chapter ten:
Jail Time

"I would be careful on that leg," Jeff informed Minho. The Keeper of Runners gave a remark before he left Homestead. He wasn't allowed in the Maze for a day or two while he had a substitute in his place. The Asian boy made it to the Kitchen, expecting to see Elizabeth and Frypan arguing over what to serve. Instead, he was greeted with Frypan cooking.

"Where's Elizabeth?" Minho asked. Using Elizabeth's actual name for once. The Cook turned around to see Minho standing there.

"Slammer," Frypan answered. Minho immediately left the Kitchen and headed for the Slammer.

***

"Chuck?" Elizabeth asked hopefully getting to see her chatty mouth friend. Instead, she was Minho, the blond immediately sat back down on the annoying stool.

"Aren't excited to see me, Shank?" Minho asked with a playful vibe. He noticed the scowl on Elizabeth's face that told him that she wasn't happy to see him. "Did I do something?"

"You didn't bloody tell Nick." Were the only five words she spoke. Minho's face went pale, already imagining the Gathering that went on without him.

"They weren't supposed to have a Gathering without me," Minho mumbled.

"They knew you would defend me without thinking about order. So they had it without you, and I ended up this shank hole." Elizabeth bitterly replied. She wasn't mad at Minho, she was just disappointed in him. If he told her that he hadn't asked Nick, she wouldn't have pushed it since she knew the consequences. She just went against Newt's words.

The Asian boy felt very confused on Elizabeth, one minute she is happy and all and the next she is mad. Maybe it was his fault for not taking the deal more seriously.

"Because I didn't want you to get Banish, so I took the blame," Elizabeth whispered quietly, moving onto the floor. She rested her head against the wall, waiting for Minho's response, instead, she received silence.

"I'm going to get you out of this." Was what Minho was able to say, but Elizabeth was already deep in slumber.

A blond teenage girl frowned at the sight of her computer screen. To see her friends suffer in a Maze that they couldn't escape until Thomas and Teresa arrived. She knew her turn to enter was coming soon and entering the Maze meant going through trails to find a cure. A cure to save the world.

"Liz." A teenager's voice spoke, calling for the blond. She didn't hear him and continued to stare at her screen. Her eyes were trained on her twin brother and her best friend. "Sleeping Beauty."

Elizabeth let out a sigh before turning around to face Thomas who had a concerned look.

"Yes, Thomason?"

"Horrible nickname." Thomas scrunched his nose. Elizabeth chuckled.

Minho and Newt went to let Elizabeth out of the Slammer when they heard her mumble something.

"I love you."

Newt exchanged a glance with Minho, not noticing that Minho made a fist. They opened the Slammer and woke up the sleeping girl.

"Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," Minho said while Newt shook Elizabeth violently. When her eyes snapped open, she only remembered a few things. Sleeping Beauty, I Love You and a saying. Survive the Maze.

"Yeah, good morning," Elizabeth replied, still laying down, staring at the wall. Her mind has been acting weird lately and it has been bothering her.

***

Minho watched Elizabeth carefully while they ate dinner. Something was wrong, he could sense it while they ate in silence. That was the thing, usually Elizabeth talks non-stop with Chuck but something was off about today. It was as if Elizabeth saw a ghost.

"So, I can go to the Maze tomorrow?" Minho asked, trying to break the silence. Elizabeth nodded her head, still thinking three things that confused her. She shut her eyes closed for a second before deciding to leave it alone.

"Uh, yeah. Your leg healed up pretty quick and you seem in good shape. Just be careful and survive the Maze," Elizabeth told the boy, her voice was filled with worry and fear.

"Without you. It'll be a walk in a park." Minho assured Elizabeth.

'I wish I could believe you.'

○●●●

I've been in Orlando, Florida for a week. I had just arrived home at 5 in the morning on Sunday and I spent the day sleeping, unpacking and writing. This is a sucky chapter but I'll try and make the other one better.

Here are some trip pictures.