EUNEIROPHRENIA:
•the peaceful state of mind that comes after waking up from a pleasant dream.
after they finally found their way out, they were met with yet another danger: the scorch. will they survive and get to the safe place?
TMR, MINHO
-STATU...
"hiding the tears in my eyes 'cause boys don't cry"
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I WAS BACK IN THE ABANDONED MALL, sliding on the worn jacket I'd found earlier. The material chafed my skin, but it was better than nothing. I lowered myself to a crouch, setting my knife inside my backpack since I didn't think I'd be needing it. As I turned around, I spotted a girl about a few feet away from me a few years younger. Her hair was tangled mess, as though it had never known a comb. Her eyes were black as coal, without the slightest shade of expression, and her skin was pale, so that the blue veins stood quite clearly visible.
"Hello?" I said, stepping forward a little cautiously, though I knew I didn't have anything to worry about. Something in my stomach was telling me to back up, not move closer to her. But I didn't really listen. I took another step forward, drawing nearer until I could see her clearly. Her lips parted slightly, revealing teeth—or what was left of them—before she lunged at me, knocking me to the ground.
Panic welling in my chest as I struggled to free my arms, realizing too late that I had stowed my knife in my backpack. A shrill scream tore through the air as her nails clawed into the skin of my arms and her face neared my neck.
Then, I sat up, gasping for breath. My heart was racing as I looked frantically around. I wasn't in that room anymore. I was safe, surrounded by my friends. It had just been a nightmare.
"Bad dream?" A voice asked softly.
I turned my head to find a guy regarding me with concern. I nodded, still trying to catch my breath from remnants of the nightmare. "Yeah."
He got up and walked over, sitting down in front of me. "Name's Minho," he introduced himself.
"Maria," I said, forcing a faint smile—though I very much doubted he'd be able to see it in the dimness of the light. "How was life in your maze?" I was curious, you can't blame me.
He let out a sigh full of exhaustion and resignation. "I was the Keeper of the Runners," he started off, and I immediately began imagining an explanation similar to the Head of Mappers. "It was nothing special. Thomas appeared, ran into the maze, killed a Griever, and finally, we escaped. There were roughly fifty of us, and I was one of the first to enter. We were all boys until Teresa came along." Lucky her, I thought to myself. "What about you?«
I looked at the ground, searching for words. "It wasn't anything special either. I was a Mason. I built things. Alan was our leader from the start – that's the tall guy over there," I said, pointing him out. "I don't know what else to say."
Minho laughed quietly before he stood up. "I think I want to check the area," he said, holding out a hand to help me up. "Come with me."
I hesitated but took his hand, rising to my feet. I glanced over his shoulder. "Where exactly are we going?" I asked.
