Survival of the Fittest // Maze Runner

#3: A Bloody Tour

Riley

I wake up to the smell of something delicious and the sun shining through the tent. I look over to Ava's sleeping bag to see that she's not there. That makes my pulse rise. We just met these people, Thomas, Brenda, and Minho if that was even his name. So I'm not going to let my guard down even if they provide us food.

I tuck a knife into my boot before getting out of the tent.

"Ava?" There's a small camp fire going and all four of them are gathered around it.

"Yeah she's an independent girl she doesn't like to ask for things even when we desperately need it." Ava says to Minho.

I cringe when I realize that she's talking about me. She will never admit it, but she can sometimes be a major flirt.

"She does seem a bit hard headed." Minho says and everyone else mumbles their agreements.

"Excuse me?" I say loud enough to make myself known. I walk over to Ava and cross my arms.

"What are you doing?" I ask her.

"Riley calm down we were only just talking." Thomas interjects.

"The hell you are. Scoot over." Ava quickly moves over on the log so I have someplace to sit. I cross my arms over my chest.

"Chill I didn't tell them anything." She whispers into my ear.

"I don't want you talking to them. We have no idea who they are and what they're capable of. I thought you of all people would know that."

She just shakes her head and returns to what she was roasting in the fire. I take a closer look to see that it's fish. Why does it smell so good?

"It's seasoned. Frypan found some herbs so that's what we use most of the time." Thomas says apparently reading my mind.

Frypan?

"Who's this Frypan guy?" I ask.

"He's the cook I guess you can say. Our camp is here and the others are over there." He points his stick to the right of the fire.

Great there's more people.

He has an arm around Brenda and she leans her head on his shoulder.

Okay so Brenda and Thomas are an item and Minho hates me. How wonderful.

I look over at Minho and take in his appearance. He has on a dirty tank, jeans, and by the looks of it, he seems very muscular. He also looks like he's shooting daggers at the fire. Does my presence really annoy him that much?

"It's not polite to stare." Ava nudges me.

"I wasn't staring." I mumble as I look away.

Everyone's eating a moment later. My mouth waters but I refuse to consume anything these guys make me.

"What, are you just going to sit there and starve?" Minho speaks up.

"That was the plan." I give him a sarcastic smile.

"Suit yourself."

"Come on Riley, here." Brenda hands me a stick with a piece of fish attached to it at the end. I consider not trusting her for a moment but then decide to just go with it. It's not going to help either of us if I'm starving.

I'm practically drooling at the mouth as the fish roasts. I can't remember the last time we actually had something substantial to eat.

"So Riley..." Brenda starts.

"What?"

"Where are you from?"

"Does it matter?" I snap.