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THE MAZE RUNNER
──── ❝ where are we? ❞

CHAPTER ONE
.ೃ࿐, someone to remember
*ೃ༄ ﹌﹌﹌ღ ‗ ❍                 . . . . . 🌚🥀
•◦• ACT ONE
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✧.*

   THE SUNS RAYS BEGAN to poke through the trees limbs as the moon slowly tucked itself away and allowed the sun to rise. Aife placed her palm against a nearby tree, leaning against their roots for stabilization. the lush of the green bushes and brown trunks didn't make her as miserable as she had expected. her green eyes scanned the area, slightly narrowed as they landed on a sturdy looking branch. her globes admired the natural curve the stick had to it, and she didn't hesitate before strolling forward and reaching out to grab it.

  she inspected it in her grasp, feeling the rough stem beneath her smooth fingertips. she absentmindedly let out a huff of contentment, pleased with the fine branch she had discovered.

   she didn't stop there, continuing to venture through the bundle of trees until she found some more twigs. she hugged them to her chest, before glancing around at where she stood. this is enough, she thought to herself. Aife began to stride to the familiar field once again, her boots clipping against the dewy grass. she didn't waste another moment before lightly jogging towards a thick log and lowering herself on it, allowing herself to sit. snaking her arm around herself, she retrieved a familiar knife from her back pocket.

she brought her slender fingers up to the stick. Aife gritted her teeth together as began to she run the thin, sharp-edged blade along the long, thin piece of wood. her eyebrows were pinched together in concentration, and she rolled her bottom lip in between her teeth and began to gnaw on the skin. she could feel a stinging sensation come from her hands, and she did her best to ignore her delicate fingers, as they were littered with cuts and slits.

she had an idea. she could only hope that she could perform it well enough to make it work.

thin strands from the branch fell beneath her, and she could feel her chest swelling in satisfaction.

Aife then visibly flinched, her green eyes growing large as a loud blare echoed throughout the glade. her lips parted and she absentmindedly curled her fingers tighter around her knife. slowly pushing herself to stand, she strode towards the box. the same box that she had come up in a month ago, and the same one that had only given her supplies once a week since.

a frown stained her lips as she heard a faint voice shouting from within the box, and she hesitantly tucked her knife back into her pocket, wiping her sweaty palms along the fabric of her pants before reaching forward and wrapping her fingers around the handle of the metal door.

she held her breath before pulling with all of her strength, a grunt falling from her chapped lips. a loud cry sounded from the un-oiled hinges of the door and she winced, a grimace falling onto her face as she peeked over the ledge of the box, her curiosity rising. she took another step forward, a gasp leaving her mouth as her green eyes landed on the blonde haired boy that had been sprawled on the ground, his forearm blocking his eyes from the suns rays.

"hello?" the boy timidly called out.

holy shit. someone was here. someone other than her. but, why? Aife felt as though her breath had been stolen from her, and she slowly backed away from the box, picking up her pace as she ran towards her pile of supplies. she could hear him calling for her as her silhouette disappeared. but she ignored him. she quickly grabbed a rope before heading back towards the stranger, swallowing nervously as she stared at him.

don't throw the rope down, Aife thought to herself. what if he was a danger? she suddenly thought back to her blade. the same one that felt oh, so familiar and comfortable in her hands. she wanted nothing more than for it to be in her grasp, protecting her from any dangers to come.

she could hear the boy heaving, a helpless cry falling from his throat, "please, help me." he pleaded.

that was all she needed. Aife tossed the rope down, tightly gripping her end as she watched the boy flinch in surprise.

"grab on." she instructed, her voice was firm, and somewhat sonorous. the boy cringed at the sound before hesitantly wrapped his fingers around the rope, and Aife hissed in discomfort as she used any strength she had left to assist him. seeing him crawling over the ledge of the box, she instinctually dropped the rope and backed away, reaching for her knife. the boy struggled to push himself to his feet, but once he did, he staggered slightly, eyes growing wide as Aife rushed at him.

Aife pushed her blade against the flesh of his neck, her free hand grabbing a fist full of the fabric his shirt. her eyes were narrowed, watching as he lifted his hands in surrender, beginning to stammer. he fell back to his knees.

"who are you?" she spat, pushing away her own fear as she interrogated him.

"I-i don't know." he hurried out. she tilted her head, upper lip curling as she glared at him. she pushed the blade slightly further into his neck, "I can't remember anything."

Aife faltered momentarily at his words. she took a moment to take in his features, his blonde hair was damp, falling over the flesh of his forehead. his skin glistened with sweat, and his clothes stuck to his skin. the bridge of his nose was large, and his bright blue eyes somewhat resembled the ocean. he had a larger build, Aife couldn't help but notice, his broad shoulders visible through his thin shirt.  she was also a bit shocked to hear the light southern twang to his voice.

"you don't know your name?"

the boy quickly. shook his head at her question.

he was scared. terrified, even. he was just like her. alone and afraid, with no knowledge of where he came from, or who he was. Aife pulled her knife away tucking it into her waistband, the sensation of guilt rising within before she offered him her hand. he slowly put his in hers, allowing her to help him to his feet.

Aife watched as the boy glanced at his surroundings, and she patiently waited for him to meet her eyes once again, "where the hell are we?"

Aife folded her lips at his question, her face scrunching up as the sun beamed down on them. why was he here? she had been alone for presumably a month. so, why now? she tore her eyes away from his her tongue darting out of her mouth to run it across her chapped lips.

"I call it the glade."

*.·:·.✧ ✦ ✧.·:·.*

   AIFE WATCHED AS THE blonde boy shoveled the bits of soup past his lips. her tongue pushed against the inside of her cheek, arms crossed over her chest as the boy halted. once she had offered him a meal, he had suddenly realized how hungry he was, and didn't waste another moment before accepting her offer. feeling the prying eyes on him, he slowly placed his bowl down on the makeshift table. Aife raised a thin eyebrow at him.

"why are we here? in this. . .glade." there it is. of course, the boy had questions. Aife had been waiting for it. he made a face as he said the word 'glade', as though testing out the name on his tongue. Aife shifted in her seat.

"I don't know." she replied honestly.

"why can't I remember anything?" he voiced.

"I don't know." she repeated, her tone more tense than the last time. her green eyes narrowed. the blonde scoffed in disbelief, not bothering to hide his fright.

"God, do you know anything?" he nearly spat. Aife froze, having been caught off guard by his sudden outburst. she ticked her jaw, glancing away and allowing her gaze to get caught on a tree that had been dancing in the light breeze.

"I know that you're scared. and confused," she began, a knowing look on her face. she watched as he frowned, glancing down at the soil beneath them, "and I know that I was too. but, I also know that as time goes by, it'll get easier."

the boy seemed frustrated by his own terror, clenching his teeth and squeezing his blue eyes tightly. Aife tried her best to offer a grin, though it came off as more of a grimace, "it's alright to be afraid. . .if you're not scared, you're not human." she gave a light shrug.

his eyes flicked back to meet hers, his eyebrows pinching together, "who are you?"

he took this moment to take in her features, her green eyes held a light glimmer, and her long, brown tress was twisted into thin locks. her raw, pink lips were in a tight line. she wore a pair of dark pants, a black tank top worn tightly around her figure. her knife was visible through her waistband.

"my name is Aife."