Part 2: The Maze

Chapter 12

I walk into the dining room with Newt. Evan comes up to me with a smile on his face.

"What are we eating?" I ask.

"Well Frypan over here cooked an entire fried chicken dinner. I don't know how he did it but but he's talented as klunk." Evan said excitedly. I smile and sit down at the table. Everyone eats their food. Wow. This meal is awesome! I stand up and grab Siggy's hand holding it up in the air.

"From now on Frypan here is a full time chef!" I announce. Everyone cheers and claps.

"Frypan! Frypan! Frypan!" Everyone chants. Frypan smiles and bows.

After everyone leaves I decide to take a walk through the woods. I hear someone come up from behind me. I turn around to see Max who has a smile on his face.

"You look happy." I said.

"Follow me." He said. He led me to a tree and started climbing. I climbed up after him. We sat down on a huge branch.

"Look." Max said pointing at the Glade. I looked. From where I was sitting I could see the sun slipping behind the walls. The sunset was beautiful. Pink clouds danced across the setting sky. I smiled. Who knew such beauty could exist in here? I could feel Max looking at me.

"You're beautiful you know?" He said. He thinks I'm beautiful? For some reason I could feel heat rising to my cheeks.

"What makes you say that?" I ask. I turn to look at him.

"It's the truth." He said. Butterflies fill up in my stomach. Max cups my face and he leans in. Holy klunk I can't believe this is happening. I never knew Max felt this way about me. I don't know if I feel the same way for him though. His lips meet mine and we share a sweet soft kiss. I pull away.

"Max we can't do this." I said.

"Why not?"

"Because this doesn't feel right."

"Please tell me you're joking."

"Max I'm sorry but this won't work out. We are in the middle of a deadly Maze. I can't focus on a relationship right now. I'm sorry." I said. Before Max could say anything else I climbed back down the tree.

***

I wake up to the sun shining through the window. I suddenly remembered what happened last night. Max kissed me and I told him it wasn't right. I frown knowing that I hurt him.

After I get dressed and ready I start making my way to the Kitchen for breakfast. I was dreading to see Max today. Alby runs up to me with fear in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I need your help now." He pants out of breath.

"What's going on?"

"Minho wants to go down the empty hole where the Box comes through!" He said then he starts running back to the Box. I run after him. This is a bad idea. I have the most unsettling feeling about going down that hole.

I arrive at the Box to find Minho tying a rope around himself.

"Minho stop!" I demand.

"Maddie I thought you would like this idea. We could get out of here." Minho said. No this is not the way to go. I can feel it.

"Or you could be going to your death. We can't lose you." I said. It's true. Minho is a Runner. It would be difficult to run the Maze without him. He's one of our best.

"We have to take the risk. We need to get out of here." Minho said. He's too stubborn to listen.

"I'll do it." A voice says from behind me. I turn around. The voice belonged to Max. I'm shocked.

"Max no. We can't lose you too." I said my voice shaking. I know I hurt him but he's still like a good friend to me and I don't want to lose him.

"Maddie he's right though. We have to take a risk but you are also right. Minho knows how the Maze works and if we lose him then our chances of escaping drop. You guys don't need me as much as you need him." Max said. What is he doing? I shake my head. This is not happening right now. I grab Max's hand and pull him aside.

"What are you doing?" I whisper.

"Maddie it's like I said. We have to take risks but we can't on Minho's life. I'm not going to stand here and watch someone risk their life so I'm volunteering. You, Minho, and Newt are risking your lives everyday in that Maze. Now it's my turn." Max whispered.

"Don't worry. I have a good feeling about this." Max said. I shake my head again getting angry.

"That's just the thing Max! I have a bad feeling about this!" I whisper aggressively.

"Someone has to try or we'll always be wondering 'what if'." Max said.

"Are you doing this because I hurt your feelings?"

"I already told you why." Max said. Then he goes over to Minho. Max better not be doing this out of hurt. Minho gives Max the rope. Max ties it around himself and Gally picks up the other end of the rope and ties it around a metal post. I bite my lip as Max starts making his way down the darkness. Gally slowly lowers the rope. My whole body starts shaking.

"I can't see anything but I feel something... it's like a ridge in the wall. It's like there's something sharp embedded in the wall." Max shouts. My heart starts beating faster. The sound of him talking about the sharp thing didn't sound good. I bite my lip harder. I can taste blood in my mouth. Fear is going down my spine.

"Max get out of there!" I yell my voice trembling.

"Hold on there's something else here." Max shouts. I see a light flicker on. Max turned on a flashlight.

"There's a message here..." Max said quietly but we could hear his voice echo.

"What does it say?" Gally shouted.

"Nice try." Max said his voice shaking. He needs to get out of there now. A voice in my head is yelling at me to pull him back up.

"MAX GET OUT OF THERE!" I scream. I grab the rope from Gally and start pulling him up. A loud grinding sound emerged from below. I try pulling as fast as I can.

"Maddie?" Max shouts. He then screams for a split second but suddenly stops. I hear a sickening thunk.

"MAX!" I shriek.