AN: Things are getting a bit busier for me so next week I might not be able to update right on schedule, I'm really so sorry about that! OTL I usually write my chapters in advance to update according to schedule, but this is actually the last chapter I have that was written in advance so... Basically I'll have to try to find time throughout the week to complete the next one and if I can't I'm really sorry OTL I'll do my best to complete it though!
They ran through the East Door into Section Four, jogging down several corridors. Qiufeng ran right beside Lester while Stan and Tim followed right behind, turning left and right aimlessly as the more experienced runner led the way. Sunlight spilled over the walls unto the ivy and some stone blocks on the ground, giving everything a sharp clarity that could only happen in the mornings. She saw Lester's gaze shift towards her every now and then out of the corner of her eye, and could feel his curiosity but she chose to ignore it, running silently.
The small group kept at it for a few minutes, and she was a little surprised at how well her stamina was holding up. Although she had implemented exercise into her daily regimen, she wasn't quite sure how well she would've fared while actually running the real deal. It was a relief to see that she wasn't lagging behind the group, and far from getting tired.
"This leads from Section Four to Section Three," Lester's voice suddenly broke her out of the running trance she was in, and she glanced up to take note of what seemed to look like a large doorway, without a door. "Like Minho said, these passages are always in the same spot, but the route here might be a bit different because of the walls rearranging themselves."
They continued down a long corridor, passing several turns. When they finally reached the end of the passage, Lester slowed down to a light jog and reached behind him to pull out a notepad and pencil from a pocket in his backpack. He scribbled something quickly, where Qiufeng tried to catch a glimpse but his handwriting was to terrible to read, before shoving it back into the pocket hastily.
"After running for a few months… You'll start to rely mostly on memory," the blond explained breathily as they continued running, and through that she realized her own breathing was also starting to become heavier. "Usually we'll just note down what's different from yesterday, so we can use that map to make the current day's map, but because we haven't mapped anything from a week ago…" He trailed off as he reached for his notebook again.
They ran for a short while before they reached an intersection. They had three paths to choose from, left, right or straight ahead, however Lester turned left without needing to think. He pulled out a knife as he did so, and cut a large piece of ivy from the wall. The blond threw it unto the pathway behind him, directly in the centre and then kept on running.
"Markings for later." Qiufeng guessed, glancing towards him.
"Markings for later." Lester repeated in confirmation, nodding his head as they headed down towards another intersection. "Your turn Feng, next intersection Stan will cut and after that Tim."
"Right." She turned back to face front as one of her hands reached for the nearest knife in her holster. As they neared the intersection, Feng grabbed at the loose ends of the ivy and made a quick slice through. Her mood perked when she realized she was successful in getting a clean cut, working in the kitchen really had its benefits, so much so that she almost forgot to throw it behind her until Lester reminded her hastily.
"Oops!" She offered a sheepish grin after she frantically tossed the ivy unto the ground and she turned back.
Stan was almost as good as she was, getting it on his first try as well. It wasn't very surprising since he was in the Track-Hoes before this. Tim however, wasn't as great. He had to sprint forward several times to catch up with the group after throwing the ivy on the ground. Even so he learnt quickly, and stopped having to sprint after a few turns.
After what seemed like forever of running and cutting with some short breaks in between, Lester finally slowed to a light jog, and then stopped altogether. "Let's lunch," he huffed as he swung off his pack and pulled out his water bottle and his lunchbox.
Stan and Tim collapsed on the ground without needing to be told twice, hastily reaching for their water bottles. They quickly guzzled down what seemed like a quarter before Lester yanked their bottles away and scolded them like bad children. Qiufeng watched as she herself pulled out her water bottle, finding it within herself to laugh at their antics. They soon settled down into a short silence, each of them busy rejuvenating themselves for the rest of the trip.
Qiufeng was quick to finish her meal, and packed up in preparation for leaving. Just as she shoved her water bottle back into her backpack, she heard someone approach her. "How's running for you?" Lester asked as he squatted down beside her, back against the wall.
"It's a little tough but manageable," she replied as she zipped up her bag. There was a moment as she considered her next few words, and then glanced at the other. "I'm surprised you're still willing to run after what happened to you and then the attacks that followed."
Lester shrugged. "Yeah, I guess – the team is super short on people now. If I were to quit as well it would probably give Minho a headache."
"I'm surprised that you didn't join his team," he continued without waiting for a response from her.
Qiufeng was quick to avert her eyes. "Is it?" she laughed a little nervously.
"Yeah, I mean, Newt, Minho and you, everyone knows you're a close knit trio." He chuckled. "Did something happen?"
"No!" she replied, a little too fast and a little too loud. "I, I mean, it's just that I'm already around Minho's obnoxious ass like half the time, running the maze with him would probably give me more shucking grievances than I asked for."
"Right." Lester laughed, obviously not really buying her words and stood up after a moment. He swung his backpack back on and motioned to both Stan and Tim who started to pack up as well. Turning away, he was about to break into a run when he paused and glanced over his shoulder at Qiufeng who was tightening her laces. "Hey."
She looked up. "Hm?"
"Thanks," he said and then looked away. "I mean, for last time."
Her expression softened as she realized what he meant, and she smiled even though he was staring straight ahead. "No worries."
The rest of the day was a blur of exhaustion to Qiufeng, they ran for what seemed like forever with some breaks in between that were so short they didn't feel like actual breaks. When they finally returned back to the glade, she felt as if she would never be able to walk again much less run. Mapping the day's route in the Map Room was a brief affair after Minho returned with Dave and Ben in tow as well – apparently Dave and Ben weren't in a much better state than their group was.
All of them were exhausted. So much so that when the box alarm sounded and the glade buzzed about with speculations of the new greenie, they couldn't give a flying shuck about it, because they didn't have any energy left.
Needless to say, when the box finally came up half an hour later, they were more relieved that the bunch of chattering gladers had left Homestead than curious about whatever shank that had been thrown up by the box. Qiufeng saw Minho leave with them though, through half closed eyes and a blur vision. It made sense since he was an experienced runner so he wouldn't need as much rest, and she couldn't help but have a newfound respect for him. Then her fists clenched. She quickly shook away her admiration that was indirectly feeding the warmth in her heart, and curled herself up into a ball for a well-deserved nap.
She awoke to someone gently shaking her shoulder, and she looked up drowsily to see Newt standing beside her hammock. A delicious smell wafted into the room, and she realized it must be dinner time. She also realized that her entire body ached with weariness and her muscles were screaming.
"Good god," Qiufeng groaned as she slowly sat up. "I don't know how I'm going to run tomorrow."
Newt chuckled as he offered her a hand. "Running ain't such a fun job now is it?"
"Frypan needs to take me back when he can," she laughed light-heartedly as she took it. "I don't think I'll be able to do this every single day."
"You can tell that to him at dinner." Newt pulled her up easily, running a hand through his hair after. "I've already got my hands full with the new greenie, he's a troublesome one."
"Well you certainly seem to be rather free for having your hands full." Qiufeng smiled as she gingerly made her way to the entrance of Homestead, muscles still protesting from earlier this afternoon.
"I needed a break, so I chucked him to lil fat shank." Newt explained as he gestured over to the kitchens where everyone was at, waiting for the food to be passed out. He motioned more specifically to where the pudgy young boy stood, his curls in a mess as he badgered for a spot in the queue. Right next to him was an older boy, perhaps her age or younger. He looked significantly traumatized, as if he hadn't gotten over arriving in the Glade yet.
He had a lean muscular body and brown hair. His eyes were hazel, burning fiercely as he backed Chuck up when the older boys stood over them. Once the other boys had settled down and they had a spot in the queue, Chuck turned to him for a hi-five, to which he managed a small grin through his weary expression and obliged.
Qiufeng smiled as she watched them interact. "He'll be fine, just probably needs some time to adapt, we all did," she paused for a moment as she glanced over to Newt, "so, what's his name?"
The blond thought for a moment as he scratched the back of his head, and eventually he spoke.
"I think he said his name was… Thomas."