The gate clanged shut behind us with that familiar, terrifying finality. My legs were burning, sweat slicked my hair to my forehead, and every muscle screamed in protest but I was alive. Minho, as always, looked completely fine, like he’d just strolled through the Glade for a morning jog.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJwyarwxvI
“Finally,” he huffed, leaning against the wall, chest heaving. "you make that look easy short stuff" I hated when he called me that. He knew it got under my skin when he called me that nickname.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBc1q8Yh3H
Chuck came running from the Homestead, yelling, “Ada! You’re back!” His little legs carried him straight into my arms, and I laughed, lifting him up. “Don’t scare me like that again, little man!”
“I missed you!” he squealed, hugging my neck.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzZ51jrES1
I swung him gently side to side, feeling the warmth of him against me. “I missed you too, Chuck. But I’m back now, and that’s what matters.”
Frypan wandered over, hands in his pockets, chewing on a scrap of bread. “Look at you two,” he said, nodding at me and Chuck. “Like a little circus. Glad you survived out there, runner girl. Maze didn’t eat you, so that’s good enough for me.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGKbKhhR8I
Fry always called me runner girl. It was because when I first got into the maze I ran around doing the gardens before Minho recruited me to be his partner in runner.
I gave him a tired smile. “Thanks, Frypan. I’ll try to keep it that way.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUDMOp4Q05
And then… Newt. He appeared from the shadows, just watching, arms crossed, that soft worried frown on his face. My stomach did that stupid little flip it always did around him. When I first got here and saw newt. He made me feel at home even when I could not remember my name.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJhWdnvuPR
“You’re covered in dirt,” he said softly, stepping closer. “And sweat. And you probably smell like… I don’t even want to know.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2crrzTkMt
“Probably death,” I joked, leaning on the wall to catch my breath. “Surviving running the maze tends to do that.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6Zvyzxrsl
Chuck tugged at my hand. “Can we go eat now?”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTQDjyS0tK
Frypan groaned. “Finally. Some sense from the smallest Glader.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuYoGl2fu3
Newt, Minho, Chuck, me, and Frypan all walk to go get dinner.
The Homestead smelled like stew and bread the moment we walked in. It was simple, but after hours of running through the maze, it was heaven. Minho flopped onto a bench, stretching his legs, while I collapsed beside him, feeling every ache in my body. “Finally,” Chuck said, grabbing a bowl before anyone else had a chance. “Food!”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoROCX2WABA
I laughed, ruffling his hair. “Slow down, little man, or you’ll choke before we even start.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61RHAoYnAm
Frypan was already ladling stew into bowls, muttering something about greenies never appreciating a good meal. “Here,” he said, sliding a bowl in front of me. “Eat. You look like you ran for three days straight.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpwDFqM7Ax
I take the bowl from fry and say "thanks Frypan. Smells great."
I then go and sit under a tree. Then chuck, Minho, and newt all come and sit by me like every night.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fejy4kXCf
“You did good today,” Newt murmured, leaning slightly closer. “Really. You both did.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB11a4sjjCt
I glanced at him, and my chest did that stupid little flip again. “Thanks,” I said softly. “We couldn’t have done it without each other even the people who don't run that maze.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqIx1AlRhJ
Minho snorted. “Yeah, yeah. Enough of the mushy stuff. Eat before Chuck devours everything on our plates."153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPVQUzAx1e
Chuck grinned at that, shoveling stew into his mouth faster than I thought was possible. I leaned down and grabbed a piece of bread, breaking it in half and giving him one side. “Here,” I said. “Don’t eat too fast, little man. You’ll explode.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLjIYTVcB3
"Explode?" chuck asks with his innocent eyes.
“Metaphorically,” I said, smiling. “Mostly.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO7nuakhfY
Newt reached over and gently nudged my shoulder. “You’re always taking care of everyone,” he said quietly. “Even after a run like today. You don’t stop.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUXkOJHpON
I shrugged, feeling warmth spread through me not from the stew this time. “I guess… I just can’t help it. You guys are my family. And family looks out for each other.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0QL1nmgTc
Minho smirked at me, leaning back with his bowl raised like a toast. “Well, family, I’ll just say this next run, short stuff, I’m not letting you do all the work. You hear me?”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpePNEr1Ss
I raise my spoon and say "deal."
Newt’s hand brushed mine for a moment across the table, and I caught his gaze, feeling that quiet, steady bond we’d built. “I’ll be here,” he said softly. “Every time you come back.”153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBovJsIqsym
I smiled, heart full. In a world full of walls, monsters, and chaos, this - this small, chaotic, messy Glade was my safe place. My family. My people. And for tonight, that was enough. It always had been. I just never realized that until later in my life in the glade.153Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQSaEShD6r
and then Add to home screen.