CHAPTER 7:

AN: Sorry everyone that it's been awhile! I have just been so busy. So, I'm kind of in a block with how I want things to build up but I just thought of this and decided it was needed. So, I present to you a new POV, Maddie!

Maddie POV

After the usual check-up with Liz that morning, still telling her nothing's changed, Maddie strapped on her runner's pack and her sneakers and ran off into the Maze with Benji.

Maddie liked Benji; he was handsome, as if he walked straight out of a magazine. He was a lot kinder than her, which was a nice contrast, but she could tell he would get agitated when she was rude to people. Especially Newbies. They were too curious and stupidified about being in the middle of a Maze, that they were just too annoying for Maddie.

As she was running, left, right, left, right, cut vine, left, right, was the rhythmic pattern of her steps. She had figured that cutting vines off the walls would help her get back to the Haven before sunset, so she kept doing it, as it seemed it had been working. No use fixing something that isn't broken.

Maddie and Benji had split up today. Usually they ran together since they had no clue what was really out there, but today, Maddie took the next step in finding an exit and decided to deviate from the normal path she told Benji to take.

All Maddie wanted was a way out. She hated the stupid Maze, the stupid Haven, she hated everything. After she had talked with Liz, she could sense that Liz had lost hope. Liz was always cheerful and compassionate to every single person. Maddie was not, however. But when Maddie explained to Liz that there was no progress, every single morning, it seemed that Liz was far off. This morning, especially.

As Maddie was running she was thinking about the night before at dinner. As she had walked past the table consisting of the Newbie and Liz, she overheard a bit of their conversation. Something about Liz having a brother. Maddie figured other people had weird dreams, too, but Maddie thought hers were just that. Dreams.

However, hearing Liz talk about her brother, Maddie thought maybe they were really memories. In Maddie's dreams it was always some lady in a white lab coat and another girl that looked like the carbon copy of Maddie herself. She thought that must be her twin sister.

Maddie smiled at the fact she had a sister. Maybe she would see her again someday, maybe. If only she could find a way out of the freaking Maze!

Maddie pushed into a sprint as she reached a place where the Maze seemingly stopped for a bit. The corridors were wider and there was a number written on the wall. 4. Her and Benji had never run that far. Maybe this was the next step.

Maddie took out her booklet and wrote a 4 and mapped some of where she had run. She saw she had about an hour and a half until the Doors would close. She turned tail and sprinted back.

As the time ticked down, Maddie realized she wasn't going to make it. She just hoped Benji did. Maddie had always liked Benji, but only as a friend. As she ran as fast as she could, she thought about Dani, and Liz, and Benji. Those were her closest friends, since she couldn't really tolerate anyone else.

5 minutes. Maddie realized she had gotten quite lost, but was somewhere close to the Doors, from the way the corridors got shorter.

1 minute. Maddie accepted her fate and stopped, out of breath. Suddenly she heard footsteps moving in her direction. It was the idiot Newbie.

"C'mon! No one knows I'm in here but the Doors are about to close! We have to hurry!"

She grabbed my arm as I was in shock the Newbie somehow knew what she was doing. Funny thing was, the Newbie had left a trail of mud from her shoes in order to get back the Haven. Smart cookie. Maddie thought.

She heard the rumbling of the Doors about to close and it seemed the Newbie had kicked into another gear. Maddie pushed on behind her. They saw the Doors.

Maddie sprinted through the gap right as they closed after the Newbie.

"What the hell were you thinking Frank!" Liz yelled standing at the door. "One second I leave you with Belle, then I go in there and Belle said you left. I can't find you anywhere and then Louie said you went into the Maze! Are you out of your bloody mind! You could have bloody died you idiot!"

"Well I didn't. And I happened to save her life… so, you're welcome." She said turning to Maddie at the last part.

Maddie nodded thanks.

"Go ahead and put me in Jail then, Liz. I broke the rules, I know." Frank replied coolly.

"Wait." Maddie called out as they began to walk toward the Jail. "She saved my life. I had given up on getting back because I got lost. But she saved me. She shouldn't be punished for doing something right."

Liz turned around and gave Maddie a shocked look. Maddie never liked the Newbies, but she came to like Frank. She was brave, and smart, and Maddie decided then she should be a Runner.

"Okay, Maddie. Just hope Dani doesn't find out." Liz replied.

Maddie then noticed no one else was at the Doors waiting. They normally all were.

"Wait… where is everyone? Usually they're waiting by the Doors when they close, especially since I was so late getting back." Maddie asked confused.

Liz sighed with a solemn expression. "Dani got bit by a Beast today."

Maddie gasped. Not Dani, she was her best friend. Maddie had saved her life.

"What the heck does 'bit' mean?" Maddie asked incredulously.

"A Beast bloody poked her with this needle as she was walking past one of the Doors. It just rolled up, poked her and rolled back out into the Maze. So weird. Luckily, Belle found this syringe thing that said 'Beast Serum.' So we used it on Dani and she stopped thrashing. She's sleeping now, but we have no idea how long she's going to be out, if she'll live. So, we just have to wait." Liz said with a dreary face.

"Wow. So, you're in charge for the time being, I assume, Liz?" Maddie asked, relieved her friend was somewhat alright.

"Yep. At least I'm kind enough to listen to your opinion. So, Frank here won't be sentenced to Jail. But I'm calling a meeting in a few minutes, so go map and get some water and meet us in the House."

"Sure thing Liz. See you there. And thank you Newbie for saving my life, you're not so bad after all." Maddie said with a smile as she turned and jogged to the Runner's hut.