"We have limited quantity, Greenie." Ben was gearing up to leave for the Maze. "Why do you need it, anyway?" He looked at her putting a dagger in the waistband of his pants.

"I'm... kinda, well not kinda, I mean..." she fidgeted anxiously, not sure what to tell him.

"Woah Vi, calm down. You're shucking freaking me out, and that doesn't bring you any closer to getting that notebook," he got one in his hand almost waving it in front of her face.

"Legend is gonna kill me," she mumbled.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you," he smirked.

"Don't push it, though, we have one waspish Minho, and I'd rather not get more of that charm-" she said rolling her eyes.

"Alright, alright... So?"

"Legend has trouble sleeping, and I'm thinking of stories, and lullaby's for him."

"Lucky shank," he answered with a grin and handed her the notebook. She gripped it, but he didn't let go. "Nothing's for free, Vi."Of course - she thought.

"What do you want?" She tried to sound careless. "My breakfast or dinner?"

"Not quite," his simper showed his teeth.

"I don't really have much more to offer," she faked a laugh.

"I think you do," she felt dyspnea as he took a step closer. He let go of the notebook, and his simper turned into a childish smile. "I want one lullaby, too. When you come up with any, obviously." She inhaled in relief wondering what she had expected of him.

"It might take some time," she tried to play it cool. "Besides, I'm no singer."

"I truly doubt that." The door opened behind them, revealing irked Minho.

"What the shuck is taking so lo-, oh," He leaned against the doorway with his typical smirk. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, Vi was just using some charm to get a favor," Ben smirked playing along Minho's little games.

"Yeah, that's not exactly what happened," she responded with a grimace to show them she didn't enjoy their little game. Minho chuckled and turned to leave, but Ben put his hand on her head to pet and mess her hair. She took a step back, grimace never leaving her face as a frown on her face deepened. "Go, Ben, I'll see you later," she tried to get rid of him.

"Work on that." He tapped the notebook and ran out of the room. She exhaled heavily and ran a hand through her hair to put it back in place. She unquestionably didn't have a hair thing.

"Just in time, Greenie, the food is almost gone." Too bad her appetite was. She couldn't get her mind off Ben and what had happened in his room. De facto, Ben had done nothing wrong, but she felt like singing was a second-best request, and she'd rather spend the whole day with Peter than a second more in runner's room.

"Thanks, Fry," Vivienne took the plate with a timid smile. "It smells great." Cook gave her a warm smile.

"Are you alright?" He asked when she was about to walk away. Usually, they didn't talk because of the queue, but then almost everyone had already eaten, or at at least had almost finished their food.

"Yeah," she answered too quickly in a too high voice. "Why?"

"You seem... jittery," he admitted with a frown.

"I'm fine," she reassured him.

"If ya say so, Vivi."

Gally once again disappeared with the same folks as he had the day before. She struggled with work all day almost dropping a log on her foot.

"Shuck, girlie, you alight?" Peter asked coming her way.

"Yes," she hissed looking at her reddened palms. "We should get back to work," she didn't mean to sound harsh. Peter nodded and took the log in his hands.

"Go take a break. I'll finish it." Vivienne didn't want to be treated differently because she was a girl nor because she was in charge of the project, nor because she wasn't in the mood and scared the poor guy.

"No, it's fine." She took the other end of the wood in her hands and offered him a cordial smile. "I didn't mean to sound rude," she whispered while they moved in sync putting the log where it belonged.

"I guess we're even now."

"How is your leg?" She took the chance to have a proper conversation.

"Good, it's just a scratch. It's almost gone now." Commonly she would offer to take a look at it later but after their chat the other day and her encounter with Ben she didn't want to put herself in another confusing situation.

Together they worked quicker and got their job done before lunch. She said a quick goodbye to the boys, pretending to go to the medjack's hut to get some aloe vera gel for her swollen hands.

Before she knew it, she was already in the Deadheads. Usually scared of them, that day the fear was focused somewhere else meaning she must have gone there unwittingly, and she let herself wander. Soft breeze in the shades of the trees was a marvelous change from the scorching sun mercilessly heating the Glade. She sighed in relief, unexpectedly able to breathe.

The woods were weirdly calming, and she found herself walking in deeper and deeper until any of the sound Gladers made was gone, and she could only hear little branches crack under her feet as she listened to the birds' whistles.

She recognized the area as the one Newt took her to. She felt a sudden need to bath in the pond again. As she reached it, she took a quick but a precise look around, scanning the area if it was clear of intruders. She found none and took her shirt off and her short felt down right after. Having kicked off her shoes, she stuck her socks in them.

She abruptly got used to the water for it was even warmer than when Newt was with her. With her eyes closed, she laid on the clear surface of the water.

'I'm sorry, Vivienne.' She heard a well-known, male voice. She must have turned or lost her balance for she found herself under water. Her eyes were wide opened, hands clenched, her muscles tensed as her whole being begged her to breathe.

Yet, she couldn't find it in herself to haul out. Being stuck under the surface was an oddly recognizable feeling. She relaxed her body, and with her hands, she dived even deeper. Her eyes were stinging from the water, and she shut them tightly. She felt as if she was trapped. Anxiousness had hit her harder than ever before, but she urged herself to last a bit longer.

Vivienne tried to relax her aching body, awaiting the sound. She was on the very edge off fainting. Letting herself exhale, she felt the coldness along with darkness take over. Giving up, she used the last drop of energy her body had left, and hauled out. 'I'll take care of you, sister.' Her skin met with a tepid wind.

Hi guys!

I started this new Maze Runner AU check it out here: s/12892171/1/It-took-ten-years

R&R

Love ya all :*

Runners