The Runner - A Newt FanFic

Beating a Winner

           

Everyone's staring; but I don't care. I need to let them know that I can't be messed with. Who knows what they're thinking knowing I'm the only girl here?

I walk out into the circle and stare right into Gally's pale green eyes. He's taller and stronger than me. He stares at me too; with pity. And I already hate him for it.

"I don't think that is a good idea", he says after a while.

"Why? Because I'm a girl?", I snarl back. Everyone is silent, and the tension is building.

"Alright then. So, the rules are-", Gally begins.

"I already know the rules. Oh, and you don't have to go easy on me. But if you want me to, that's totally fine". I get in a defensive position and wait for Gally to attack.

"On the count of 3. 1...2, 3!". He runs up to me, but I keep my ground. Right before he opens his arms to tackle me I move to my left, making Gally fall face first into the dirt. Some people in the crowd cheer me on while others encourage Gally.

"Watch where you're going", I say. This gets him pissed. He scrambles up to his feet and lunges at me again. I know his tactic so before he can grab my underarms, I grab his and swing him onto the floor. The crowd criticises again.

"Aida?". I turn around and see Newt, staring in disbelief, trying to hide his impressed smile. I wink at him. Damn it, he got me distracted. Gally's grabbed my ankles and pulled me down. He picks himself up and smiles over me.

"You really wanna do that Greenie?", he says with a smirk.

"My name is AIDA!". I kick his ankles over with my left leg and he falls to the floor again. I quickly get onto my feet, he gets up only a second after me. We back away waiting for an attack, both in a defensive position. Think, Aida, think. He always attacks from the top, you'll bee stuck at the bottom. You have to tackle him from the top before he does...Damn it, but you're smaller than him. There's only one way to do this. I charge at him and so does he. I let him grab my shoulders, drag me closer to the edge of the circle until...BAM. I tighten my grip around him and just as we reach the edge, throw him out of the circle. Then there's cheers everywhere, except from the people who have their mouth open in disbelief.

I look over and see Newt, grinning so brightly at me that my insides go numb. I give a shy smile back and turn to Gally. I walk over to him as the others try to help him up. He sees me coming and walks away.

"Hey, Gally!" I shout and run over. He keeps walking and pretends he can't hear me.

"Could you quite the whole dickhead act?"

"Hey! Don't talk like that!" he says when he turns around to talk to me.

"Why?" I ask.

"Just because. We don't talk like that here. We have other words". He continues walking.

"Are they as bad as Greenie?"

"Shuck off!" And continues walking.  Guess he's still pissed off.

"Hey", someone says from behind me. It's the boy that came out from the maze. "I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Minho, Keeper of the Runners". He holds out his hand and i frown before shaking it.

"You're pretty strong, you know...would you ever consider being a—" Minho begins before, "Hey, Aida! How the shuck did you do that? Gally is our undefeated champ". Bloody hell Luke.

"Why do you say that, Luke?", I ask, crossing my arms at him.

"Well, didn't think you could be that rough", he says smirking.

"Very funny Luke", says Minho, obviously unimpressed. Luke walks away still grinning and I walk with Minho.

"What was I saying? Right, how would you feel if you became a Runner?" Minho asks me. I stop and stare at him for a while. Oh fuck, he's being serious.

"I'll, urgh, have to think about it...but thanks anyway", I say. Minho is obviously disappointed but accepts my response and walks over to the group of boys. I join him and when they see me they cheer and hand me a glass of some brown liquid.

"What is that?" I say, frowning.

"Just drink it" one boy says and hands it to me. He has light blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He has a cheeky grin on his face and so does everyone watching. But I still take a swig, pretending to be stupid, and immediately start choking. Everyone's laughing at me and soon I am too. The boy who gave me the glass pats me on the back and says "Just playin around, Aida". I look up at him and smile.