➊ 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 - 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨, ᵗᵐʳ

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥

"So you mean you found a recipe to cook the chicken?" Someone blurted as I stepped into the Map Room.

It seemed that Runners' meetings were less about survival and more about debating food because no one was actually talking about their run. Some were chatting about meals, others about clothes. Priorities, am I right?

No one paid much attention to Ben and me slipping in. Minho and Hawk were both missing for obvious reasons, which meant Ben, as the second Keeper, was debriefing to the others.

Not that I minded. Ben was a lot easier to deal with than the other shank. The only reason Minho had the Keeper title was because he'd been here the longest as a Runner, mapped the whole Maze, could run circles around everyone, and, fine... the muscles didn't hurt either.

But I wasn't really listening to my brother. Even if I tried, I wouldn't remember it tomorrow. My head was still tangled with thoughts of that creepy sign we'd found in the Glade. Who would name something like that?

And there was the other thing—the voices. I'd told Ben about them, and he'd brushed it off like it was normal. This was not normal. The bracelet wasn't normal, to say the least.

"Evelyn, you understand?" someone asked, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah," I lied without hesitation.

"Good. Because you could die if you didn't."

Well, shuck. I only nodded. Couldn't be that bad... Whatever he said, I'm concerned I could catch up.

One by one, the others filed out, ready to take the rest they so badly wanted, until it was just me and him. He came over, hand resting on my shoulder as he sighed.

"Hawk wants to see you, Ly."

"I don't," I said flatly. He was dead last on my to-do list. Probably wanted to give me some half-hearted apology, like Minho had when Alby forced him. After I just punched him, I didn't understand why he would want to see me.

"I know, but... he got his nose broken because of that—"

"Exactly. Minho did it. So Minho can be the one to say sorry." During our little meeting in the high tree,  I didn't tell what happened in the Map Room.

Ben rolled his eyes. "This isn't kindergarten. No one here cares about apologies."

"Tell that to Alby." I crossed my arms, earning a low chuckle from him.

"My point is, sometimes you do things you don't want to. That's how you learn."

"Pretty sure this isn't one of those times."

He gave me a look. "Just go. If he's being an ass again, tell me and I'll break something else for him."

That got a small smile out of me. "That's what brothers do."

We left the Map Room side by side, and for a moment, I was glad he was here. Only sometimes.

"Wish me luck," I muttered under my breath like a prayer. I wasn't sure if I'd be alone with Hawk or if one of the Medjacks would be hovering. I silently rooted for option two.

I didn't know why I was so uneasy about seeing him. He couldn't actually hurt me anymore, he was tied to his bed. It had been a stupid prank, one he probably didn't think twice about. I was stronger than him anyway. At least... I thought so.

I pushed open the Med Hut door. Hawk was perched on the cot, Jeff and Clint nearby. They both smiled when they saw me, but I couldn't tell if it was genuine or just sympathy.

Hawk's face was mostly hidden under the same bandage. He turned his head toward me, but his expression didn't change.

"Evelyn..." His voice was quiet, like it hurt to speak. Minho and I haven't exactly gone easy on him.

"What do you want?" I stayed by the door. No way was I walking closer yet.

"I didn't think... this would happen."

"You didn't think what? That you'd get your ass handed to you?"

"No." He lifted a hand slightly, like it could defend his case or just hoping I wouldn't hit him again. "That you'd get so angry. I admit, it wasn't funny—"

"Wasn't funny at all," I cut in.

Jeff spoke up, smirking. "He knows better than to mess with you now."

Hawk nodded without breaking eye contact. "I won't do it again," he said, looking more embarrassed than apologetic.

"What do you want me to say?" I threw my hands up. "An apology here is about as useful as a paper shield."

Clint snorted, clearly trying not to laugh. Everyone noticed.

"That's not funny," Jeff told him, failing to keep a straight face himself.

"It is to me," Clint said with a grin. "Evelyn's a badass. I aspire to be like her." He patted my shoulder.

"Uh... thanks?" I crossed my arms, but my lips twitched. Maybe it wasn't so bad. At least I had people who could make me laugh when things were this messed up.

Before I could say more, the door banged open and Chuck burst in, looking like he'd sprinted here. Heads turned to look at him. Clearly, he wasn't supposed to come barging in.

"Eve! Eve!" He hurried over.

"What's up, Chuck?" I asked cautiously. He was partly responsible for the disaster from earlier, after all.

"Minho's out of the Slammer! And... he looks pissed."

I shared a glimpse with Jeff, seeing his nods allowing me to go see what urgency Chuck found in coming in. Oh boy.

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