The Fighter 》 The Maze Runner

Twenty-Nine

What do you do when you want to get back to semi-normal? You run the Maze. To be honest, I'm not that much shucking excited like I use to be. I am happy, don't get me wrong, it's just with Ben and the Banishing...I'm just that not into it today.

"You ok, Tiger?" Minho asked as we waited for Alby.

I nodded, "Yeah, just a bit nervous." He raised his eyebrow at me. I sighed. "I swear, Min, I'm fine."

"You just seem out of it." He nodded behind me. "Here comes lover-boy. Make it quick, I don't want to see you suck face like last time. Gave me nightmares."

I laughed as I pushed him, "You walked in on us, you shank."

He raised his hands up with a smile before leaving. I was chuckling when Newt walked next to me. "What's so funny?" He asked.

"Minho's being a slinthead." I giggled.

"I'm not a slinthead, Slinthead!" He yelled.

Newt and I laughed. He smiled at me, "You nervous?"

I sighed, "A little."

He grabbed my hand, "Don't worry, love. You'll do fine."

"But -"

Newt cut me of by placing his lips on mine. When we pulled apart he smiled down at me, "You'll do fine."

Alby walked over to us. He gave Newt a nod greeting before looking at me, "Alright, Danielle, the only reason you're running with us is because Minho convinced me you know the klunking section the best. Don't mistake this as you getting your job back because you're not. You're back with the Builders tomorrow."

I nodded, "I - I know."

"And we're keeping our eye on you. Understand?"

"Yeah, Alby."

Newt chuckled as he put his hand on Alby's shoulder, "Go easy on her. She knows."

Alby nodded before going with Minho. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding, "Man, I miss the old Alby."

Newt wrapped his arm around my shoulders, "We all do." He looked down at me. "Be careful."

I smiled up at him, "Always am." He smiled back before he leaned down.

"Lovebirds, we don't got all shuck day!" Minho yelled when we were halfway.

Newt chuckled while I gave him a glare. I rolled my eyes before getting an idea. I grabbed Newt by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down. His lips crashed into mine and we began kissing passionately. I could feel him smile into it, and I don't even have to look back to see Minho's disgusted look.

"Danielle, let's go! We need to get this over with before the walls close." Alby ordered.

I chuckled as I pulled apart, "Have fun."

"I'll see you later."

I smiled at him before heading over to Minho and Alby. "About time." Minho teased.

"Oh, slim it."

》》》》

Left. Left. Straight. Straight. Right.

Boy, do I miss running. The wind blowing in my face, my feet pounding on the pavement. It feels just like old times. And I still remember every twist and turns this section has. It's like I never forgot.

"It's right up there." Minho panted.

We skid to a stop. There in the middle of the section was the Griever. It didn't move an inch, the body looked deflated. We walked to get a better look. Why can't all Grievers be like that. All...not moving.

"And you found it like this?" Alby asked with his brow raised.

Minho scoffed, "No, we had a big Thanksgiving dinner and it decided to sleep."

I chuckled and as soon as it came it left with the glare Alby sent me. I remember what Thanksgiving is, but I don't remember who I shared it with. "Are you sure it's dead?" I asked Minho.

"What's with you shanks? Yes, I checked. Don't believe me, check yourself."

Alby kept his expression blank as he walked up to it. He knelt down and took one of his knives out. Something doesn't seem right. "You sure that's a good idea?" I asked.

Alby glanced at me, "If you got any other ideas I'm all ears."

I don't. But I have this gut feeling that we shouldn't be doing this. Alby poked that thing. When he didn't get any response he did it again. And again. And again. That thing didn't move an inch. He wiped the substance off the knife before rising.

"Shank's right. It's dead." He said when he walked over.

"What did I tell you." Minho said.

For the first time since...since ever, Alby cracked a smile. That smile turned to a terrifying scream as the stinger from the Griever struck him. My eyes grew wide when the Griever, slowly, started getting up. It retracted its tail as Alby fell on his knees. I ran over and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"For klunks sake, help!" I yelled.

Minho seemed to snap whatever he was in and rushed over. Alby and I got up as Minho wrapped his other arm around him. "Go, go, go, go, go!"

We started running back. The walls are gonna close soon. Oh, god, the walls are gonna close soon and we have a Griever chasing us again. Alby kept screaming while we ran.

Right. Left. Right. Right. Straight.

Alby's weight finally got to us and we collapsed. I turned back to see if the Griever was behind us. The screech a few feet away told me otherwise. Alby started shaking violently.

"Get his legs!" Minho instructed. Not thinking twice, I pulled his legs up while Minho grabbed him by the upper arms. "Go right. That section's about to close. We'll lose it there."

I turned around so my arms were around my back as I carried Alby. We started running again as the section of the door started to close. Don't look back, don't look back. When I heard the wall behind me close, I crashed to the ground.

"How much further?" I panted.

"A few minutes." Alby started to scream again. Minho placed his hand over his mouth. "We need to shut him up or else we're Griever dinner."

"What do you want me to do? Punch him?" I shook my head at his look. "I'm not punching him, Minho! Why can't you do it?"

"Because it wasn't my idea."

"I was kidding."

"Do it."

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"No, as in, if you ask me again I'll knock that hair gel right out of you, no."

He glared at me before raising his fist. "Sorry bout this. It's for the greater good." Then slammed his fist on Alby's head.

Alby was knocked out cold. Without wasting any more time, we picked him up again.

Left. Straight. Right. Right. Straight.

I hear the walls closing. No, no, no. We rounded the corner and saw the Gladers near the entrance.
Alby started slipping and landed face first on the ground. Minho and I tried to pick him up again while the Gladers started yelling.

"Come on, guys!"

"Let's go!"

"You got to leave him!"

"Hurry!"

"You can do it!"

"Leave him!"

The walls grew closer and closer. We're not gonna make it. My eyes went wide when Thomas pushed his way from the crowd and ran for us. His body was squeezing through the tiny space of the wall as it almost came to a close. The very last second he pushed himself away and landed in front of us. What did he do?

"Good job. You just killed yourself."