The Cost of the Cure

Chapter 96

"Once I'm all bandaged up, can I help at all?" you ask. It would just about kill you not to. If there's a way out, you want to at least do your part.

"Minho'll be here in a minute. But it'll take longer than that to get you in any condition to run."

"Run?" Your eyes widen and you can't help the smile that breaks out across your face. "I can go out in the Maze again? Even after all this?"

He nods, but his mouth is set in a hard line. "Yeah. He wants you to go out and explore during the night."

Your heart sinks at his expression despite him trying to keep it hidden. It isn't hard to tell he's concerned for you. To be honest, running out in the Maze at night scares you, too. For all you know, you might be the first person the Grievers find and then get dragged off. You shake the thought away. You can't think like that.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," you say, giving him a small smile and catching his eye. "It's a risk, but I'll be taking one no matter what I do."

"I know," he whispers. "But what sort of friend would I be if I wasn't concerned?"

"A bad one," you say, laughing. Usually, you wouldn't take it so lightly, but this time... this time he might need to smile or laugh just once for that day. "But, you know, I'll be concerned for you, too, while I'm out there. It'll be hard not knowing who was taken."

He nods and starts to pack up the med kit. "I think you're just about ready to go. And--"

Minho bursts through the door. "Hey! Y/n!"

"I heard we were going running?" you ask, jumping off the bed.

He tosses you your watch and a small backpack. "You're covering Section 8. I expect you to start the second you can."

He walks out, but then spins around and peeks back in before leaving yet again. "Oh! And get plenty of food from Fry for the night. I'm sure he won't mind."

You can hear his snickering even as he leaves. You'd have to be a day old greenbean not to know Frypan would spend a good ten minutes arguing with you for it.

You start to walk out the door, but stop at Newt's voice.

"Just..." he starts. "Just be careful, okay?"

You turn around and meet his gaze. "Of course. And, you too. Don't you dare get carried away by some Griever."

He nods and you run out. There's work to do.