The Maze Within {Book 1}

Chapter 28

=Minho=

Minho and the rest of the Gladers started making their way back to the Village after the Maze doors shut, locking Ben inside.

Minho couldn't believe had had just lost one of his best Runners. For what he had seen after working with Ben for so long he knew Ben was one of the few Runners that knew the Maze well and was good at Mapping it.

He looked around and noticed he couldn't see Elizabeth anywhere. He saw her for a minute when he was dragging Ben out, but now she was nowhere to be seen.

"Chuck?" He called out to the Slopper.

"Did you see where Liz went?" He asked as he made his way up to him.

Chuck glanced over at Thomas before answering. "She ran back to the Village a minute ago."

'Why would she do that?' Minho thought to himself.

He nodded to the young boy before leaving the 2 and walking through the Glade and making his way up the Homestead where he went to Elizabeth's room and lightly knocked on the door.

No answer.

He paused for a moment before slowly opening the door where he saw Elizabeth with her head buried into her pillow.

He carefully walked over to the side of the girls' bed and knelt down beside her head.

Even though her hair was covering her face, Minho could still see parts of her face.

Her eyes were red and swollen. She looked as though she had been crying, even maybe cried herself to sleep.

Minho didn't want to wake her, but he needed to find out what had got Elizabeth so worked up.

Her breathing was uneven as well, like someone who had been crying.

He reached out and gently shook her shoulder in an attempt to wake her up. "Liz, wake up."

The girl stirred before her eyes fluttered open. Minho noticed her eyes weren't their usual chocolate brown in colour. They had now gone more of a grey colour.

"Minho? What are you doing here?" She asked, leaning on her elbow.

"Are you okay? Chuck and Thomas said they saw you run from the Banishing," He asked.

Tears suddenly started pouring from the young girl's eyes and she started sobbing. She shook her head and hid her face in her pillow again.

"What's the matter?" Minho questioned, worried about his friend.

"I don't understand," She sobbed.

Minho sighed to himself before reaching out and tilting Elizabeth's head up to face him. "What don't you understand?"

"Why they did it?" She replied.

"What? Ben?" Minho guessed and she nodded.

"How could you guys just do that, throw him out there? You know what is out there, yet you sent him out anyway," She broke down again.

"Liz-" Minho started, but Elizabeth cut him off.

"Even Newt went along with it. Does he not care anymore?"

Minho let a second sigh escape from his lips before he started explaining. "He does care Liz, but it was Alby's decision. His is the leader around here and we all have to do what he says, you know that. What Ben did to Thomas, he broke one of the rules of the Glade. This was the punishment he had to pay for breaking that rule."

Elizabeth nodded to the boy, tears still rushing down her cheeks.

It was then Minho realised how broken Elizabeth really was. Ever since she had gone through the Changing, Minho saw a change in the girl. She had become a different person to the young teen that came up in the Box.

"I just wish it could be different and I wish I knew why Newt was acting this way," She whimpered.

"I'm sure if you ask him he will tell you what's on his mind, but right now you need to get some rest," Minho replied, gently pushing the girl to lie down again.

She nodded before pulling the sheets up to her chin and shutting her eyes.

"I'll send Newt in the morning to wake you up," He told her before starting to make his way out of the room.

Word Count: 651

Edited: 32/4/2017