Runner of Group D (Maze Runner fanfic)

Chapter 18

Two nights later, things were bleak. The battles were fierce. The injuries many. Ninety-nine still lived. Sandra massaged her ankle as she sat on the steps of the Homestead. It had been two nights since Leo had run out and gotten stung. According to Florence, the struggle wasn't keeping him calm, but alive. Twice he had gone into cardiac arrest, whatever that meant. It only made sense to Sandra when Florence had said his heart stopped. At the moment, he was still breathing, Medics ready to get into action.

"Two nights with a bad ankle," Maxi commented as she stepped out of the complex. "You ask for beatings." The previous night had been the first group's second, group two taking the night before that. Marge and some Smelters were hard at work again, fusing the metal plates from the kill to the, now reinforced, barriers. 

"We don't have an option," Sandra retorted as Maxi sat down beside her. Near the center of the Field, Carol and a few Keepers were hard at work teaching the newbies. They were actually getting good. But not kill-Grievers-for-a-whole-night good. Only a few had reached that standard.

"Still don't have to," Maxi replied. "You could spend time with Leo, letting your ankle heal." Sandra scoffed.

"Make it sound like I want to be with him." Silence fell between them. Sandra turned to look at Maxi. Her grey eyes revealed the seriousness of her comment. "I care because he is our way out," Sandra explained, looking away. She watched Maxi roll her eyes in her peripheral vision.

"Sure. That's the reason." Sandra could feel her prying eyes burn into her skin. "That totally explains why you grew pale when Florence told you about his heart stopping. Why you couldn't stop shifting around. Why you all of the sudden had a surplus of energy after a hard night." Sandra brushed her hair back, watching the girls work around the Field.

"What do you want me to say, Maxi?" Sandra asked. "I like him? 'Cause that's not the case. I just... feel responsible. For him. His life. You know." She stared at Maxi, conveying her feelings through her eyes. Maxi softened her stare, but she didn't let go of that little notion. The idea of Sandra liking Leo.

"Act as if you're trying to prove people wrong. You haven't gone to see him at all." Sandra shrugged.

"I can't help him. I'm not a- Wait. Prove people wrong. You're not the only one?" Maxi smiled, nodding at the group of girls practicing with spears. Paige was in the front, showing them how to pierce an opponent with the pointed edge.

"Paige is one. The girls who started the 'Code CB' thing have been wondering. Word sort of spreads when you sleep on a boy's shoulder." Sandra blushed unintentionally, remembering the embarrassment at being found. Maxi's smile grew. "Don't worry. No one blames you for thinking he's cute."

"I don't think he's cute," Sandra replied quickly, standing up. She ignored the slight pain in her ankle as she headed for the door. "I'm going inside. Not to see Leo 'cause he's cute. 'Cause I don't think he's cute. I'm washing up." Sandra shut the door behind her, scolding herself for sounding like a lover in denial. Simply embarrassing.

Sandra walked a little while before finding a sink. She splashed her face with water, being sure to conserve as much water as possible. Who knew if the Creators would turn that off too. Once she felt sure of herself, she wiped her face off with a towel and headed for the door. 

Before turning the knob, Sandra thought she heard a voice. If anyone, it was Leo. The voice was too deep to be a girl's. She kept listening, the murmurs starting to sound like her own name. Sandra glanced at the top of the stairs. He was just a few feet away.

Sandra pursed her lips. She had been avoiding Leo's bedside for the simple reason that he might have changed. Everyone changed after the Grief Serum. It was common. That's what scared her. What if Leo was stuck to being serious and eery, his soft side gone forever. She didn't want to see him until she had to.