The First Runner

The Cliff

Jess POV

About two hours into our run, the sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows through the towering walls. I had kept track of how many turns we had taken, but every muscle in my body was humming with adrenaline, pushing me forward as I followed the familiar rhythm of running through the Maze.

Minho and I had split off from the others about thirty minutes ago, each of us taking different sections to cover more ground. He went left while I went right, our unspoken understanding guiding us. 

My body felt good despite having been out of action for two months and I was so glad to be back in my element. 

The walls seemed to close in tighter as I ventured deeper into my section. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the occasional rustle of something unseen moving through the corridors. The Maze was quiet, eerily so, with only the sound of my footsteps and steady breathing echoing off the walls.

I rounded a sharp corner, and that's when I saw it—an abrupt end to the path that opened up into nothingness. I skidded to a halt, my heart hammering in my chest as I took in the sight before me.

A cliff.

I walked carefully along the corridor towards the edge, my heart still racing from the sudden stop. As I neared the cliff, the ground seemed to drop away into a void, a sheer vertical descent that plunged into darkness so deep it was impossible to see the bottom. The vast emptiness stretched out before me, completely unexpected and entirely unnerving.

I crouched down at the edge, inching closer to peer over. The air felt cooler here, the temperature dropping as if the abyss was sucking away the warmth. I could see nothing but shadows far below, and the sight sent a shiver down my spine.

"What the hell?" I muttered aloud.

 I grabbed a small rock from the ground and tossed it over the side. I watched it fall, until it was out of my sight. I waited several moments but there was no sound of the rock hitting the bottom. 

The silence that followed was unsettling, the absence of any sound amplifying the eerie stillness around me. I strained my ears, hoping to catch the faintest echo of the rock hitting something—anything—but there was nothing. It was as if the rock had been swallowed whole by the darkness below.

A sense of unease settled over me as I pulled out my notepad, quickly scribbling down notes about the cliff and its location. The last thing I wanted was to forget any details that might be crucial later. 

After jotting down a few key points, I tucked the notepad back into my pack and reached for my canteen. The water was cool and refreshing, washing away the dryness in my throat. I hadn't realized how tense I'd become until I took that first sip.

As I sat down against the cold, rough wall, I pulled out the sandwich I'd packed earlier. The smell of freshly cooked bacon hit me as soon as I unwrapped it, and my mouth watered in anticipation. I took a bite, savoring the incredible salty flavor. Frypan had outdone himself today—crispy, perfectly seasoned bacon nestled between slices of soft bread.

It was moments like this that reminded me of the simple pleasures, even in a place as unforgiving as the Maze. The taste of good food, the brief respite from running, and the quiet moments to gather my thoughts all helped keep me grounded.

I took another bite, letting the familiar comfort of Frypan's cooking wash over me. The bacon was just the right balance of crispy and chewy, with a hint of smokiness that made it all the more satisfying. 

I wrapped up lunch quickly, the lingering taste of bacon still on my lips, and glanced at my watch. Realizing I was behind schedule, I knew I had to pick up the pace if I wanted to make it back before nightfall and there was no way I wanted to get trapped in here again.

 After securing my pack and taking a final look at the cliff, I took off running, my feet pounding against the ground in a familiar rhythm. The corridors blurred past as I navigated the turns, my mind focused on making it back in time.

About half an hour later, I finally spotted Minho up ahead, his figure cutting through the shadows of the Maze. I caught up with him, and without a word, we fell into step together, our strides matching effortlessly as we covered ground. It felt good to run side by side again, like old times.

Five minutes later, we were joined by Dan, who fell into stride with us, his breathing steady as he matched our pace. Two minutes after that, Hank appeared from another corridor, nodding at us before slipping into position beside Dan. Just a minute later, Billy caught up, rounding out the group. We were back together, the familiar crew of Runners, each one pushing hard as we neared the final stretch.

As we approached the last few turns before the Glade, Minho shot me a sly smile, his eyes glinting with mischief. Without warning, he surged forward, picking up the pace, challenging me.

"Oh, you're on," I muttered under my breath, a competitive fire sparking within me. I leaned forward, pumping my legs harder, determined not to let him get the best of me. The air rushed past as I narrowed the gap between us, my focus laser-sharp on catching him.

I fell in to step with him and slowed slightly to match with him for a couple turns then, as we rounded the final corner, I saw my opening. Without hesitation, I surged ahead, putting every ounce of strength into my legs as I sprinted toward the Glade. The door loomed ahead, the finish line within reach.

With a final burst of speed, I crossed the threshold and skidded to a halt, throwing my arms in the air triumphantly.

"Haha! Take that, Min Min!" I laughed, my voice echoing through the Glade as I turned to see Minho running through the door, only to lean heavily on his knees, catching his breath.

"Dammit!" he shouted in frustration, shaking his head with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

Not far behind, Dan, Hank, and Billy burst through the doors. Hank and Billy ran over to me, grinning ear to ear as they each slapped me a high five.

"Well done, Jess!" Hank said, laughing.

"I knew you still had it in you," Billy added with a wink.

Meanwhile, Dan groaned dramatically, throwing his hands in the air. "A whole week without dessert... Thanks a lot, Minho!"

Minho just shook his head, chuckling as he finally stood up straight. "Your idea for the bet, Danny boy."

Dan groaned, shaking his head as he realized the truth of it. "Yeah, yeah, rub it in."

Oh how I'd missed this.