1. FIGHTER - the maze runner, newt

Chapter 33

One more minute. I thought as my fingers fumbled with the bow slugged across my chest. Dressed in the same outfit as the day before; I stood in front of the East Doors along with Minho and Thomas. Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I prepared for the moment I've been waiting for since the day I got here.

Today's the first day of my new job; a Runner. My heart pounded against my chest, nervous to what we'd find or if we'll find anything at all. I was excited though. Ever since I got here, all I wanted to do was explore the Maze and try to help find a way back to our families. Thanks to Newt, I now have a chance to do that.

Swallowing back a whimper of despair, I tried to cast my thoughts away from him. The seven hours of sleep I had received last night was blissful in a sense. Yes, they were filled with nightmares of pained screams and mechanical monsters but it wasn't as bad as when I woke up to the drowning sensation of guilt. It was like someone had placed a metal weight on my chest and surgically removed my stomach to my feet. I never knew telling someone the truth could bite you in the ass this hard.

Playing with the ends of my tight ponytail, I kept my mind from wandering. Everything from Alby's visions, to the girl, to Newt's outburst - were the reasons as to why I believe getting out of Glade and searching the Maze, would be healthy for my sanity.

Testing my right leg's ability to handle my body weight, I cocked my head over my shoulder, looking to see if anyone was up yet. I saw Frypan groggily make his way over to Zart, who lazily gave him a woven basket full of freshly picked berries from the Garden. I assume Frypan was going to try and make blueberry pancakes today. I could count all the people awake, with one hand. Only a few of them were awake and moving about. All of them were Keepers, preparing their workplaces to be used by the Gladers.

Do they wake up this early every morning? I thought grimly, cringing at the little sleep some of these Gladers get.

My thoughts were interrupted, when a frantic figure limped out of Homestead, their brown eyes frantically flashing across Glade. My heart stopped in my chest when their eyes met with mine, just as the Doors began opening. Newt's big brown eyes bore into mine, my breath getting caught in my lungs like I was actually drowning. I wanted to run to him and hug him, letting him know the amount of guilt I felt, but I was stronger than that. Plus, I'm too stubborn to let him know how much his words and anger had gotten to me. Confusion grows as I watched his eyebrows melt down, his eyes looking over my face with a pained expression.

"Ready, Greenbeans?" Minho's voice spoke up as I forced my eyes away from Newt. I looked up at the Doors, watching as the concrete slowly separated for the day. I gulped at the memory of when Ben was Banished; a familiar guilt subsided my original guilt with Newt, reminding me of how I had been one of the reasons why a boy's life was taken. I shook my head and focused on the mission ahead; finding a way out of the Maze and getting these kids home to their families.

Thomas and I shared a quick glance, before being interrupted by Minho sprinting past us, slapping our shoulders as a signal for us to follow. My legs bounced as adrenaline pumped through my veins. I watched Thomas sprint after Minho first, a small excited smile pressed across his face.

For Chuck. I thought to myself, causing my mind to harden in determination. I took my first step into the Maze, a rush of freedom crossing me, creating a shadow of a smile to creep onto my face. Lunging forward, I ignored the stinging pain of my still sore body as I continued forward toward the way to everyone's freedom.

Surprising myself, I caught up to Minho, running along his right side while Thomas ran on his left. I tried my best not to count the many turns we've made and the corridors we've crossed, it would make everything seem much more longer and make everything much more painful. I focused on the scenery around, seeing the light bounce through the leaves on the vines and create delicate shadows from the cracks in the walls. Everything seemed so peaceful. No one would ever think that someone so young could possibly ever be brutally and cruelly killed by mindless, mechanical monsters. No one would ever think that at night, this calm and peaceful looking place would become a place of your nightmares. It was almost as if this calm aura was a tease set on the Runners. To let the Runners know that it was their daily failures that these young men are still stuck in a living hell. A taunting tactic that could slowly but surely drive you insane.