stuck with him - newt tmr

"DONT LOOK BACK!" I scream amidst all the screeching and thumping of the machined beasts. Legs pumping and chest heaving, I grunt in exhaustion as I force myself to keep moving forward, hurdling over ropes of vines and debris littered along the maze floor. I hear my best friend, Kia, huffing alongside me, trying her best to keep up.  A handful of the other girls are sprinting a decent distance ahead, heading for what seems like an exit to this madness, the escape out of this maze. Just a few hundred metres more to go. I watch as they all scramble to the closed door, frantically trying to figure out a way to open the thing - a latch, a lever, a button. "Get that damn door open." I breathe out, legs searing with pain with each heavy stride I take. My feet are slapping against the concrete floor and I put all my energy in trying not to trip up.

A deafening shriek consumes my ears above me as another griever appears, scaling down the walls with menacing speed. Another piercing scream catches my attention to my left, and I don't dare turn my head to look yet my peripherals defy me - catching a glimpse of yet another creature charging towards us. It was as if the creators from above have realised our near escape and are doing whatever it takes to stop us.

The thought of this gives me a recharged boost of anger, channeling this into my aching legs, a cry of pain and rage coming out of me. I quickly glance back to Kia, struggling to keep up with me as she begins to falter behind. "Come on Kie! We're almost there!" I shout, now hyper-aware of the distance the grievers behind are catching up to us. Kia stifles a sob in desperation as she sprints through the maze, breaths growing heavier and heavier with each step she takes. Until it stops.

Her eyes widen in pure fear as she steps on a rock, causing her to stumble and send her flying across the concrete. I immediately skid to a halt as I hear the thud of her body sprawled on the floor, whilst I instantaneously feel the weight of extreme tiredness pressing down on my body. Eyes widened, mind racing, I reach for Kia and yank her back onto her feet, before dragging her back onto the race to freedom. But she stumbles yet again.

"My foot!" She exclaims, shouting in excruciating pain. "Leave me behind! Neither of us will make it if you stay with me." She doesn't stop her sobs now, her body shaking from the sheer realisation of her coming death.

"Shut it Kie, there is no way in hell am I letting you die when we are so close to the end." I growl as I wrap Kia's arm around my shoulder and use all my remaining strength to carry us both to the door. I can hear the group of girls shouting at each other to get the door open as they look back to see the multiple grievers closing in on us. It was a code they needed, and I can make out Moira, with her trembling fingers punch in the sequence.

Kia and I have made it onto the last stretch of the race, along the narrow path with the terrifying void consuming the sides of the road. The concrete rumbles as the pounding pincers of the grievers pounce closer towards us.

"Maria..." Kia breathes out, struggling to keep her balance despite me practically dragging her body along with me. I ignore her as I'd rather be focusing on us getting out of here, rather than engaging in conversation. "GET THAT DOOR OPEN NOW!" I roar, we have made it halfway along the walkway now. Two years trapped in this maze. Seventeen lives tragically lost within those years. All under my leadership. All on my hands. We have to get out of here - to make it up to them.

"MARIA." Kia screams out, causing me to snap my head to her direction, just slightly slowing down. My eyes search her face, but it's hung low, her hair concealing her features. "You really tried your best," she heaves in between each word, "to save everyone." My face scrunches up in confusion, and instinctively look up to the rest of the girls calling out to us, shouting at us to hurry the hell up. A horrifying shriek behind us causes me to jump, eyes widening at the mechanical creature coming closer and closer, thirsting for its prey. "We gotta go Kie, just work with me please."