Rogue | Group B → The Maze Runner¹

ii.two

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● [ ii . the next day ]

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MORNING CAME quickly. Following Ximena's dismissal, Rogue had forgotten how the Maze would tire her; after supper, she had brought herself up to her bed in the Jailer Lodge and sank into it. It was as if she blinked and, suddenly, it was daytime. She was awake again, and the birds outside tweeted their morning chorus.

She rolled over, feeling a familiar warmth beside her. Ada lay there, her dark hair spread across the pillow. Rogue's fingers had tangled in Ada's hair during the night, twisting strands into ringlets. In her palms, her hair was a rosary; a prayer rippling through her fingers.

Smiling to herself, Rogue watched Ada's chest rise and fall as she slept. Even in her dreams, she held a serene grace, soft breaths and slight movements capturing Rogue's sonder. She rested her chin on Ada's shoulder, Rogue tilted her head and planted a gentle kiss on her skin, careful not to wake her. After a moment, she rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Reaching over to the small ledge beside her bed, she picked up her watch and wrapped it around her wrist. Squinting to focus her still-groggy eyes, she read the time. 8:02. She read it again. 8:02...

'Shit!' she exclaimed. She was late. Suddenly wide awake, she pushed herself out of bed, continuing to curse under her breath as she stumbled to grab her clothes from the floor, frantically tugging her socks on.

Ada groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket over her head. 'What...?' she mumbled, her voice croaky with the remnants of sleep.
'The Gates opened two hours ago,' Rogue replied, hopping on one foot as she tried to pull on her pants, then shoving her shirt over her head.

Ada responded with a sleepy, 'Mm,' clearly too enthralled in her sleep to note the urgency of her situation. With a hair tie clenched between her teeth, Rogue gathered her hair as she dashed out of her room and down the stairs of the Lodge. The cool morning air hit her face as she stepped out, only waking her further.

Miyoko waited for her. She leant casually against the wall of the Lodge with her arms folded. Her expression was one of mild annoyance as Rogue came skidding to a halt in front of her, breathless and flushed from the rush. 'You're awake,' Miyoko stated. 'I was about to send out a search party.'
Rogue shot her a mocking smile, still panting. 'Yeah, yeah. Overslept. Let's go.'

Miyoko pushed herself off the wall and started towards the North Gate, her pace brisk. Rogue was quick to follow. 'Just let me know next time, if you're having an early morning pound,' Miyoko said. Rogue grimaced at the vulgarity of it.
'Sorry,' Rogue said, guilt encroached upon her words. 'I've just woken up, I swear.'

Miyoko stared at her blankly. Rogue looked away uncomfortably. 'Harriet didn't come knocking this morning — or, if she did, I didn't hear it.' Still nothing from Miyoko. She marched ahead, her hands clasped tightly to the straps of her backpack. 'Listen, take the day off tomorrow. This is on me, I didn't mean to keep you waiting,' Rogue continued.