Edge of Insanity

Chapter Four

Ben was my running partner that morning.

He was a good Runner, not as fast a Minho but still close enough. Ben liked to talk as he ran which I didn't object to. It was nice to have something to distract me as we moved through our section.  He kept up a constant chatter of everything under the sun.  He never seemed to run out of breath. 

"How's Thomas feeling about not being the newbie any more?" I asked as we stopped to eat lunch, one of the few times he was quiet.

Ben shrugged. "Pretty excited I'd bet. Don't you remember how you felt? I know I was elated."

I tore a bite off my sandwich and chewed slowly.

"You know after today you won't be a greenie anymore." Maxton trailed after me into the woods.
  
"Really? Has it already been a month?" I said, leaning down to pick up a piece of firewood.

"Yep." He edged closer. "That means the others won't be leading you along or babying you anymore."

I frowned glancing at the Keeper of the Bloodhouse. "They don't baby me."

He chuckled. "Yes they do and you know it." He was standing right beside me now. I could feel his breath hot on my neck. "But now you and I will be spending a lot more time in the Bloodhouse. Alone."

"Ari!"

I jerked my head up. Ben was looking at me. "I said your name like five times."

"Oh sorry," I finished off my sandwich, the bread and meat suddenly tasting like sawdust. "I must've zoned out."

Ben chuckled.  "Yeah I get that.  Some days I'm so tired by lunch that I debate taking a nap right here in the middle of the shucking Maze."  He climbed to his feet. "Ready to go?"

I nodded, barely hearing his words.  My sandwich felt like lead in my stomach.  I hadn't thought about my time as a greenie for a while.   I grabbed my pack and and fell instep beside Ben, thoughts muddled in my mind.

Hours later we exited the Maze.  We hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary like yesterday. I told Ben he could go shower and while I recorded our run and logged it in the Map Room. I entered the forest and made my way to the squat, dome shaped building. I pushed open the heavy door and found Thomas, Minho and few other Runners already inside.

"Hey," Thomas said, as I came to stand next to him.  "better run today than yesterday with Minho?"

"Uh- yeah."  I blinked, forcing myself to snap out of it.  "Yeah, definitely.  Ben's a much more enjoyable partner."

"Ari, anytime you want to stop running your mouth and come record your run would be great." Minho snapped from across the map table.

The other Runners in the room tensed as I moved forward. "Relax, Minho. I won't forget anything in the span of the five minutes I've been out of the Maze."

No Runners but me ever dared to snap back at Minho. Partly because he was our Keeper and everyone found him intimidating and partly because I knew he was never really angry at me. It was all an act. One that we could control.

I took the small book and pen and started scratching down the details of our run.  First I recorded it in words and then transferred that to a hand drawn map. Once I'd finished, Minho took the book and left the room.

"What crawled up his ass and died?" Someone muttered from the back of the Map Room. It was Kyle.

"That's just how Minho is." I shrugged and then grinned at the rest of the group.  "At least if he's going after me he's leaving all of you alone, right?"

"And for that we greatly appreciate you, Ari." Jack, another Runner, chuckled.

I bid the rest of them farewell before ducking out of the Map Room and into the woods.  I headed back towards my hut.  When inside, I peeled off my sweaty clothes.  Then I emptied my pack and my knife hit the dusty floor with a clang.

"Shit, you scared me, Maxton." I reached to pick up the knife I'd dropped, the blade dripping in animal blood.

"Maybe you should be more alert," he told me.

I frowned, refocusing on the cutting up the animal in front of me. "I am alert."

"No you aren't. Not if I scared you that easily."

He slowly removed his gloves. "Have I ever told you how pretty you are?"

I jerked my head up, catching his gaze.

And when he smiled at me I had the distinct feeling I was nothing more to him than one of the pieces of meat he was cutting up.

I blinked, standing up straight. I quickly tucked the knife back into my pack.  This shouldn't be happening.  Not now.  I forced myself to forget, shoving the memory back beneath heavy, stone walls. 

I found a smaller knife and fastened it into my belt. The dinner bell clanged in the distance. I swung open the door and stepped into the forest.

The calming green of the trees soothed me as the Homestead loomed before me.  The mouth-watering smell of spices enveloped my senses as I drew nearer.  When I got there the line was only two people long.  I stepped up behind them and glanced around.  A table to my left was brimming with Gladers jostling for a spot.  That must be where the greenie is.

"And how was the Maze on this fine day?" Frypan was handing me a bowl full of stew with all sorts of vegetables.

"Oh how it usually is. Rocks, ivy, rocks and some more ivy." I answered picking up a spoon.

"Well you never know- maybe one day ya'll will go in there and the walls will be made of rainbows."  Frypan joked.

I shook my head at the cook.  Spoon in one hand and bowl in the other, I made my way to the Runner's table and slid into a seat between Ben and Kyle. Thomas and Jack were across from me and a few people down sat Minho.

"So," I took a bite of the stew. "Who's met the greenie yet?"

"I have," Ben said. "Seems nice.  He can't remember his name of course. Although he is awfully young."

I frowned. "How young?"

Ben shrugged. "12 or 13."

"Damn. What the hell is wrong with the shucks running this place?" Jack said. "Sending up kids like that?" He shook his head. "That's just wrong."

"I agree." I shoveled another spoonful of soup in my mouth, the flavor bursting with spicy goodness.  The guys started up another converstaion but I tuned it out, focused on finishing my dinner.  As I was standing up to take care of my dishes, Newt found me.  He bumped my shoulder in a greeting. 

"Hey, Newt. Ready to welcome another Greenie to the Glade?"  I set my bowl and spoon down in the bucket already piled with dirty dishes.

Newt shook his head, blonde hair flopping over. "Should've seen him when he came out of the box. Gally about scared him to death."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's stick Gally in the box overnight and see what happens."

"That sounds like the best idea I've heard in a while." Newt grinned at me before glancing at the darkening sky.  "Ready for the bonfire?"