Chapter Text
The door slammed open. Your heart was racing. The fear inside you was exhausting. But you had to keep running. Keep going. Stumbling outside, all you saw were walls. Tall and cold, they towered above you. Vines running up them periodically. You broke into a sprint running any way you could. Taking turn after turn, everything began to look the same. But you couldn't stop. Close behind you was a security team, desperate to get you back to the lab.
The echoes of their footsteps pushed you to run further. Faster. You took a sharp turn to the left. The soldiers, still following behind you.
Don’t look back, you thought. If you look back you’ll slow down. With your luck you’d trip and fall as well. Then they’d drag you back to the lab. Who knows what they’d do to you now that you’ve disobeyed them so brazenly.
After a sharp right turn you felt a sharp pain in your ankle. Who cares? Keep running. I’ll deal with it later, your thoughts continued to run as fast you were.
They were always more gentle with you and Teresa. They didn’t put you through as many tests as they did the boys. They found your minds more useful helping with testing. It killed you to watch the horror on their faces when they had you help.
Teresa on the other hand was not nearly as opposed to the process as you were. Thomas seemed to agree with you but he never outright showed it. It was tiring, watching them suffer. Only sending supplies and a new kid once a month.
Taking another sharp turn you slammed into something hard, but soft all at once. It hurt. You heard a loud yell as you hit the ground. The footfall behind you stopped.
“What’s the big…” The voice began. Wide dark eyes fell square on you. His eyebrows knitted together.
“Minho?!” Your voice was high, a smile spread briefly across your face.
“How do you…”, he never seemed to finish his sentences. It made you chuckle briefly. Then it hit you. Of course he doesn't know who you are. Their minds were wiped of everything before they got sent up.
Scrambling to get up off the ground, you held out your hand and pulled Minho up.
“I’ll explain later, I promise. But for right now, I need you to take me back to the glade”, the words fell from your mouth quickly as you checked behind you. Nothing. The fear in your eyes faded slightly, your heartbeat slowing down.
You turned back to Minho who nodded quietly, his eyes lingering on you a bit longer, “Come on then.” He turned, leading the way back to the glade. You followed closely behind. Looking behind you as you went. They had really stopped following you.
So their secrecy to the Gladers is more important than my interference , you thought.
After all the twists, turns, and miles of gray ivy covered walls, the two of you had finally made it back to the glade. Minho led you directly to the meeting hall. The concrete steps and wooden walls were a welcome change from the maze.
“Wait here.” Minho seemed afraid to leave you alone, but figured it would be fine since you had demanded to be brought there anyway.
You nodded and sat on the steps, assuring him slightly that you would not be going anywhere. He then once again took off running. The coolness of the concrete was welcoming. The heat from running the maze in the sun was drifting away from you. You lied down on it. Pressing your cheek to the shadowed ground. A few minutes had passed before Minho had returned with two other boys. A tall boy with dark skin and a commanding presence. The other was shorter and skinnier. At least when compared to the two boys standing with him.
Alby and Newt , you thought. I remember when they sent them up here. How much I cried. How it felt like I was losing them forever . Without realizing it, tears had filled your eyes. Your throat had tightened and your heart was pounding once again.You wrapped all three boys in a hug. The tears broke away and began to stream down your face.
None of them responded. The boys just stood there awkwardly until you had finished. They each looked at each other with looks of confusion on their faces. Except Minho, who was studying you. The wheels turned quickly in his head. How does he know you? Pulling away, you stood before them ready to confess everything.
“I don't know where to start.” You began.
“Start with who you are and why you’re here.” Alby demanded.
You frowned a bit at his tone. Normally he’d never speak to you like that. You took a deep breath and started again, “Right, I’m Y/N. I knew you guys before you were sent up here…”
“Obviously”, you whispered more to yourself than to them. Of course they knew that already. It's the only explanation for why you knew their names already.
“I escaped from the lab below us. I’ve been trying to plan a way to get you all out of here. Finally, I decided I just had to find a way here and figure the rest out later.” You paused looking at your audience.
Alby and Newt had their arms crossed. They listened intently to your every word. Minho was a little more open. He stood next to you, hands on his hips staring at the ground.
Alby stepped forward rather aggressively, “Why should we believe you? How do we know you’re not one of them?”
His sudden shift in behavior frightened you. Causing you to grab Minho’s hand and step behind him for safety. You knew you shouldn't be scared of Alby. He wouldn't hurt you. Why would he? He was your brother after all. But right now he didn't know that, and you were just another stranger.
Minho stood in front of you defensively and seemed to push back at Alby on your behalf.
“Back off Alby!” Minho growled. Minho’s reaction caught everyone off guard. Including himself, “Why did I…?” Minho trailed off in wonder. You giggled lightly in response. He really hasn't changed. But that was why you loved him, because he cared a lot more than he let people know. Except for you and Newt of course.
Your giggle caught the attention of the three boys. Newt raised an eyebrow and gently came towards you. “Who were we to you?” He asked. His voice was calm and it diffused the tension in the air.
“That’s a great question!” You spoke rather excitedly, pulling some wadded up files from your back. You had shoved them there before escaping to hopefully prove you were there to help. You laid them out gently on the ground.
“After you were sent up, WCKD kept your files updated with almost everything that you’ve done before the maze and during it.” You handed each boy his file, and there were a few extra including yours still laying in the middle.
“How does this tell us anything about who we were to you?” Newt asked as he flipped open his file.
“Well for instance, each of your files has a section that lists family members and where they might be. As well as a notes section.” Your voice was soft and calm.
Each boy stared at their file of papers until Alby began to read his out loud:
Subject Name: Alby [REDACTED]
Age: 18
Ethnicity: African-American
Family: [REDACTED] (Parents), Y/N [REDACTED] (Sibling)
Connections: Minho, Newt, Thomas, Teresa
The other boys looked between you. It made sense. Your reaction to seeing them made far more sense now. You watched as Alby opened your file. It was almost an exact replica of his.
“I’m sorry I don't remember you.” His apology seemed genuine. There was a look of sorrow on his face, it was then replaced by a small smile. “But at least I know now.”
“It says in my file I was close with you, Minho, Alby, and someone named Thomas?” Newt looked at you.
All you did was nod. It was a lot for them to take in. Minho said nothing as he closed his file. His dark eyes lingered on you the same way they had when you ran into each other in the maze. You knew it was in his file that the two of you were a couple. It was in yours too. There was no doubt Alby had read it in your file. Because now he was staring at Minho with a bit of annoyance in his eye. Of all people, it had to be Minho.
Newt looked at the names on the other files you had brought, “Thomas, Gally, Ben, and Chuck.”
“Well I guess either Thomas or Chuck will be the next greenie.” Alby spoke, still staring at Minho who was still staring at you.
“Knock it off shank, that's my sister you're leering at.” Alby was grinding his teeth. It warmed your heart to know he was embracing you as his sister.
“How’d you get into the maze?” Minho finally piped up, his face red and hot.
“There’s a door from the lab into the maze,” you saw a glimmer of hope spark in their eyes, “But… it only opens from the inside.” You finished.
The spark of hope had died out slightly. and then Newt spoke, looking to Alby, “But maybe it can be forced open? Like, with a crowbar or a ho?”
Alby turned to you for an answer.
“It wouldn't hurt to try. I don't think they keep up on the maintenance in that wing of the lab now that most of you are up here, so it's possible.” You encouraged them. You wanted them to hope for a way out. Because there was one. You knew there was. and hopefully, you could lead them to it.
“The only problem is Section 6 won't be open again for another week. We’ll have to wait.” Informed Minho.
“Then we’ll wait and prepare. Do you think you can remember where the door is from here?” Alby asked.
“No. But if Minho can lead me back to where we ran into each other, I might be able to retrace my steps back to the door.” You sounded sheepish. Embarrassed that you might not be able to find the door when the time came.
“It's worth a shot.” Newt said. “In the meantime, you can work with me in the gardens, and you can have my room in the homestead.”
“Uh, she can have my room. I can sleep in the map room.” Minho offered. You gazed at him, your head tilted slightly.
“Sounds good. Until Section 6 opens up next week Y/N, you’ll work in the gardens with Newt and sleep in Minho’s room. and I'll get the builders to find you a bed for the map room Minho.” Alby declared.
The further away from my sister you sleep, the better. He thought to himself.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Minho offered to show you around the glade since he was back early from his run. Alby went off to figure out how to explain your arrival to the rest of the gladers taking your files with him, while Newt tried to keep everyone focused on their jobs instead of you.
He led you first to the homestead. It was a decent size, the room was just big enough to be considered cozy rather than cramped. You looked briefly at the room. The bed was made neat. Almost as if he never slept in it. There were clothes strewn about the floor. You smiled a bit. His room usually looked like this. In the lab his clothes would be in a pile in the corner and his bed had never been slept in. He once told you he slept on the floor as an act of rebellion. Giggling at the memory, you step into the room and sit down on the bed. It was small but it did the job.
“If you always sleep on the floor anyway we could just share your room.” A cheeky smile broke across your face.
Then it finally happened. Minho cracked a small smile and laughed. It was the first time he smiled since you’d arrived. Your smile widened at the sight and you felt as though your heart was smiling too.
“I don't think Alby would like that too much.” He let out between laughs. Minho sat down next to you. His hand landed atop of yours. Neither of you pulled away. Instead, you took a chance and leaned into him.
Taking your hand in both of his, Minho pressed a small kiss to it. You stiffened.
“I… I don’t remember everything. But when we ran into each other… I felt like I knew you. and the more time I spend with you, the more I feel like… Like I'm remembering things. At least about us. I remember that I love you. But I don't remember how we got there.” Minho let everything spill out. It was unusual for him to be vulnerable with anyone. Even you.
“I was afraid you’d never remember. and that maybe you wouldn't fall for me again.” Your voice was barely above a whisper.
Minho squeezed your hand lightly and looked at you, “Of course I’d fall for you again. Can I ask you something though?”
You nodded, both of your hands now in his. “What did they do to us? To you? After I was sent up… were you okay? Did they hurt you?”
You sighed. You didn't want to think about what happened after they took Minho away. Briefly, Minho got up and closed the door to his room. He didn't want to get in trouble right away, but this was an important conversation. You seemed hesitant and he didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing. Wrapping your arms around yourself, you felt a coldness take over your body. You moved yourself to the wall and curled your knees to your chest.
Minho watched you retreat from him. He hated seeing you like this. Afraid. Tears streamed silently down your face as your days in the lab flashed before you. The tests were horrible. The simulations they put you through were terrifying. More often than not they made you witness the deaths of those you loved. You remembered when they dropped Minho off a cliff. When they had Alby mauled by a griever. When Newt got caught in a fire and you couldn't save him.
Even though they didn’t run you through the simulations often, when they did it was like they turned the dial up to ten. You couldn’t begin to count the number of times you’ve seen your loved ones die. The tears took you over as the memories cycled through you. Your body was shaking with each sob.
Arms wrapped tightly around you. Minho pulled you into his lap. The shaking slowed. He wiped the tears from your face with his sleeve.
“You don't have to tell me. “ He caressed you.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… a lot has happened”. You took a deep breath, remembering the fight you had with Teresa and Thomas. “I’ll tell you. But maybe not now?” Standing up you reached for one of Minho’s shirts that had been tossed aside on the floor.
“Whenever you're ready… I’ll be here to listen.” Minho stood and grabbed your hand and kissed it.
“You know just how to make a girl swoon don't you?” You both laughed at your response. Making your way out of the room, you resisted the temptation to hold Minho’s hand. He laughed.