Different (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 7

I wake up to the sound of something snapping. I instantly bolt up, and realize it was Minho stepping on a twig. "Oh, hey. I was just coming to wake ya. Gotta get ready to run. Unless you wanna back out?"

"Never. Let's go."

I get up and we go to the Homestead, quickly eat breakfast, and then go to pack backpacks, which contain notepads, water, our lunches, and a couple knives for safety. Once were packed and ready to go, we wait by the doors.

"You're running with me today, so I can watch over you."

I sigh but nod.

We wait there for about five minutes in silence, until Newt walks over. "Hey love."

"Hi."

"Just wanted to say be careful today, please. The Maze is a dangerous place."

I sigh. "I can handle it. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I'm weak."

"I never called you weak. I'm just saying be careful."

Minho says "don't worry Newt, I'm not gonna let anything happen to her. I know you'll kill me if I do."

I smile a little and say "I think the walls are about to open."

Less than a second later, the walls start sliding open. I tune out the horrific noise and say "okay, we'll see ya later, Newt."

He nods, and I follow Minho out into the Maze.

We run in silence for a couple hours, until he says "you tired?"

I shake my head. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Are you even sweating?"

I touch my forehead to check for sweat. Nothing. "Nope."

"How the hell do you do that? Let's take a break."

We slow down, and I pass a small water puddle. How and why it's there I don't know. It just is. I stop quickly, trying to see my reflection. I see that, like Newt said, I have brown hair and brown eyes.

"That a fascinating puddle?"

I laugh and turn away from the puddle. "I was checking my reflection, ya shuck-face." I've grown more accustomed to using the Glade's vocabulary, since I've heard it so much.

"Oh god, you're one of those girls?"

I shake my head. "I haven't seen what I look like and Newt described me to myself. I was just getting a look."

He nods and takes out a water bottle. He chugs half the bottle then puts it back in his bag. "You're not tired at all?"

"Well I could use a nap. But from the running, I'm fine."

"How do you manage it?"

"I steady my breathing." That's basically it. That's all I do.

"Well you must be like, the master at it."

I shrug and sit down next to him. We sit in silence for a few minutes, then he gets up. "We'll stop again for lunch in a couple hours."

I nod, and we take off running again. After about three more hours, we stop for lunch. "Tired yet?"

I shake my head. "Perfectly fine."

"You're definitely something. If not a coyote, you're probably a cheetah."

I laugh and say "yeah, right. You caught me. I'm a cheetah."

He laughs, and we sit against a wall. We both take out our sandwiches and I devour mine in less than one minute.