Runner of Group D (Maze Runner fanfic)

Chapter 13

"You want to what!" Carol shrieked. After a nice, long, quiet, day of running through Section 4, Sandra finally got the nerve to tell Carol her plan. Well, technically Jen's plan, but she didn't want to be reminded of that sad truth. Carol had been pretty upset to hear Jen had slipped through the window that morning unnoticed. Piling this on was just asking for trouble.

"Look," Sandra said, motioning for Carol to turn it down, "the Abyss never moves. We don't have any idea where the Grievers come and go. The two may be connected." Steam could have been coming out of Carol's ears. She was fuming mad to the point Sandra was afraid she would explode.

"You do realize you are taking the word of a girl who has pretty much lost it," Carol huffed, the fire in her eyes blazing. Sandra was really wondering if this was worth getting Carol's wrath for. A way out was good. Searching was great. But she was asking to take their only real hope and his mortal enemy into a maze where she was practically useless.

"I'm going to take someone else along with me. Like we agreed, two people with Jen at all times. I'm one, our extra companion is two." Carol still looked hyperactive. Sandra smiled, saying, "Come on. What could it hurt? We might be able to find the way out without jabbing Leo with needles." Carol burned even hotter. Probably not her best idea to joke around.

"What could it hurt? What could it hurt!" Carol fumed. "Leo could die and we would lose our only plan! Jen may go psycho and you could be lost in the Maze, perfect Griever bait! It could all be a trap and you would all die!" Definitely not a good idea to joke. Luckily, it seemed like Carol's rant had tapped into all of her anger, syphoning it until there was nothing left. Carol was catching her breath, the fire in her eyes dimming. Sandra thought it best to wait.

"It's a bad idea," Carol stated firmly when she was done. "That maze is a death trap. I should know." Carol looked down at her left arm. She had finally agreed to the Technos' offer to make her a new hand. She wore a black glove over the contraption, covering the wires and metal pieces she so despised having attached to her nervous system. Sandra wasn't sure how Florence got it attached so quickly and was pretty sure she didn't want to know.

"Carol," Sandra said calmly, "I know there's a lot of risk. I'm trusting people I probably shouldn't be around. But we have to take chances in order to move forward." Carol stared into her emerald eyes, trying to stall in order to suggest something else. Nothing came to her mind though. She finally gave in with a sigh.

"Fine," she approved harshly, "but be careful in there." Sandra nodded with a smile. She was about to leave when she decided to wrap her friend in a hug. Carol hugged back, squeezing a little. They let go and Sandra ran off.

The Keeper made a run for the Garden, noticing a giant walk up a ladder. When she got there, all of the Gardeners were taking a break, watching as Leo struggled within the branches. The Keeper, fox-faced Klio, was giving him instructions.

"You have to go near the top!" she shouted up at him, adjusting the gardening hat she wore on top of her auburn hair. Sandra could hear Leo grunt even though she could no longer see him.

"I'm pretty sure I'll reach Saturn before I find this perfect apple!" Leo shouted down. A couple girls snickered, including Sandra. The Gardeners may be the nicer of the workers, but they were full of tricks. This one they loved to play on newbs who had to work there for the day. It wasn't appreciated when you weren't in the know, but when you were, it was a real sight.

"Just keep going! I know it's there!" Klio pointed at two girls when she was done. They ran off and came back with a mattress. Quickly, with some more help, they positioned it right under the tree. "You see it yet!" Klio shouted up, beaming from ear to ear. A few more grunts.