before the beyond | ziall boyxboy

0.8

SONG OF THE CHAPTER: Magdalene- Bear's Den.

also please read my Christmas Larry fic (:

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The paper was printed the following day, a photo smack in the centre of the front cover showing the runners in their new facility with tiresome smiles and grateful eyes. Niall was chuffed, to be blunt, and he couldn't help but grin as he read through the article below.

They had interviewed some of the runners, taken their names and included the little messages they had wanted to give to their families who were, no doubt, grateful to know they were still alive and okay. Will was the first one, who mentioned how ugly their old training unit was and mentioned their old, red faced trainer who held a whip in one hand just in case they stepped out of time. Niall was sure that having the general public know about what was going on behind the scenes of their favourite spectacle would change their opinion, and possibly urge them onto his side with helping them.

There was also a quote from Harry, the doctor, which explained the plan regarding the medical state of the runners. Diets, fitness and their living conditions. Overall, it was very positive and Niall couldn't have wrote a better article if he had tried.

;

Harry was sat at his desk, the wood was warming from the hot computer and his chair was worn in from his sitting throughout the morning. It was around midday, the sun teetering across the bright sky and the small sound of Louis nibbling on a sandwich was floating from the corner of the room.

Another boy made his way through the door, his face had the hint of facial hair and acne splayed across his left cheek and drizzled his chin. Louis felt yet another pang in his chest, these lads had to go through puberty without any advice, education, or help. They wouldn't know what was going on or why, and asking a guard would have ended in a punishment, he assumed. The lad was obviously still getting used to his deepening voice, and croaked out his name with an awkward blush. He was fourteen, they discovered, and seemed fairly healthy apart from a nasty gash on his right bicep that had been infected.

He exited the office with a quiet thank you, and Harry started tapping away at his computer to fill in the necessary data. So far, all the boys were malnourished and underweight which reflected badly (yet again) on Mr Horan.

;

Things started to pick up in the arena, and the first run since Niall took over wat to happen in two evening's time. The beasts that the runners fought were given shots to keep them safer, less animalistic in the maze, though the runs were made to be thrilling and the thought of a runner dying would only add to the thrill of it all. Louis had tried to explain to Niall that using their usual teams was the most effective way of doing things, as they all had roles and each knew exactly how to play it in a way that would give them the highest chance of living. But the blonde would hear none of it, he arranged a meeting with Harry to find out the fittest, healthiest lads and was planning to bung them all in together for the audience to see.

So that's what happened, and the wolves were released. They were manic, having been kept in cages for so long, though the shots kept their reactions delayed and predictable. The audience were loving it, the unusual grouping of boys who ranged in age and ability and the random releasing of the wolves was switching it up compared to what they usually saw.

The boys were struggling, to say the least, the sandy floor was kicking dust up to fog their view, and the lack of experience with one another was really taking its toll. Zayn stabbed the wolf in the neck, yanking his dagger back from the beast after a moment and scrambled away as it slumped to the ground. With sharp eyes and furrowed brows, one of the other runners, who had the map, called for them to follow him and keep their weapons poised.