MAZES | cake ✓ | warning:shitty!

t w o

quick note before i start this chapter!
this is BASED off the maze runner [no copyright intended, just a fanfic smh] so i am incorporating my own ideas. here's a list that is bound to grow.
- the abodes are pre-built stone 'houses' that were there when the maze was first made. they are intended.
- instead of ONLY grievers, there are also viperwolves. introduced later on.
- daytime & nighttime runners

... if i say anything else it'll spoil the entire book so HOODBYE and enjoy the chapter. kinda a filler but you get to know luke's character more so
~Gianna xoxo

"The Abodes, huh?" Calum shifted his feet awkwardly, Luke nodding us head slowly with a stupid smile on his face. In the center of The Glade was almost a small 'village' of Adobe-looking structures, some with Windows and some without. All of them were about equal in size but the one Luke led him too was exceptionally large. Compared to the other ones, anyway.

It was awkward for Calum because it was getting darker by the minute and he didn't know where he was going to sleep, for Luke hadn't assigned him his abode. And by the looks of it, two to three boys could inhabit one abode.

"This is my place, nothing fancy," Luke shrugged nonchalantly and pushed open the rickety wooden door that was strung to wooden 'hinges' by gnarled vines and moss. Surprisingly it seemed to do Luke good so he didn't remark on it, only quietly stepping into the stone abode.

It wasn't that bad, really. It was a squared-off room, about the size of two average-sized bedrooms in a normal house. The walls, ceilings and floors were solid, smooth stone and there was a 'window' that was obviously homemade. The outline of it was jagged and looked like it took forever to carve out. Placed over it we're leaves tied together by vines and ropes, like shutters or blinds would work. Right now it was covered. The 'room' was lit by a few torches on the back wall, and what really caught his attention were the two 'beds.' They were large, thick slabs of stone on either side of the room, each large enough for at least two [small] people. Placed on top of it was a flat, uncomfortable-looking 'pillow,' really just a velvety case probably stuffed with bird feathers. There were actually sheets as covers though, which surprised Calum.

"Did you build this?" Calum asked.
"No," Luke laughed. "It was all pre-built wen I first arrived here. At least whoever -or whatever- put us here wanted to have us live not a totally miserable, shitty life. But don't get me wrong, it still stinks. It's not the worst though."
"Mhm." Calum rolled his eyes playfully and ran his fingertips along the smooth, cold stone walls, staring at the neatly made 'beds.' The flickering torchlight illuminated Luke's defined facial structure as the blond boy sighed when Calum went on.

"Wait," The kiwi boy said suddenly. "You said 'when you first arrived.' Were you, like, the first person here? Ever?"
Luke nodded, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck.
"Been here since I was sixteen. S'been three years since I got here and still no way out."

Luke took a seat on one of the beds (a/n we'll call it that for now k) and shifted his feet on the stone ground. Calum stared at him.

"You're staring again." Luke laughed, quirking an eyebrow. Calum's face flushed. He didn't know why he always did that, especially to Luke.

"Sorry," Calum chuckled. "Anyways, you were first? Were you scared?"

"Obviously!" Luke flicked his wrist at Calum and made a sarcastic offended face. Calum sniggered.
"Who the hell wouldn't be scared when they're stranded alone in a random swamp surrounded by a damn maze?" That only made Calum laugh harder, until he was gestured by Luke to sit next to him. Luke gave him a soft smile.

Calum wondered if anyone side had ever seen that genuine, pure smile. It was so radiant and happy, enough to bring light to anyone's day.
And why Calum was thinking this, he honestly had no idea.