Chapter 4:
199 views! Yay! I'm really hoping this chapter doesn't come across as cheesy… Okay, it should be short...so again, so sorry for the cheesiness… you will just have to deal…
Okay, acknowledgement time! Thank you to That Shuck Griever for favoriting me, my story, and for following me and my story! It means a lot! Also, thanks to Spectrobes Princess for favoriting me! You were my inspiration! Thanks to BigBrains for favoriting and following this story. And now for the responses to my reviews:
Lovely Unicorn: I feel bad for her, too! I will try to update as fast as I can!
Runnow11: Jsurprise. I decided to change up what would happen if a girl entered the Glade. Thanks!
Sydney: I know, but I feel like guys are dumb enough that they might do that! It seriously made my day that you said this is one of your favorite stories! Thanks a million! It's so cool that Sydney is your real name! It's so pretty!
Serena: I totally understand your rant. I kinda couldn't believe I did that… but I wanted to be different! I hope you enjoyed it anyway!
Sorry if I missed anyone!
Disclaimer: I am so sick of saying that I don't have ownership of The Maze Runner…
I don't remember much about the next few minutes after finding out about my death sentence. Everything is fuzzy, blurred. I screamed a lot, I think. And I'm pretty sure I lashed out at the boys sitting near me. My weak fists pounded the poor shank next to me. It isn't fair. None of those boys have a right to shove me in that death maze.
When my vision clears, and I regain control of myself, I simply stare around the room in bewilderment. How could they let this happen to me? Surely, there's some other way. But no one speaks up in my favor. No one at all. I am left to fend for myself. I wipe the remnants of tears from my eyes, and stand up firmly. I take one last glare around the room. I can only hope that some of these boys feel remorse in sending me to my death. I leave the silent room behind, sprinting as fast as my legs can carry me. I ignore the scuffle and clamor in the building behind me. In my final moments here, I want to be free.
I dash through the Glade, earning strange looks from other Gladers and heading toward the creepy forest I glimpsed earlier. I only hear a few steady footsteps behind me, and assume that not many boys are giving chase. As my footfalls reach the edge of the forest, I risk a quick glance behind me, only to see two boys in the distance that I left in the dust. Then again, I had a head start. Without hesitation, I plunge in the forest, through the thick foliage and falling leaves. My eyes spot a clump of ferns large enough to hide my whole body. I head for the green plants and launch myself in their midst. I do my best to slow my heavy breathing. I know that I can't stay here, but for now, I simply enjoy my moment alone.
In mere minutes, my heart sinks at the sound of heavy footsteps crunching leaves nearby. Every inch of me longs to pick up some rocks and throw them at the person who dared to follow me here, when I so obviously want to be alone; but, I force myself to remain quiet, my fingers still.
"Syd?" Minho's voice rings through the trees, angering me even more. He inferred that I wouldn't die. And here I am, awaiting the moment that I will be banished to the maze. I itch with silent hatred for this boy.
"SYD!" His voice has reached a new level of urgency. As much as I am mad at him, I find it hard to not reveal myself. "Syd, where are you? I just want to talk. I'm…I'm sorry."
"I'm over here." I hear my forlorn own voice drift out from the ferns. I hadn't even decided to answer. But, I guess he would have found me eventually. I see his body crash through the trees. His gaze combs the woods until he spots my head peeking above the green ferns.
"Syd, we need to talk," He says, his eyes meeting mine.
"About what?" My voice is devoid of emotion. He practically lied to me. How does he expect me to trust him?
"The maze. I can help you. Give you information."
"I don't want it."
He tries to mask a look of shock and hurt. "You need it."
"I can do it on my own." Inside, I know I can't.
"Is this because I couldn't stop their decision?"
I look at the ground, saying nothing. My silence is answer enough.
"Syd," his voice hardens. "I tried. I really tried. Alby's decision is final. I couldn't get enough people on my side."
"You lied to me." The hurt in my voice is barely hidden.
"Syd, I said you didn't know what we decided. I didn't say it wasn't bad."
"I still don't your help."
"Yes, you do. I won't take no for an answer. I know that maze like the back of my hand. We don't have much time. Let me help." He pleads with his eyes.
"Why? Why do you want to help me so badly?"
"I said I was your friend. I meant it. I'm getting you out alive."
After a moment of indecision, I decide to give him a second chance. "Ok, fine. What do I need to know?"
He looks relieved. "Well, the important thing to know is what you're up against. In this case, I'd say you have to worry about one or two grievers."
"Grievers? You mean those creatures that Ben wouldn't tell me about?"
Minho sucks in a breath. "Yeah. That's them. They're vicious. All they want is to sting you. You can't let that happen."
"But how can I stop them? How do I keep them away from me?" Worry fills my voice.
"Listen, Syd. Run, fight, hide, do whatever you have to do. Just don't let it inject you."
"Okay, so just like stab it with my dagger repeatedly?"
"I wouldn't do that. You would have to be too close. Depending on how good your aim is, I would do a long distance throw. Maybe climb some ivy on the walls. Make dozens of twists and turns. Just make sure you can find your way back to the walls by morning."
"Okay," I say, feeling more confident than I have in a while, "So, what do they look like?"
"Um," he says, "Well, they're pretty big and have teeth and are squishy and have tons of metal appendages. I can't really describe the horror of them myself. You won't truly know until you meet one face to face."
"Ugh, great. Up close and personal."
"Ha. Yeah."
We smile. But suddenly, the overwhelming feeling of fear comes rushing back in unexpectedly. I drop to me knees and gasp. A muffled sob escapes my lips. No matter how many pointers Minho gives me, I know that I'm not coming back. How can I? There's creatures out there, waiting for me.
"Hey, hey. Look at me, Syd. Look at me." I raise my watery eyes to his. "What's wrong? A minute ago, you were fine."
"Minho," my voice breaks, "I-I don't think I can do this."
He sits down on the leafy ground with me and looks me in the eye. "If I didn't have faith that you could do this, I wouldn't be here giving you help."
"But, but I'm just a girl who has no idea what she's doing!"
"Well, I'm not giving up on you just because you're a girl."
I give a weak smile. "Thanks. And thanks for being my friend."
"Hey, you really needed one."
"Yeah…" I trail off as I see a figure in the distance. The boy's evident limp gives him away. It's Newt. "Why are you the only one here, anyway? Did they send you to get me?"
"I'm the fastest and I saw you sprint here. So I volunteered to come get you. Plus, I figured you would fight anyone else tooth and nail."
"I almost threw rocks at you, ya know." He raises his eyebrows. "But I didn't." He just shakes his head. Newt is ten steps away. His expression is a mixture of determination and pity. I know what's coming next.
"Minho, you were supposed to bring her back ten minutes ago." Newt's voice isn't angry, just sort of tired.
"Sorry, she needed a talking to. I had to convince her to not throw rocks and to just listen to me," Minho says.
"Liar!" I slap him with a fern.
Newt ignores our banter. "Come on, both of you. Alby is waiting." I keep my cool and slowly stand up. As a trio, we walk silently toward one of the openings in the enormous stone walls. There are boys with sticks surrounding the entrance. I shudder with fear and approach Alby.
"Here." He shoves a small dagger into my waiting hands. I know that this alone will not deter the grievers.
"Thanks," I rasp. Minho shuffles me toward the entrance.
He whispers inconspicuously into my ear. "You can do it. Just stay alive. When the doors open again, I'll be waiting." I don't even respond. My brain is on overdrive.
Ably steps amidst the boys to make a speech. "This girl is being tested on her ability to survive and work hard. Should she survive, she will find her place here amid the Glade. If not, she wasn't meant to stay here." With a nod of his head, he finalizes his jarring words. The boys around me pick up their sticks. As I watch, they point them at me. Alby gives the command, and the boys step forward as one. The sticks force me backwards toward the mouth of the maze. I frantically scramble around, but there's nowhere to go but in. Sealing my fate, I step towards the maze, as the heavy doors begin to slide close. The boys move faster until my feet are in the maze, and the opening is closing. A scream ripples through my throat as I realize that it's truly happening. In the visible sliver left of the Glade, I see Minho shaking his head at the injustice of it all. And me, seeing the last glimpse of hope that I may ever see, being shut out by the stone walls of my tomb.
Okay, so how was it? I would love to know! People who review, favorite, and follow, thanks so much! I tried to upload this earlier, but my tablet died, so I couldn't. Sorry! So I have some questions. First, does anyone know how tall the maze walls are? It's important for an upcoming chapter, and I can't remember. Second, are there any things that you would like to see happen in future chapters? I may consider them! I hope you liked this chapter as much as I loved writing it! Don't forget that you can PM me! Chao!
Quote of the day: "You're killin' me, Smalls!" –Ham (The Sandlot)