They were sitting at a picnic table and discussing what just happened. Jeff sent Clint up to check on Alby.
"What did he say to you?" Newt demanded, his eyes narrowed to Thomas and Alex.
"Slim it Newt. He said he saw me and Tommy, nothing new." Alex huffed.
"Do most people uh..see you two together?" Teresa asked. Minho laughed at that and Alex pursed her lips. Thomas was a nice guy, a good friend, a great running partner, but definitely not her type.
"There were 2 other guys who went through the changing while I've been here, and they both said they saw me from before. Then they tried to kill me. One only tried to kill Tommy, here. I shot that guy with an arrow." Alex said drily folding her arms.
Teresa laughed, but it died when no one else joined in. They all had serious expressions.
"Wait..you're serious?" She gasped, eyes wide.
"Unfortunately, yes."
"I'm so sorry Alex." She reached out her dainty hand and grabbed Alex's dirty calased one, sincerity in her eyes. Alex's anger softened.
"But what happened to make him try to choke himself to bloody death?" Newt asked again.
"He was going to try and tell me who I might have been before this.." Thomas said sadly.
"Hmm." Newt said, rubbing his bottom lip.
"It looked like he was being controlled. His eyes looked all panicky, but his hands were still choking himself." Alex said, looking up and down the table.
"It was weird, I'm positive he had no control over what his body was doing."
Minho was looking at her hands, he picked up her hand, the one she had punched a wall with, it was still bruised and wrapped. He turned it over in his hands.
"How did you have the strength to pull Alby's hands off himself and hold them down. That must have been almost impossible, that guy has gorilla arms... and also dent a stone wall? Your not exactly benching 200lbs." He looked at her, curiosity written on his face.
"Yes, good question" Jeff said, adding "she didn't even break a bone after she punched a freakin wall!"
Alex just shrugged.
"I don't know guys. Both times I was feeling some really strong emotions... it's not like I can feel a surge of Hulk power. It just happens." The table was quiet for a moment.
"Ok, well, what's the plan for tomorrow?" Newt asked Minho, "I know you're going back into the Maze. Teresa can have her tour and start with me in the Gardens."
Teresa nodded hesitantly, looking quite pale, her hands fidgeting nervous.
Alex snorted, "Tes, you're okay to be Newt's hoe for the day?"
Teresa looked at her confused. Minho choked on his water while Alex tried very hard to keep a straight face. Newt rolled his eyes.
"Uhg, don't take anything my bloody idiot sister says seriously. When she was new she would giggle every time we used the name Track Hoe, she thought it was a dumb name. She is very mature, as you can see."
"It IS a dumb name, Newt!" She looked at Teresa, "He means the gardens, you will be working in the gardens, as a farmer or...GARDENER! These Shuck faces idiots here, decided Track HOE would be the perfect name for someone who works in the gardens."
Teresa's shocked expression turned into one of disbelief, she looked at Thomas and then to Newt, "Is that true? You guys came up with 'track hoe' instead of farmer..?"
She then giggled and couldn't contain herself anymore and laughed so hard her eyes were watering. Minho smirked at her amused for a second, then looked at Newt and nodded.
"Ya, Thomas, Alex and I are going to check out section 7. Where that Griever might have come from."
"Good that."
The group stayed at the table chatting and getting to know Teresa. She had a quick liking to Bark. Thomas couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was soft spoken, and seemed very sweet. All the guys seemed to fawn over her, forgetting Alex was there. Teresa gave small sweet smiles and was polite. She had a way of throwing her hair over her shoulder when she laughed, and touching arms when she was talking. Alex was getting more agitated the longer she stayed. She finally had enough when Minho said something, making Teresa laugh and grab onto his arm, and he smirked slyly back at her.
"I'm going for a shower." Alex stormed away. Once she was standing under the hot stream of water did she calm down. She ran a hand through her wet soapy hair. She was tired, and cranky.
Why? What is going on with me?
She felt her mind buzz.
"Sonya?"
"Hey Alex. I don't have a lot of time. But you need to explain what's been going on!"
"So much. Let me explain. No wait..tok long let me sum it up. We had to banish that kid I shot with an arrow, apparently he lived. Our leader went into the maze in my place, without my knowledge, he was stung, Minho had to drag him back, they didn't make it before the walls closed. I thought they were dead. My world collapsed- Sorry I ignored you that night. A guy named Tommy ran in right before, somehow they managed to survive the night, he killed a Griever. Minho and I got together. We had another girl show up on Greenie day and now I'm pissed at her. I think. I don't know.."
"Hmmm well 1. I want to know the details of this Minho. And 2. Why are you mad at the girl? Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend?"
Alex could feel her chuckle.
"Minho. Well he's a shuck face. But...he's the most stubborn, sassiest, hottest sweetest dramatic guy. Sonya, I could stare into his eyes forever. He's a tall hunk of beautiful Asian muscle. The best shuckin arms and chest ever... but he's a shuckin sweetheart underneath his sass and stone face. He helped me through some really horrible stuff here. He's also a great kisser. Kike...shuck me Sonya! And Newt keeps walking in on us... shuckin bloody brothers."
She could feel Sonya laughing.
He sounds dreamy. If I had more time I'd press you for more spicy details. Now. This girl. What's going on?"
"I don't know. From my memories, the 3 of us were best friends. She went through a lot of stuff with me before the maze. But maybe we are just different people now, I don't know...but she's so..so...dainty and sweet...and all the guys are all over her, tripping over themselves to help. Even seems like Minho too. I got frustrated and left. It's weird. I'm the complete opposite of everything she is."
It was quiet, Alex could just feel the buzzing.
Well sis, sounds like you're jealous. You had their attention for 3 months, and now a new girl is just that...new. It'll blow over. Just be you. And I'm sure your boy toy isn't going to do anything. From the emotions I get from you, you love him, and he loves you. Are you getting your period?"
"No, I had that last week."
"Then definitely just jealous. You'll be ok now-"
There was a soft knock on the door.
"What?" Alex called annoyed. She never got to have a proper conversation with Sonya, and her and Minho were always interrupted..never any privacy in the Glade, the buzzing in her head stopped.
"Oh sorry." Called a quiet voice.
Alex sighed. "Just a minute, I'm almost done."
Alex finished rinsing off, dried off and quickly pulled on some clean clothes. She opened the door, Teresa was kneeling beside Bark scratching her ears. Teresa looked up.
"Sorry for rushing your shower! I didn't mean to."
"No it's okay. I was just about done, I was uhh...day dreaming." Alex replied.
Teresa smiled, "I was going to shower, um Minho said this is the one you always used, because it had a lock.."
Alex nodded, swallowing her frustration, of course it was Minho who would talk to her about showering.
"Do you want me to stand in front of the door? Minho or Newt always would. But now that I'm second in command, the guys are terrified I'd stab them in their sleep...they leave me alone."
Teresa looked wide eyed at Alex, "You're serious?"
"Ya wouldn't be the first time I threatened to. The guys here ..you have to be tough to survive here."
Teresa looked quite worried, her eyes were big and she didn't move.
Alex smiled awkwardly for a moment, "But, you will be okay, the guys here are really nice! They are my family. You will be okay, I promise. This place doesn't work if we don't have each other's backs, we all need to trust each other."
At that moment Thomas came around the corner, he saw the girls and stopped.
"Oh umm...did you uh still want me to be..uh want me to stand watch?" He asked awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Teresa blushed, and averted her eyes.
Alex smirked, "I guess I don't need to stand guard..."
She leaned into Teresa and whispered "he's a good one. Asks lots of dumb questions, but he's a good one."
Teresa gasped and tried to hide her smile. Alex laughed "Have fun kids!" And she walked away.
She hung up her towel from her shower, she grabbed her brush from the dresser and started to untangle the mess, as she stared out the window. She heard the door open and then bang shut. She sighed heavily.
What's his problem? Not like I was flirting with some other dude.
She turned around. Minho was standing in front of the door, wet hair from a shower, shirtless, with a towel in his hand. He looked her up and down, tossed the towel to the side and stormed up to her, she couldn't detect the emotion in his eyes, but it wasn't anger. He came right up to her, so she had to tilt her head up to look up at him. Without a word he pushed her up against the wall, slammed his hands into the wall either side of her head. She raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're hot when you're angry and jealous." He whispered in her ear, his voice dropping and getting husky.
He bent his arms, making them flex, leaning into her, and kissed her roughly. Her knees went weak, her breathing stopped and her stomach somersaulted. He had Alex's back pushed up against the wall. She brought her hands up to his bare chest. She could feel her heart speeding up, she could feel his beating faster. He pulled away breathing heavily.
"I don't like being jealous." She whispered. "Please don't do it on purpose" She was frustrated that she felt self conscious about herself. And frustrated with him, if he was doing it on purpose.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel that way. Honestly. Alex, you're the shuckin hottest thing in the Glade!" his voice took on that huskiness that made Alex's knees feel like jello.
He kissed her roughly, making her moan involuntarily. He moved his slightly chapped, but soft lips to her jaw and then to her neck. Alex tilted her head a little, giving him more access.
"You're such a badass" and he came back to kiss her lips. "And you're sassy" he kissed her again. "And you're the bravest shucken' person I've ever met" he kissed down her jaw line. "You're kind. You care about everyone around you." He kissed her lips harder, "and you're mine. And I'm not a shuckin idiot to ever let you go! Or to make you jealous!" He pulled away to look her in the eyes and with all the sincerity, "Alex, I love you. And only you! I'm sorry I made you feel that way."
"I'm sorry. I just..I don't know. Sonya said I-"
"You talked to your sister again?" Minho interrupted.
Alex nodded her head, "Ya, when I was in the shower. She said I was probably jealous, but I guess it's more... I'm self conscious. I'm the exact opposite of her. She's so dainty and pretty and perfect and-"
Minho cut her off with a scoff.
"You think that chick is perfect? Ya, maybe for Thomas... YOU are perfect for ME. Every scare and scrap-"
"Hey Minho?" Alex breathed, interrupting him.
"hmm?" He raised an eyebrow. "Shut up and kiss me!" Alex commanded.
"You got it Sunshine."
He did. He brought a hand he was leaning against to hold her face, then slid it back into her hair. She ran her hands from his bare chest and around to his back, running her hands up and down his muscular back, there was no shirt to grab onto, so she slowly but gently racked her fingernails down his back, he shuddered. Alex smirked.
"You think that's funny?" he whispered on her lips.
"Hmm." Was all Alex managed to get out. He pulled his hand out of her hair and slid it down the side of her neck, so his hand was resting on her collarbone, holding her against the wall. He moved his kisses right under her ear. He stayed there kissing. Alex's eyes fluttered closed and tilted her head back against the wall, letting out a small "mmm". Alex slid her hands back to his chest and down his abs, back up his chest and up into his still damp hair. Minho brought his lips back up to hers, kissing her roughly again. Alex raked her finger nails down his scalp, and he let out a soft moan, which gave her the opportunity to slip her tongue into his mouth. Minho wrapped an arm around her lower back and his other hand still tangled into her hair, holding onto the back of her head, they tried to close any space between them. Their lips moved in sync with each other. Alex's heart was racing, she was having trouble breathing. Everything was hot and tingling. She wanted more.
"Having fun kids?" Said a soft voice from the door, accompanied with a snigger and a scoff. Minho grunted in frustration, breaking their kiss and lent his forehead against the wall.
"Every shuckin time." He whined frustrated. Alex smiled at his frustration.
She whispered back, "Probably for the best."
He sighed, "Ya, you're right..."
He straightened up to look at the door. Standing in the door was Teresa, holding some bedding, Thomas, Newt and Bark. Teresa had a small smirk, Thomas was snickering, "Nicely done Man." Newt was pretending to throw up.
"Can we help you shanks?" Alex asked flustered.
Newt cleared his throat, "Ya, since the builders still haven't done anything about your sleeping arrangements, I figured Teresa can sleep here with you and Minho would just continue to share my room."
Alex smiled, "I would love to! We were just saying good night.."
"Clearly." Thomas said, still laughing at them. Alex looked back to Minho and she gave him one more kiss "Night babe. Sweet dreams."
"Always sweet with you around." He smirked.
Alex snorted, "Cheesie Minho...Cheesie."
"Hmmm. Not if I told you what kind of sweet dreams I have..." He whispered seductively in her ear, making her breath hitch and her face heat up.
"Night Sunshine" He said quietly, smirking at her reaction. He turned and grabbed his towel off the bed and left, pushing through the guys who followed immediately. The girls could hear Thomas teasing him all the way down the hall.
Teresa took a hesitant step inside, a shy smile on her face. Alex felt quite flustered.
"Come on in, I have some clothes you can change into for the night." Alex said quickly, trying to change the subject. Alex went and sat down on the bed. Teresa closed the door and sat down too.
"Thanx for everything. Today has been very overwhelming. How did you do this on your own for so long?"
Alex shrugged, "I had no other option. I figured out pretty fast who I could trust more than others, but after a while they all became my brothers."
"Except Minho..I don't think you kiss Newt like that.." Teresa teased.
"TES! You're as bad as Thomas, Fry AND Chuck!" Alex shrieked, but both girls giggled.
"But no.. you're right. He's definitely not a brother..." Her face went red, and her stomach wouldn't stop back flipping. She had a goofy grin on her face that wouldn't leave.
"Still..it must have been hard. You're so tough," She looked away for a moment, tears forming in her bright blue eyes, and she whispered, "I wish I could be more like you."
It took Alex a moment to understand what she said, "And here I was jealous of you!"
Teresa looked up, "Really? Why?"
"Are you shuckin kidding? Look at you! A killer body, you're so sweet and gentle.."
Teresa smiled. "Well I've heard about your skill with a bow, and you're so brave! I think you have a...what did you say? 'A Killer body?'"
Both girls smiled at each other. Barked woofed in front of the girls, Alex leaned over to scratch her ears.
"You too girl, you've got a killer body too!" that sent the girls into giggles. Alex pulled out some spare clothes for Teresa.
Alex had pulled off her shirt to pull on Minho's hoodie, when Teresa let out a small gasp, "Oh my goodness, Alex!"
Alex spun around looking for trouble, "What? What's wrong?" asked worried.
Teresa was looking up and down Alex's chest and torso with wide eyes and her hand covering her mouth, "What...what happened? Those scars!"
Alex looked down at herself. She sat down and looked at Teresa who came to sit beside her.
"Well, like I said earlier..I had to toughen up.. fast..after Chris... I had to.." Alex looked away, talking about it was still hard. Teresa grabbed Alex's hand and held it tight, "if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay, but I'm here if you want to." She smiled at Alex.
"I was physically attacked and sexually assaulted." Alex pointed to her bit mark scars, on her shoulder and arm, and her claw mark scars. "He ripped my shirt open, touched me, bit me, clawed at me like an animal, he beat me, my face was all bruised and ribs were all bruised... "
Alex took a shaky breath. Teresa gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"He would have done a lot worse and then killed me if Minho hadn't found me. I have never been so scared or so helpless. But after that, I vowed to never be helpless again. Alby taught me to shoot, Minho taught me to fight- Gally was supposed to teach me to wrestle -but you know, our uh relationship isn't exactly the greatest...So during running training Minho taught me that too. Being the only girl in the middle of 60 boys...I had to live and deal. The guys started to treat me as an equal and then they started listening to my opinions. They put me on the council and then voted me second after Alby was..hurt."
"Wow. You had to go through so much. You're so brave Alex! I wish I could be as brave as you. I'm absolutely terrified. This place is so scary and..and I don't know anything. And..."
Her eyes were tearing up. Alex pulled her into a hug. The girls clung to each other for a moment. "It's okay Tes. I'm here. We have each other."
Teresa's POV:
Teresa was jerked awake after a strange dream involving water and a woman telling her wicked is good. She tried to roll over to go back to sleep when she heard a whimper. She sat up and looked at the floor, where Alex had insisted on sleeping. There was another whimper. Alex was curled into a ball, her head wrapped in her arms. She let out a scream, and started to thrash. Bark got up from the bed beside Teresa and went to lay right up beside Alex. She let out another scream and a sob. Alex bolted up.
"Alex?" Teresa said hesitantly, getting out of bed. She crouched in front of Alex. She was looking around, with wild eyes.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay, it was just a-"
Teresa was cut off by Alex screaming again and flailing her arms and scrambling backwards, yelling.
"NO! NO! GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME! NO! STOP!"
Teresa tried to calm her down, Bark left the room.
"Thanks a lot!" Teresa called after the dog.
Alex's screams and cries were getting louder and more frantic. Teresa was panicking now, not knowing what to do to help her friend. Alex lashed out when she tried to touch her and ended up getting hit in the face. ex scrambled back into a corner. Teresa tried to calm her down.
The door burst open, Minho and Newt came running in followed by Bark. Minho looked around the room. When he saw Alex trying to fight Teresa, he pushed Teresa out of the way and squatted in front of Alex, talking gently to her but Alex lashed out again, she lunged at him screaming and snarling. Minho held onto her as he rolled on the floor, he rolled them both until he ended up on top of her. Teresa was terrified, she stumbled back, Newt caught her and pulled her close into a hug as she shook with fear.
"It's okay, it's okay. She'll be fine. This isn't the first time..our guess is it's trauma, she only sees the guy who attacked her.."
"Chris.." she whispered.
Newt nodded. Teresa hugged Newt back, watching with huge eyes. Minho was rolling on the floor with her, Alex fighting and screaming. During their wrestling match he got behind her, with her sitting in between his legs, Minho wrapped his arms around her pinning her arms to her sides. She tried fighting, but her arms and legs were pinned. She flung her head back into Minho's chest a few times, he somehow managed to catch her head, and press it gently into his chest, so she wouldn't hurt her self by head slamming. She couldn't move now. Minho just held her, whispering in her ear, and rocking her gently side to side. Bark came over and laid in Alex's lap. She was still sobbing, but her screaming had stopped and she wasn't fighting as hard.
Alby and Thomas knocked on the door quietly "Everything okay?"
When they saw the scene on the floor Alby nodded in understanding. Thomas, never having seen this before, panicked a little "You guys okay? Do you need Clint or Jeff?" Newt smiled sadly at him.
"No, she's okay. Minho has it covered, a few scratches, Teresa, are you okay? She didn't hit you too hard?"
She just shook her head, not taking her eyes off the couple on the floor. Alby nodded and left back to bed. Teresa pulled away from the hug, and looked at Newt, and said quietly, "He really loves her, doesn't he."
Newt looked at his sister, who had curled up into Minho's chest like a small child, crying, having come back from her nightmare. He was rubbing her back, humming quietly, rocking her. Newt smiled, and then looked at Teresa
"Yes. Yes he does."
"Are you okay Tes? That was probably really scary for you." Thomas said, concerned for her. She blushed, pulled away from Newt, and stepped towards Thomas.
"Thank you Tom, that's really sweet." She felt a little blush rise in her cheeks, she placed a hand on Thomas's arm.
"Newt, Tom...would you umm like to join the sleepover too? I'm sure Alex will want Minho to stay, might as well have everyone she loves and trusts."
Thomas headed back down the hall to grab blankets for everyone.
Alex POV:
Next morning Alex woke up surrounded by people. Minho had curled up around her, holding her tight into his chest, her arm was stretched out holding Newt's hand, Bark had her head in Newts lap and Teresa had her head in Thomas's lap, with his back leaning against the bed. When she tried to move, she felt Minho stir.
"Hey sunshine." he said groggily, his eyes still closed.
Uh, I won't ever get over that morning voice!
She let go of Newt's hand and twisted in Minho's arms to face him.
"I'm sorry, Minho about last night."
Minho opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Never be sorry."
He kissed her forehead. She snuggled closer and hugged him.
"What would I do without you?" She asked, her face pressed into his chest.
"Probably murder everyone in their sleep during one of your murderous rampages"
She gasped and pushed on his chest, "MINHO! You shuck face!"
He rolled onto his back laughing, which woke the rest up. They all got up moaning and grumbling.
"Meet you down at Fry's in 15." Minho called as he closed the door so the girls could get ready.
"Hey uh. Tes..?" Alex called shyly.
Teresa turned "Ya?"
"I'm really sorry about last night. I didn't mean to hurt you."
Teresa came over and gave her a hug, "It's ok, you didn't. Promise. I'm just glad Minho came when he did, because I had no idea what to do! He really loves you." She pulled away and tucked a stray piece of Alex's hair behind her ear.
"Now, seeing as you're going into the maze today, let's get you ready. Do you mind if I braid your hair? Lets make you look like the badass you are!"
15 minutes later Alex had her hair pulled back into an elaborate braid, she had pulled her khaki pants on, her favourite olive green tank, and her hip holster with the metal cylinder still inside, she strapped a long machete to her hip as well, and she grabbed her little runners pack. She let Teresa borrow some clothes suitable for working in the gardens and the girls headed down for breakfast.
The boys and the rest of the keepers were just sitting down when the girls arrived. All heads swivelled in their direction, and jaws dropped. Walking into their midst was a real life Viking, warrior princess.
"BABE YOU'RE A SHUCKIN SMOKE SHOW! LIKE AN ACTUAL VALKYRIE!" Minho yelled across the dining area, smirking his sly sexy smirk and winked.
Teresa leaned in giggling and whispered "told ya!"
Alex tried hard to suppress a smile, she felt a little self conscious with Teresa's elaborate braid, but she did feel like a total badass. The girls carried their food over and sat down.
"All right Shanks, eyes off, and back to your food! She's taken! And The Raven Haired Beauty is also spoken for...right Tommy Boy?" Minho yelled down the table, and winked at Thomas. He went beat red and became extremely interested in his food.
"WE KNOW! Jeff yelled back, rolling his eyes.
Teresa choked on her coffee, blushing.
How do YOU know that, Jeff?" Minho pointed a fork at him, with such a shocked face it was almost believable.
Jeff rolled his eyes "Cuz you won't keep your shucking hands off her!"
"Jeff, you should have seen what Newt, Tes and I walked in on yesterday!" Thomas yelled from the end of the table. He over exaggerated a shudder.
It was Alex's turn to look down at her food, going beat red. Her stomach back flipped and she got all hot and tingling when she thought about before they were interupted.
"Gasp! If you had a girlfriend this shuckin hot, you would have the same problem, ya shank." He made a big show of wrapping his arm around Alex's shoulders.
"Well, you're not so bad yourself babe," Alex said, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip of coffee. He smirked at her, and then gave her a quick kiss on the temple.
"I know." he said. The rest of breakfast was just Minho arguing with Jeff. Until he looked down at his watch,
"Okay, Tommy Boy? Babe? You guys ready for an adventure?" They nodded and got up, grabbed their waters from Fry and walked to the doors, Newt, Teresa and Bark walked with them.
"Please be careful, sis. And come back!" Newt said, pulling her into a comfortable safe hug.
"I also do Newtie! Take care of Tes." She crouched down in front of Bark, "Bark. Stay with Newt and Tes! Got it? Stay with Tes." Her dog gave a happy woof and licked her face. Teresa scratched Bark's ears.
"She's safe with me in the gardens." Newt said.
Alex laughed "Ya, she's gonna be your hoe for the day?" Teresa's face went beat red, making Minho and Alex laugh even harder.
The familiar sound of stone grinding on stone and rusty gears was heard. Minho was bouncing on his toes, ready to go. As soon as it was big enough to fit he ran in.
"LETS RUUUUUUN!" He called.
Followed by Thomas and then Alex.
"Hey Minho! You totally THOMASED that maze door! I'll give you 8.5 on execution!" Alex yelled.
"Only 8.5?! Babe, how could you?"
"Did you just use my name as a verb?" Thomas asked, confused.
"Sure did. Anytime anyone fits through a small space..." Alex replied, running beside him.
"That's not a thing...," he argued back.
"Oh it's DEFINITELY a thing" Alex laughed at him.
"Sure is!" Minho agreed.
Thomas huffed and was quiet for a while, following Minho as he led them deeper into the maze running most of the morning.
"We're almost there guys, come on! The faster we get there the more time we have to look around!" He called over his shoulder.
Alex and Thomas exchanged a quick glance and picked up the pace. They took a few more turns.
"Let's go! Not much further to the inner ring! Come on, come on!" Minho encouraged them.
Alex wasn't having any issues keeping up, she was surprised her breathing was still mostly even. This was the furthest she had been in the maze.
Minho rounded a corner and then slowed to a stop. He spun around looking at the walls.
"That's strange!" Minho said to himself, still circling.
"What is?" Thomas asked, spinning in circles too, trying to understand what Minho was seeing.
Minho took off running again, he looked back at Thomas, "Seven isn't supposed to be open for another week!"
A few more minutes of silence, running and focusing on breathing. The walls were rapidly becoming wider apart with less corners. Almost like it was spreading out. They trio came to a section with long skinny sharp looking metal flaps that went from the stone floor hundreds of feet into the air. There were rows and rows of them, all open.
"What the shuck is this place Min?" Alex huffed.
"We call them Blades," Minho answered.
"Very original name." Alex rolled her eyes.
They slowed down to a brisk walk, grabbing their waters. Alex saw something up ahead on the ground and jogged over. She came up short, and took a step back. Thomas came and crouched, inspecting it. Minho gingerly picked it up. Alex recognised it immediately.
"It's Ben's isn't it..?" Thomas asked.
"Yeah" Minho answered looking up and around the area, "a Griever must have pulled him down here."
His face went hard. Ben was his running partner for a full year. Ben was a friend..a brother. Alex's heart squeezed when she thought of the heart ache Minho must be going through. And yet he kept his composure and did what needed to be done. She admired that. Minho dropped the bloody ripped up shirt and stood up, walking away, Alex following, she matched his pace and laced her fingers into his.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked quietly, "That must not have been easy."
Minho just nodded, his jaw clenched. She just squeezed his hand.
*Beep*
Alex swivelled around, her heart pumping. She wiped her head around trying to figure out where that beep came from. There wasn't anything in view, just grey rock, green ivy attached to the stone somehow and grey rusty metal 'blades'. Minho gave her a questioning look. She shrugged her shoulders. Minho led them still deeper, when the beeping got louder, this time. Alex spun in a circle trying to figure out what it was, and where it came from. Thomas was doing the same until he stopped and stared at her.
"Can I help you?" She asked, a hand on her hip.
"I think it's coming from you! The cylinder thing! Where is it!" Thomas almost shouted, he bounded over when Alex pulled it out.
She handed it over and he turned it over in his hands, seeing the red flashing 7, it beeped every time the number would flash on the screen. He took a few paces to the right, it seemed to slow down. When he took a few steps the other way the beeping and flashing sped up.
"This is new!" Minho whispered, excitement in his eyes.
Thomas looked up, just as excited, "Guys, I think it's showing us the way!"
He took off at a sprint with the other two right behind. It led them through to the outer edge of the blades. Alex kept running.
"Wait, wait wait..." Thomas shouted.
He spun a few times his face twisted in concentration, listening.
"This way! Come on!" And he ran along a line of blades, and came to a few more towering stone walls, and a long stone bridge. The bridge led to a dead end wall. On either side of the bridge was a straight drop, with no bottom to be seen. The dead end stone wall was a different colour, this wall was almost black, but looked exactly like the rest of the maze walls.
"Wow" Minho whispered, looking around with wide eyes.
"Minho, you ever see this before?" Thomas asked.
"No. But it's just another dead end. It looks like the Cliff in section 4, just way bigger!"
Minho replied, looking around. Thomas was still looking at the beeping cylinder, and following the noise as it sped up to an almost constant beeping. Alex looked wearily at Minho, "You sure about this?"
"Nope" he said, popping the p at the end.
He held out his hand, she gratefully took it and they followed Thomas across the drop off bridge to the dead end wall. The cylinder was now a constant noise. Without warning it shut off. The trio stood in silence for a second. Then a red light flicked on, right in the middle of the wall, about 5 feet above their heads. The light lowered over them and then ran back up their bodies, almost like it was scanning them for something. It clicked off with a long buzz, followed by silence. Alex jumped when there was loud gear grinding noise followed by a long piercing metal on metal sound. The dead end wall slid apart to reveal another long dark corridor, they couldn't see the end of the tunnel. Thomas looked over his shoulder at Minho and Alex. They took a step forward so they were all shoulder to shoulder.
"Well? What are we waiting for?" Alex asked, all the sarcasm thrown behind her words.
They all hesitantly walked forward. Alex's eyes were darting everywhere, trying to see something, anything. But it was so dark! Thomas had wandered off towards the left wall, Minho towards the right wall. Alex followed, it was so dark. She tripped on a stray piece of stone on the floor and flung her hands out just in time to catch herself on the wall.
"Ugh!" she whined, "Gross!"
"What is?" Minho asked, coming up behind her.
Alex was trying to look at her hands, she could feel they were covered in slime, she lifted her head, eyes wide with fear.
"Grievers!" she whispered.
A bright red light flashed again from the wall, the light revealed a weird flat computer screen flush with the stone wall, the screen flashed a number 7, from red to green.
"What the Shuck was that?" Minho asked, looking at the two.
WICKED Facility:
"Ma'am, they found The Griever Port. That is not the exit or end we designed for them." Said a red haired man sitting at a computer screen. He turned to look at his Director. She did not look happy. She crossed her arms.
"Then do something. They should never have found that scanner! The cliff was to be their end. How did this happen?"
"I...I don't know ma'am. We did recruit the brightest children, with an uncanny knack for survival..." The man answered unsure. The Director narrowed her eyes, her face hard as stone, " ." she hissed.
MAZE:
Alex whipped around to the door opening they came through, it was closing.
"GUYS! TIME TO GO!" She shouted and took off towards the opening that was getting smaller.
'Thomas, give me the key thing! Give me the key!" Alex shouted, he tossed it to her, she easily caught it and slipped it back into her little bag on her thigh.
"MOVE MOVE! WERE GOING TO GET TRAPPED!" Minho shouted, just as the walls shut the three dived out, landing in a heap on the stone bridge. Alex lay on her back for a second
"High five guys, we just Thomased that door!" Alex laughed holding both her hands out.
"I'd give a 10 out of 10, landing and execution was phenomenal! Though Thomas try to sprawl a little more on your landing."
Minho laughed and gave her a high five and Thomas rolled his eyes. Minho held out a hand and helped Alex up. Just as Alex got to her feet the bridge started to shake.
"Okay, time to go! Go! GO! GO!" Minho screamed, giving Alex a push down the hall. Minho took the lead, somehow remembering how they got there.
They had to make it back through the blades, which had started to swing shut, they all made it through the first row with no problems. Minho made it through the second row. But as Alex tried to run through she stumbled, she was grateful Thomas grabbed her arm and hulled her back up, but that meant they were on the wrong side,
"NEVER STOP RUNNING!" they could hear Minho screaming at them, they ran beside each other, with the blades slamming shut just before they could slide through.
"REALLY? I THOUGHT I COULD CARTWHEEL MY WAY THROUGH!" Alex yelled back.
Alex pushed her body even harder and right before the blade slammed shut she threw herself in between, it was so close she could feel it snag the end of her braid. Minho was right there to catch her and bring her back to her feet. Now it was Thomas's turn.
"COME ON THOMAS!" they screamed, sprinting down the corridor, trying to get ahead of the blades. He didn't have much room left, he flung his body through the space. All three runners safely passed the blades.
"Way to thomas that, Thomas!" Alex huffed between breaths.
"Shut. Up." was all he could manage.
"Come on move! Lets go Lets go!" Minho was screaming at them.
The maze walls were moving, but not slowly, like they do at night. The walls were slamming and dropping, at lightning speed.
Even though Alex had run all morning, skipped lunch and sprinted for her life just now, she pushed her body past any limits she ever remembered doing. They had to make it out of this section.
"Just follow me and run like your life depends on it." Minho called.
"Because it DOES!" Alex yelled back, following at his heels. Minho led them through the maze at breakneck speed, jumping over parts of rising stone ground. Alex had to dive out of the way from a part that came slamming down. She rolled and came up running.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Alex, you okay?" Minho asked when he saw her dive.
"Ya."
"Just keep running! Okay, there's section 9! Almost there! GO GO GO! Come on Thomas! Move it!"
How Minho could scream at them and still sprint was beyond Alex's comprehension, she couldn't even get a word out!
"THOMAS DON'T LOOK BACK! MOVE!"
The wall behind them was slamming down behind them every few feet, like it was trying to squish them flat. Minho took a corner and then jumped up onto a wall that was rising, while the top of a section was lowering. He had to crouch and run through and drop to the ground. Alex and Thomas flung themselves up and had to army crawl, it was going to squish them if they didn't move it. Alex pushed herself mostly through the space and then rolled off the edge dropping a couple feet onto the stone floor. Thomas fell on top of her with a grunt.
"Made it" He huffed out.
Alex pushed him off and laid there for a second. Minho was breathing heavily. All three lay on the ground for a second in silence trying to catch their breath. After a few minutes Alex's breathing had slowed down, she turned her head.
"Hey Tommy..!" Alex started.
"Nope, Alex I don't even want to hear it!"
Alex couldn't help it, she nearly died a few times in the last day, she laughed. She laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes.
"Minho...Minho..." She gasped "We totally... THOMASED that wall!" Minho looked at her deadpaned for a few seconds, but then he burst into laughter too.
"We totally did! Man that was an EPIC THOMAS! Especially your flop onto the ground in a heap! Definitely a 10 on landing!"
Thomas just groaned.
"Guys!" he whined.
And that made Alex and Minho laugh harder.