WICKED'S PAWN

Chapter 7

I walked out of the Map Room, feeling hungry. I saw Thomas, Chuck and Newt, smiling and laughing at a joke Chuck probably said. I started walking over to them, hearing Minho's footsteps behind me. I didn't feel those feelings I'd felt earlier, maybe it was a spur of the moment? Or maybe my brain messing with me.
I ate a little bit of food, not feeling really hungry or maybe it was little compared to a teenage boy. I think the latter.
I went to sleep near a small clearing in the Glade, near the Deadheads. I felt underwhelmed. As if, I was expecting something to happen, in my inner feelings. But nope. I felt completely normal. Well as normal as I can be. I finally fell asleep, feeling the weight of the MP3 in my pocket.
I woke up at the same time everyone else did. Meaning taking a shower was gonna be hard. Maybe I won't take one. I'll just put on some extra deodorant, it's not like a smell as bad as them. So I did just that. I was waiting for Minho or Thomas at the Maze Doors, when I saw a different Runner coming towards me. He said, 'Minho told me to tell you that you're gonna be running on your own from now on.' After he said that he just ran off. I ran off too. I was gonna head into section 4 today. Running along the Maze walls, I pulled out my MP3 and started to play a more recent recording. 'I didn't go to any of my lessons today. Not like I care. I hate them and everyone who made me this. They use me for their stupid problems. They didn't even bother giving me a friend. So I made one. With the boys sneaking into the broom closet outside my room. They don't know I'm there. But I listen to everything. I laugh. I smile. I giggle. But I still am alone.' It was like every one before it. Depressing. Sad. Mind-throttling. So I kept on running. I played another recording, an older one. 'I feel numb. Drugs, painkillers, they gave it all. They experimented in my killzone today. It made me mad. I killed one of the doctors. More blood on my hands. Why should I care? It's all messed up, anyways. The leaves are gone, you should be too. I ran out of my room. I ran into a random boys room. He looked scared. I said I wanted a friend. He said he had a sister. I said I could bring her to him. He smiled. I went to the Chancellor and made him let the boy meet his sister. The Chancellor was scared of me, so he did as I said. That boy was happy. I was happy. I did something good.' I felt like I knew the boy, but I ignored the feeling and continued to run. I felt a tune repeating itself in my head. I wanted to hum along. So I did. It was like the beating of drums, the rhythmic movements of feet on a stone floor, the continuous clapping of hands to a beat. I moved along to the tune. It made me forget the problems. I ran on. I hummed along. I ran on. I hummed along. I continued until my feet felt a little tired. I felt invigorated. Tireless. On top of the world. I took a turn and ran on the way back. I tied my hair into a ponytail, tired of its swishing against my neck. It was loose, but I didn't care. I ran on. I reached the Glade to see Minho was heaving, his hands on his knees, probably just came back from his tun. I felt fine. Like I just woke up. Tireless. He looked up at me and asked me in astonishment, 'How the shuck are you not tired like me? You had section 7 today? Not the shortest route, eh? Are you eating something different because I'm pretty sure you ate an apple yesterday and for breakfast.' I shrugged and sent a smirk his way, not before throwing him my water bottle. The boy looked like he needed it. I ran into the Map Room, drew my map, studied it and left it there, got some food, ate with the guys and went back to the Map Room. All the Runners were there. Probably some kind of meeting? We all sat down and studied our maps separately. I thought, why not together? I told Minho and he told me to shut up and get on with it. I found nothing. So I got up and left. Unfazed by Minho's rude comments, I went to my usual spot in the Deadheads and went to sleep under the stars.

I woke up and decided to not take a shower, thinking yesterday passed by pretty good by taking only one shower. I arrived near the East Doors greeting Newt while passing by and ruffling Chuck's hair. I saw Minho standing near the Doors. Weird. I thought he wanted me running alone. But I didn't mind. I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off, 'I'm gonna be running with you to see how you weren't even fazed by running in the shucking Maze, shuckface.' I nodded and started running, taking the lead. I ran through the corridors, observing everything around me. The ivy, the walls, the floor, the beetle blades scurrying by, everything. I forgot about Minho behind me and let the same beat take over me again. I felt stronger. Invincible. I could feel the ivy cutting itself. I didn't even need to think about it much. It just happened. I could hear Minhos breaths getting heavier and more laboured. We had been running for about 2 and a half hours, without a break. I felt fine, my throat was a little dry but that was all. He looked up at me like I was someone out of this world. I laughed at his stupid expression and he immediately straightened up after that. I took a sip of water, tied my hair and played a new recording while continuing to run. 'I confirmed it. I am their pawn. Not a knight. Not a bishop. A fucking pawn. It couldn't be anything a little less, I don't know, useless?' I laughed at that, surprised of myself, it continued playing. 'They are stupid liars who need to go kill themselves. Oh wait, they'll make me do that for them and I'll do it happily. I ran into another boys room today, a different one than before. He seemed different. Smarter. He was scared of me, but I only wanted a friend. He wouldn't do. Too scared. Too kind. So I ran. I ran outside. To see the world again. I saw some trees and the sky. I was pulled inside and subjected to more drugs. Will they ever run out of stuff to put inside of me? Maybe not.' It ended and I continued running. Faster. Harder. Faster. I kept on running, completely forgetting poor Minho heaving and difficultly keeping up with me. I slowed down for him and let him take a break. I sat down next to him, drinking some water.

We got up and continued running on. We reached our section, turned around and went on our way. I held someone a loud thud behind me and saw that Minho fell down and twisted his ankle. It looked pretty bad. I rushed to his side helping him up. He leaned on me, definitely exhausted by  running faster than he usually does. He groaned and could barely stand much less on his own. I helped him up and tried to walk as fast as I could, with his weight on me, perfectly knowing that the Doors were gonna be closing soon. I walked and checked my watch occasionally. Only 10 more minutes. I saw the corridor that would lead to the Glade. Feeling exhausted by holding Minho up, I tried to walk as fast as I could. I could hear the Gladers, murmuring in anticipation. Feeling the trembling of the ground, I saw the Doors closing. Using the last ounces of energy I tried to keep the Doors open but I could only do so much. I realised something. I could keep Minho safe. I could throw him in the Glade. At least he would survive. With this new found hope inside of me, I tried, as hard as I could. With the very last bit of muscle in me, I threw Minho through the Doors, as the Doors shut for the night. I yelled in frustration and tried to open the Doors, but they barely budged an inch. I knew what was in store for me, I did the stupidest thing I could do, I yelled as loud as I could, I yelled at the Creators, 'Ugh! I hate you, you fucking motherfuckers! I hope you go to satan! You sons of bitches, fuck you. Fuck all of you! You all are fucking crapbags! Useless piles of shit! Fuck you!' I heard the laughs of the Gladers, and Newt yelling over to me, 'You know Alex, a bit of proper language would be nice. Who knew you had such a colorful vocabulary? There ate kids here, you know. Bloody hell. I hope you don't die. I know you won't. Good luck! Minho looks he's about to kill you, if you don't die.' I replied back, 'You know Newt, I would tell you to go to hell, but we're already there. I'm pretty sure hell would be a paradise compared to this hellhole. Good thing I have deranged, blood thirsty, slimy and greasy monster machines to keep me company, in case I ever get lonely.' I heard the snickers of some Gladers, but I heard the all too familiar whirring and clicking of the ugliest creatures, muttered underneath my breath, 'Not today, not today you motherfuckers. Fuck you.' And I ran. I ran in the opposite direction. This is gonna be interesting and disgusting.

[Well? I know it's a cliffhanger though. See you later shanks!]