The Maze Runner (Terra+Newt)

Chapter Three

     
"Not my place to say," he shrugged and walked over to Gally, who was now talking to a couple of other boys, Thomas following. I turned to Alby.
"What was he talking about?" I asked him, starting to get irritated.
"Newt, it's your turn. Gally had Thomas and I had Chuck," he gave me a quick smile before turning to the group.
"Alright then. Follow me," Newt said, walking off before I could answer.
I ran to catch up with him and then we walked side by side towards a treehouse. I stayed a good distance—about three feet—away from Newt, still not trusting anyone or anything. I kept my questions inside, knowing that Newt would give me answers like he said. I felt I could trust him, but I needed to be cautious.
When we reached the ladder to the treehouse, Newt smiled at me.
"Hope you're not afraid of heights!" And with that he started climbing up. I wasn't afraid of heights—not that I could remember anyway. My elbow had started to ache and as I climbed I failed to hide my pain, but luckily Newt wasn't looking.

"Nice view," he said as I climbed onto the wooden platform and stood there, not sure of what to do. He noticed and smiled. "Come look," he said. I walked over and leaned against the railing, and looked at the view.
"What is this?" I asked.
Newt sighed. "Well, this is the Glade. Every month, the box brings up supplies and a new kid. The greenie doesn't remember anything except his name, which'll come to you in a day or two.
"All of us have gone through what you have. We don't know who sent us here, or the bloody hell why. We can't remember anything from the outside."
"But where's the maze?" I asked.

Newt pointed to the doors. "Out there. And here is where I tell you the rules we have. Only three. One: never harm another Glader. Two: do your part of the work. And three: never go out there."
"But those two guys did," I said.

"Yeah, that's because they're Runners. Everyday they head out there, try to solve it."

"How long have they been looking?" I asked.

"Three bloody years," he replied. He glanced at me then, as if already knowing my next question.

"And they haven't found anything?"
He turned to me, leaning to the side into the railing. "It's not easier said than done."
I didn't understand.
"Look,"he said,"the Maze is a dangerous place. There're things out there that will kill you. Every night at sunset, those bloody doors close, keeping them out."

I looked at him. "What are they?"

"We call them Grievers," he said, looking back at the doors. "Though no ones ever seen one and lived to tell about it. No one has ever survived a shucking night in the Maze."
"But that doesn't explain why you haven't solved the Maze," I said. None of this was making sense.

"That's because it changes. Every night, those bloody walls move."
We stared at the doors for a moment, and I watched them close.
"And there's never been a girl here?" I asked him.
"Never," he replied. A moment later he stood up straight and headed toward the ladder.
"Well, that's enough questions for now. We're having a party in your honor once it's dark. You're welcome to stay up here, although there are a couple bloody shanks here that I don't completely trust."

There were a lot of, um, shanks that I didn't trust at all. Newt wasn't one of them. Nor was Alby, I decided. He seemed nice enough.