Escaping the Maze

Chapter 7

I break free of Willow and Baylor's grasp, and run to Rachel. Harriet takes the unconscious kid from her, and she collapses into my arms as soon as I reach her.
"Hold on Rachel, don't leave me." I say, but her eyes flutter closed as she passes out. I don't blame her; a chase from the grievers overnight will do that to you.
I carry her upstairs in the homestead to an empty room, where the medjacks give her a few things like food and water to revive her energy.
I wait by her bedside table, her small, cold hand slid into mine. I'm starting to doze off on the really uncomfortable wooded rocking chair, when Rachel shifts. It's really slight, but it's the first sign of movement in hours. The medjacks said let her wake up on her own, she's only sleeping, catching up on some well-needed rest.
I wait to see if she moves again, but of course not. She just shifted in her sleep, most likely dreaming.
Eventually I do fall into a light sleep, I was extremely tired from last night, I hadn't gotten much sleep with that situation.

"I can't believe you're agreeing to this, Rach. Tons of things can happen to you, I don't want you getting hurt." I say, holding Rachel back, right before her memory is about to be erased.
"I have to, would you rather be killed? If we do this, at least we'll be together, even if we won't remember." She says, grabbing my hands.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you while I'm not there." I say, pulling her close, and engulfing her in a hug.
"You can put your trust in me, I won't do anything stupid until you get there." She says, jokingly.
"You're making this promise now and it won't matter, you won't remember it anyways." I say, and the cold feeling of the truth hits us both hard in the stomach.
"I'll see you there in a few days. I love you." She stands on her tiptoes and kisses me.
"I love you too." I say against her mouth.
"Okay, love birds. It's time for you to go through the swipe, Rachel." An annoyed voice from behind us says.
I turn, and find one of the younger assistants glaring at us; Jarred maybe? He calls someone else out, and they take Rachel away, possibly making it our last kiss; if we don't remember in the Glade. I stare after her, longingly, and I feel like a whole vital part of my body was just removed.
"Hm, you're really attached to her aren't you?" Jarred says, chuckling.
"Shut up. You're the one helping with erasing me from her life, and eventually her from my life." I snap, turning on him.
"If I were you, I wouldn't say that." He narrows his eyes. "But you're lucky to have her, though I'm not sure what she sees in you."
"You're pathetic." I say, and walk off, not wanting to see Rachel; who will have no recollection of me. I almost break down at the thought; but remind myself I'll see her again. I vow to remember her; to remember us.

"Aris." I hear a small voice, and a tug on my hand. "Wake up."
I snap awake; is Rachel awake? And that question is easily answered as I look up. Rachel is sitting up, the blankets still wrapped around her.
"You're awake! Oh my goodness! You scared me so badly when you ran into the maze! You shouldn't have gone in." I say.
"I'm sorry, I had to help someone out, I couldn't resist it." Rachel says, flinching back slightly at my words.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Don't do it again, okay?" I say, making her promise.
"I promise, I won't." She says.
Then she tells me how she evaded the grievers, and hid the unconscious girl-that had been stung-under some ivy. She shivered at the end of her explanation.
"Are you cold?" I ask, sitting beside her.
"Yeah, the maze was freezing last night, it seemed to leave its cold permanent on me." She wraps the blanket tighter.
"Maybe I can make you warmer?" I say, smiling.
"Yes, I'm sure you'd like to." She says, sticking out her tongue.
"I'm sure you'd like me to." I say, making a face back.
"I would." She says, unwrapping the blanket, and holding her arms open.
I put my arms around her, pulling the blanket around us both.
"Better?" I ask, laughing slightly.
"You're really warm." She snuggles into me.
"Do you remember this?" I ask, out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" She asks, her eyebrows creasing.
"Not this exactly, but us. Do you remember us?" I ask hoping desperately she'll say yes.
"No, I'm sorry, do you?" She looks up at me, and I see a trace of hope in her eyes.
"Yes, we used to be really close, and I barely let you go into the maze; I only let you go because I was following." I say, hoping it'll trigger a memory.
"Maybe we can be like that again." Rachel says looking into my eyes.
"You really think so?" I ask, staring straight back into her shining ones.
"Yes, I do." Her head tilts up, and mine tilts down until our lips meet. She runs her hand through my hair, and pulls away.
"I feel something familiar about that." She says, smiling.
"What did I say? I told you!" I say, smiling.
•••
Later we have a gathering about Rachel's night in the maze. I'm only allowed to attend because I was supposed to be working with Beth, but she's a keeper, so I attend the gathering. I'm extremely glad I get to miss the building trial; even if its only for now.
"Alright, so we'll go around, getting each keeper's opinion." Sonya says, starting with Mabel.
"Well, Rachel did go in and save Hannah, plus she survived a night in the maze. I say we let her become a runner." There are a few protests and shouts-good and bad-but Harriet quickly silences everyone.
Next is Beth-yeah, she's going to have nothing nice to say. "I say we banish her-she's broken one of our major rules: never go into the maze." She shrugs, glaring at Rachel, who's been told to keep totally silent unless spoken to. Right now I see she's having a hard time with that.
The votes go around, and eventually it ends up even; half for banishment, half for runner.
"So, since we have a draw, were going to give her a week in the slammer, and let her try out for being a runner." Harriet finalizes, and claps, signaling the end of the meeting. There are a few jeers and angry shouts, and a couple cheers.
Rachel walks over to me; a bit relaxed.
"I'm not being banished." She says, relieved, before Sonya grabs her wrists, guiding her to the slammer.
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A/N
Sorry, it was kind of just a short filler chapter. Thanks for reading! 100 views by 2015? I hope so, I only need 2 views and I think I'm good! Thanks to all you who read this!♡※