runnerette || the maze runner fanfiction **UNDERGOING EDITS**

❥ 2.1

It's been almost a month since I've been here.

I've finally been able to see what Thomas said the night of the bonfire.

Thomas sits down next to me on the bench. "How're you liking the Glade so far sweetheart?"

I nod as I finish my sip from whatever I was drinking. "Seems okay."

"Yeah, well your opinion'll change in no time." He takes a swig from his own drink. To me, that seems like a bit of an odd comment.

We're trapped here, and as far as we know, there's no way out.

It definitely would be worse if I didn't have Thomas and Newt. That I know for sure.

As for the suggestions I put in the box, I got a letter back. Newt says he's never seen anything like it before.

Dear Girl,

We've received your suggestions and we agree with all of them. You will find them in the box when we send up the new 'greenie' this month.

About your name. We've scanned your brain and it's there. You just need to shake it free.

wckd

"wckd? What's that?" I ask Newt.

"Dunno." He scratches the back of his neck. "The creator's initials maybe?"

"Maybe."

The only thing different about now since then, is that starting today, I'm a runner.

~*~

"Wakey wakey greenie." Minho shakes my shoulders. "Let's do this."

I was back in my hammock. Newt carries me back every night, so I'm not surprised.

Minho walks behind me to breakfast. Newt got up early to see me off. I could feel Minho's eyes on me. I turn around and he looks back at my eyes and puts his hands up in surrender and smirks at Newt. He gives him a dirty look, I laugh. My boys protect me against everything.

I go to sit down next to Newt but Minho grabs my wrist.

"You have to eat with me this morning sweetheart. Say goodbye to your boyfriend now because you won't see him until we get back."

I turn to Newt a little pink in the face from Minho's comment as he pulls me into a hug. He puts his lips to my ear and whispers.

"Just be careful out there," I could feel his hot breath on my ear, "And stay out of trouble."

"Never." I mumble fiercely into his shoulder.

He pushes me away and laughs. "Don't let the grievers bite."

I follow Minho to the kitchen where we pick up today's food and eat a quick breakfast.

"Eat up sweetheart." He says with a wink. "You'll need it."

After breakfast, he leads me to the small concrete building I still don't know what it's for.

"What is this place?" I ask as we pass through the gate.

"It's the Map Room. No one ever told you?" He holds the door open for me and I walk inside.

"Hit the switch to your right."

I grope along the wall until I feel the plastic under my fingertips. I flip it up.

There was one single lightbulb dangling in the center of the room over a table swallowed in maps of the maze. Covering any space by the walls were many chests overflowing with even more maps.

"This is where we work our magic. We run, we remember, we come back, and we write."

"Sounds simple." I say.

He gives me the deadliest death stare I think I've ever seen.

"Was it something I said?"

He ignores me and moves on. "Today we'll go out this door and run through these two sections to get to the outer rings. Think you can handle it?"

"Bring it."

~*~

I hate to say it, but the maze is beautiful.

As we ran, I just wanted to stop, turn in a circle slowly, admire the breathtaking tall walls, and run my hand along them as I walk slowly, but I can't.

I've got running to do.

After about three hours, Minho slows to a walk.

"Why are we stopping?" I ask, my hands behind my head.

Minho has his hands on his knees. "What are you, a machine?"

"I'm tired too you know, just not that bad. I am not a machine."

"We need a name for girl runners." Minho says, changing the subject.

I shrug. "Only fair I guess."

"How about... Runnerette?"

"Sounds good."

After a quick break, we take off and everything is great for about an hour. Minho had just turned a corner, and I was about to follow him when he comes crashing back and pushes me up against the wall, pressing himself against me.

"What are you doing?" I hiss, feeling extremely awkward.

"There's a Griever over there. In broad daylight."

"So what are we doing right now? Celebrating?"

Minho steps back, slides next to me instead, and puts one hand behind his head. "Sorry."

I cross my arms over my chest and look away from him. "It's fine."

"If we see one, the other runners must've seen it too, or more than one. We have to go back. Draw whatever we saw today." He takes off.

"Minho! It's my first day!" I sprint to catch up. "Do we have to go back?"

"Yes, we're under special circumstances." He grunts over his shoulder. "We'll start up again tomorrow."

I'm already not looking forward to being with Minho again.

~*~

We run back to the Glade and into the Map Room. There was an unusual clamor about the Glade, so we must've been the last ones back.

Minho looks at the maps spread across the table once we get inside. "We're the last ones back. The others drew up their maps already."

He quickly teaches me to map what we saw. I don't say much.

We walk out of the Map Room and a very disgruntled Newt runs up to me and hugs me tightly.

"On your bloody first day too! Are they trying to make me have a buggin' heart attack!"

"Newt I'm fine." I laugh and hug him back.

He pulls away and drags me to the bench. "Tell me about it."

I tell him everything saw, every footstep I took, and every thought I thought of. I hesitated around when we saw the Griever, that violated feeling around Minho coming back. As soon as I hesitate but keep going around that part, Newt automatically recognizes something was wrong. He cocks his head and listens, biting his lip.

"He's going to take advantage of you in the middle of that Maze while nobody's around." Newt hisses. "No one would even find out about it."

"Newt, he's super serious about his job. He was probably just trying to protect me or save himself from being seen."

"It doesn't matter. You still felt uncomfortable." He clenched his fists.

"I'll have Thomas say something to him if it gets worse," I assure, placing my hands over his, causing them to relax. "This won't get out of hand."

"I'm overreacting." Newt says.

"No, you're just being protective." I reassure, pulling him into a hug. I sense him relax and melt into the embrace. "Thank you for watching out for me." I whisper into his ear.

"Anything, love." He whispers back.