Marooned | Maze Runner | Minho

77. 𝒞𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃.

Viya's hair blew in her face as the evening sun beamed over the horizon. She sat on the window ledge, her feet dangling over the edge. Minho sat next to her their thighs almost touching. It had been another two days at the camp and Viya was silently losing hope. She would never tell Minho. She simply couldn't let him know.

Through the golden rays of dusk Viya could still clearly see the wall.

"It looks so small from here." She commented.

"Right." Minho agreed.

"I still find it ironic that they decided to lock themselves in some walls, who's the lab rat now WCKD?" Viya asked.

Minho laughed, "I wonder if they have their own grievers in there to add to the ambiance."

"Ooo! Maybe they have beetleblades as well!" Viya said with a laugh.

"Ha! I bet they get their supplies from a box too!"
Viya looked up at the sky as she laughed. She thought of WCKD cowering behind their walls knowing one of the outsiders had easily entered their fortress without being detected.

In a way she was still captured, still contained. But she somehow felt more free than ever. There was no one holding her captive this time, no scientist looming over her needle in hand. Only a pile of rocks. The rocks were not malicious or mean, they were just there. And if Viya was going to be contained by anything, she was glad it was just a pile of rocks.

"When did you stop hating me?" Minho asked carefully, his voice quiet and soft as if the wrong response from Viya would cut him in two.

Viya paused, "I don't think I ever did hate you." She said gently, "I felt like I hated everyone, and I felt like I hated you, but I don't think I ever did. Because I don't think I could." Viya paused, "I lost myself in that maze, I convinced myself that every person was against me and you had all planned it from the very beginning. I was constantly bitter and angry and I let it control me and keep me from moving on." Viya took a deep breath, "When you got captured...my heart split. You had tried so hard to get me to trust you and I was too busy being a whiny bitch and you paid the price. You tried so hard to get me away from WCKD, even getting yourself captured in the moment, and I don't think I realized it until then that I didn't hate you. I felt anything but hate towards you." Viya looked towards Minho, his hair catching the evening breeze, "What I'm getting at is–"
"I understand." Minho interrupted.

Viya blinked in surprise, "You do?"
"Yes." Minho assured, "I understand."
Viya stared at Minho, their eyes connecting for what felt like decades, without noticing their faces moved closer to another.

"I never hated you Minho." Viya repeated again quietly.

"Good." Minho said breathlessly as he pulled Viya towards him and gently kissed her.

—---

The mid-day sun illuminated Lawrences greenhouse office brightly, the light shone through the bright green leaves of his various plants turning the room into a mystical oasis of life.

The group had all gathered in his office, it was the first time in a while they had all been together. They had spent most days in smaller groups working towards smaller tasks to help the final mission. Some had taken to drawing maps and deciphering old maps from previous missions into things that were actually useful. Others began to tailor uniforms to fit each individual just right.

"Well it looks like everyone is here." Lawrence muttered as he stood up straighter. "Don't worry, you aren't all in trouble." He assured.

Most of the teens stood in the middle of the room in one big group like a herd of cattle before a storm. Brenda and Jorge stood more off to the side while Gally stood towards the back—alone.

"I wanted to let you all know that we're going to strike in two days." Lawrence announced.

Almost immediately the crowd began to stir with displeasure.

"That's too soon." They complained. "We need more time."

"I know it's short notice." Lawrence raised a hand to silence the teens, "But we don't have time to wait, we need to get this done now."
Gally crossed his arms as he looked away, to the others Lawrences sudden haste was strange and unnecessary, but Gally could tell just by looking at the man why they needed to move faster.

"We can't do it!" Jeff protested, "There's too much work and not enough of us!" He argued.

"I've thought of that, and don't worry, I found some extra hands."
Almost on cue the office doors swung open and entered an eccentric blonde and her one armed girlfriend.

"Hi!" Piper said cheerfully as she greeted the crowd.

She was met with hesitant and shocked faces. Rhea was quieter, but she had a look of smug pride on her face.

A moment later, Felix trailed in, a sheepish look on his face, "Sorry I'm late." The ginger said.

Lawrence smiled at the teens, "These kids will help out wherever they're needed, now, less talk, more work." Lawrence commanded.

"Let's save Viya!" Piper cheered passionately.

An awkward silence followed.

"Viya?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah, what do you mean 'save Viya'?" Newt asked as he took a step towards the blonde.

Gally looked to the side uncomfortably.

"Lawrence, what is she talking about?" Thomas questioned.

"Er, I was going to tell you about that." he said nervously, "After Viya's...suspension, she decided she was going to go and save Minho by herself." Lawrence explained, "And due to the fact she has not returned yet we've assumed that she had been caught."
"Are you kidding?" Newt asked in disbelief.

"Unfortunately not."

Newt muttered under his breath as he walked away.

"Well enough chit chat, work!" Lawrence reminded as he shooed the kids away.

The teens soon disbanded, dividing into their respective groups.

"Hey Blondie!" Jeff called out, "Come help me with this!"
Piper looked around for a brief second before she trotted over, Rhea close behind her.

"Can you stretch this?" Jeff asked as he handed the girl a piece of fabric.

Piper took it in her hands and stretched it tightly as Jeff began to sew.

"So how do you know Viya?" Jeff asked after a brief moment.

"Oh! She's my roommate!" Piper said cheerfully.

"And you're happy about that?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Piper questioned, "Viya's great!"
"You just don't seem like you two would get along, that's all."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Piper asked genuinely.

"Oh nothing it's just that you seem so uppity and she's so..."
"I like Viya, she's a great friend, and funny!"
Frypan snorted, "Not to eavesdrop or anything, but you are talking about Viya, right? Grumpy, looming, Viya?"
Piper nodded, her face slowly becoming more and more confused.
"Whatever..." She muttered.

------
AN

Congrats! I have finally stopped teasing you guys!
Now it'll be 77 more chapters until they kiss again! 

(Kidding...kinda)