MAZES | cake ✓ | warning:shitty!

t w e n t y - s e v e n

sorry for the lack of updates tbh i just can't wait to finish this book
~ gia

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"So you literally just light the fucking spear on fire and throw it into The Maze, huh?"

That voice belonged to Luke, in which he was addressing Michael. The boy had been let out of The Pit and put under close watch and security at all times, and even Luke was hostile towards him. Even if Michael had abided him, both physically and sexually, he had overcome that.

And just the thought of having overcome such a serious, scarring experience made him happy. He was scarred but scars were the past, and sure the past hurt but you couldn't change it once it happened.

Michael nodded, his red hair fluffy and tufted in random places. "I mean, unless Harry lied or something. I don't really know if it's foolproof but my guess is that it works."

Luke rubbed his temples fiercely with his thumbs, sighing in exasperation.

All the Gladers were assembled at the gaping entrance of the Maze, spears in hand. Calum wasn't present though, mostly because he and Luke had another 'fun night' last night and Luke was so rough with him that the poor boy couldn't walk. But Calum had told him he liked it rough, so Luke granted it.

"Are you sure?" Luke queried, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes, I swear," Michael said, seriously.
Luke raised his scruffy chin a bit. Hickeys lined his neck and what was exposed of his collarbones from Calum last night and although they weren't visible, vicious scratch marks were on his back, shoulders, and chest and fuck, the thought of last night made him want to go to Calum and fuck him right on the spot. But we'll put that thought aside for now.

"You swear, huh? I'd rather trust a damn rat than you," Luke spat. "But I guess it's the same thing, right?"

Michael tried to think of a searing, scathing reply but couldn't so he fell silent.

"Thought so. Anyways, I guess it's worth a shot. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? You could die, but I guess that's not exactly the worst." He paused for a sharp glare at the green-eyed boy. "In fact, I wouldn't mind lighting you on fire and throwing you into The Maze."

"Now Lukey, let's not be rude here," Michael finally gained the audacity to reply. "Last time I checked, you were the one who was scared of me, not vice-versa. And I can always put you in your place if you ever get out of hand." Michael smirked coyly and Luke's expression faltered a bit.

"Fuck off. I will literally shove a spear up your ass so it comes out your mouth." The blond boy hissed back before turning and sulking away to join the crowd of boys by the entrance of the Maze.

"Now," Luke cleared his throat and the murmuring boys silenced. "We've been in here three years, three years too long. Now is the time to escape! Now is the time to get out of this hellhole and experience real life!"

The crowd of boys hooted and shouted their excitement.

"But," Luke paused for a breath. "Some of you will die, but it's a sacrifice worth making. We've all coexisted here for three years," His blue eyes flickered sideways to glance accusingly at Michael. "Well, some of us. But that's the past and right now, we're going to escape, and we're going to win."

"Now, spears up!" Luke shouted the order and the large crowd of boys raised all their wooden spears, the tips all dipped in a flammable substance that had Beth sent yo by The Box.

"Line up, and light 'em up!" Luke further commanded, pointing to the large fire flickering in a pile of logs and wood, and slowly the crowd of boys merged into one line and individually lit up the tip of their spears and took turns launching them as far as they could past the doors of The Maze, where the wooden weapon burned and cranked to a blackened ash color on the stone ground of The Maze, each one piling up and making one large fire, crackling and causing a trail of smoke to paint the darkening evening sky.