Simple Seconds

Anxiety and Relief

Author's Disclaimer: I do not own The Maze Runner Trilogy (The Maze Runner, The Scorch Trials, The Death Cure) nor do I own it's predecessors (The Fever Code, The Kill Order), all of which belong to James Dashner. This entire piece is a work of Fanfiction. I only own my Original Character, Marie.

That damn Greenbean was at it again.

Standing at the West Gate, watching for Minho and Alby to come back. Like he was obsessed. It was past the time for them to come back- all the other Runners had returned already. The sun had yet to begin setting- still, the towering stone walls were only minutes from closing, and there was no sign of the Keeper or Leader.

Soon there were others that joined Thomas at the gate, others like Newt, Zart, Chuck, and Frypan. Even Winston had ceased his blade to stand there, watching the Maze for any signs of life. Soon everybody, even Gally, waited in front of that damned gate.

Even Newt's sister, who seldom showed herself except at meetings and when she returned from running the Maze, had come to wait. Marie was shorter than her brother by a few inches, though they were the same age- Fraternal twins that had come up in the box together two years ago. Like Newt, her hair was a streaked blonde and fell below her shoulders, but it was more curly and unruly. Her nose was crooked from a fight she got into years back, before the Maze. Marie stood next to her brother, arms crossed. Her brown eyes flickered from Newt to the Maze, anxiety beginning to swell in her chest.

She told herself they would make it. They had to. Minho was smart- He wasn't the Keeper of the Runners for nothing. He had the Maze memorized. Marie chanted those thoughts in her head. They had to. They had to. They ha-

"Look!" It was Thomas' voice that brought her from her thoughts.

When she looked, her heart thumped ten times harder.

Minho was there, at the end of the path that led from the West Gate into the Maze, panting hard. Alby was slumped against him, his arm slung over Minho's shoulder. Sweat dripped down Minho's face, his mouth twisted in agony as he struggled to pull Alby along. He looked exhausted.

Everyone started screaming at once, but it was all muffled for Marie. Then suddenly a scream poured from her mouth, ripping from her throat a sound she had never heard before, "Minho!"

He looked straight at her, then, and she knew.

He wasn't fast enough, not this time.

Marie's feet moved before she did, bringing her a step closer to the Maze. Her mind raced- She was fast, the fastest Runner in the Glade, she could make it, she could get to him, and-

Strong arms gripped her shoulders and jerked her back, pulling her against a broad chest. Marie tried to jerk out of her captor's grip, but to avail.

"Gally!" She yelled, pushing against him roughly, "get ya bloody hands off me!"

"No! I'm not letting you kill yourself in that death trap!" Gally spat back. He grunted as she struggled, her hair flying up into his face. Gally held her flush against him, still, though Marie kicked up into the air and fought with all she had. Finally, all she could do was stand limply and watch as her worst nightmare unfolded.

A loud screech interrupted the calm air, cutting through the peace as the huge Maze doors began to close, metal sliding along metal making sparks fly. With the closing doors came an intense fear blossoming in Marie's chest as a sick realization settled in.

The doors were closing for the night.

She screamed along with the other boys until her throat was raw.