The First Runner

So... no Epic Background Music for the fight of my life?

Newt POV

"Hey, you're back early," I said, feeling two arms wrap around my waist. I was helping the Track-hoes in the garden.

"Yeah, we called it early today," Jess replied, and I pulled her into a kiss.

"Oh, eww," Minho groaned, fake gagging.

"Well, hello to you too, Minho," I laughed.

"Oi, Jess! Minho!" Nick shouted from the Homestead, catching our attention. The look on his face said everything.

"Who?" Jess called back, her tone serious.

"Gally, Lewis, and Leo," Nick answered, and I watched as a look of irritation crossed Jess's face.

"Slintheads. They should know better," Jess muttered under her breath, but both Minho and I heard it.

"We have to go in," Jess said after a moment, rubbing her hand over her face.

I hesitated. Going into the maze this late was dangerous, but leaving them out there... I couldn't bear the thought. Minho gave a curt nod, already moving toward the entrance. "We can't just leave them," he agreed, and without another word, they both took off into the maze.

I stayed behind, worry gnawing at me as the minutes ticked by. The maze doors were nearly closed when we heard the shuffling of feet and the desperate gasps for breath. Minho and Jess emerged from the darkness, supporting Gally between them. There was no sign of either Lewis or Leo.

Gally was covered in dirt and sweat, his face pale and strained. The doors groaned and started to slide shut. They weren't going to make it. The same realization crossed Jess's face, and I immediately knew what she was going to do.

Before I could say anything, Jess pushed Minho and Gally through the doors, her movements swift and decisive. "Jess, no!" I shouted, but it was too late. The heavy stone doors slammed shut with a resounding thud, sealing her inside the maze.

Panic surged through me as I stared at the closed doors, my mind racing. "Jess!" I screamed, pounding on the cold stone. There was no response, only the echo of my voice and the oppressive silence of the maze. My heart pounded in my chest, fear clawing at my throat.

Minho, still catching his breath, looked back at the closed doors in horror. "She's still in there," he said, his voice low and filled with disbelief. "She... she pushed us out and stayed behind."

Gally, barely conscious, slumped against Minho, his face contorted with pain. The reality of the situation hit me like a punch to the gut. Jess was trapped in the maze, alone and facing who knows what kind of danger. The thought of her out there, scared and vulnerable, made my stomach twist with fear and guilt.

"Why did she do that?" I muttered, my voice breaking. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Why didn't she just come through with you?"

Minho looked at me, his expression a mix of anger and despair. "Because she's a shuck hero," he said bitterly, shaking his head. "She wasn't going to let Gally die, no matter what."

The full weight of Jess's sacrifice settled over me. She had stayed behind to save Gally, risking her own life in the process. The maze was unforgiving, and the night was the most dangerous time to be inside. I felt helpless, a sickening knot forming in my stomach as I thought of all the dangers she might be facing alone.

"Newt," Minho said, his voice snapping me out of my daze. "We can't just stand here. We have to figure out a way to get her back. First thing tomorrow, we'll go back in and find her. We can't leave her out there."

I nodded, swallowing hard. The thought of waiting until morning felt unbearable, but we had no choice. The maze was too dangerous to navigate in the dark, and we couldn't risk losing anyone else. But the thought of Jess spending the night alone in the maze, with the Grievers and whatever other horrors lurked in the shadows, filled me with dread.

As we made our way back to the Homestead, I couldn't shake the image of Jess's face as the doors closed. Her determined expression, the way she had pushed Minho and Gally through without a second thought—it was all burned into my memory. I prayed silently that she would be okay, that we would find her in the morning. But deep down, I knew that the maze was unpredictable and dangerous, and there were no guarantees.

All I could do was hope that Jess would find a way to survive the night and that we would be able to bring her back safely. The thought of losing her was too much to bear, and I promised myself that I would do whatever it took to get her back.

Jess POV

Once the door shut, I didn't dare hesitate. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins. The sound of the heavy stone slamming behind me was final, sealing me inside the maze for the night. I forced myself to focus, pushing down the rising panic. I had to survive. I had to keep moving.

I quickly assessed my surroundings, the dim light making it hard to see. The maze was eerily quiet, the walls towering above me, cold and imposing. I could hear my own breathing, rapid and shallow, as I tried to calm myself. There was no time for fear. I needed to find a place to hide, somewhere safe to wait out the night.

I began moving, my steps quick and deliberate. The paths were familiar, but everything felt different in the dark, more threatening. The distant, muffled sounds of the Glade were gone, replaced by the faint rustling of leaves and the occasional creak of the maze walls. I strained to listen for any sign of danger, any hint of the Grievers that roamed the maze at night.

As I rounded a corner, I stumbled upon a small alcove, partially hidden by overgrown vines. It wasn't much, but it was something. I crouched down, tucking myself into the shadows as best as I could. My heart still raced, but I tried to steady my breathing, forcing myself to remain quiet. The darkness was almost suffocating, and every little noise made me jump.

I couldn't believe I was stuck in the maze, alone and in the dark. My mind kept replaying the moment I pushed Minho and Gally through the doors. It had been a split-second decision, and now I was here, facing the consequences. But I couldn't regret it. Gally had been hurt, and there was no way I could have left him behind. But now, the reality of my situation was sinking in, and the fear was hard to ignore.

I thought of Newt, his face full of worry as the doors closed. The thought of him, Minho, and the others on the other side, waiting and hoping, gave me a small spark of comfort. I had to survive, for them as much as for myself. I couldn't let them down. I knew no one had done it before but I was determined to make it through the night.