I do not own the Maze Runner or any of its characters

Lauren: *is mad*
Peter: *looks at the Doors* Haha look at this idiot walking towards the Maze.
Peter: Wait. That's my idiot. *scrambles out of chair*

Lauren
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Sitting in that old chair for almost a day was taking a toll on my back. I stood up and stretched, my back popping like Frypan boiling some soup. Dear Lord, I was going to have back problems when I was older.

"Holy shuck, I didn't know those chairs were that bad." Peter had been keeping me company for the time being.

"Why don't you come in here, I'll show you."

"Haha, so funny." Peter looked at where the Builders were working, and I caught something wistful in his eye.

"Go on, I know you want to be in charge again. I'll be fine here." I waved him away. I felt terrible to be keeping him here.

"Really?" The poor guy looked like a puppy.

"Don't make me say it twice." I mock scolded. I ripped out some pages out of my journal and handed them to Peter. "Give these to Jonathan, will you? If he's got questions, just send him over to me."

"Will do." He left.

I stretched out on the concrete floor, not wanting to sit in the chair again. It really sucked. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about what had gotten me in here in the first place.

Wishing I hadn't sent Peter away to leave me alone with my thoughts, the voice came back.

"You didn't lie to me, did you?"

I said nothing.

"Lauren," They said in a sing-song voice.

I tried to shut them out.

"Come on darling. You can't get away from me."

I clenched my fists and tried to will them away. It left me with white crescent moons on my palms and a very annoying voice in my head.

"You've got nothing else to distract you from me. You're alone! Left with nothing but a feeling of being a mistake inside you, and me, of course."

I stood up and paced the walls of my cell. Everything in me was struggling.

"Where're your friends? Oh right. You sent them away!" They started laughing as if a manic voice inside your head could laugh.

"Lauren?"

I looked up at my savior. It was Gally, yet again, showing up like a knight in shining armor.

"Oh thank the Lord you're here." I put my hands on the bars and sighed in relief.

"You alright? Do I need to get a Med-Jack?" He must have noticed the pain written clearly on my face.

"I'm fine, just a headache." I hung my head in exhaustion. This voice was taking a toll on me. And I don't know how long I could go on.

"I came over here to tell you that we got permission to start taking out the first floor. Anythin' you want to say?"

I looked down at my watch. "It's a little late, so we'll probably have just enough time to do one room today. Make sure you guys are being careful."

"Okay." Gally started to turn away but stopped. "We're tryin' to get you out, just hang on."

"Thanks."

"Lookit you. So strong, you need a man to help you out. Makes a person wonder if you actually take a sting!"

I turned away from the bars and tried to block the voice out desperately. It was in vain.

"Maybe you can take Gally with you, have him go through it again, since you obviously can't do it alone."

"Could you shut up?" I finally responded.

"Depends, can you grow a pair and take it?"

"No. I like it here, and I don't want to put my friends through that."

"Is it any better than what you're doing now?"

Again, the voice had a point. I started to hate it when it did that. I was pushing my best friends away, and I hated myself for it.

"I can mask this. But that? Not even the best actor could pull it off."

"But you've already got a plan. A pretty good one."

"No, I don't." I folded my arms.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'm a part of you, Lauren. It's not a bad plan, you could pull it off."

"No, I couldn't! Besides, I'd still be telling a friend of mine. I'd still be hurting one of them." Of all this talk about being a part of me, the voice didn't understand why I couldn't do it.

"But the payoff is worth the pain."

"Is it? If I die, you die too." That shut it up.

I sat back on the ground and tried to calm myself. And not a moment too soon. Alby walked up, keys in his hand.

"You're gettin' out early, Lauren." He started unlocking the door.

I jumped up. "Seriously?"

"Why would I be openin' up the door for a joke?" He shot me a look.

It took a lot not to shoot one back. "Thank you, Alby. But why am I getting out early?"

"I thought you had enough jail time. Don't mess up again." He opened the cell door, and I climbed out, journal in hand.

I nodded. Walking to the Builders, I looked at the Homestead. The guys had already taken out a wall and started again. It didn't look half-bad.

"Hey! Look who's back," Peter called.

"They can't keep me contained for long." I walked over to Jonathan.

"Nice to have you back." He commented.

"Nice to be back. Where do I need to be?"

I got my duties from Jonathan and then walked over to the Homestead, hating all the looks I got along the way.

"Weren't you in jail?" A Builder asked as I drew closer to the building.

"Why, do you wanna be?" I shot back. I did not want to be tried today.

"Geez, I was just wondering." He turned back to the wall, looking at his friend.

I sighed. I did not want to become the village witch. This voice was messing with me. I rubbed my face, wishing I could muster up enough courage to take the sting and then finally have the voice leave me. But I don't think I could.

Guess the voice was going to stay.

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Is it bad that I like writing Lauren in pain?

I'm a psychopath. I know.
Or am I a writer? The line keeps becoming blurrier these days.

Questions!!

-How long do you think the voice is going to go on?

-Opinions on Jonathan?

-Do y'all like that I'm rebuilding the Homestead?

Bai!
(holy crap this one was actually short)