˚ ༘✶₊˚.                         ⊹ ˚ .  SECOND ACT
❪         TWENTY-ONE      ♥︎    ₊˚༢࿐
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SHE MOVED SILENTLY BETWEEN MINHO AND FRYPAN as they lead her down a few corners and toward a room where loud conversation could be heard. She felt a wave of shyness wash over her when Minho pushed the doors open to reveal a room filled with teenagers around her age, chatting away and eating.

     She had never seen so many diverse faces of boys and girls before — another reminder that she truly was far away from the Glade.

"Here," Frypan voiced, handing her a blue tray and motioning to the line along the wall.

Awkwardly, Mae joined the line of people, her eyes sweeping around the room once more. Her eyes land on Newt, who looked paranoid as ever beside Winston and Jack. The Brits hold eye-contact and she smiled softly when Newt's shoulders sagged at the sight of her and Minho.

"Where's Thomas and Teresa?" Mae asked them. She hasn't seen either of them since they did the testing, and from the looks of it neither of them wanted to be alone surrounded by lab coats either.

"Haven't seen them since they poked us up with needles," Frypan responds, grabbing an apple as the line continued. "Doc's didn't let us get a good look at them."

"Thomas is getting interviewed by that guy," Minho adds in. "Saw him for a split second before that Slinthead closed the door."

"So you don't trust him either?" Mae hummed in agreement. "I thought I was going crazy."

"He's definitely sketchy," Minho agreed.

Frypan shakes his head, "Got fresh clothes, edible food and a place to sleep. Best be grateful." He reminds them. "Long as I don't have to cook for you rabid animals I'm good."

"Oh! I forgot to mention!" Minho speaks up, leaning over Frypan to talk to Mae, "All these people are from their own Mazes! All showed up around the same time."

Mae frowns at this, hesitantly plucking food on her tray. It was an array of sandwiches, fruits, veggies and snacks — warm meals like mash potatoes and meats that made her mouth water. Her hand lands on what seemed to be the last mini chocolate cake. She didn't remember the last time she had one, or what it taste like.

She must've miscalculated her step mid-thought, and crushed down on the heel of the teenager's shoe in front of her. The person turned around, a sneer on his face as he looked down at Mae. His was taller than her, almost 6'5" in comparison and he smelled like morning breath and a pee blanket. His teeth divorced three houses apart.

"Watch it, blondie!" He snapped at her, "Drop my food and I'll drop you to the ground!"

"I'd like to see you try," It was Thomas. His face was firm and his eyes burned into the other boy's face with a clenched fist, his feet carrying him straight toward Mae and stepping in front of her. "It was an accident, so leave her alone," He adds on.

The boy seemed to want to pick a fight, but with Minho, Frypan — and now Newt, who had gotten up from the table the second he saw the exchange — the teenager knew he was outnumbered and closed his mouth. Grumbling under his breath and moving to a table.

Mae let out a shaky breath, turning to Thomas with a grateful smile, "My hero." She dragged in a tease.

Thomas smiled at her words, "Yeah, I know. Come on." He says, plucking the apple from her tray and turning toward Newt so she wouldn't see the blush cover his face.

As Mae weaved her way through the tables to sit with her friends, her eyes caught sight of a little boy at a table — easily the youngest of them all. He had big glasses covering his soft brown eyes, and light brown hair that flopped down in a messy wave. His features appeared naturally sad and his eyes were trained solemnly on the tray in front of him.

     "That asshole, Erin, stole my chocolate cake!" The little boy grumbled, reaching to push the glasses up his nose. "Third time in two days, what am I, a joke?" He asked the boy across from him.

     This boy was around her age, with a hoodie over his head and his eyes sunken low, "Yes." He replied in a tease, his accent something Mae couldn't pin-point but completely different from hers.

     Mae's lips turned up in amusement at the exchange, glancing down at the mini cake on her tray in thought. She had never had one, so what was the point of starting now? So, Mae stopped short and turned back around, ignoring the curious eyes of Frypan as she stop in front of the lonesome table.

     The little boy stared up at her with wide eyes, like a deer in headlights who didn't expect to be noticed by anyone — especially someone as fair-looking as Mae, who put on her friendliest smile.

     For a second, they looked between each other in awkwardness before Mae reached in her tray and held out the chocolate cake to the little boy, "Here. ." She said softly, "I don't like them, and it would be a waste if I threw it out." She fibs.

     The little boy looks at her cake, then back to the girl's face, clearly unsure what to do. The oldest of the pair, reached over and slammed the child's arm, motioning for him to say something.

     "Oh, uh! T-Thanks, miss– ma'am?" The child fumbled, plucking the cake from her hand and putting it on his tray. He eased for a second, and Mae felt proud to see a smile form on the little boy's face, "Much appreciated." He finished.

     With a satisfied nod, Mae turns on her heel and walks back to her friends, taking a seat in between Thomas and Newt, who stared knowingly at her. "What?" She reddens, poking at her broccoli, "I wasn't lying, what if I really didn't like them?"

     Thomas shook his head, smiling at her.

     "Stop being a mom for two seconds," Newt muttered to her, "Eat something!"

     "Oh, you're one to talk." She huffed, she then tunes into the conversation a random boy was explaining to them.

". . .and there was this big, loud explosion, and these guys came out of nowhere," He says, "Starting shooting up the place."

"It was intense," His friend agreed. His eyes shifted to Mae, and the girl faltered in discomfort at the obvious suggestions in his eyes.

She felt Thomas' hand brush against hers on the table, which seemed to give the boy across from her the clear message to back off. She was grateful for it, but when her eyes landed on the ring on her pointer-finger she quickly dropped her hands to her lap, her heart squeezing.

     "They pulled us out the Maze and brought us here," The first boy continued on.

     Newt frowned, "What about the rest? The other people left behind in the Maze, what happened to them?"

     "I don't know," He admits. "I guess WICKED still has them."

She could feel the tension in Newt's shoulders beside her, feeling the guilt from him wash over her too. It was his job as Leader to take care of the Gladers, to protect them. If he hadn't let Gally take over, if he had spoken up more then maybe there would be more survivors, maybe the rest of his friends still wouldn't be properties of WICKED.

Mae wondered if she should be glad Gally had died so soon — yes a disgusting thought but a necessary one. She would much rather have Gally beside her in that moment, but if she had to chose an alternative, she's glad Gally died and could be at place with Nick and the others instead of under WICKED's control.

"How long have you guys been here?"

The boys shrugged, "Not long, just a day or two." He jerks his chin behind him, toward the two boys Mae had spoken to earlier, "Those kids over there have been here the longest. Almost a week. The boy is from the city, cranks swarmed his little camp and they took him because he was immune." He explains.

"The other kid? His Maze was nothing but girls," The other continued, smirking at Mae as he said it.

"No wonder he survived that long," Mae spoke up, narrowing her eyes at the boy. His face dropped with a low scoff at her words.

"Some guys have all the luck." The boy said.

     "Good evening, gentlemen. Ladies!" Janson announced, walking into the cafeteria with a clipboard in hand.

     All eyes turn to him, and Mae found herself locking eyes with the man for barely a second before he continued.

     "You all know how this works. If you hear your name called please rise in an orderly fashion, join my colleagues behind me, where they will escort you to the eastern wing. Your new lives are about to begin." He nods.

     Cheers and claps followed his words, teens muttering in excitement. Mae's eyes land on the little boy who was already looking at her. She froze, not expecting to catch his eyes let alone have him already watching her. He looked uncomfortable with Janson's presence, before forcing his eyes back to the man.

     Then he started naming teenagers. They got to their feet, and quickly made their way toward the wall. One of the boys was the one Mae had run into earlier, and he seemed to smirk smugly when his name was called. When all was said and done, Janson closed the sheet and the teenagers groaned.

     "Now, now. Don't get discouraged," He tells the crowd. "If I could take more, I would. There's always tomorrow, your time will come." Janson's eyes shifted to Mae when he said this, and it made her shiver at his gaze. "Go on, eat up!" He finished, leaving the room.

     "Where are they going?" Minho asked.

     "Far from here," The boy sighed. "Lucky bastards."

     "It's some kid of farm. A safe place," explained the other, "They can only take in a couple of people at a time."

     Mae turns to Thomas, their faces inches apart as she whispered, "That's painfully suspicious." He nods in agreement, glad someone else agreed with him.

     Mae's eyes shifted behind him, toward the window where Teresa was being escorted by Doctors and soldiers. Instantly, Mae had jumped to her feet, and when Thomas' eyes followed her gaze, he did too.

     "Teresa!" Mae shouts, running up along the wall and banging on the glass, "Teresa!"

     "What the hell?" Thomas muttered, "Hey, Teresa!" He shouted louder.

     The girl's head barely turned at their yells before she turned the corner and disappeared. A hand pushed Mae and Thomas back from the door, two soldiers standing guard.

     "Where are they taking her?" Thomas demands.

     "They just have to run a few more test," The man dismissed. "Don't worry, they'll be done with her soon."

     Mae frowned, "We all got tested together!" She tells them, "If there's something wrong, we should know, she's our friend!"

     "Is she okay?" Thomas pressed.

     "She's fine." The other said too calmly.

     "I want to see her." Mae said firmly, "If she's scared, she deserves to be with someone she knows!"

     "Sit. Down." The guard warned.

     With a huff, Thomas grabbed at Mae's elbow and led her away from the doors. The blonde looked back at the soldiers one last time, before reluctantly following.

✿ ❀ ✿

THINGS SEEMED TO GO DOWN HILL FROM THERE when the guards had informed the Gladers that boys and girl's slept in separate rooms on completely different floors.

     Mae had never seen all of her friends cuss at the same time when they demanded Mae to be put with them instead, and Newt had to hold back Minho was he went to fling a tray at one of the guards when they didn't budge.

To keep the peace, Mae had agreed to sleep separate from her friends — not before giving each and every one of them a tight hug.

     Her face growing red when Thomas seemed to hold onto her the longest before she was escorted out of the cafeteria for bed.

"Take these." The guard ordered, handing her a matching set of pajamas, a toothbrush and socks. Mae held the objects close to her chest, watching the guard swipe his keycard and push the door open. "Inside, lights out in ten."

Mae stumbled into the room, flinching at the slam of the door behind her. Slowly, her eyes shifted around the room at the sea of girls staring back at her.

     All different heights and ethnicities, almost all the same age as her. Mae shifted at their eyes, not knowing what to do.

A girl pushed off from the bottom bunk with a smirk, she was muscular toned with dark brown eyes and skin.

     Mae felt imitated by the teenager's beauty, her eyes straining on the thin scar over her left eyebrow, "Welcome newbie! I'm Deena."

She stuck her hand up, and Mae placed her hand own firmly into hers, giving it a single shake.

"Strong grip," The girl commented, her eyes racking up and down Mae's form once before motioning to the bunk above hers, "Last bed available, no one wanted it because the vent above it was loud as hell."

"I'll make it work." Mae commented.

A girl, maybe a year younger than her, popped her head down from the bunk beside Mae, making the blonde jump. "You've got a funky accent," The girl said bluntly, "Where ya from?"

"I don't remember," She said shortly, just now realizing how tired she was.

"I'm Kenzie," The same girl says.

Mae forced a kind smile, "I'm Mae," She responds. It was then her eyes swept the sea of faces. Teresa wasn't among any of them, and it made her heart skin.

"You were the one in a Maze filled of boys, huh?" Asked a girl somewhere Mae couldn't see, but it caused a mutter of conversation to fill the room, "Saw you surrounded by 'em at dinner!"

"That's hot," Kenzie gushed, "How many? They attractive? Did ya date any of them? How many!"

Mae stumbled back at the rapid questions, and Deena seemed quick to intervene. "Shut the fuck up already, k Kenzie?" She ordered, "She ain't got to answer your questions."

"It's quite all right," Mae muttered, climbing the ladder to the top bunk and sitting cross legged.

     She noticed her bag she brought from the Maze was by the pillow, Mae frowned at how everything seemed preplanned.

     "There was about fifty or so of us, I was the only girl."

This seemed to grab everyone's attention, all eager to learn more as they surrounded Mae. The blonde shifted all the attention, never seeming so many girls in one place.

"I was there for three years." She continued, "Our maze was on a grassy terrine we called the Glade, and our leader was originally a boy named Nick."

"He cute?" A girl asked.

"Was?" Deena repeated.

Mae smiled sadly, "He died a month or so before we escaped. . ." She blushed for a minute, "And yes, I suppose he was cute."

Mae then when on to explain everything she could, answering questions here and there as she told the girls how she escaped and who hadn't made it.

     She didn't realize her eyes were watering until a few slipped. Saying all out loud sounded like a lifetime filled of trauma, but really it all happened in a few days or so.

". . .and then Chuck was killed—"

They gasped, and Mae could even hear some of them sniffle.

"Screw that Gally dude then!" Kenzie huffed.

Mae shifted, "He was stung, it wasn't him, not really. He was a good person at heart, just wanted to protect us." She defended.

"Mae loved him!" Deena dragged.

The girl nods, "Yes, I did." She didn't deny it, why would she? Mae loved Gally, even now.

Kenzie's eyes watered, "He give that to ya?"

Mae looked down at her ring, the one Kenzie was pointing at. Mae held it up for everyone to see, "It was a promise ring. He had vowed me marry me one day, when all this was finally over..."

"That's so fucking cute," Kenzie cried, turning to her bunk mate, "God, why did they end so tragically?! They could've been kick-ass together! I want that. No, I need that!"

Deena noticed Mae's discomfort, and stood up, "All right bitches, time for bed! Mae's first day and you dumbasses already made her cry!"

The girls groan, muttering goodnights to each other before Deena flicked off the lights. Mae exhaled in relief, slowly laying on her back as she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes.

     The girl jumped when Kenzie popped her head up near Mae's bed, her green eyes shining through the darkness.

"Can I ask ya something, newbie?"

Mae gave a short nod, "Sure."

"That cute Korean you were sitting with, he single?" She asked. To that, Mae actually laughed.

"Kenzie!" Deena snapped, "Bed!"

"Super taken," Mae responds.

"Aw man." The girl sinks back down out of view, and the blonde shifted back into comfort with a small smile.

The sound of light tapping caused her eyes to snap out in a slight panic. The whirling sound reminded Mae of Griever claws, and when she looked up to be met with another pair of eyes staring back at her, the girl almost screamed.

There, popping his head over the gap of the now open vent, peered the young boy from the cafeteria with the big glasses.

Mae reached up and grabbed at her chest, surprised that her little yelp didn't startle awake any of the other girls, "What are you doing?" She whisper-shouted at him.

The boy titled his head, "I'm Teddy." He said softly, giving his attempts of a greeting smile.

Her breathing evened, "Mae." She responds.

"I know," He whispered back, "I-I like your accent. . .it suits you."

To this, Mae smiled, prompting herself up on her elbows and mirroring his head tilt. "Do you always lurk around in the vents? Scare the other girls." She asked him.

Mae could see the silhouette of a mischievous smile, "They're easy to scare," He admits it.

She hummed, nodding her head. There was a short silence between them, and Mae found herself enjoying the little boy's presence more than she enjoyed the girls around her.

Teddy didn't seem like the type to pry, if anything he seemed far too awkward to hold a full conversation.

"How old are you?" Mae asked.

"I'm nine," He says, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen," She responds.

"My brother's eighteen, maybe nineteen now."

"Is that the boy you were sitting next to?"

Teddy's expression tugged down into a soft frown, resting his chin on his arm as he looked down at Mae, "No, my brother isn't here. These people took me away from him because I was immune and he wasn't. I'm looking for him though, gotta find him in the mountains, that's where he'd be." He explained.

"How will you manage that?" She asked.

"Aris has a plan," He said simply, "Come on."

Mae frowned, prompting herself on her knees to pop her head into the vents. Teddy was already moving, "Hey!" She whispered, "Where are you going?"

"Come on!" Teddy repeats, "We'll miss it!"

Mae glanced back at the room, then back at the vent with a furrowed brow. Her interest had been peeked and well, she had nothing better to do. "All right! Wait for me." She tells him.

And with a soft huff, Mae hoists herself into the vent.

[ authors note: teddy > you ]
pls don't forget to comment
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& I'd love to interact with you!

NOV / 22 / 2021