Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

16. 𝒩𝑒𝓌 𝑅𝑒𝒸𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓉𝓈

"Where should I go today, Watcher?" Viya asked the bug.

Over time, she had become accustomed to calling the beetle-blade 'Watcher'. She didn't know when it started, but it did, and it stuck.

"I'm thinking I'll go straight to section four and map the left side this time." Viya explained as she stared at her big map.

Over the months, Viya had been making slow, but precise progress. She was almost done with all the stuff on her side of the maze. As much as she'd like to go over to section two or six, she'd never make it there in a day, much less make it back too.

Viya took a step back from her map.

"Well, tomorrow section...three opens, which is a little far...so I should go into section four today, what do you think?"
Viya paused, "Good point, grievers do lurk around there, but maybe that's a sign."

"Okay, okay, I know it could be stupid, but if you haven't noticed, I've become quite fast so I could easily outrun a griever."
"Hey!" Viya exclaimed, "Don't doubt my plans!"
Viya rolled her eyes at Watcher, "Fine, what do you recommend then." She said sassily.

"...Inner sections? Again? I do those ones so often though." Viya remarked, "Yes I know they're safer but the most I ever find is some pebbles on the ground."

"Yes, I know you want me to 'be safe' and stuff, but we'll never get out of here if we're safe!" Viya argued, "Besides, if I don't come back then you can have all the food to yourself."
Viya looked away from Watcher and back to her map.

"Watcher! How could you say that?!" Viya exclaimed.

She pinched her nose bridge, "Fine," She groaned, "How about this, I'll follow your plan today."

Viya looked back at her map, a sudden wave of determination hitting her.

"You know what, I will go to section four, because guess what, I don't need your approval!"
Viya reached for her running vest and swiftly put it on, she carefully tucked her pocket knife into her pants pocket and headed for the door.

"See you when I get back, Watcher! And I expect to see all the food still there when I get back." Viya said sternly.

She gave a small wave as she peeled the vines away and entered the endless stone corridors.

The maze was how it always was, the vines clinged to the walls like they always did. The sky above was the same sickly blue that it was everyday. The walls and floor were the same dull gray with plants growing through the cracks.

Viya had started to hate the color gray.

It was the only color that was in the maze and it was the color Viya saw everyday when she woke up and went to bed.

Always the same dull gray.

Viya had actually pondered on requesting a paint set so she could paint her walls. She had never been much of an artist, the most she did was drawing maps after her runs, but she was sure she could learn.

It was odd how many things she took for granted in the glade, who knew that color was a luxury to her now.

She didn't want to miss the glade, but it was hard not to. The glade was comfortable, safe, social, the glade was all the things that the maze wasn't.

The one thing she didn't miss was the gladers, she couldn't miss them. They never cared about her anyways, they banished her without a second thought.

And she'd never forget what they did, she'd always carry it in her heart.

She carried everything in her heart.

—------

Minho dug through the boxes in the map room, both of his hands were deep in the crate, and he hurriedly searched through the contents of it.
"Ah, here it is." He said, "Try this on for size." Minho said as he threw a running vest to the newest recruit.

The boy fumbled with it, but he eventually figured it out.

Minho walked over to the boy, as he passed him he pulled on one of the strings to tighten the vest, "You can't have a loose vest."

"A..Alright." The blond boy stuttered out.

"Let's go." Minho directed as he exited the shack.

The nervous boy followed him out.

"Rule 1: Don't be stupid." Minho started, "Stupid moves will get you killed, so, don't be stupid."

"Right-"
"Rule 2!" Minho cut him off. "Check. Your. Corners. Even though grievers don't commonly lurk in the day, they can still be there, so always check your corners." Minho explained, "Rule 3: Use your senses, listen to the maze, use your eyes, and most importantly, use your head."

The recruit nodded seriously.

"Rule 4: Keep running, you wouldn't believe how many shanks take breaks every five minutes." Minho said, "And lastly, please don't die in your first week, it's a bitch to get new runners in this place, so respectfully, stay alive."
"Is that all?"

"Mostly, now c'mon we're burning daylight."

"Mostly? What do you mean by Mostly?" The boy asked concernedly.

"Look man, I can't explain everything about the job, lots of it you have to figure it out on your own. Now don't be a chicken and let's go, you volunteered for this shit."
"Actually I didn't volunteer, Alby literally came up to me! Telling me it was my 'duty' to become a runner."
"Oh boohoo, you'll be fine."

"You don't sound too sure." The boy said skeptically.

"No comment." Minho said.

The blond boy's mouth hung open, "What do you mean no comment!"
"You know exactly what I mean."

"Am I gonna die!?!?"

"Not if you follow the rules-"
"I know, I know, 'Check your corners, blah blah blah'." He mocked.

"Maybe you would be better off as griever food."
"Whatever..."
The pair jogged towards the doors, it had only been fifteen minutes since the doors had opened.

"You ready for this Ben?"
"I guess." Ben said as he rolled his eyes.

"Now, you'll always remember your first time." Minho told him.

"You're disgusting." Ben said, but Minho had already taken off.

"Oh this is gonna be just great..." Ben muttered before he ran after Minho.