Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

21.𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒯𝓇𝒾𝑔𝑔𝑒𝓇

The maze felt like it was hiding something, it didn't feel as it usually did. Viya usually brushed off her feelings about the maze, but today was different. She felt like if she didn't listen something bad would happen.

It was one of her first days back out into the maze since her last encounter. Her leg was still tightly wrapped in bandages, but she could walk on it now without it being too painful.

She was slightly scarred from her last encounter, but she'd never let it hold her back. Her map was growing, both in detail and size. There were only two sections that she hadn't mapped, and those were the ones directly across from her. She had tried once, but ultimately failed. Ever since she had been struggling to figure out how she could do it successfully, but her and Watcher had not come up with anything.

Viya wanted to run through the maze, but she knew better. She'd have to ease herself back into her usual speed. She had stopped running for two weeks, and they were the most boring weeks of her life. Running was repetitive, but at least it was something.

Viya saw something out of the corner of her eye, she jogged backwards to see what it was.

Surprisingly, there tucked away in one of the many dead ends of the maze, was a griever. But it didn't look normal, it almost looked sickly, if that was even possible.

Over her two week 'vacation' Viya's curiosity about the grievers had only grown, and depicted her instincts to run, Viya approach the creature.

Viya crept closer, closing the gap between her and the mechanical demon.

She had never been this close to a griever, well she had been closer to a griever than this, but she was usually running for her life, which was much different than what she was doing now.

The closer Viya got, the more details she could see on the griever. Details she had never noticed. She had never realized that their bodies were slightly hairy, and that parts of their torsos had metal hardware showing through their usual gummy flesh. But there was one thing Viya had never seen before, maybe she had never been paying attention, but this thing looked new.

The closer she got, the clearer it became, and once she was only five feet away from the creature, she was almost positive that she knew what it was.

On the grievers lower back, there was this small, roughly eight centimeters long bulb. It was greenish in color and there looked to be almost a light inside of it.

It almost looked like an off switch.

With little hesitation, Viya stepped closer. The griever had its head turned the other way and was completely ignoring her, almost like it wanted her to examine it.

Soon Viya was standing right behind the griever, she lifted her hand gently. And for once she hesitated before she touched it.

Did she really know what she was doing?

No, she didn't.

Viya moved her hand towards the bulb, getting ready to press it. But her fingers just barely got to graze it before the griever booted back to life and immediately ran the other way, knocking Viya down in the process.

"Strange..." Viya muttered, "It didn't even try to attack me, it just...ran away."
Viya got back onto her feet and swept off the dust that clung to her knees. She'd have to write this down once she got back. But for now, she had to run.

She had to run to map the maze, to find a way out.

Because out was the only way she could go.

She never recognized it, but she knew that she couldn't stay in her room forever. She needed to get herself and Watcher out of this hellhole.

———

Avas heels clicked across the tile as she entered her office. She elegantly sat down in her chair and folded her arms on top of the table. She cocked her head to the side, signaling to the man that sat across from her that he should start talking.

He cleared his throat. "Um...we are all wondering what the plan is for group A." He stuttered out.

"What about it?" Dr.Paige asked.

"Well, um, we don't have a trigger."
Ava nodded slightly, "I know, I'm working on it."
"Alright...but..." His voice trailed off.

"But...?"

"All the other Mazes are scheduled to have their triggers sent up in a week. Which we could totally push back if you need the time!"

"Do you doubt me..." Ava glanced at the man's name tag, "..Dave?"
"No no no, not at all Doctor."
"Good." She said, "Like I said, I'm working on it."
"Yes, of course of course." He said nervously.

"You can go now Dave." Ava said calmly.

She watched as the anxious man scurried out of her office, the door closing automatically behind him. Ava slouched back in her chair, letting out a deep sigh.

He was right, she needed to choose a trigger. And she had just the boy in mind.

"Send Janson in, Nancy." Ava said into her office phone.

"Right away." Nancy responded.

Eventually, Ava heard the elevator chime and a knock was placed on her door.

"Come in." She said,

Janson stepped in confidently, "You called?"
"Take a seat."
Janson did as he was told, "Don't tell me I'm fired."
"Trust me, you're one of the only useful people here." Ava said with a sigh. "I need to talk to you about the trigger for group A, or the lack of a trigger."
"Ah," Janson said, "I knew we were going to discuss this sooner or later."
"Thomas and Teresa were supposed to find a suitable replacement, but they haven't assigned one yet, and I don't trust Thomas to pick one out anymore, not after what he did."
"I don't blame you."
"But, that means we have to decide on one."
"I was actually looking at the final test results from a couple years back, and there are a few capable candidates."

"I'm glad you took a look."
"Speaking of Thomas," Janson started, "What are you planning to do with him?" Janson inquired, "Let me remind you, he admitted to revealing the coordinates of every lab, maze, and compound."
"I know what he did, Janson." Ava stated, "And I was getting to that."

"My apologies, go on."
"Thank you, I think that we should make Thomas the trigger."
"But that would mean he'd have to go into the maze?"
"Exactly."
Janson paused before he started chuckling a bit, "I see."

"You and me both know that he is the most capable subject we have, and it would be a suitable punishment as well."

"I think that is a perfect idea." Janson agreed, "But what about Teresa?"
"What about her?"
"She had to be in on it."
"What makes you say that?"
"Ava—sorry, Dr.Paige," Janson corrected himself, "They speak telepathically, they share everything together, they have since they were kids."
"You make a good point, even if she didn't help, she probably knew about it."

"I suggest that we send her into the maze as well."
"What use would that do us?" Ava asked.

"Think about it, most of the boys in Group A probably don't even know Viya ever existed, so sending a new girl up would be quite a shock."
Ava paused, thinking about what he had said, "I'm not totally against it." She said, "But I think Teresa should go in after Thomas does."
"I agree."

Ava opened her laptop and quickly typed something.

"Is it settled then?" Janson asked.

"Yes," Ava answered, "We have our triggers, and I might even say that these two have more potential than Viya had."

Janson nodded.

"I'll type up an email now and send it to the Group A analysts."
"Good, I can't wait to see how this plays out."
"The future is bright, Janson." Ava said, "I'll let you get back to your work now, thank you."
"Anytime Doctor." Janson said as he stood up.

Ava smiled slightly at the man and she watched as he exited confidently.

----------

AN

I'm spoiling you guys by giving you two chapters in a day

Even if I have a billion chapters already written :,)