Morning in the Glade came too fast.
The light crept in slowly, spilling over the walls and warming the ground, but it didn’t feel as peaceful as it usually did. My eyes opened before the bell even rang, my body still tense from the night before.
For a second, I didn’t move.
Then I heard it—Chuck’s quiet breathing beside me.
I let out a slow breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
He was okay.
“Didn’t sleep much, did you?”
Newt’s voice was soft, already awake. He was sitting nearby, leaning against one of the wooden posts, watching the sunrise like he hadn’t moved all night.
I pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes. “Not really,” I admitted. “You?”
He gave a small shrug. “Didn’t feel right, going to sleep after that.”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut in—
“Yeah, well, some of us actually need sleep to survive your reckless running habits.”
Minho.
He was already on his feet, arms crossed, but there was something different in his expression. Less teasing. More… watching.
“You stayed up too,” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“Obviously,” he shot back. “Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at my lips. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it,” he said instantly.
Chuck stirred again, blinking awake. “Ada?” he mumbled.
“I’m right here,” I said quickly, leaning down to him. “Morning, little man.”
He sat up, still half-asleep, and wrapped his arms around me without hesitation. “You didn’t go back to the maze, right?”
“No,” I said gently, hugging him back. “Not without you knowing. Promise.”
That seemed to settle him.
The bell rang then, loud and familiar, snapping the Glade fully awake. Gladers started moving around, voices rising, the usual chaos of morning beginning again.
Frypan’s voice echoed from the kitchen area. “If you don’t get over here now, I’m eating your portions!”
Minho perked up instantly. “Alright, crisis over. Food calls.”
“Of course that’s your priority,” I muttered.
“Always is,” he said, already walking.
We made our way over together—me, Chuck, Newt, and Minho—like we always did. Like a unit.
Frypan handed out plates with a smirk. “You look alive,” he said to me. “That’s a good start.”
“Barely,” I replied, taking the food. “But I’ll take it.”
As we sat down, Newt leaned slightly closer to me. “You don’t have to run today,” he said quietly. “Take a day.”
Minho immediately shook his head. “Nope. She runs with me. That’s how this works.”
I looked between them, then down at my hands.
The maze scared me. The nightmare proved that.
But staying out of it?
That scared me more.
“I’m running,” I said finally.
Minho nodded once, like he expected nothing less.
Newt sighed, but there was no anger in it—just concern. “Then be careful.”
“I always am,” I said softly.
Chuck tugged on my sleeve. “You’ll come back again, right?”
I smiled at him, brushing his hair back. “Every time.”
Minho stood, stretching. “Let’s go, sis. Maze isn’t gonna solve itself.”
I stood with him, taking a steady breath.
The fear was still there.38Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33Q9zdcldN
The memory of the nightmare lingered.
But as I looked at them—Chuck, Newt, Frypan, Minho—I felt something stronger rise up in its place.
I wasn’t running away from fear.
I was running through it.
And this time… I wasn’t alone.
ns216.73.216.89da2
and then Add to home screen.