╭┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ACT ONEˊˎ-
╰┈➤ ❝ [𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟎𝟎𝟕] ❞
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୨⎯ "I'm not a baby, thank you very much." ⎯୧
ᵀʰʳᵉᵉ ᵐᵒⁿᵗʰˢ , ᵒⁿᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃ ʰᵃˡᶠ ʷᵉᵉᵏˢ ⁱⁿ
The door creaked open to Madylins hut and a faint glow from a small torch began to illuminate the space, casting shadows on the walls.
"Linie?" Mason whispered as he cautiously stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. 'Linie' was the nickname Madylin had quickly earned from the boy as they became close. "Are you up?"
Madylin stirred from her sleep, groggily sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Hm? What's wrong?" she asked, still half-asleep.
"I can't sleep," Mason replied, making his way over to the girl's bed. She instinctively reached out for him and he quickly settled into her arms. "I had another nightmare."
"It's okay," she comforted him, holding him close. "Where's Murphy?"
As Madylin looked around the room, still holding onto the young boy, she couldn't help but wonder where Murphy, a German Shepherd who had been sent up with Mason, was hiding. Alby and Gally had found him in a crate when they went to clear the box, and as soon as the dog was taken out, he immediately ran to Mason's side. It was believed that the Creators had sent the dog up with Mason because it was his pet, but Madylin secretly thought that Murphy was meant to protect the twelve-year-old boy.
The dog would stay by his side no matter what, whether it was under his hammock as he slept, or when he went to go do his job. Not even Nick or Minho could separate the two.
It wasn't long ago that Mason had arrived in the Glade. He had been chosen as a Runner by vote after testing everywhere else and not fitting in anywhere else. The day he found out he was going to become a Slopper, he cried until Minho and Madylin called for a vote to make him a Runner. He had the speed and agility, and everyone knew it. He trained with Minho for a month before stepping into the Maze for the first time. And when Minho felt he was ready, he took him on a half-day run to test his skills. Nick had initially protested, worried about sending a young kid into the dangerous Maze, but he couldn't deny that Mason was almost as fast, if not faster, than Minho. It was clear that Mason was meant to be a Runner, and both Madylin and Minho believed in him.
As Mason nestled into Madylin's arms, she couldn't help but think about how much he had grown since he first arrived in the Glade. He used to be a scared and angry kid, but now he was this confident funny boy who had grown comfortable and made himself part of their little family. She remembered how he used to snap at her sarcastic comments, but now he would join in and even make his own witty remarks.
She had taken a liking to Mason, even though he could be a bit of a handful at times. She saw a lot of herself in him, and she couldn't help but feel protective of the young boy. As they sat in silence, Madylin could feel Mason's body slowly relaxing in her arms. She knew he had been having nightmares ever since he had arrived, but she didn't push him to talk about it. She knew he would open up when he was ready.
"He's right outside," Mason finally broke the silence, referring to Murphy. "Can he come in?"
Madylin nodded before releasing the boy and he quickly got up and shuffled to the door to let his dog in. Murphy quickly ran inside and immediately jumped onto the girl's bed, wagging his tail licking her face with affection.
"Can we stay with you until I gotta go?" Mason asked quietly, his blue puppy eyes fixed on her. She could never say no to him — she only ever wanted to see him happy and comforted.
"Of course," she replied with a smile, patting the spot next to her for him to get comfortable.
Mason nestled in next to Madylin and Murphy snuggled at the foot of the bed. They lay in comfortable silence, a warm glow from the torch casting a cozy atmosphere in the room. Madylin ran her fingers gently through Mason's hair, soothing him and easing any worries he may have had.
"Do you ever miss anything, Mason?" Madylin's voice was soft.
Mason shifted slightly, his gaze fixed on the flickering light. "I miss my mom," he whispered wistfully. "Or at least, I think I do. I can't remember much about her."
Madylin listened intently, giving Mason space to share his thoughts. "What do you remember?" she prodded gently.
"Her blue eyes...or how when she smiled, it looked more like a frown," Mason replied with a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "But mostly just little things. I wish I could remember her voice... I want to leave here and find her again."
"And you will. That's why you have the most important job," she reminded him with a kind smile.
Mason nodded, a small smile appearing on his lips. "I don't think she ever wanted me to be alone. Maybe that's why I have Murphy," he said as he reached out to pet his dog.
"Absolutely," Madylin affirmed, "It gives you purpose, right?"
Mason nodded. "Yeah. I want to keep running until I find her. I think she's out there, somewhere."
Madylin gently squeezed his hand, offering silent support. "You'll find her, Mason. We'll all help you."
"Thanks, Linie," Mason murmured gratefully, a small smile tugging at his lips. He then looked up at Madylin, curiosity in his expression. "Do you ever miss anyone?"
Madylin's gaze softened as she looked at the boy. Flashbacks of the boy she couldn't quite remember flickered through her mind. She didn't understand why she felt she missed him. But she pushed the feelings aside, focusing on the present. "I can't remember anything."
Mason frowned, feeling sorry for her.
Madylin shook her head, noticing Mason's sad expression before offering a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Mason. It's not your fault."
A brief silence fell between them before Mason spoke again, his tone curious. "Do you ever wonder about your past? Like if you had a family or friends?"
Madylin hesitated, her eyes drifting to the ceiling as she considered his question. "Sometimes...I think so. It's strange not knowing who I was or where I came from before this place."
"Yeah, same," Mason replied, "But you've been here for a while now. It's like you belong here...they're your family."
Madylin's lips curled into a soft smile. "Yeah, I'm starting to feel that way too. The boys have become my family."
"Even Gally?" Mason asked innocently, making Madylin laugh. "Even Gally," she confirmed, "He may seem grumpy all the time, but he's still one of us."
Mason grinned. "He always looks like he's about to yell at someone, but he's not so bad."
"Yeah, deep down he has a soft side," Madylin added fondly as she thought about the Builder who kept everyone in line with his stern demeanor. She smiled as she remembered when she had the same talk with Clint when she first arrived. "He's just a little rough around the edges."
Mason nodded in agreement before asking another question. "What about Newt?"
Madylin's smile faltered for a moment, and she felt a flutter in her chest at the mention of the boy she had feelings for. "What about him?" she asked cautiously, trying to keep her voice steady.
Mason's eyes twinkled mischievously. "He looks at you the same way Frypan looks at his cooking. Does he have a crush on you?" The words spilled out of the boy before Madylin could stop them.
Madylin's cheeks turned a light shade of pink and she coughed, trying to downplay the situation. "Mason, Newt is just a good friend."
Mason raised an eyebrow playfully, a smirk appearing on his face. "But the way he looks at you is different. Even Nick and Minho say so."
Madylin giggled at the young boy. "What else have Nick and Minho told you?"
Mason's grin widened. "They tease Newt all the time! They say he gets all mushy whenever you're around. And Minho even made up a song about it that he sings on our runs," he confessed, earning another laugh from the girl.
Despite feeling embarrassed, Madylin couldn't help but smile at Mason's pure innocence. "Sometimes the boys like to make things up for fun. It's just their way of teasing each other," she explained, trying to change the subject.
Mason nodded, but his curiosity was still piqued. "But do you like Newt? More than just a friend?" he prodded, watching her closely.
Madylin hesitated, searching for the right words. "I... I'm not sure, Mason." She paused, sorting through her feelings. "It's complicated. Everything is complicated right now."
Sensing her reluctance to open up further, Mason didn't push. "It's okay, Linie. You don't have to tell me everything," he reassured, snuggling closer to her for comfort.
Before she could dwell on the topic any longer, Minho barged into the hut and leaned against the frame. "Mason?" he called out.
"How'd you know I was here?" Mason huffed, crossing his arms and pouting at his Keeper.
"Let's just say it's starting to become a pattern," Minho responded with a cheeky grin, walking over to the two.
Mason rolled his eyes playfully. "Yeah, well maybe I just prefer the comfort of Linie's hut over your sarcasm, Minho."
Madylin couldn't help but chuckle at their friendly banter. She was glad that Minho and Mason had grown so close, almost like a father-son relationship. "Boys, play nice," she teased, giving Mason a gentle pat on the back.
Minho laughed and ruffled Mason's hair before turning to Madylin with a fond smile. "He's lucky to have you looking out for him, Mad."
Mason swatted Minho's hand away. "Hey, I can take care of myself. I'm not a baby, thank you very much."
Madylin winked at them both as she got up from her bed. "Alright, go away now. Minho needs you so take care of each other," she said warmly, ushering them out of the hut.
Once outside, Minho clapped a hand on Mason's shoulder. "Are you ready?"
Mason nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement. "Definitely! I bet I can beat you to section three this time."
Minho raised an eyebrow in amusement. "We'll see about that, kiddo. But remember, the Maze is not a game. We're out there looking for a way out."
Mason nodded seriously, taking in every word from his mentor. "I've got it, Minho. I'll make you proud."
"You already do," Minho replied.
Together they met up with the other runners, Ben, Jax, and Carl who were seated near the closed opening of the Maze entrance. As they began their stretching routine, Minho explained the plan for their run and assigned partners: Jax and Carl would be together while Ben would run with Minho and Mason.
Nick's voice echoed through the air, causing Mason to run over excitedly and give him a hug. Nick hugged him back with one arm while using the other to hold out sandwiches and grapes. "You guys almost forgot something."
Mason grinned, taking the food gratefully. "Thanks!" The other boys also thanked Nick as they took their portions of food.
"You better not bring this back uneaten, understood?" Nick said, offering a rare smile. Mason snorted. "Yep, yep, no need to worry about that."
"I wasn't talking about you," Nick ruffled Mason's hair affectionately as he looked in Minho's direction. "It's him who needs to hear it.
Mason looked in the direction Nick gestured to. "Ya hear that Mean-hoe! Eat stinky!" He pointed at him, trying to sound serious just like Nick. Minho simply rolled his eyes, chuckling, as he brushed off the warning.
Nick watched in amusement as he laughed, enjoying the boy's behavior. "Be careful out there, all of you."
Mason nodded eagerly as he began to eat some grapes and stuffed a sandwich into his pack.
Back at the hut, Madylin watched them with pride swelling in her chest from the doorway. As the group of runners entered the Maze and Nick returned to Homestead, Madylin retreated back into her hut and prepared for her own day.
AN: Please note that the next chapter will contain acts of Violence, Sexual Assault, Strong Detail, and Harsh Language! Please skip that part in the chapter if you feel uncomfortable. It will be more towards the end of it. Thank you and I hope you're enjoying the rest of the story (: