A/N at the bottom. Disclaimer: I don't own Maze Runner.
Ellie was exhausted after a day of running in the Maze. She had run her section alone and just wanted food and sleep, nothing more, nothing less. Once she entered the Glade, she took a minute to catch her breath. Running never got easier or more fun.
"You alright there Shebean?" Minho's voice called from her right side. Ellie turned her head to see him standing beside her, arms crossed smiling at her.
"Just peachy," She said in between breaths.
Minho took a step closer and started rubbing her back not saying anything until she fully caught her breath. Once she did, she straightened up and turned completely to Minho. She pulled him into a hug and rested her head against his chest where she could hear his heart beating. After a moment, she pulled away and took his hand leading them towards the Kitchens.
"I'm absolutely starving, please tell me dinner's ready?" Ellie asked as they walked.
Minho chuckled, "I think Frypan was just getting ready to call everyone."
"Yesssss," Ellie said. Minho just rolled his eyes.
Once they got their food from Frypan and sat down to eat it, they were joined by Newt and Thomas. Ellie looked to Minho and smirked at him, she did that almost every time Newt and Thomas were together now and Minho couldn't help but smile at her antics. The group of friends ate and chatted about their days. As soon as they were finished, Ellie immediately stood up and excused herself to a warm shower. Yes, she wanted to go straight to bed but she was still sweaty from the run.
After her shower, Ellie made her way towards her room. She had left her towels in the pile to be washed by the Sloppers and had changed into her pajamas already. She was hoping to make it to the Homestead without running into anyone, but she wasn't so lucky.
"Eh, hem."
Ellie whipped her head in the direction of the throat clearing and found Newt, Thomas and Minho looking at her. Newt and Minho looked amused because Thomas looked horrified.
"What are you wearing?" Thomas asked her.
Ellie looked at him confused, "My pajamas?"
"You just walk around like that?!" Thomas exclaimed gesturing to her shorts and shirt.
"Since when do you care what I wear?" Ellie asked because she knew that he was still coming to terms with their being siblings.
"Since you're my sister and the other Gladers shouldn't see you in that!" Thomas said starting to shove her towards the Homestead.
Newt just laughed, "Relax Tommy. Everyone else is pretty much still at dinner."
Thomas just grumbled and Newt put a hand on his shoulder causing Thomas to now blush. Minho just laughed at them both.
"Right, well, I'm going to see my girlfriend off to bed and you two can go do whatever it is you like to do," Minho said winking at them and making a kissy face before walking away leaving them behind dumbfounded and blushing.
Thomas spluttered after them, "Wait a minute! Isn't Minho her boyfriend? She should not be wearing such short shorts around him! I don't approve."
They didn't hear what Newt said in response because they were too far away already.
Ellie grabbed Minho's hand and smiled up at him, "Nice work Min." He smiled back at her as she led him up the stairs.
As soon as they reached the top of the stairs, Ellie released Minho's hand and ran into her bed. She flung herself onto the mattress and sighed in relief.
"Man, am I tired." Ellie paused, "And sore. I forgot how, hmmmm, NOT FUN running is!" Ellie said dramatically while Minho raised an eyebrow at her.
"I happen to love running El."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "Well of course you do! You're so fit and just natural at it."
"True, many would kill for my body." Minho winked at her and she threw a pillow at him. He caught it with ease and went to sit down next to her. She grabbed the pillow out of his hands and put it behind her head.
"Min," Ellie smiled sweetly at him.
"El," He looked skeptically at her.
"Could you, pretty please, give me a shoulder massage?" She gave him the puppy dog eyes she knew he couldn't resist and he immediately gave in.
"You are the best boyfriend ever."
He rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I know. You're lucky you're cute. I don't just give anyone a massage."
Ellie giggled starting to get sleepy, "I would certainly hope not."
The massage continued for a few minutes before Ellie started drifting to sleep. Minho tucked her in and kissed her goodnight before turning to leave. But, Ellie grabbed his arm and scooted over in her bed patting the spot she vacated. Minho looked at her but gave in again and removed his shirt before sliding under the covers. He didn't like sleeping with a shirt on and Ellie had gotten used to it. At first it made her blush a deep red but now she only blushed a lighter pink whenever he was shirtless around her.
Ellie snuggled into his side as he played with her hair, "Goodnight, Min. I love you."
"Sweet dreams, El. I love you too."
An alarm startled me awake and I immediately sat up in bed trying to take in my surroundings. When I realized I was back in my room at WICKED I shivered and pulled the comforter closer to me. I thought back to my dream and realize how much I really miss Minho. I was so stupid for not telling him everything. It's hard to even remember why we fought in the first place. I blame stress, anxiety and WICKED.
Sighing, I get up and go to my adjoined bathroom to get ready for the day. I put on leggings, sneakers and Minho's dark green sweater I somehow have. I look at my alarm clock and see it's 4AM but if I want to look through the files, I had to wake up this early.
I groan internally. I know it's my own fault I'm awake, I just need to see the killzone maps so I can see if they missed something and also to plot my escape plan. I need to figure out which of my friends and the girls from B are trustworthy.
Quietly opening the door to my room, I walk fast and on high alert down the hall to where I remember headquarters for the Maze being. Once I get there, I peak inside and see the coast is clear. Guess no one has night watch.
I slip inside the room and immediately start rummaging through files. It's disgusting seeing how much WICKED has been collecting about my friends. They have all their moods, behaviors, sleep patterns, eating patterns, bathroom patterns, exercise patterns and so much more. It makes me sick reading the files but I must be quick. It's the most difficult to read Minho's and Newt's files, especially the information collected around the time I arrived when Newt was particularly depressed. Shaking my head to avoid getting distracted I move their files aside and pick up Thomas'. On his file is written in giant red words "PARTIAL MEMORY." That's odd, no one else had that written. I continue to flip through his file and notice they have referred to him as the highest potential candidate?
I scrunch my eyebrows together and whisper, "Candidate for what?"
Obviously since no one is here, I don't get an answer. But I don't find anything else interesting in his file except for the fact that WICKED wasn't lying. The data they've compiled has absolutely no useful information on the cure. How could that be possible? The program I created for their computer should've helped. Did they not use it?
Sighing, I pick up the last file besides my own for Group A: Teresa. Opening her file, I see the coma and telekinesis thingy with Tommy was planned from way before they even went into the Maze. It also says Teresa has been communicating with Aris.
Wait…Aris? Why did WICKED do that? That literally has no effect on the areas of the brain near the cure. I roll my eyes at their stupidity and continue to flip through her file. I don't register all of what I'm reading. I plan to sort through my photographic memory later when I make notes in a notebook. But, there is one thing that makes me stop.
Across a photo of Teresa on the last page has the words written, "NO SWIPE ADMINISTERED. SUBJECT HAS ALL MEMORIES."
I let out a slew of curses and slam the file on the table.
"THAT SHUCKFACE!" I angrily mutter and punch the desk. I immediately regret punching the desk but thankfully my brace stops any big impact.
I hear commotion outside in the hall and quickly return everything to where I found it. I manage to slip out of the room unnoticed and quietly make my way back to my bedroom. My mind is swirling with information. I need to get a few more hours of sleep before I can truly process anything other than the fact that Teresa is a liar. I check my watch and see it says 4:45AM. I spent 45 minutes reading files.
Before I reach my door, I hear hushed voices urgently talking. I can make out the words "Thomas" and "Group A" and "half hour tops." Is Group A coming here now?
As quietly as I can, I follow the voices and find Dr. Paige talking with a hooded figure I can only assume is Gally. They're walking quickly down a series of halls I've never seen before. Soon, they go down a tunnel and I quietly follow. I don't want them to know I'm following them but I also need to know what's happening to my brother. Momentarily forgetting my responsibilities to Group B, I move forward.
After a few minutes, they stop in an underground chamber and I gasp in surprise. This is where I exited the Maze. To one side is white pods, that I know hold Grievers. To the other is a set of doors. In front of me, behind a tinted panel are the other Creators and scientists working away at their computers. I quickly run over to the side with the pods and hide where no one can see me. I watch as Gally and Dr. Paige slip behind the glass doors. I decide to stay put and just wait it out too curious for my own good.
POV SWITCH
Minho stood to the side arms crossed looking at the group that had agreed to Thomas' crazy escape plan. There are 41 Gladers. Newt's giving a pep talk that's essentially a reiteration of the plan and Minho just wants to get going. He's really hoping Ellie will be waiting for them.
"How about a real pep talk Newt?" Minho comments.
"Enlighten us then Minho," Newt looks nervous and annoyed.
Smirking, Minho looks out at the group never really being great with words, "Uh, be careful. Don't die." Minho stands and looks smug but Newt rolls his eyes.
"Great, now we're all bloody inspired." Newt groans and Minho just smiles at him and Thomas.
After Newt starts talking, Minho zones out and gets lost in thought. Minho then takes the lead and runs towards the Griever Hole. He runs on auto-pilot for pretty much the entire escape plan. He barely registers as the Grievers form a circle around them and Alby sacrifices himself. The sacrifice doesn't work and Minho switches into battle mode. As he slashes out at Grievers, all he can think about is getting to El, his Elizabeth. He had worked out what he was going to say when he finally got to see her again and was using the image of her to get him through this escape. Obviously, he takes the lead in clearing a path for Thomas and Teresa.
"Everyone clear a path for them, they need to input the code!" Minho calls out.
No one responds because they're all too busy fighting their own Griever.
Minho continues to fight, sparing no mercy. He works alone but also keeps an eye out for Newt since he's the only friend left. Chuck and Thomas went with Teresa. Speaking of, Minho realizes it's taking them a long time to enter a shucking code. He channels his anger into fighting off the Grievers.
"MINHO!" Newt yells to him, "Behind you!"
Minho turns and finds a Griever ready to deliver a blow that could kill him. He thinks of El and her beautiful hazel eyes and cute freckles smiling at him, readying himself for the worst. His thoughts turn to the special moments he shared with her as the Griever swings it arm. Minho lifts his spear to attempt to fight back but finds nothing.
Standing up straight, Minho notices all the Griever's have been deactivated.
"Well I'll be shucked." He says to himself as he surveys the others. It seems about half of them survived. He quickly spots Newt and exchanges a nod with him. He looks okay.
Sighing, Minho turns and jumps down the Griever Hole. The journey to the bottom of the Griever Hole gives Minho time to assess his injuries. He's pretty beat up with various cuts and bruises. Nothing too serious thankfully.
When he hits the ground, Thomas immediately rushes over.
"Where are the others? Is everyone alright?" Thomas asks while helping him up.
Minho uses Thomas' extended hand, "We've lost about half. But at least the shucking plan worked. The others shouldn't be too far behind."
Just as he finishes saying that, the others land on the ground one by one. He sees Thomas waiting expectantly, probably for Newt. Minho counts as the Gladers arrive: 21. Not terrible considering what they faced but it's awful and disgusting that the Creators allowed their friends to be massacred.
When Newt finally emerges, Thomas rushes over and embraces him. Minho feels a bit jealous at the look of relief on their faces wishing he could experience that with Ellie. He's afraid she might not be alive.
Newt then leads them through a door and Thomas offers to go last. Minho decides to wait with him. They usher the other Gladers through the door and hear them all scream.
"Why do you think they're screaming?" Thomas asks him when it's just the two of them left.
"No clue. But, thanks man. Your plan worked and I'm sorry I was a slinthead yesterday. No hard feelings?" Minho asks.
Thomas nods and slaps in on the back, "No apology needed. We're best friends, of course we're gonna fight. Especially when you fancy my sister."
"Fancy? Been hanging around Newt too much have ya?" Minho quips with a raised eyebrow.
Thomas rolls his eyes trying to hide a blush and nudges him forward, "You first."
Minho half smirks and then walks through the door and falls down a never-ending slide. It smells like klunk and is covered in some slimy substance. Minho holds his breath the entire way down knowing that someone is bound to puke. Thankfully, he doesn't and hits the ground. He manages to just barely roll out of the way before Thomas plummets to the ground and immediately pukes to the side of the chute.
Minho grimaces and pats his back, "Shank of steel over here."
Just as Thomas glares at Minho and stands up straight, a loud beeping echoes throughout the chamber.
"What the shuck?" Minho mumbles as the doors to their left open and two figures walk in. One is hooded and the other is a woman with blonde hair pulled into a tight bun.
Minho then takes in his surroundings and finds himself in an underground chamber with doors to his left, tinted glass with people in black clothes working on computers (must be the Creators he thought wishing he could break the glass and punch them all) and to his right he found a ton of white coffin-like pods.
As he goes to return his attention to the women and hooded figure something makes him look back towards the pods. That's when he sees.
Ellie. He sighs in relief, she's alive and looks healthy though exhausted.
She's peeking out from behind one of the pods and catches Minho's eye. Both widen their eyes at the sight of the other and before Minho can whisper anything or step towards her, she immediately shakes her head no and gestures for him to remain quiet. She points at the two figures. It pains him not to rush to her, but he knows he needs to trust her. So, gritting his teeth he conspicuously nods to her and returns his attention to the woman as she congratulates them. However, Minho never takes El out of his sight. Now that he is so close to her, he vows silently to himself never to let her go again.
A/N: Thank you the reviews and kind words! It really means so much to me. A heads up I will be on vacation this week so I may not get a chapter in but I will try! This story should have somewhere between 2 and 4 more chapters before I start the sequel (which will follow the book events). I was asked if I'll be doing a Thomas POV and I haven't decided yet since the books are technically from his but I might throw in a short Thomas POV for his perspective on Ellie and of course Newtmas :) So I hope you enjoyed!