Chapter Text
The first thing Rasbi did when she finally snapped out of her trance was put a knife at the stranger’s throat.
“Woah, woah!” Mohwee yelped, reaching out and grabbing her arm. A sizzling jolt came from his touch, and she almost balked if she hadn’t stiffened up to keep the knife poised at the man’s jugular. A gentle shake came from Mohwee, followed by his surprised voice, “He’s friendly, he’s friendly! I promise!”
“Who are you?” Rasbi growled to the stranger, not relenting. Every cord had snapped in her head, defenses built up again in seconds as her teeth bared at him. “Why are you with Mohwee? Why are you here?”
The man’s eyes flicked over to Mohwee, arching a brow at him as he noted in a casual tone, “She seems a bit… Tense.”
Mohwee’s hand slipped onto Rasbi’s wrist, squeezing it and making her flinch as he assured the other boy, “She’s been through a lot; I can’t say I blame her.” He met Rasbi’s eyes now with a faint sheen in his gaze as he ushered again, “Rasbi, he won’t hurt you, I promise. He’s fine. He won’t hurt us.”
Rasbi’s grip wavered for another moment, searching the other boy’s eyes for a long moment as he nodded along with Mohwee, palms up in innocence. She narrowed her eyes at him, examining his features once more before finally pulling her knife away, Mohwee’s grip relenting as she took in a shaky breath to soothe the terrified tremors vibrating in her head.
The other boy nodded once, taking a step back, and Mohwee inhaled before moving in front of Rasbi, hands going to her shoulders. Their eyes met again, taking in each other’s appearance. He certainly looked rugged, eyes a bit more lively than before but still holding the haze from the Maze in wisps. She saw a slip of a wound from his shoulder; a jagged scratch near his shoulder and reaching down behind him from the peek in his shirt.
But she met his eyes once more, felt the pressure from the touch of his hands. Familiar eyes as he took a deep breath, his words shaking, “Rasbi, I…” His sentence faltered, but he took another step forward, a question in his eyes with hesitance but hidden longing.
And Rasbi answered it by finally stepping into his arms, almost collapsing at warm arms around her again. He held her up when she felt her legs buckle, finally finding her footing again as she gripped his shoulders with soft sobs. Her defenses fully broke down, now accepting the familiarity and overwhelming joy coursing over her.
He’s here. He’s alive. He’s alive.
He flinched harshly when her hands dug into his shoulders, but he whispered fervently, “God, it’s so good to see you. I can’t describe how happy I am to see you.”
She released her grip on him after feeling his body twitch, leaning back and rubbing her face with one of her hands as she rasped, “It’s so good to see you too.” She glanced at the other boy before back at him, tilting her head. “What happened? Did you make it out? Where’s Oeca?”
Mohwee’s expression shadowed over, glancing at his companion before sighing, running a hand through his hair. “There’s… A lot to explain. If we can, we’d like to rest first. We basically had to sprint through the entire Maze again to get back here. Shortened the time frame getting out, but I think I killed my lungs in the process.”
“And my feet are sore.” The newcomer chimed in with a loose smile, but threw his hands up again at Rasbi’s still suspicious scowl towards him. “Geez, yikes. Alright, I get it. No jokes.”
Mohwee sighed, reaching out and clasping him on the arm as he finally introduced, “Rasbi, this is Kyle. He’s the leader of one of the outside groups I’ve found. He won’t hurt you; he means no harm.”
“Outside groups…” Rasbi echoed, staring at Kyle now as he gave her a small wave. Gears clicked and slid into place, sliding along shock and a wavering hope. So Mohwee did make it outside… But why are they back here?
She paused, then gave him a small nod. “Nice to meet you, Kyle.” She wrinkled her nose, looking away as she added in a mumble, “Sorry I threatened you.”
“Understandable,” Kyle sympathized with another faint smile. “After the shit Mohwee told us about what happened in here, I can’t say I blame you. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Rasbi folded her arms in, taking a small step away from them but keeping them in her line of sight as she gestured to where her refurbished house was. “If you guys need rest… This way, then.”
Mohwee and Kyle followed, walking through the long fields of overgrown grass and flowers that rippled in their wakes. Kyle’s eyes were shining with intrigue and curiosity as his gaze casted everywhere around them, but Mohwee’s expression had hardened as he stared around at the familiar fields, a previously alight expression now stone and hollow. The two pairs of eyes in such contrast made Rasbi curl her arms closer to herself, shivering.
“This is quite a clearing,” Kyle finally commented out loud, and Rasbi swung her head around towards him. His curiosity hadn’t wavered, a smile on his face and hands tucked into his pockets. “Lots of green. It’s been a while since we’ve really seen any green, but definitely more vibrant than where I live. And the flowers too; these flower fields aren’t like anything we’ve seen for a while. My best friend in the outside world would love them.”
“Has it been a while?” Rasbi asked, genuinely shocked as she turned to look at Mohwee for confirmation. Have they been living in a wasteland? What world did they truly get to see outside of the walls?
But Mohwee’s eyes were elsewhere, trailing on the stone memorials they were passing by in the distance towards the center of the clearing. Her heart cracked quietly seeing his expression tear up, jerking his head away and out of the conversation.
“It has.” Kyle confirmed, stirring her attention back on him. His expression was more pensive, studying the nearby sunflowers with intrigue. “I mean, there’s enough green where I was from, but it’s also a lot of water and sand. But it’s been a while since we’ve been on the beach due to, uh…”
He trailed off, glancing towards Mohwee who was now frowning at him, shoulders tense. His expression, however, was weary and drooping as he requested wryly, “Can we please not talk about anything until tomorrow? I know the sun’s barely risen, but dear God I can barely think. I can't answer any questions right now.” Seeing Rasbi’s expression, he added quietly, “As much as I would like to talk, I really need sleep.”
“Don’t worry, it’s okay,” Rasbi reassured, her voice faint as they came within distance of the house tucked in vines and the hand-crafted waterways flowing around it. A simple oak and birch house that she rebuilt, still only a single story tall but much more detailed and spacious even from the outside. She saw a few chickens clucking and pecking at the stony noles in the front yard, Cheesecake stretched out on the lawn as well with her tail flicking evenly. Her head rose, plastered with a new crown of daisies, her ears twitching at the sound of Rasbi coming home and let out a low trill in greeting.
Rasbi guided them through the small field of daffodils and daisies in front of her wooden bridge, escorting up halfway before pausing to let them take it in as she folded her hands in front of her. “Home sweet home. I only really have one official room set up, but I’ll get another couch out front in the living room for you guys to have your own sleeping areas.”
Kyle let out a low whistle, grinning over at her with an impressed look on his face. “Damn. You built all of this? This is incredible.”
Rasbi reached up to move away long strands of white and red hair from her face, huffing softly. “Well… I’ve had a lot of time. Figured some home furnishing and construction could be a part of the list of things to do around here.”
Kyle chuckled, but it subsided when he and Rasbi turned to Mohwee, who had frozen on the bridge and was staring straight ahead, his eyes widened slightly and his mouth slightly ajar. His eyes were pinned on Cheesecake, who had noticed him and tilted her head slightly with a soft noise.
Rasbi took a small step away, jolting when she heard Kyle’s voice closer to her ears as he whispered, “Is he alright?”
Rasbi swallowed, her throat growing dry as she stayed silent while Mohwee took cautious steps forward, lowering himself off the bridge and onto the cobblestone pathway implanted into the ground. Cheesecake was only a few more feet away, trilling to him softly as she inclined her head towards him.
“Cheesecake?” He finally whispered, a hand reaching out to her. Rasbi saw his fingers trembling, a hiccup lodging in his throat. “Is it you?”
Cheesecake let out a guttural noise again, nose lifting towards the tips of his fingers. They were almost near her, close enough that Rasbi saw the small beads of moisture on the cow’s nose about to smear onto his fingertips. She covered her mouth, biting down on her lip to chase down her sobs while Kyle watched in a respectful, but admittedly confused, silence.
Mohwee took another step forward, knees finally giving out as he fell onto them in front of the cow. Finally able to reach, Cheesecake leaned her head forward again to fit her snout into his hand. He let out a soft laugh of disbelief, a grin filled with tears as he hiccuped gently, “Dap me up, Cheesecake.”
Cheesecake let out another noise, nuzzling her nose further into his grasp. Rasbi sniffed, closing her eyes at the deep aches pulsing through her heart again. I didn’t think we’d ever be like this again, in a world so far away from us now. I didn’t think I’d get to see this again.
“I know I’m definitely missing something,” Kyle uttered from where he was beside Rasbi. He was smiling, however, a nostalgic and wistful smile as he watched Mohwee. “But it’s… It's good to see him happy like that again. It’s been a rough journey for him.” He paused, glancing at her again with a weak smile. “As I’m sure it has been for you as well.”
Rasbi blinked at him, turning back towards Mohwee. He had scooted himself forward and wrapped his arms around Cheesecake’s neck, burrowing his head into hers as he weeped quietly. Cheesecake’s eyes were closed, her tail flicking occasionally but otherwise staying as still as she could. She nodded slowly, wiping her face as her hand came back damp with a trembling smile. “Yes. It… It really has been. I’m just… Happy to see him again.”
“He’s happy to see you too,” Kyle confirmed in a gentle murmur, stepping down onto the stones below. He turned, a polite hand extending out to escort her down beside him as he looked between the house and Mohwee crouched in the grass with the cow. “I, uh… Assume it’s okay if we go in without him? He seems like he’s… Catching up.”
Rasbi glanced back over at them, seeing them entwined into each other as she wiped her face once more, sniffing and nodding with a faint smile. “Yeah. It seems so.”
And so she gestured quietly for Kyle to follow her, shooting one last relieved and aching look towards Mohwee curled up with Cheesecake before accepting Kyle into her home.
-
She obeyed Mohwee’s wishes and didn’t ask any questions as she showed Kyle his sleeping mattress and provided him with ample blankets and pillows. Mohwee must’ve not been lying when he said they traveled the whole way over; even in broad daylight, Kyle was passed out within minutes and snoring on the couch set up for him with his arms folded behind his head. Rasbi closed the blinds to let him sleep, the darkness taking over the house with only a few lanterns giving off a warm oaken glow that extenuated his exhausted features.
She didn’t try to wake them up or disturb them, instead going out to do some of her other work quietly. She got rid of small weeds poking out beside the cobblestones, cleared away necrotic tissues of vines dangling on her house. She cooked a meal for herself and ate it quietly, glancing occasionally over at the sleeping Kyle with turmoiling questions, all of which she kept locked away for now.
And when it came nighttime and they were both still passed out, she went outside with a blanket in her hands. Cheesecake’s eyes peered up at her from where she was resting, but remained unmoving from where Mohwee had passed out beside her face.
Rasbi let out a soft chuckle, crouching down to look into Cheesecake’s eyes. “I bet it was nice to see him again, wasn’t it? Enjoy the time you guys have together again while you have it. Sleep well, Cheesecake.”
Cheesecake let out a soft noise, eye closing again as Rasbi threw a blanket over Mohwee, pausing and squinting down at his back where the harsh scar was laced over his shoulder, followed by a few scrapes and nicks around his neck and ears. She tucked the blanket over him to cover it, but her hand lingered on his shoulder as a wave of despair crashed over her. What have you gone through to get to this point? What have you had to face without me? And where is Oeca?
What happened to you?
She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, doing her best not to disturb him as she went back inside to prepare for her own slumber.
When the boys were still sleeping in the morning, she gathered her things to comb out her hair and made her way past a snoring Kyle still and out the door again, blinking at the lazy sun greeting her trapped within the walls and flushing the clearing in cloudy gold light. Flowers danced in greeting when she stepped outside, glancing over and smiling where Cheesecake was resting, head protectively situated over Mohwee.
Just like back when we were all making a life here. It’s like he hasn’t left her; like it’s all… Normal again.
Seeing the daisy crown, however, made Rasbi miss a beat in her steps as she stumbled on the wooden arch underneath her. She paused on the bridge, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before continuing on.
She carried on through the rich green grass, tickling her ankles and flowers dancing around in joy when she swung by. Her long hair dangled low enough to reach a few taller flowers, brushing against cerulean and violet petals of wildflowers bursting through the ground. She finally came up to her destination; a pond with the waterfall erupting from the walls, making a glassy mirage of the golden-blue sky above and dotted with more flowers and rocks slick now with rich green moss and leaves poking out from cracks in the stones.
She sat down on the carved rock close to the water’s edge, having molded it specifically to sit down in as she shuffled her hand around in her basket before pulling out the brush she had crafted. It had longer prawns, ready to comb out the long knots encircled in as she gathered her hair into her hands and began brushing. The even rushing of water, followed by the distant clucking of the chickens rousing away, lifted her into the start of the day as she exhaled softly and let her thoughts run through.
Kyle and Mohwee… Both from the outside world. Are they avoiding something by coming in here? Did they have to come in because they were running from something? And what did Kyle say about a beach? He’s from a beach? Her eyes lifted for a second, studying the pebbled grains lining the banks of the pond. I bet it’s huge… A big expanse of water stretching into the horizon. As blue as the eye can see… I wonder if I’ll be able to see it someday.
The yearning for what lay beyond gripped her so intensely she almost doubled over from the aches. She tucked her hair into an arm, touching her chest with her free hand as she took a wavering breath. I just… I want to get out. And if they’ve come back from the outside world, that means the doors are open. I can finally see the outside world. I can finally escape.
Do I want that, though? She started combing through her hair, wincing at an accidental tug and working through the rat’s nest she encountered. They’re so tired, and some of the things they’ve been hinting at… They must’ve been in some sort of danger. Or they are in some sort of danger. I need to know why they’re here.
And what happened to Oeca? She paused, looking up into the water’s reflection as it rippled back at her. She saw her own wavering look, the bags still under her eyes and the long strands crossing over her face littered with tiny scars. Something happened to him. Mohwee’s been scared to talk about him. Did he die? Is that why he’s refusing to tell me?
Are we the only two left from this clearing?
She covered her mouth at the thought, feeling the building cries in her throat. She casted her gaze around, at the trees hiding another half of the clearing behind her and at the fields still stretching out beyond to where other houses were situated across from her tiny corner.
So much of this land we had… Yet both of us might be the only survivors. We might be the only ones left.
Her eyes slammed shut, small tears winking out as she took in a ragged breath to calm herself. She didn’t know why this news was hitting her harder, why she felt like the earth was suddenly pressing into her.
But she could see the memorials of the fallen in the distance at the center of the clearing, taking up the space of where they all used to live. Where times were somewhat better.
Because they were alive.
She rubbed her face with another gasping sigh, but paused when she heard the shuffling of grass near her followed by footsteps creeping in, not trying to be stealthy but still gingerly taken. She rubbed her face vigorously again before whipping her head around towards the approaching figure, relaxing immediately when a familiar boy blinked back at her.
Mohwee offered a crooked smile, nodding briefly to her. His eyes were still cloudy and soft with sleep, but she noticed how smoother his movement seemed to be instead of lagging and dragging around. He really did need the rest.
She scooted beside her, patting a neighboring rock that wasn’t crafted to be a chair like hers but still had enough sitting room with small dots of moss decorating it. Mohwee took the invitation with a quiet smile, groaning softly as he sat down with a whoosh of air. One of his hands ran up against his neck, rubbing it while he stared out at the pond.
Rasbi looked out on it as well before starting up her brushing again, doing her best to work through the kinks and tangles. Her focus was intently on her hair, frowning down at it until Mohwee finally spoke up with a small chuckle, “That’s quite some hair you got there. Super long.”
She snorted softly, fingers fitting through to rake through other wispy ends. “Yeah, there’s not exactly anyone around to help trim my hair. I could probably do it myself, but I don’t mind it long.” She paused, glancing around her again as she admitted, “Kind of helps me feel like I belong here, in the overgrowth and the fields. Helps me feel more at home.”
Mohwee let out a hum of acknowledgement, watching her work through the long knots and clumps. “I can understand that. It looks cool.”
She paused, glancing up at him with a faint smile. “Thanks.”
He met her eyes with his own weak smile, Rasbi noticing the other small cuts around his face as well before he looked back out at the pond, watching the falls cascade and hiss as they crashed against the surface. Rasbi led her eyes towards it as well, drowning in the silence of the rushing water lulling them in the mid-morning light growing less clouded and more evened out.
Rasbi sat patiently, not daring to speak up, but snuck a few glances over at him. His shirt was curling to show a part of his collar, where another harsh mark was slashed over and going down below towards his chest. She looked away after seeing the dried blood from the more recent infliction, closing her eyes with a new heaviness. So many new scars… Yet he’s still going, no matter how much pain he’s in.
Finally, she disturbed the peace by choking out softly, “What happened to you, Mohwee?”
Mohwee twitched, blinking in mild surprise, but his expression sombered up when he saw the tears in her eyes as she stared at him again. He let out a deeper sigh, closing his eyes as his hand rose to run over the scar she had glimpsed.
“A lot,” he murmured finally, his voice catching. “Just… A lot.”
He lost his words again, biting his lip and resting his face in his hands with another worn sigh. Rasbi set her brush away in the basket, going down on her knees into the grass and moving over to him. She rested a hand on his knee when she approached, looking into his tearful brown eyes as she gave him a trembling smile.
“I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m so happy to see you. And I’m so glad you’re still here.”
Mohwee’s eyes widened briefly, staring down at her for a long moment before he choked again on a sob, letting Rasbi bundle him into her arms as he gripped onto her, finally allowing himself to let go. The breakdown gripped him and made him shake so much Rasbi thought she would lose him, holding onto him as an anchor against the world around them. His hands tightened into her collar, head bent down as his cries carried above the waterfall nearby.
But even with as much as he was shaking, losing himself in his own thoughts, Rasbi held onto him tightly. She clutched onto him like the lifeline she was dangling on, the golden thread she had been teetering on ever since being isolated from everyone else.
But with Mohwee in her arms, breaking but familiar, she clutched onto it even more tightly.
I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here with him. I’m staying alive for him. For the others.
We’ll survive, we’ll continue.
-
After the sobbing fest had ended, Rasbi had helped dry his face before she linked her hand with his and walked with him back to the house in the early afternoon. Mohwee’s eyes were still a bit puffy, but his steps were more sure-footed as they walked hand-in-hand.
When Rasbi nudged her way inside, Kyle was finally awake and standing over the kitchen, eyes scrunched in confusion and concentration but looking up when Rasbi and Mohwee came back in. He flashed them a smile in greeting, quickly stumbling away from where he was working as he greeted, “Hey! Hi! I, uh, was just trying to work out how to use this machine you have in here.”
Rasbi tried her best not to laugh, giving him a smile that seemed a bit more puffed out to muffle her laughter as she stepped into the kitchen, patting his arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll fix all of us some coffee. Just go sit down, don’t worry about it.”
“Great!” Kyle perked up, looking relieved at the excuse as he slipped out, heading over to the couch where Mohwee had slowly lowered himself onto. Kyle plopped down beside him, and Rasbi glanced at them while she was fixing the coffee to see Kyle’s hand ruffle Mohwee’s hair while he tried to duck away, huffing but letting Kyle rest his hand instead on his shoulder.
Whatever has happened, Mohwee does seem to trust him, she noted as the smell of coffee beans saturated the house, grabbing the few cups she had molded herself. As she poured out the steaming liquid into them, her thoughts drifted around as she glanced at Kyle again. I wonder what other people Mohwee’s met outside of the walls. Are they as friendly and as trustworthy as Kyle?
When the cups had been filled, she slipped them into her grasp and delivered them out to their waiting hands. Kyle thanked her with another warm smile, Mohwee much more quiet as he stared at the folding brown liquid with a faint gray film in his eyes. Rasbi went back to get her own cup, walking out into the room and sitting down in a spare chair as she sipped it slowly. The warmth brushed over her dry lips, settling deep in her chest and sweeping over her as she hummed in content.
Kyle let out a much louder noise, a loud affirmation as he complimented, “This is amazing! You’ll have to make more of this for all of us when we get out of here.”
Rasbi’s heart jolted. Even though she knew it was possible, hearing him say it clearly out loud still made her breathless at the thought. She cupped her coffee close, assessing both of them and staying quiet as long as she could as they both engorged in the coffee.
But finally, when Kyle had finished his and Mohwee nursed his cup while staring down into it, Rasbi finally allowed herself to start her barrage of questions, “I know you’re expecting this, but… I really need to know what’s going on. What’s happening outside of the Maze, why you guys are back in here…” She took in a deep breath, looking over at Mohwee specifically. “And what happened to Oeca.”
Mohwee stiffened up, his eyes flashing briefly while Kyle gave him a concerned look. But he straightened up, closing his eyes briefly to take his own deep breath before opening them again, sight directly on Rasbi. “Alright. Yeah. It’s time. We’re ready.”
She nodded, trying to stamp down the anxious sparks lighting off as she held her cup close and requested, “Can you just start from the beginning? Right as you got out of the Maze, Mohwee?”
Mohwee nodded, Kyle slouching back to let him speak as he stared down at the cup. His words came out strained, eyes squinting as if trying to peer back into his own memories. “Well… It was just me and Oeca at the end of it all. It was an easy long corridor after we… We lost you and Owen.”
Rasbi’s heart panged at the mention of Owen’s name, not used to hearing it out loud except from her own mouth after months of being alone. But Mohwee continued on in a more subdued voice, “Graecie, she… She caught the Flare and died before… Before we got out.”
“I know,” Rasbi cut in briefly, her own voice smaller. When Mohwee looked over at her, she gave him a weak smile. “I found her and buried her. Thought it would be fitting and… Nicer than just leaving her out there.”
He nodded, eyes faint as his lip quivered briefly. “Yeah… Kyle and I saw where she was buried when we came back in here. I was wondering if it was her. Makes sense now that it was you that buried her.”
Rasbi nodded wordlessly, choking up again and gesturing for him to keep going. Mohwee accepted, looking back down at his drink. “Afterwards, Oeca and I walked through the doors leading to the exit and into this big watchtower thing. We got to this weird computer screen area and it showed… All of these cameras around the Maze. Watching us.”
A deep shiver coursed through Rasbi, tucking her arms closer into her body as she glanced around worriedly with a small fume of rage. The idea of people watching our every move and not even trying to help when we started dying from the Flare… How heartless.
“When we got out of the Maze, though…” Mohwee trailed off, frowning again before shaking his head. “It was just… A huge desert. Sand everywhere for miles. We weren’t even sure where we could go; we weren’t expecting the outside world to just be a sea of sand.”
His expression pinched up, a small sneer on his lips. “Lucky for us, though, or more unluckily, workers from the Maze found us a few hours later just wandering uselessly in the sand after arguing about what to do. They scooped us up and took us to one of their facilities, locked up away in some mountains.”
Rasbi folded into herself, shivering again and eyes widening. They were kidnapped? How were they found out in the desert? If they were workers of the Maze, what did they want with him? How is he still here?
“We met someone named Bek and her group of friends,” Mohwee was talking still, Rasbi focusing back on him. He was staring up at the ceiling, an odd glimmer in his eyes and the sneer molding into a crooked smile. “She looped us into her group and included Oeca and I in the plan to escape the facility. It took a bit of work, but… We got a feasible plan.”
His expression dropped again, however, darkening and surprising Rasbi with the new shadows crawling over his face. “We were able to escape because of her plan, but… Oeca stayed behind.”
“What?” Rasbi leaned forward, almost tipping out the rest of her coffee onto her lap. Her breath caught in her throat, coughing briefly before sputtering, “How? Why? Does this mean he’s still alive?”
“I think he is,” Mohwee affirmed, but there was a brief flicker of doubt in his face. “He… He took a deal that they gave him. With the Maze people.” One of his hands reached up to grip his hair, a scowl curling onto his face. “He was starting to talk about gaining his memories back from before the Maze, how he could use them to help us out, but I was saying it was too risky. We argued about it so much; I didn’t want him to take it because those memories didn’t matter to me anymore. But they mattered to him, so he did.” He paused, his hand reaching up towards where Rasbi remembered seeing the scar on his chest as he muttered, “We got a bit physical with our fights, especially the last one when he made his decision.”
He shook his head, setting his cup on the table and folding his arms in. “I guess a part of the deal was supposed to be stopping us from escaping, but he didn’t do much since we succeeded. Whether he disobeyed them on purpose or not is something I don’t know, but he was left behind.”
Rasbi’s fingers were tapping, along with her leg bouncing as a wordless and worried murmur came from her mouth. She rubbed her face with a hand, heart starting to splinter. So he… He was going to betray Mohwee and their new friends. For his memories of what life was like before he came into the Maze…
Were they really that important that he wanted them back? He chose them over Mohwee?
When she studied Mohwee again, she could see the wisps of betrayal and heartache on his face, his eyes dimmer and his expression sagging. I can’t imagine how hurt he must be. To lose the last person he thought was alive from the Maze… The last person he considered family…
“After we escaped,” Mohwee spoke up, voice roughened but still moving along. “We regrouped and reconvened in an abandoned building far away from the main city, where we heard Cranks were infesting it.”
“Cranks?” Rasbi repeated in confusion. “What are Cranks?”
Mohwee stiffened, glancing up at her. “It’s the outside world’s word for the zombies.” He paused, squeezing his hands together. “The final stage of the Flare disease, similar to what Apo was like except much worse.”
Apo. His name sent another stake through her chest, and she faltered as she looked down at the stale coffee now in her hands. “Oh. I see.”
“They’re dealing with the Flare outside of this Maze,” Mohwee explained, leaning towards Rasbi with a tight jaw. “The main city is infested with these creatures. We had to fight them off one time and settle for a new building outside of city limits so we wouldn’t die.”
“This building was owned by me,” Kyle finally chimed in, nodding to Mohwee. “My friend Acho and I were runaways from the capital city. We had gotten a group of people out and kept them at the beach, but Acho and I both wanted to come back to the city and help out. We swept the building and made it available for Mohwee and his friends when they showed up.”
Mohwee nodded to confirm his story, nudging Kyle with his shoulder. “He became a co-leader with Bek when she heard about him and Acho getting others out of danger. More people began joining after hearing about Bek’s explosions and her revolution against the creators and their workers, so she formed a group that is getting ready to storm the capital and take the Maze creators down.”
“Really?” Rasbi breathed, something within her chest clicking with fire. A small spark started to alight, bursting with determination. Avenging our friends… I like the sound of that.
“Yeah,” Mohwee responded, folding his arms together again. “Not only are they the Maze creators, but there’s rumors that they have the cure to the disease and are keeping it for their own gain instead of treating outsiders.”
“Cowards,” Kyle growled, puffing up and meeting Rasbi’s eyes intently. “We’re going to stop them, once and for all, and save this world before things get out of hand and we lose everyone.”
Rasbi blinked, startled at his demeanor change, but a rush of respect flowed through her as her head bowed. I can see hints of why he’s a leader. I trust him to lead us.
Another loose end tugged in her brain, and she turned back to Mohwee as she pondered, “How did you know I was still in here, though? Why did you come back here?”
Mohwee gave her a weak smile. “We figured out you were in here when we saw the cameras watching you still from when we were trapped in the facility. We were sneaking around trying to escape and caught sight of the cameras in an office. After feeling like we were all settled enough in Kyle’s new building, I wanted to come save you as soon as I could.”
Rasbi touched a hand to her chest, feeling her eyes widen as the aches from before smoothed over into glowing warmth. “Really?”
“Of course,” Mohwee murmured, his gaze earnest. “No way I was going to just leave you in here. Kyle agreed to come with me as well for backup, so here we are.”
She clutched her shirt, bubbles of many different emotions coming up as the only words she could whisper came out, “Thank you.”
I know he said we were his family, but still hearing him say he cares for me out loud enough to come back in here… All of the loneliness I faced… I wish I could tell him how much that means to me.
When the emotions had subsided, she turned to Kyle now with her eyes flicking between them. “So… The plan is to go back out and storm the… The capital building?”
“Basically,” Kyle confirmed, another loose smile on his face. “Piece of cake. Definitely a cakewalk. Super easy.”
Mohwee shoved him into the armrest, Kyle letting out a small yelp as the younger boy rolled his eyes and hunched back over with a more intent look on his face. “That is the plan, but… It would mean confronting Oeca.”
Rasbi balked a bit, putting down her cup of coffee and leaning back into the seat with her hands folding together. “I… Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Despite the confliction starting to war around her, she studied Mohwee with heavier eyes. “Are you… Okay with that? Is that something we can do?”
Mohwee’s fist clenched tightly into his pants leg, averting his eyes, but his voice came out hollow, “If we need to, yeah. If there’s no other way. We can’t put one person above everyone else.”
“I guess so,” Rasbi conceded, but still frowned at him with concern at his tense shoulders. I know he doesn’t want to, just as much as I don’t want to either. No more death, no more losing those we considered close to us… I guess we’ll have to reconvene and see if there’s another way outside of the walls…
But for now, Rasbi inhaled and rubbed her hands together as she stood up and gave them a small smile. “So that means… We’re going to leave, then? The Maze is open? Can we get to the end?”
“It’s open,” Mohwee confirmed, the tension dissipating from his shoulders as he gave her a gentle smile in return. He repeated her words, answered her prayers with an even but reassuring voice, “All of the gates are open now, Rasbi. We can leave. We can get you out of here.”
“Tomorrow,” Kyle added, glancing outside. “I think we’ll want as much sunlight as we can while traveling, if that’s okay. Plus one more day of rest would be great to offset the amount of traveling we’ve been doing.”
Rasbi nodded and took their cups, stacking them together and sliding her way into the kitchen, the windows now opened to the sunlight beyond. She set the cups down on the counter, looking up through the window to see the rubbled back of the top of the Maze with the sun gleaming beside it, taking in another breath as she soaked it in. We can get out. I can get out of here. No more staying in the Maze.
Tomorrow we leave. Tomorrow we go to the outside world and save it from the Flare disease. From those greedy people trying to kill us all.
And potentially fighting Oeca in the process…
Her fingers tapped on the wooden tabletop, curling in slightly. Going into a world that sounds like it’s in ruins and fighting an overpowered government system that includes our kidnapped brother… Won’t go horribly at all.
But still, she turned to the other boys with a wide smile on her face that lit up from the sneaking light. And for the first time, the trembling line she walked was snapped and sure, walking steadily towards the dream she laid eyes on.
“Let’s prepare then.”
-
Rasbi spent the rest of the day escorting them around the Clearing, showing the old houses still standing and full of cobwebs along with overgrown trees and fields. She took them to the warehouse used for their weapons and snagged leftover knives and spears, the greenhouse where she grew her own crops now being harvested to take on the journey back.
Her hands were buried in some dirt, digging around to remove some carrots with Mohwee beside her as the greenhouse around them was covered in lush emerald light from the early sunset outside, Kyle hanging out in the weapons facility still. As they dug up their food sources, Mohwee reached over and quietly rested a hand on Rasbi’s wrapped wrists, a touch barely recognizable but still enough to make her flinch.
“I’m sorry for whatever you’ve had to go through these last few months without anyone,” he murmured, his eyes searching the brown particles under them before lifting to her face. “But I’m here now. And I won’t leave you. Whatever happens out there, we’ll get through it together. Okay?”
Rasbi blinked round eyes at him, already starting to feel them soften and well up as she nodded wordlessly, taking his hand and squeezing it tightly. A brief image filtered into her head; of a hand she squeezed and got no response as it fell cold under her grasp.
But this hand was warm when she grabbed it. And when she squeezed, it squeezed back.
When they had finished gathering the food supplies and dropped it off to Kyle, sorting it out and dividing it between their bags, Rasbi silently took Mohwee’s hand and guided him to the place she wanted to show him before- the stones engraved with familiar names, settled in the evening glow and freshly planted with flowers.
She took him around to each spot, letting him silently stare at their fallen friends and the flowers beside them. Graecie with her daisies, Redd and Guts with bright red poppies. Rasbi paused longer beside Owen’s, lingering and reaching out a hand to touch his stone before joining Mohwee beside Graecie’s, the plentiful daisies waving in greeting as they approached. Rasbi slipped her hand back into his, resting her chin on his shoulder as it trembled under her with his muted sniffles. She thought she could hear soft words coming from his mouth, but knowing they weren’t meant for her and turning her head away as she closed her eyes and listened to the breeze around them instead, swirling a few multi-colored petals around their feet.
They stayed like that until darkness clung to the sky, finally making their way back into the house to sleep. And just before any light could come across the walls again, Mohwee was nudging Rasbi awake and got the last few supplies needed organized while Kyle stumbled awake, rubbing his face and yawning loudly.
But he saw their intense expressions, the nervous excitement radiating off of Rasbi, and snapped into focus as he assisted with his own pack. They set foot outside when the dew still sprinkled on petals and the grass blades below them, Kyle starting back on the path towards the doors into the Maze while Rasbi and Mohwee detoured towards a figure resting in a smaller field of daisies outside of the stream encircling Rasbi’s house.
Cheesecake’s head was lifted towards the sky, watching the stars twinkle away, but she inclined it towards them as they approached her on shaky feet. Rasbi kneeled down as soon as she got close enough, arms wrapping around the cow’s thick neck while Mohwee crouched over Cheesecake’s shoulders, a hand rubbing over the section of her cervical spine.
Rasbi burrowed her head into Cheesecake, arms tight around her as she whispered, “You’ll be safe here, Cheesecake. You can live out the rest of your life happily here and avoid the dangers outside. I promise this is better for you, but I won’t ever forget you.”
Cheesecake let out a soft mourning noise, as if aware of what was occurring, and Mohwee leaned in close as well as he promised fiercely, “We’re going to avenge her. Avenge everyone. It’s going to be okay again. We won’t ever forget you.”
The cow let out one last noise, Rasbi littering her forehead with kisses before standing up, backing away. A fragment of her heart was ripped out, crushed and speckled into the warm look in the cow’s eyes as she watched them leave, the few sneaking glimpses of sun catching their backs as they hustled to meet Kyle.
Dirt clouded up around their feet as they slowed, standing by the gates and waiting. Kyle’s hands were tucked into his pockets again, chin tilted up as he glanced over at Rasbi with his usual easy smile. “Excited to be outside of these walls? To get out of the Maze?”
She nodded, her breath wavering as she stared at the doors. Her words were thin, breathless as she admitted, “Never thought I would be able to. It feels unreal still.”
“It’ll be great,” Kyle reassured, flashing her a wink before settling into his own world, whistling. Rasbi glanced over at Mohwee, who was staring back at the stones watching over them in the distance in the center. The sun was grazing over them as well, flowers waving their own goodbyes as they winked with color.
Rasbi slipped her hand into his, taking a step closer to him to follow his gaze. “I hope they’re proud of us. We’re doing this for them.”
Mohwee exhaled, Rasbi hearing a tremor as he echoed, “We’re doing this for them.” He paused, then glanced at her with a weak smile. “We survive, we continue.”
Rasbi squeezed his hand, repeating softly, “We survive, we continue.”
A sunbeam shot out from behind the Maze, shooting forward and touching the top of the doors in front of them. All of them whipped towards them as the doors let out a loud groan, Rasbi’s heart jumping as the doors began to open again, began to show the entrance through the broken barricade Mohwee and Kyle had hashed out.
Kyle glanced at them once more, eyes alight. “Are we ready?”
Rasbi squeezed Mohwee’s hand again, feeling it squeeze in return. And she nodded. “Let's go save whatever world there is left.”
And as the doors let out one last thud, Rasbi rolled her shoulders back and looked back at the stones one more time. The one etched with her friend’s name, carrying the torch he lit for them.
We survive. We continue.
Then they all broke into a sprint, going back into the Maze and towards whatever world waited outside.