 

Alby sighed. I knew that he was growing less and less hopeful by the day. I didn't blame him- I was too. Every day we explored a new sector and nothing ever changed. I knew every single twist and turn like the back of my hand. I could walk through that maze with my eyes closed at this point. 

I looked to Minho who was already looking at me. My hand fell to my necklace and I started to twist it in my hands. 

"Tomorrow we will go through a new section, there has to be something we missed." Minho said. 

I sighed before Alby said, "Okay, tomorrow is a new day guys. Let's not stress about it too much." 

I nodded and Alby left and I looked to Minho. "Your necklace, what does it mean?" he asked me. 

I shrugged, "Dunno, but I think that my brother gave it to me." 

He smiled and said, "You will see him again." 

I thought for a moment before saying, "I think I will too." 

He smiled and we both left to go help Newt out with the wood.