Tired of Running

37|| a closer look

// " there is always
   someone following
      your next step " //

    •
    The maze doors were still open when Harper woke up.  She rubbed her eyes, staring at them sadly.  They would never close again.  Gally had been right.  Throwing a runner pack over her shoulder, she stuffed three water canteens in it. 
Harper turned, walking back into the homestead.  Newt still lay in the same position as when she left him, and Minho was still all spread out next to him.  She smiled, enjoying their peaceful expressions before she woke them up. 

Kicking Minho's shoe, she talked in a whisper,
"Hey... Get up."  She turned, "Newt..."  She shook his shoulder.  Newt moaned, draping his arm over his eyes.  Harper huffed, "Newt."
She kicked his foot.  "Ouch!  What the bloody—" He sat up, squinting.  His face softened when he saw it was Harper; a slight look of annoyance passed across his face, "What is it?"
Instead of responding, she handed him one of the waters.

Minho, who was unphased by her wakeup call had rolled over and curled up into a sleeping ball.  "Min."  She kicked his foot again; resulting in nothing.  "Minho!"  This time he jumped, sitting up looking at her in concern, "What happened!?"  Harper rolled her eyes, tossing him his water pack, "Come on..."
Minho gave Newt a questioning glance before standing up.  Newt just shrugged, giving Minho an apologetic look. 

    The boys met Harper by the maze walls.
Newt crossed his arms, sighing,
"What's all this, Harper?" 
Harper folded her hands behind her back,
"No one listens to me... 
So I'm showing you two. 
You can see for yourselves. 
Because you are the only two that listen..."
Newt took a deep breath; a flicker of fear shone in his eyes as he looked out to the maze. 
"Well okay..."  He nodded, his jaw setting.
Harper smiled, new determination and adrenaline kicking in.

    Running the maze with her two best friends was giving her happiness and hope; two things she needed.  Minho matched her pace perfectly, smirking cheekily at her.  Newt wasn't far behind, his limp slowing him much more than his previous pace.  Harper slowed, noticing Newt's slower pace.  "Hey..."
She studied his face, seeing the memories lighting his eyes, "Hey, It's okay..."
She hugged him before they started running again.

~~~

    Harper skidded to a stop near the cliff.
"Here."  Minho stared at it, head tilted, clearly perplexed, "I don't see anything."  Harper bent down, pointing directly in the middle, "There."
Newt squinted, a small smile forming on his lips, "That's... What the bloody—"
Harper smirked, "Now watch."
She tossed a rock from hand to hand; finally tossing it into the hole.  Just like before, without falling, it vanished in midair.
Minho jumped back, Newt gasped and Harper smirked at their reactions. "What—"
Harper tossed Minho a rock. Minho threw it,
the rock landing in the hole.
Disappearing again.

Harper crossed her arms, "Alright, so?"
Newt and Minho just looked at each other.
They were clearly communicating with each other by silent facial expressions.
"I say we try it..."
Newt shook his head, "Wait a moment.
Just stop..." He folded his arms against his chest, "We don't even know where that goes—
It could lead all of us to our deaths! Or-"
Harper put her hand up,
"So maybe we should test it..."

Minho looked at Harper, a smirk on his face.
He nodded, looking impressed. Newt snapped his fingers and pointed his finger at Harper,
"No. No, no, no. Absolutely not. Harper, no."
Harper backed off, puffing out her cheeks in defeat. Newt took a deep breath,
"I will not risk losing you."
Minho shrugged, "I'll go...
All I have to do is stick my head in..."
Harper was already tugging a vine off the walls. She tied it around her waist. Newt looked furious and exasperated, "You cannot possibly think I'm going to let you go down there."
Harper just shrugged, tossing the end to Minho. "I'll be fine..."

Minho gave a nervous smile, before tossing a vine over a stone, holding the end. Harper took a final glance at the boys before jumping.
Right as she should have fallen, instead, she disappeared. Newt inhaled a deep breath; his fist against his chin, eyes darting across where she vanished, clearly a nervous wreck.
Minutes of silence ticked by; Newt beginning to pace, Minho bracing on the vine, preparing to pull her up. No sound ever came, no movement on the rope. Newt glanced at Minho, his eyes wide, jaw clenched. He tightened his fist, "That's it I'm going in."
Minho was about to answer, when Harper yelled from below, "PULL ME UP!"
She jerked on the vine, causing Minho and Newt to yank her up, both heaving, their backs nearly on the ground.

Harper reappeared, jumping back onto the ground next to the boys. She was smiling, pushing the wild hair out of her face.
"Well?" Minho looked at her expectantly.
Newt studied her, trying to read her face,
"What did you see?"
Harper grinned, putting an arm around each of them. She squeezed their shoulders,
"Our way out."