If asked, any Glader would never hesitate to answer "Frankie" as the toughest one of all. The true protector of the Glade. A runner, a part of the Council, one of the ten original Gladers who built the system and made all the curse words from scraps...
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"HEY, MINHO, CAN I borrow Frankie, just for today?"
Minho gripped onto the straps of his bag with raised eyebrows, "What happened to I don't think Runners should run the Maze alone from now on, shuckface?"
"Are you admitting that you can't handle being alone in the Maze?"
"I'm just saying you shouldn't go against your own words," Minho raised his arms in surrender. Then, a thundering sound of scraping boomed throughout the Glade, signalling the opening of the Doors.
"You better keep an eye on her, Nick."
"Yeah, go away now."
Minho patted Frankie's shoulder twice and ruffled the first-in-command's hair with a laugh before jogging towards the door to Section 6. Once he was far enough, Nick hollered, "Stay safe, shuckface!"
Minho raised a thumb-up in response.
"I need to talk to you about something," Nick said, his tone changed drastically to serious. He motioned for her to follow him and the two found themselves in their Gathering room with only Alby and Newt.
Frankie took a seat next to the blonde boy so Newt was sitting between her and Alby, while Nick stood in front of them.
"Alright, talk." Alby urged.
"I think we should try going down the Box Hole."
"Whoa," Newt voiced out everyone's objection, "What? Why? We tried it, remember? The Box ain't going down with a load in it."
"I mean now, when there's no Box. Use some rope and some of us slide down to see what's under there."
"Where did you get the idea?" Frankie asked.
"Ben," Nick sighed, "And Gally. When they were stung, they kept on mumbling that we have to go down the hole. That it's the only way out. Besides, it's logical, isn't it? Trapping us inside a Maze with no apparent way out when the exit is actually right here with us the whole time. It's a brain game."
"I don't like it. It's too risky. We don't know what's down there," Newt said.
"Frank?"
I have a feeling that we're getting out of this shucking place soon.
Minho's words from a few days ago ricocheted within her skull.
Nick's argument was quite convincing.
"I don't know," Frankie ran her fingers through her hair, "It's too risky. But running the Maze is also a risk, right?"
"Right!" Nick brightened at her support, "And the only hole around here is the Box. We have to try."
