The Maze Runner (Hayden Love Story)

Chapter Five

Ashlyn's P.O.V
"Hayden." I asked gently.
Hayden turns and looks at me; fear left his face. He dropped the harness he was holding and slowly walked towards me, pulling me into a hug. We say nothing for a moment; just enjoying the warmth of each other. He then whispers something soothing into my ear, something I shall always remember.
"Please." He whispers. "Please don't scare me like that again."
He pulls away and I notice a tear spill from his eyes. I use my finger to gently wipe it away.
"Where were you?" He asks as panic begins to rise in his voice. "I thought you went into the maze! I thought I lost you!"
"Hayden." I say gently as I cup his face. "I was only in the woods."
"But Clint saw you by the door." He says as calm returns to his frightened voice.
"I went over to the door; yes." I admit. "But I would never run, you saw what I was like in the trial, the maze scares me Hayden, I could never find enough courage to enter it."
"Good." He says as he pulls me into another hug. "Because I'll never let you."
"Oh, and Hayden." I ask innocently. "Please reconsider, nobody deserves a death sentence."
"Okay." He says as he presses his lips against my forehead. "I'll talk to Alby later."
"Were you truly worried about me?" I ask as I look up at his blue eyes.
"Of course." He smiles sweetly.
"And you were willing to go in the maze after me?"
Hayden took my hand and looked down at it in his hand.
"I'm willing to do anything for you." He says gently.
I felt my cheeks turn a shade of scarlet and failed to hide it.
"How come you never fail to flatter me?" I ask over a small giggle.
"I flatter you? I never noticed." He replied with a light laugh.
I looked at him wryly and folded my arms.
He throws his arm over my shoulder jokingly.

Later that day I'm sitting outside the kitchen with Jeff, Clint and Alby. They've been discussing how I can play part within work here.
"Girls too darn weak, can't be a builder or a slicer." Jeff says as he puts his muddy boots on the table and takes a bite from his apple.
"That's right." I tut. "Continue talking about me as if I weren't here."
"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there." Jeff teases. I slap his muddy boots off the table.
"Hygiene boys, ever heard of it?" I sigh at the muddy table.
"You ain't our bleedin' mother." Clint laughs as he runs his hand through his hair.
"I might as well be!" I snap. "And when was the last time you washed your clothes?"
"Jesus woman." Alby laughs also. "You might as well have the word 'mother' stamped on ye' head."
Then I heard it; a low pitched cry that came from the blood house. Alby, Jeff, Clint and I ran towards it.
God knows what's happened in there.

We push open the doors to see one of the Gladers in mid-fight with another. Alby pushed past the crowd and broke the two Gladers apart. Hayden and Newt then ran into the building.
"What the bloody hell's goin' on?" Newt asks staring down at the two boys.
"This shank stole me bleedin' pitchfork!" One of the Gladers yelled.
"Ye' tried to bloomin' hit me with it, that's why!" The other replied.
"It don't matter who started it; I'm finishing it." Alby snaps. He and Hayden exchange a glance. "3 nights in the pit."
"3 nights in da' pit because this bugger stole me bleedin' pitchfork?" Shouts a Glader.
"Or would you rather spend three nights in the maze?" Hayden asks as he folds his arms.
The two Gladers exchange a look and then shake their head rapidly.
"That's what I thought." Hayden smirks. Alby and the other Gladers dragged the two ruffians to the pit.
"Alright that's enough, back to work ye' shanks." Newt exclaims as he claps his hands.
"There's another four Gladers that you still need to sort out." I say softly as I tug Hayden's sleeve.
Hayden looks away for a moment but then looks back at me.
"Okay." He says sympathetically. "I'll drop the charge."

Hayden and I head over to the pit that the 4 kidnappers are held in. Hayden looks down to stare at the kidnappers.
"You fricken lot better think your thankful." He says as he unlocks the pit door.
"What about the maze?" One of the kidnappers ask as he climbs out.
"You better thank Ashlyn here for saving your asses." Hayden says as the last kidnapper climbs out the pit.
The four kidnappers stare at me for a moment; but they're gobsmacked at the fact I want them spared.
"Why y'helping us?" One of them asked.
I pull the creases out out of my jumper and fiddle with the buttons out my over coat.
"I'm not like the rest of you; I wouldn't be able to live with a satisfied conscience." I reply.
The Glader then exchange looks then run off back into the Glade. Hayden closes the pit door and walks over to me; slipping his warm hand into mine.
"You're a good person y'know." He smiles gently as he looks down at my hand in his.
"So are you." I smiled sweetly in return. "You shanks just need to cool it a bit."
"It isn't that easy." He laughs.
"It never is." I smile. "Is it?"
Hayden's eyes stare beautifully into mine. It feels like I've known Hayden for years but it's only been a day.
"Where have you been all my life shank?" I ask with a light laugh.
"In this fricken Glade." He laughed in reply as he looked at me, his smile slowly dropped and he gently held my face and pressed his lips to mine.
His lips against mine felt warm; but it felt wrong, this sensation, it didn't feel right. I slowly pulled away from the kiss and looked away.
"What's wrong?" He asks as he lifts my chin with his finger.
"I don't know." I reply quietly. "I've only just met you Hayden, I'm confused about everything."
"So am I." He adds as he leans against a tree beside the pit. "If you want; I don't have to-"
"No." I cut in. "Hayden I do like you; it's just my feelings are all over the place at the moment. I'm worried, confused, terrified, for not just myself but for the Gladers. I don't know how I feel."
Hayden says nothing for a while, he just stares at a spot on the ground.
"Then I'll wait." He replies eventually. "I understand how you're feeling, I've been through it, and I'll wait."
"Oh, Hayden you-"
"I'll wait." He says quickly as he steps towards me. "I don't really know how this relationship thing works; but I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to make you happy."
A small smile stretches across my face and I throw my arms around his neck. There is something different about him, he's not like the others. He's ruthless one moment then gentle the next, and when I'm with him; I don't feel so afraid anymore.