𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 - ᴍᴀᴢᴇ ʀᴜɴɴᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀꜱ ➀

⁰⁹, ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗᵐᵃʳᵉˢ

ESMERELDA

The night settled over the Glade with a quiet that seemed too heavy to bear. Even though the sky was clear and the stars shone brightly, the day's events had left a shadow over my heart. Thomas, Minho, and Alby had returned from the Maze, but the ordeal was far from forgotten.

I lay in my bed, tossing and turning as sleep evaded me. My thoughts swirled around the day's chaos—the Maze's relentless closing walls, Thomas's bold decision to save his friends, and the nagging worry that seemed to cling to me no matter how hard I tried to push it away.

Eventually, exhaustion claimed me, but the relief was short-lived. As soon as I fell asleep, my dreams took a darker turn.

In the nightmare, I was back in the Maze. The walls loomed tall and ominous, shifting and closing with a menacing rhythm. I could see Thomas running ahead, but no matter how fast he moved, the walls seemed to close in on him. I screamed his name, but the sound was swallowed by the oppressive silence of the Maze.

Thomas turned to look at me, his face a mask of determination and fear. He was trapped, his path blocked by the closing walls. "Esmerelda!" he called out, his voice echoing in the maze's hollow corridors. 

"I can't get out!"

Panic surged through me. I ran towards him, but no matter how hard I tried, the walls kept pushing me back, separating us. "Thomas!" I cried out, my voice breaking. The walls closed in around him, and he was swallowed by darkness. The last thing I saw was his desperate gaze before everything went black.

I jolted awake, my heart pounding. Sweat clung to my skin, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. The nightmare had felt so real that it took me a moment to realize I was safe in my bed, surrounded by the familiar, comforting space of my hut.

But the sense of dread didn't fade. I needed to see Thomas, to make sure he was okay. The thought of him being in danger, even if it was just a dream, was too unsettling.

I threw off my blankets and quickly dressed in a simple shirt and shorts. Quietly, I slipped out of my hut and walked to the area where the hammocks were set up. My feet made soft crunching noises on the ground as I moved, the night air cool against my skin.

Thomas's hammock was easily spotted. He was curled up, seemingly asleep. I stood there for a moment, watching him. The sight of him so peaceful, despite the day's earlier events, made the weight in my chest feel even heavier.

I reached up and gently shook his shoulder. "Thomas," I whispered, trying to wake him without startling him too much. 

"Thomas, wake up."

He stirred, blinking sleepily as he looked at me. "Esmerelda? What's wrong?"

"I... I had a nightmare," I confessed, my voice trembling slightly. 

"I couldn't... I couldn't get to you in the Maze."

Thomas sat up, concern immediately evident on his face. "It was just a nightmare," he said, his voice soothing. 

"I'm here, safe."

"I know," I said, though my voice was still shaky. 

"But I need you to come with me. I can't stay in my bed alone right now."

Thomas swung his legs over the edge of the hammock and stood up, following me without hesitation. We walked back to my hut, and I felt a sense of relief just from having him beside me.

When we entered the hut, I went straight to my bed, pulling the covers aside and patting the spot next to me. "Please," I said softly, 

"just stay with me for a little while."

Thomas nodded and climbed into the bed beside me. I settled against him, feeling the warmth and security of his presence. He wrapped an arm around me, and I nestled closer, burying my face in his chest.

"I'm here," he murmured, his voice a gentle reassurance. 

"You're safe. Nothing's going to hurt you."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. His steady heartbeat against my ear was soothing, and the tension in my body slowly began to melt away.

"I'm sorry I woke you," I said, my voice muffled.  "I just... needed to make sure you were okay."

Thomas stroked my hair gently. "It's okay. I'm glad you woke me. We'll get through this together."

I closed my eyes, letting his comforting presence ease the remnants of fear from my nightmare. The night outside was quiet, and within the cocoon of my bed and Thomas's embrace, I felt a sense of peace slowly returning.

We lay there in silence, the comforting rhythm of his breathing lulling me into a more restful state. The nightmare had been unsettling, but having Thomas with me made it easier to face the darkness.

Eventually, my breathing evened out, and sleep began to reclaim me. As I drifted off, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. For now, I was content to simply be in his arms, finding solace in the connection we shared.