Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my book, I am eternally grateful for the support and love!
In response to one particular review by Starstablegal (which for some unfamothable reason, I can't reply to or see on this website!), I will just clarify a few things about the overall book here.
- I read these books three years ago, watched the films three years ago, so my memory hasn't been forgiving and as a result, the overall plot of this fanfic will follow that of the movie AND the book! There's some aspects that I really love from the film and from the book that I'm including in here. Furthermore, I have my own little plot going on through the books, so this will be different to both!
- Right now, things may seem heavily movie related, but I've managed to get my hands on the books and as soon as Thomas gets into the picture, I will be heavily following the book. This is not to say my timeline will change, I will be changing things according to my book and what suits it.
- No one commented on this, but I thought I'd clarify anyway- I'm keeping the characters American, apart from our lovely boi, Newt, and this is something that can waver in its authenticity for the simple reason that I'm decidedly not American and instead, am very much British. However, I'm trying my best!
- And since I can't privately express my thanks since my website is being more than just a little bit infuriating, I just want to say I appreciate the reviews, they make me smile every single time. So thank you for putting a smile on my face, and evaluating my work. I do put hours and hours into each chapter and I really do try my absolute best to make each one high quality and enjoyable, so giving a little review makes it all the worthwhile.
Again, thanks so much!
CHAPTER 26:
"Tristan. He's dead." Clint said hoarsely, his face downcast.
Adira shut her eyes hard at the news, feeling her body sway slightly. She should've seen it coming, but she was still shocked that he'd left them so quickly, without any warning whatsoever.
"I'll announce it." she said in a feathery voice, before putting a hand on Clint's shoulder, partly to comfort him, partly to stabilise herself, "You did what you could, Clint. I'm proud of you."
Clint's face twisted and he looked like he was going to cry, so she left, leaving him with Jeff's company. They'd always been close and she was grateful the Keeper had a good friend beside him, especially someone like Jeff- loyal and kind.
She looked for Newt, before heading to his position in the Gardens where she knew he would be, working away under the heavy glare of the sun. She tugged at the hem of her shirt, feeling as if the oppressive heat was strangling her. The morning had just started and the heat was already almost unbearable.
"Hello, Ad." Newt greeted, cheery as usual, "Minho's late today- weird- but he's just about to go. Wanna see him off together?"
She felt absolutely awful as she took in his lopsided grin, the spark in eyes. It was rare enough as it was to see Newt as cheery as he was now, but in twenty seconds, he would be as grave as the days he'd been a Runner.
"Calvin's dead." she informed Newt, watching his chocolate orbs darken in sadness, his whole face which had previously been in a smile, falling into a grimace of despair- hauntingly alike to the face he wore weeks before his suicide attempt.
"I'll hold a Gathering. I'll get all the Keepers, tell 'em to meet in the Gathering hall, then we'll arrange a burial. Cross out his name." she swallowed roughly, but ploughed onwards, "Then we'll hold another Gathering, and we'll choose a new Keeper. Everything has to be done by the end of the day, so it can be a day off today- mourning day, I guess, the boys won't have time to work between all the Gatherings."
Newt hummed in agreement at the appropriate times, trying hard not to dissolve into tears as Adira laid out an action plan- her method of mourning and grieving. She looked up at him suddenly and her face softened from its previous harsh, worried angles, instead filled with understanding.
"Go." She said gently, "I'll call them, you don't have to come today."
Newt bowed his head guiltily, not able to outright deny her offer. She always ended up doing all the work around the Glade simply because he let his sadness overwhelm him. He hated feeling weak.
Adira snapped her fingers in front of his face, her eyes knowing. "Seriously, Newt. Take some time to grieve. He was a brother."
Newt nodded jerkily, running a hand through his hair, before limping towards the Homestead, heading to his room to grieve privately. She knew he would be hit hard- Calvin technically had been his Keeper, but since Newt was second in command, there was no sense of superiority or hierarchy between the two, allowing their friendship to blossom. Not to mention, they'd been Originals. She felt a pang of sadness again. It was alright for her- she had been the First, alone, but Newt had come up with other people. She hadn't had the need to bond with anyone when she'd first come up and the first moments of her new life were spent in solitude. Not for the Originals though. They shared something that she probably would never understand, even if she had faced death with Minho and Newt and even Gally.
Feeling slightly at a loss of what to do, Adira walked over to Frypan.
"Gathering Fry." she announced as she soon as she walked into the Kitchens. Frypan was cooking intensely behind the counter, rapidly flipping what looked like noodles in a big wok while simultaneously ordering around Arden and he didn't look happy to be interrupted.
"What, right now?" he asked, holding up his hand to stop Arden.
"Trust me, you'll want to be there."
Either he had sensed the darkness in her tone or he was too tired to argue but he nodded his head, turning off the flame and signalling Arden to come along.
"Everyone in the Glade needs to be there." Adira stated grimly as Arden looked confused at his summoning and Frypan looked more and more sombre.
Adira went around the Glade, spreading the news of the Gathering and asking Keepers to bring along everyone under them, ignoring the confused glances and random questions thrown her way.
"What's going on?" Minho asked impatiently, his back devoid of his Runner's backpack. She pursed her lips but didn't say anything yet.
"Are all the Runners here?" she asked and Minho rolled his eyes but answered anyway.
"Finley…Ben...Jack…Max…Dustin…Sam...Karl...me and you. That's everyone." Minho said, tearing his gaze away from the team of Runners grouped together by the side of the Runners Hut. Like Minho, they didn't look too happy, some part of their body constantly moving. The Maze jitters. With a start, she realised her finger was consistently tapping against her thigh.
"Right. Let's go." she nodded, turning around and leading the way to the Gathering Hall as Minho yelled at his Runners to follow. They jogged up behind him, keeping a good distance away from the pair. All of them stuck out like a sore thumb, their frowning faces and long limbs coupled with their paler faces very different to the sweaty, tanned boys of the Glade. The Maze was practically ice next to the open plain of the Glade, where the sun bore down on them at all times.
"So?" Minho asked, jogging up beside her. "You look upset."
She glanced at him briefly, "Do I?"
"It's not obvious." Minho shrugged, "Where's Newt?"
"In his room." she said curtly and Minho raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Someone's died." he deduced quickly, eyebrows knitting together before he understood, "Calvin?"
She nodded again and he became subdued. Feeling bad for being so abrupt, she gave him a barely visible smile before making a beeline for the front of the room, her heart rate increasing steadily as more and more boys filtered through the doors. Most of them had known of Calvin's situation, however, it wasn't until they saw the empty chair in the circle of the Keepers that they put two and two together.
"This Gathering has officially started." Adira called out and there was silence in the hall as the boys waited with bated breath.
"Unfortunately, Calvin of the Gardens, Keeper of Track Hoes, has passed away." Adira said, her voice low, awfully reminiscent of the same announcement she had made for Tristan. Her directness was appreciated by the Gladers who all stayed quiet, taking in the information the best they could.
"We will mourn for our loss and there will be a funeral for him. You are dismissed from your jobs today."
There wasn't any joy in the holiday they'd received, even if it was their first; only a dejected silence and Adira leaned forwards towards the assembly, her tongue darting out to wet her lips out of nervousness. It wasn't often she tried to emotionally connect with them all, but she felt like this time she had to. They needed the support.
"I'm sorry that he's gone, I know that many of you were close to him." she started, her heart aching as she saw Frypan's face crease into an expression of hopeless sadness, "But he'd want us to carry on. Same as Tristan would've wanted us to move on, to live our lives."
She heard a small sob, immediately knowing it was Kasper without looking and she winced slightly, but continued onwards, "I'll be honest with you, we're all feeling low without him. But we cannot let it consume us. We will make it out of this hell hole and we'll make the Creators pay for the crimes they committed."
Her voice was steady and strong and despite the emptiness she was experiencing internally, it was venomous, like a cobra, coiled and ready to attack. The boys were clearly awed by her announcement, not necessarily cheered up, but definitely more motivated, more willing to work until they could lay their hands around the pristine throats of the white coated lab scientists that had given them a death sentence.
She leaned back into her original position before she issued an official funeral for the deceased Keeper, Billy retrieving the body and taking it to the Deadheads. Newt had emerged from his room, his face heavy as he helped Billy and Kasper dig out a grave for the boy, eyes rimmed with red and his face pale. She squashed down the urge to run to him and comfort him, knowing he wouldn't appreciate it in front of all the boys- he'd go on about how he was meant to be a role model for them all, how he was meant to be strong. She wondered why he thought his tears weren't a sign of strength.
And then his name was crossed off, forever sealing his fate in the grave he had been buried in, his siren red hair never to be seen in the Glade again. She stayed quiet as Kasper leaned against the Wall of Names, his sobs small and quiet but heart breaking to hear. She'd never wanted this. Never wanted to ruin the small bit of childish joy they found within each other.
With her head light and her throat uncomfortably tight, she announced another Gathering to decide the new Keeper of the Tack Hoes. It may have been slightly insensitive if Kasper's glare said anything, but she ploughed forwards, eventually assigning Zart as the new Keeper.
The fair haired boy hadn't been ecstatic over the news, his long face jutting out into an obstinate expression as he tried to convince her to give Newt the position. She'd refused strongly and Zart eventually agreed, his shoulders broadening into his new role.
And that was that. The boys milled around aimlessly, talking in small groups or in the Deadheads, not knowing what to do with their sudden free time. She saw Chuck, his small pudgy face screwed up into an expression of confusion and sadness as he tried to talk to a taller boy- Josh, it looked like, nodding periodically to everything he was saying.
"Hey." Minho mumbled behind her and she turned finding him with his hands in his pockets with Newt at his side, currently shaking out his hair like a dog. She didn't question the blonde, merely sharing a smile with Minho and turning back to inspect the Glade.
Minho and Newt flanked her sides, their faces blank and stern. She glanced at Newt, happy to see that he was looking less morose and more angry- anger she knew was directed at the Creators.
"What now?" Minho basically whined, obviously not liking the fact that he hadn't moved normally throughout the day, "I'm bored."
"Want to race?" Adira suggested sarcastically but Minho lit up like a child being offered sweets, his face transforming, "It was a shuck joke Min."
"I still want to." Minho pleaded, "Come on, just one?"
Newt snorted from the side, "He's addicted to the bloody Maze, I tell you. Can't go a buggin' day without Running."
Minho made of noise of dissent but otherwise didn't reply, encouraging her to agree with his eyes. Newt scoffed at his expression, slapping his head and raising an eyebrow at Adira, almost expectantly.
"I'll be the shuck referee or whatever." Newt propositioned, already knowing her answer.
She sighed, "From the edge of the Deadheads, round the Glade twice, first wins."
Minho jogged on the spot, "Shuck yeah, let's do this."
They walked over to the edge of the Deadheads, Minho looking extremely excited, Newt trailing behind him with an amused expression and Adira looking bored. Needless to say, it caught the attention of several Gladers.
"Now you've done it." she hissed in irritation, "Everyone's going to be watching us."
Minho gave her his trademark smirk, "That's a good thing shuckette."
Adira gave a disgusted groan at his reply, before stretching her leg muscles out. Her knee had healed up nicely over the course of two weeks, meaning Minho had been begging her to get out and run a section of the Maze since he insisted her drawings were better than any other Runner.
She knew he was lying. She couldn't draw for klunk.
"Ready shanks?" Newt asked, his voice purposefully loud. She glared up at him but he only gave her a cheeky grin in return.
"On your marks…get set…go!"
Minho let loose a laugh before sprinting and she copied, pushing forward with all her willpower. The Gladers were hooting and cheering loudly as soon as they noticed the pair whizzing around the inside of the walls, excited at the sudden entertainment provided to them.
She felt like she was racing from a Griever, her feet barely skimming the ground as she pulled forward, face open with pride and happiness. She could feel Minho's elation as he too flew across the ground. He pulled slightly ahead, laughing and she gritted her teeth, pushing even faster and levelling up with him.
There wasn't any shock in his eyes as he looked at her position beside him, but he looked pleased as they passed their first round. By now, there was a massive crowd watching their every move, yelling out encouragement and placing bets on who was going to win.
She smiled as Minho tried going faster as they neared the finish line, racing hard as she pulled up slightly ahead of him. Now laughing, she raced onwards, not entirely surprised to find him catching up to her, right by her side as they sprinted past the finish line together, shoulder to shoulder.
The cheering was deafening and Newt had a broad grin on his face, "IT'S A TIEEE!"
She panted for air, smirking at Minho who was smirking right back at her, his chest expanding regularly as he gulped down oxygen, both surrounded by excited teenagers who were screaming out praises in their ears.
"Good race." she smiled, sticking her hand out.
"Good race." Minho replied, giving her a firm handshake and the crowd went berserk again, feeling highly encouraged by the show of sportsmanship. Chuck looked completely in awe of the two of them, his face bright red, jaw hanging open. Even Kasper was smiling and participating in the cheer, the trails of tears still present but not defining.
Adira laughed slightly as Francis bellowed a cry of disbelief at her speed, backed up by Frypan who was the definition of a proud mother.
"And that's why they're Runners, shanks." he said openly and proudly, "Shucking fast, they are. Did you see them?"
It took over a half hour for the adrenaline to wear away and for the crowd to dissipate. Newt looked flustered as he approached Adira.
"Christ, you'd think they were meeting their long lost mother." he gasped out, "I've been waiting for a race to happen in here for three bloody years, I don't know how you've gone without!"
Minho shrugged, "We race in the Maze."
"Oh, I know." Newt said darkly, "Bloody children, the lot of you."
"Don't be dramatic, you're only a year older." she crooned, "Not much of an adult if you ask me."
Newt gave her a simple roll of the eyes before ruffling her hair, much to her chagrin. He'd always known how to piss her off.
"Dinner?" Minho asked suddenly and Newt and she turned to him, confused at his abruptness.
He grinned at them, "It's chili."
Newt made a face but she and Minho looked the polar opposite, faces lighting up into identical smiles, glimmering eyes and predatory auras. Newt blinked at them as if he was hallucinating.
"Bloody twins!" he cried, shaking his head and leading the way to the Kitchens.
"No we're not!" Minho and she cried in sync, before realising they'd just added fuel to the fire.
They never heard the end of it from the smug blonde, hunched over their bowls with irritated expressions as they listened to him gloating.
"We'll be testing you separately and together to scan your brains when exposed to different stimuli. Is that clear Subject A and X?" the man asked, his eyes flashing behind his glasses as he surveyed their relaxed physique critically. For people about to undergo extreme exercise, they looked far too jovial in his opinion.
"Is he talking to us, Ad?" Minho asked, feigning ignorance. Adira supressed a laugh before returning his banter.
"I don't know, Min. Said something about subjects?"
"Subjects? What, like rats?" Minho asked, "I don't know where they are. I don't see any here, anyway."
Adira opened her mouth to reply before feeling a sharp jolt of electricity climb up her spine and she shut her mouth, gritting her teeth to contain her cry of pain.
"It will be stronger next time if your tongues do not stay within the limits." the man smiled cleanly, "I recommend you to be on your absolute best behaviour here. Chancellor Paige may accept cheek but I…"
He broke off, giving a grim smile again, "Well! There's a reason I overlook the Cranks' facilities."
Minho looked unbothered but Adira knew that he was taking the threat seriously by the way his face changed imperceptibly. They'd both been deposited in the Crank cages more than once and both of them knew that it was decidedly not a pleasant experience.
"Set 1." the man started smugly, "Is a series of squats, planks and various different cardio movements demonstrated on your individual screens."
He pointed to two massive tablet like installments in the wall, before instructing them to move into their specific places in front of their respective screens.
"You will exercise at your maximum limit. As a reward, you are exempt from your physical education classes, although, I know, as top candidates, you will catch up well and do extra work out of class. We expect you to be moderately exercising as per your personal timetables."
Minho and Adira shared a discreet glance, both completely over the nonsense the man was spewing. First he gives them privilege, then immediately revokes it- was he insane?
"You will exercise in 30 seconds. I stress the importance of you doing this at your maximum level. I will leave you to it, your readings will be sent directly to me."
Minho and Adira stayed stock still and the man gave a steely look. "I hope you understand the importance of these tests. We can find the cu-"
Minho looked ready to implode, "What's your name Rat Man?"
Rat Man turned, his face unimpressed as Minho grimaced once he'd been shocked. Adira sent him a look of shared anger as they faced the rat like face of the WICKED scientist.
"Assistant Director Janson, to you, Subject A7. And remember. WICKED is good."
"The results are as expected, Chancellor." Janson stressed, handing the blank faced Chancellor a file of documents, "They both improved significantly when they exercised together."
Ava gave the file a passive glance before looking up at the man in front of her with cool disdain, "Is this meant to be revolutionary, Janson?"
He faltered for a moment before regaining his stride, "Although not much, I would like to propose an idea with this research as evidence."
Ava rubbed her temples, motioning for him to continue.
"We can see the two Subjects' connection clearly. I think it is wise to introduce Subject X to the Maze along with Group A."
The Chancellor shook her head, laughing, "No, Janson, preposterous. Her brain scans are an anomaly- she's a Deflector! We cannot afford to sacrifice her under any circumstances!"
She got up from her chair, her heels clicking authoritatively, "She is vital to the cure and you want to put her into a Maze. She's one of the strongest, if not the strongest and since we already know this, there is no point in putting her in harm's way. Not to mention, you're basing this proposition on a couple of exercise routines."
She shook her head, "Thomas would've done a wholly more satisfactory job than you."
Janson's jaw clenched but he nodded his head sharply in understanding, "Apologies, Chancellor, I will redo-"
"No need." Ava said airily, "I'll have Thomas on the case with Teresa. They'll be quicker and better and I need the data as quickly as possible. The Maze Trials are happening soon and I need good data before A7 is put in the Maze."
Janson gritted his teeth but said nothing in disagreement.
"Subject X…will undoubtedly suffer without Subject A5 and A7. Especially A7." she sighed, "But the cure is the focus here. And her Deflector status eliminates her as a candidate for the Maze Trials."
"But surely-"
"Out of the question!" Ava said, her voice rising slightly.
Janson frowned.
"Can you not see? The girl is fully Immune. Her brother, her own blood, Subject A3, has the Flare in his brain but, luckily he is not affected by it. Immune. But she! She deflects it, Janson. Her brain is pure. Free from a trace of the Flare! The very thing the human population is currently unable to have!"
"I ask you whether you are willing to drop the saviour of humanity down into a concrete cage, where she could very well be killed."
Janson looked up at Ava's flared eyes and her passionate stance, feeling nothing in the cold thrum of his heart.
"I would be."
"I'm so done." Adira yawned, stretching her limbs until she heard a distinct pop. Minho grimaced at her, wolfing his meal down as usual while Newt gave him awed and disgusted glances every few seconds.
"Good on you." Newt replied, "You're all tired out now, so you'll be out like a bloody light."
Minho nodded enthusiastically, unable to talk with his mouth completely full of stew.
"I can't wait." Adira grumbled. Newt gave her a sympathetic glance, knowing how hard her day had been; she'd had to climb trees for Gally, help him arrange everything, then rush off to the Med Hut and help out Clint with brewing medicinal herbs and such, before helping Frypan at lunch service for the boys. Not to mention, breaking up an argument between two Gladers, finding a boy crying the Deadheads and offering them emotional support, all with the added pressure of waiting for the Runners to arrive back into the Glade. All in all, everything in her body was aching.
"I dunno how you do it." Minho shrugged finally, after swallowing his excessively large mouthful, "I mean, honestly woman! The minute someone needs ya, you're already finishing up the job!"
"Perks of being Leader," Newt grinned, pushing away his empty bowl, "a shucking huge workload."
Adira smiled at them, feeling appreciated for, "It's alright. I've always had this workload, so I'm used to it."
Minho rolled his eyes, "Says the person ready to pass out."
She gave him a glare, "I'm still allowed to get tired, Minho."
"Ok, but that just shows you're not adapted to the workload like you say you are."
"Adapted? What am I, a shucking animal?"
"You work like it."
"Take that back you slinthead."
"No. You're mad cos you know I'm right."
"I'm not mad!"
"Okay."
"I'm not!"
"You're red shuckette."
"It's just hot in here."
Newt slammed the table with his two hands, trying desperately to hide the amusement in his eyes and instead adopting a look of irritation, "Would you two shut it for one lovin' minute?"
Adira sniffed haughtily and Minho hid a smirk as Newt shook his head in mock disappointment, "Head up to bed, children. It's getting late."
Minho nodded obediently and Adira stifled a groan as she saw him open his mouth to say the words she knew he'd say- "Okay Mother."
They exploded in laughter at Newt's slowly reddening face and sputtered defensive explanations that rendered him as a caricature of embarrassment in their eyes, realising that Minho was very much correct.
"Really, I'm off." Adira yawned again and Minho nodded sagely, "Me too."
After bidding goodnight, they left to their rooms, each of them tired from the strenuous day and awaiting the comfort of their beds. Except Minho and Adira.
She thought she'd drift away the minute her head touched her metaphorical pillow, but no such luck presented itself. Left sleepless and still tired, she resorted to tapping the opposite wall with her toe, making out a melody with the soft thumps against the wood.
"Thought you were sleepy."
She almost screamed aloud when Minho entered her room like a ghost, silent and very much laughing at the shock on her face.
"I'm not that bad looking, Ad." he chuckled quietly when her grimace of shock didn't shift.
"Yeah, yeah, alright, calm down." She grumbled, pulling herself upright and patting the bed to signal him to sit down, "What's on your mind then?"
Minho slumped down heavily on her bed, leaning against the wall which she'd previously been tapping. She bit her lip in guilt as she realised she'd probably woken him up.
"I dunno. Stuff, I guess." Minho muttered tiredly and she shifted to sit beside him, leaning against the wall as she stifled a yawn behind her hand.
"Okay." She pulled her hair back behind her ears, "What stuff? It's not like you to get up in the middle of your beauty sleep."
He didn't laugh like she'd expected and she knew he was feeling bad then. Maybe just something to do with the fact that once the sun rose, it would bring about the morning of Minho's third year trapped in the Maze. She knew it would be tough for him. Instead of sobbing, she'd drowned herself with alcohol and fun but Minho wasn't as readily open for a drink.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she waited for him to talk, yawning lightly as her tiredness reminded itself of its existence.
"Three years." Minho said finally, "I can't shucking believe it."
She didn't say anything, only smiling blearily as she caught his fingers and interlocked them together, squeezing his hand and silently urging him to continue.
"Three years of my life just…gone." he said and he truly sounded shocked, rather than sad.
Rubbing her thumb along his skin consolingly, she looked up, "S'bad, isn't it? Knowing we could've done so much more but instead we're in here."
Minho nodded, "I don't know about you, but I want to do normal things, y'know? I love running, but the Maze?" He pulled in a breath, "Shuck that, it sucks the fun right out. I just want to get out, Ad."
She could feel the desperation seeping into his voice and she squeezed his hand, this time in warning. He always got worked up when they were talking about the Maze, so she served as the reminder to cool down despite their situation being pretty damn rubbish.
"Well we can't." she said bluntly, taking her head up from his shoulder and staring blankly at the opposite wall, "And I'm sorry if I'm being a slinthead, but we can't entertain ourselves with the idea that there's a life out of here for us."
Minho shrugged, his face neutral as he lightly pushed her head back onto his shoulder, "You're not a slinthead Ad, you're just better at dealing with klunk than I am."
She snorted inelegantly, "Me? Out of all people, me?"
"Yes." Minho replied and she was silenced by the tenderness in his voice, "You deal with everything that comes your way without complaining. You're the strongest and most resilient person I know."
She could feel a smile start to curve along her lips and she replied genuinely, "Thank you Minho."
He nodded in acknowledgement of her thanks before pulling the blanket over their legs, "Poor Greenie. He'll come up here and won't know what the shuck is going on."
She chuckled quietly, "Could be a she."
"We both know that isn't going to happen." Minho answered, suppressing a laugh before sobering, "But y'know, I'm just mad that I ain't normal. And I'll never be anymore cos we're all stuck in here."
She nodded, her mood souring as she remembered the vision of Thomas, "Me too."
He seemed to understand what she was referring to and his face and posture softened, "I'm sorry."
She shrugged with one of her shoulders, "It is what it is."
"It is what it is." Minho repeated sagely, "Unless you don't like it and you want to change it."
She grinned, "Motivated much?"
He chuckled lightly, resting his head atop hers, "Wait until you see me when I'm not tired. You'll see the real motivated me then."
She snorted at his words, her eyelids slowly drooping shut, her fingers still tight around his. They breathed in harmony, gentle breaths sounding in the fragile silence of the night as they stuck close together. It reminded her of her memory, of them in the Scorch. She remembered the distinct feeling of fear that the entire world was against them, ready to tear them down. But she also remembered him, and the fire he incited in her. She remembered why she laughed at all. She remembered that her heart beating, meant that his was too.
Once morning's gentle rays poured through her window, her eyes opened on their own accord, leaving her bleary eyed and just about sufficiently rested to function normally around the Glade. She yawned lightly, looking up to find Minho staring blankly at the wall, his hand tightening around hers in greeting.
"It's my three year anniversary." he said with false enthusiasm in his words, a sarcastic grin on his face. Disentangling herself from the mess of limbs they'd become, she leaned over and gave him a hug, hoping he'd take the offer of support willingly.
"We'll be fine." she murmured, rubbing his back, relived that he'd encircled her waist with his arms, ready to transfer his burdens to her for a short time. It must have been a minute that he'd passively leant on her shoulder until he suddenly dug his fingers into her waist and started tickling her.
The effect was immediate and she rolled off him, laughing hard already as she tried to escape his fingers, "Stop it!" Of course, like with anything, he didn't listen to her.
Grinning devilishly and pulling her down onto the bed again he attacked her neck, leaving her short of air and allowing peals of laughter to fill the room. Her arms pushed at him, but their strength was weakened by her plosive laughter and he fell on top of her as her arms gave out.
"M-Minho!" she cried, tears of laughter escaping her eyes as she struggled against him, her stomach muscles aching from the sudden onslaught of ticklish torture. He backed off, still grinning and she evened out her breathing, before lunging at the Asian, who immediately hurried away from her. Grinning, she pulled him back down so she was sitting on top of him and tickled his neck, her smile growing wider as he lost control and laughed loudly, same as she had done.
"I'm sorry!" he sputtered between gasps of air, "Let me go, woman!"
"Promise you'll never do that again!"
"Pro-mise!" he laughed, fending off her fingers with his hands.
"Good." she replied in satisfaction, crossing her arms triumphantly, "Now you know better than to mess with me."
"Bloody hell people-"
She looked up at the doorway and Minho tilted his head backwards to face a red faced Newt who had just flung the door open, his posture screaming irritation. Judging by his puffy eyes and messy hair, he'd just got up from bed.
"Interrupting something am I?" he asked, his attitude changing minutely as he surveyed their breathless, red faces and mussed hair. He never really saw them as he saw the other boys, the Gladers that had less responsibility on their heads. Her smile was wide and unguarded, his face reddened, teeth showing in the biggest grin he'd ever seen on the Keeper's face; it was a rare picture, something he wished he could see more often. Their joy was a gift to him.
"Slim it." Adira said shortly, helping Minho up.
"Happy three year anniversary brother." Minho greeted and Newt rolled his eyes.
"We'll celebrate that tonight, yeah Minho?" Newt grumbled, "I'll be off my rocker at the Bonfire today, watch me."
"Drink responsibly." Adira butted in, after tidying up the sheets, "No way is he going out into the Maze with a hangover and you're going to be a pain in my foot in the morning and I really don't want to deal with that. Had enough of hangover Newt last month."
Newt stuck his tongue out at her.
Minho laughed and Adira glared, waiting for an explanation.
"I need to get klunkfaced if I'm being honest." Newt muttered, "Happy three year anniversary, hurrah!"
"No sarcasm from you, Newton." she tutted, wagging her finger in a reprimanding manner.
He rolled his eyes and Minho cut in, agreeing with her fervently, "Enough already, Newt! I'm dying from an overdose."
"The both of you are so bloody dramatic, I actually can't-"
"Love you, Newt." Adira deadpanned. Minho chuckled from the side and she glared at him.
He shrugged, "I'd love to join your argument, but I've got a Maze to run."
The mood deflated as she sobered, "Be safe Min."
He gave her a reassuring grin, "When am I not?"