➊ 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 - 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨, ᵗᵐʳ

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒𝟎: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

I was helping Frypan cook food for the bonfire that night, mostly bacon and chicken. The usual. Enough grease and smoke to satisfy a bunch of starving boys, reminding me how long it had been since any of us tasted something that wasn't slightly burnt or slightly undercooked

I honestly didn't mind helping, anything to keep me from staring toward the homestead every five seconds wondering why the Greenie's face felt familiar.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw Chuck talking to the new kid. Talking was generous—Chuck was talking, the Greenie looked overwhelmed with his wide eyes, like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. Understandable. None of us handled Day One gracefully.

"Hey, what do you think about the Greenie?" I asked Frypan, wiping my hands on my shorts.

"Seems like a great guy. Just give him a moment to catch up." He breathed out a sigh, flipping the bacon with a practiced hand.

"Yeah, I guess."

"I mean, he could fill in the missing place you left among the Runner." He teased, bumping his elbow into my side.

"I don't think they even want a new one."

"You kidding?" He laughed. "Half of them already threatened Minho to leave when you survived a night there, when Hawk got stunk and when they heard you killed a Griever. I'm sure anyone will gladly switch roles with the Newbie to save their asses."

"That's not my point." I looked toward the Maze. "We don't just need a typical Runner. I feel like we're getting closer to finding a way out."

He shot me a look, curious. "Remind me why you left again? And why don't you think he could run into the maze? He seems like he's about to."

He gestured with his spatula toward the brown-haired boy heading straight for the maze, while Chuck scrambled after him.

I turned—and there he was. The Greenie himself, stepping toward the Maze while Chuck scrambled after him like a panicked duckling.

"Crap," I muttered, already backing away. "Hold that thought."

I knew exactly how easily Chuck freaked out. Probably tripped over something and set off a whole chain of panic. The Greenie wasn't scared—he was curious. I could see it in how he watched the walls, how he leaned forward slightly, drawn in.

"Hey Greenie!" I called out. Only Chuck spun around. The boy beside him stayed tense, eyes still glued on the Maze.

I jogged up to them, breath steady. It was the first time since the Maze incident that I'd let myself run, even a little. But if I didn't get there fast enough, Chuck's mouth would absolutely cause a disaster.

"You can't. No one leaves, especially not now. It's not safe." Chuck insisted, waving his arms around.

"Okay, all right, I'm not gonna go." The Greenie said, glancing between us.

I crossed my arms beside Chuck, not bothered by the boy's defensiveness. "You know that one wrong step means we have to go get him right?" I said to Chuck. The kid shrugged, though I could tell he was already picturing the rescue and panicking.

"I don't think he will—" Chuck started.

And then, of course, Gally arrived to ruin everything.

"Hey!" The builder barked, slamming the Greenie down onto the ground. "We gotta stop meeting like this, Greenie."

The boy lashed out, kicking Gally's shin and quickly scrambling back to his feet. I almost grinned. Good. Someone needed to knock Gally down a bit.

Voices echoed as boys rushed over, forming a messy circle around the Greenie. It was chaotic, definitely not the great time to show I could earn the title of third in command. Handling a scared, frustrated, half-confused newcomer? Not exactly easy.

"All right, calm, calm, calm." Gally tried to sound reassuring, but it only made everything worse.

"Don't touch me!" the Greenie shouted, panic clawing up his throat.

"Take it easy. Take it easy, just relax." Gally pushed, which made me want to smack the back of his head. I knew it wasn't the last thing you wanted to hear when you're scared.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" the Greenie spat.

"Just calm down alright?" Newt added, hands raised in a peace gesture. His voice was softer, steadier. If anyone could calm him, it would be Newt.

But the Greenie backed up, chest heaving. Everyone stared at him like he was a wild animal.

"No. Why won't you tell me what's out there?" He pointed toward the Maze.

"It's to protect you." Alby's voice carried through the crowd.

"For your own good." Newt echoed, stepping beside him.

"You guys can't keep me here!"

"We can't let you leave," I said.

His head snapped toward me. And that's when it hit. That flicker. That spark of familiarity. Like a door cracked open inside my head and a piece of light spilled. A barely-there memory that wasn't really a memory. I knew that expression, those furious, questioning eyes.
But how?

"Why not!" he shouted.

The metallic groan of the walls echoed the moment perfectly. The doors were closing. The wall of concrete slid shut in their usual manner.

"Next time, I'm gonna let you leave," Gally muttered before walking away.

The Greenie stayed frozen, breathing unevenly, his face paling as the Maze closed itself off. For a second, he seemed completely hollowed out.

"Welcome to the Glade," Alby said, voice low, before stepping back to give him space.

One by one, the crowd dispersed. But I stayed.

The boy's shoulders rose and fell quickly, too quickly. He looked both overwhelmed and strangely familiar. I didn't know him. I shouldn't know him. And yet something tugged at me like a thread connecting points I couldn't see.

He glanced at me again, eyes filled with a mix of fear and stubbornness.

"Come, I'll help you settle around," I said, offering a small smile.

He hesitated, then nodded. And as we walked together, I felt that strange pull again. Not strong enough to be obvious. Not weak enough to ignore.

Just enough to make me wonder why a boy I'd never met felt like someone I should have never forgotten.

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