Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

43. 𝒪𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎.

No words were spoken between Viya and Minho in the coming days. They both kept to themselves and snuck glances at each other. Evening approached faster than Viya expected, it felt like she had barely blinked and suddenly she had been at the camp for two days. She sat at a campfire with a few of her peers, but she didn't pay much attention to their conversation, something about horses. Viya felt peaceful in the camp. The days moved quick, there was always something to do, but it wasn't as repetitive as the maze was. People were oddly cheerful too, they would smile at Viya as they'd passed–something that hadn't happened in a long time. They didn't know her, they didn't know the things she had done, and they were nice because of it.

Viya watched the fading sun leave behind colors of orange and pink as it dipped below the mountains. She took a deep breath, maybe this is what she needed.

Maybe she could be happy here.

Then the screams started.

Fire fell from the sky, tents burst into flames as parents tried to get their young kids out of the canvas homes.

Viya watched in bewilderment, at first she thought it was another one of her delusions, but as a flame grazed her exposed arm, she knew it wasn't. She bolted up from her seat and looked around frantically.

She watched as WCKD soldiers descended from the sky and started aiming at anybody in their immediate range. Viya watched as people fell to the ground as electricity paralyzed their bodies.

Viya's eyes locked on Harriet's group on top of a truck, they held guns and were shooting at the crowd. She ran towards them, desperately wanting to feel a weapon in her hands. The second she was close enough to the truck, a pistol was tossed towards her, nobody had to tell her what to do with it, she knew.

Viya had never actually used a gun before, and she had severely overestimated her skills. The shots she fired caused her body to jerk backwards, and the majority of her shots missed her target by two or more meters.

Viya kept going, even if it took her eight shots before she'd hit someone, she would've still hit someone. For a brief moment they were winning, the soldiers were getting pushed back and all was looking good.

Until Viya's entire body became paralyzed.

Someone had thrown a grenade their way and the entire group had fallen to the ground in defeat.

For some odd reason the electricity wasn't painful, Viya knew it should've been, but she just felt numb. She stared up at the night sky, maybe death wouldn't be so bad, maybe it would be peaceful. Maybe...just Maybe, she'd get a break

—-----

The hallways were eerily quiet as Anvi snuck down the pristine corridors. The smell of bleach was still in the air, Anvi focused on the sounds around her, she had to make sure that no one was coming. She knew what she was doing was risky, she knew it was dangerous and she knew it was wrong. But every time she'd doubt herself, she'd picture Viya's smiling face and force herself to keep going. Martin was right, this was no place for Viya to grow up, she'd have to get her out, and the only way to do that was to get some supplies.

She couldn't just quit her job and leave either, her contract was for five years, and if she breached it...well, she just knew the consequences weren't good.

All she had to do was break into Dr.Paiges office and steal her master keycard. How hard could it be?

Anvi's stomach grew tighter the closer she got to the office. She was the only one working tonight, she was completely alone in the building. But what if Dr.Paige was working late? Or what if she had cameras? She forced herself to push away those thoughts, but every bone in her body screamed for her to abandon the mission.

For Viya, she told herself.

For Viya.

Her hand rested on the door as she stopped at her destination. Her hand trembled as she brought her keycard towards the access pad.

For Viya.

She closed her eyes as she slid her card on the keypad, and she kept them shut until she heard the little chime. She opened her eyes and looked down, 'access granted' the keypad sai in bold green letters. Anvi pushed open the door.

For Viya.

Ava's office was in pristine condition. Her papers were folded neatly on her desk and her pens were lined up by color. Anvi gulped, if she touched anything, Dr.Paige would notice.

For Viya.

Anvi inched towards the desk, her hand hovered over the draw handle, she was about to open it when she heard something. Footsteps were clicking down the hallway. Before she had time to register the sound, the door handle twisted down and it slowly creaked open.

For Viya.

Anvi darted under the desk and held her breath as the stranger entered.

For Viya

"I knew I left this file in here..." Ava muttered as she snatched a folder off of the desk.

Anvi covered her mouth as she waited.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

For Viya.

Ava was about to exit the room when she paused, she looked around before shrugging, she slammed the door behind her.

Anvi let out a breath as she slowly climbed out from under the desk.

She swiftly searched through the drawers before she found the master keycard that had access to every room in the building. She twirled the card around in her fingers, Anvi felt a strange sense of power. Not only could she do anything with this card, but the value it had was unimaginable. If she took this with her, she could sell it for a hefty price.

She could leave Martin.

If she took this with her and didn't tell him, if she kept it after their plan, she could leave him.

Anvi excitedly shoved the card into her pocket as she made her quiet exit.

She had opened so many doors without even realizing it.