Not Your Average Glader (Completed)

Chapter 9: Fears

Keeper. The word runs laps in my mind. Am I the official keeper of the Maze? I finger my watch and I feel excitement swell up within me.

I sit with some friends at dinner that evening. After some time they don't even bother to bring me into any conversation as I am miles away.
Without realizing it, I'm the last one at the table.

"The food can't be that bad!"

Startled, I look up and see Frypan standing over me, a ladle in one hand and both hands on his hips.

I look back at my food and notice then that I have barely touched the now cold stew.

"No the food is great." I try to sound like I mean it. "I'm just not hungry." I finish lamely.

"Could have fooled me." He grumbles as he takes my bowl and walks back to the kitchen.

"Hey!" I stand up from the table and follow after him

"I was going to eat that."

As he dumps the leftovers in a container he says,

"No you weren't and I know why."

"Why?"

Instead of answering he ducks under a counter and comes up holding a small kanpsack. He holds it out to me at arm's length as though it will reach out and bite off his hand.

"What's this?" I slowly ask as I accept the bag.

"Alby asked me to have it ready  before dinner."

He pauses and his countenance grows fearful.

"You be careful out there."

I try to shrug off the serious tension with a joke.

"Only thing I need to be careful of is this meal."

Frypan frowns slightly then says something that runs shivers down my spin.

"I know deep down you're scared. Scared to death."

I can't argue the statement. If I'm honest with myself I am a little scared.

"Just hurry and get back."

I nod and lift my wrist, showing my watch. "I intend to."

"Good, that's good." He says as he turns and walks away.

I'm left standing alone. His words have shaken me. Frypan is afraid and not just for my sake. The maze itself. But why?

'Snap out of it!' I order myself.

Most of the boys are already getting ready for bed when I walk over to my usual spot. I can't help but notice a few glance fearfully my way.

'How many others know?'

Leaning against my familiar tree stump, I take the time to go through the contents of the knapsack: Two bottles of water, three granola bars, an apple and a kitchen knife.

I stop short as I hold the knife in my hand. The cold metal glistens in the moon light. Surely this is to cut the apple...

Suddenly I understand the fear in Frypan's eyes, the urgent warning to hurry and get back. Does he think I won't be alone out there?

'What could be out there?'

I don't realize that I'm still holding, or rather gripping, the knife when John plops down beside me.

"Hey what's that for?" He asks as he reachs out to touch it.

"Nothing." I say urgently and shove it back in the bag.

The knife means fear, and possible danger. I dont want that on my friend's shoulders. But I know my words sounded harsh and try to fix them.

"Sorry John, it's nothing. Just a gift from Frypan."

John remains silent.

"So what's up with you?" I try to lighten the mood as I had with Frypan, but just like earlier I am unsuccessful.

"You don't have to pretend. I know you're a runner." John says bluntly.

"Who told you?"

"Everyone knows."

This bit of information surprises me.

"You're not scared, are you?"

Within ten minutes I've had my fears hidden, stated, affirmed and now questioned.

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human." I hear myself say.

The words came out of nowhere and I'm left filling both empty and full inside. Is this what Alby feels when words speak through him? If so he has every right to be angry all the time, the feeling is scary.

"I guess we are all human then," John says with a yawn.

John falls asleep within a few minutes and as I begin to drift off into a fitful sleep I remember Frypan's last words to me,

"Good, that's good."

'Good. That's good. Good. Good that.'

A/N
So I hope everyone is enjoying this. Tomorrow is running day!! Comment your thoughts!