➊ 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 - 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨, ᵗᵐʳ

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕: 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥

"So you mean you found a recipe to cook the chicken?" Raised a voice as I entered the map room. Runners were talking about everything but their run. Some, like him, were either talking about food or their clothes.

No one seemed to mind my and Ben's presence. Of course, Minho and Hawk were missing which led to Ben talking as the second keeper of the runner.

It was a lot better when he did it if you would ask me. The only reason Minho was the keeper was that he'd been there the longest, mapped the whole maze, had strong muscles and excelled at his job.

I didn't feel like listening to Ben and even if I did I wouldn't remember what he said tomorrow. My mind was fuzzy with hundreds of thoughts of that wicked sign we saw in the glade. Why would something ever be called that way?

Also, the fact that I told Ben about the voices and he didn't even seem to be worried for me like this was normal. But this isn't normal, none of this is.

"Evelyn you understand?" The boy asked in my direction, making me raise my eyes.

"Yeah." I lied.

"Good, because you could die if you didn't."

Well, shuck. I only nodded. It couldn't be that bad, right?

One by one everyone left the room, leaving me and Ben alone again. He came by my side petting my shoulder as he sighed. "Hawk wants to see you, Ly."

"I don't," I replied because he was the least of my problems. For all I know, he would apologize just like Minho did when Alby told him to.

"I know, but he got his nose broken because of that-" He started, but I cut him off, if someone had to talk to him, it wasn't me. "Exactly, Minho did, so it's up to him to apologize."

"Look, we're not in kindergarten, it's not about apologies. Trust me, no one cares about those here."

"Tell that to Alby." I scoffed under my breath, crossing my arms. He let out a low chuckle.

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

I glanced at him, now was not the time for his little speech. "I don't think it applies in this situation."

"Just go alright, if he's being an ass again, tell me, and I'll break him something else."

I gave him a soft smile, I'll owe him this. "That's what brothers do," I replied with a chuckle as we both left the room side by side. In moments like this, I was lucky to have him by my side, only sometimes though.

"Wish me luck," I murmured softly, almost like a prayer, would I be alone with him, or would one of the Medjacks be there too? I silently hoped for the second option.

I couldn't put my finger on why I was so scared to see him, he could never hurt me. For all I know it was a stupid prank he didn't twice before doing it. I'm stronger than him anyway, or so I thought.

I pushed open the door, seeing a wounded-up Hawk with Jeff and Clint at his side. They smiled when they saw me, but I couldn't tell if it was a genuine smile or an empathetic one.

Hawk had a white bandage over his bruised nose, but he looked better than the last time I saw him. He twisted around so that he could look at me again, nothing changed in his expression, because his face was mainly covered.

"Evelyn..." He whispered because his mouth could barely open. Minho hasn't been gentle on him and it showed.

"What do you want?" I stayed where I was, not daring to walk any closer.

"I didn't think... this would have happened." He started, but I cut him off.

"You didn't think what? That you'll get your ass beaten up?"

"No." He raised his hand in the air trying to protect his point. "That you would get so angry. I admit it wasn't funny, but it was at that time."

"He knows better than to mess with you again," Jeff remarked, observing the way I gazed at the injured as he translated his words into his own.

Hawk nodded, continuing to stare at me while I tried to read his thoughts. He annoyed me so much, but at the same time, they were teenagers, not fully ground men. I was a teenager too, but it surely didn't feel that way.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

"I won't do it again," he whispered and I could tell he was embarrassed, good. He continued to stare at me as the Medjacks did as well. "What do you want me to say?" I raised my hands, I knew for a fact that apologies never meant a lot.

Clint scoffed, trying to hold in his laugh. Clearly noticed by everyone as they switched their eyes from me to him.

"That's not funny, Clint," Jeff whispered to his friend.

"It is to me," he said in a laugh. "Evelyn's a badass man, I aspire to be like her." He added as he gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks, I guess?" I crossed my arms noticing the smile on their lips. Maybe it wasn't that bad after all, at least I got friends that could make me laugh in really messed up times.

My thoughts were interrupted as Chuck pushed open the door of the Med Hut. He looked rather tired, but also very glad to see me. "Eve! Eve!" He rushed to my side.

"What's up, Chuck?" I couldn't tell if I was happy or not to see him. After all, he was partially responsible for what occurred.

"Minho got out of the Slammer! He looks so done..."

Oh boy.

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