The Runners: A Maze Runner AU Story - Book 1

1.2: Life In The Glade

"Welcome to the glade," Alby said as he walked around showing Thomas everything that the glade had to offer. There were 4 individual sections in the maze including the homestead in the northwest which consisted of a double-story building where some of the boys slept and also contained a kitchen. The homestead also held the gathering which was a meeting between all of the gladers. Behind the homestead sat the slammer which functioned as a jail.

On the northeast side of the glade rested the gardens. This area was a grassy area where crops were grown and water was pumped since it never rains or storms in the glade. Some gladers slept there on hammocks or in sleeping bags since there wasn't enough room for everyone in the homestead and since Thomas was new that would be where he would end up having to sleep.

Alby continued showing Thomas the rest of the glade going around till he made it to the southwest area which the gladers called the deadheads. In this area, it was a small forest with a graveyard where any glader who was killed or died ended up here. Thomas wanted to ask how many people had died and how but before he could Alby said something about it. "The reason we told you not to go out of the glade is that there are these creatures we call grievers that live in the maze. For a few years now we have been working on trying to solve the maze but every night when the doors close the maze shifts and the grievers roam the maze. So we send a group of our fastest and more agile gladers out into the maze during the day to map it each day. Every week the cycle restarts with a few small differences but normally each cycle is the same each week. We haven't found any sign of an exit for 3 years now but that's not important right now all you need to know is if you don't wanna end up inside the deadheads you won't break rule number one. Only runners may leave the maze and any who don't get back before the maze closes will be stuck outside to survive until the doors open again in the morning" Alby said and then continued walking before Thomas could ask any more questions. It was apparent to Thomas that not many of the gladers liked him and he could say for sure that he knew he didn't like half of them either.

The last area was in the southeast side called the Bloodhouse and was just a slaughterhouse that consisted of a large barn where livestock was raised and slaughtered for the survival of the gladers. Thomas didn't question the reason behind that because, in the back of his mind, he still felt like that was more normal than most of what's happened to him so far. After showing that to Thomas Newt and Minho appeared and told Alby it was an emergency. Alby didn't say anything loud enough for Thomas to hear but he saw Alby walk off with Minho and Newt walked over to Thomas. "Hey mate come with me gallys got this bonfire ritual we do every time a newbie comes in," Newt said and Thomas followed. As they got over to the bonfire where some of the other gladers including one named Frypan, another named Winston, and a younger boy named chuck. Thomas sat down next to Newt as the sun began to go down the night sky beginning to take over. Gally handed Newt a jar with some liquid and Newt took a swig before handing it to Thomas. "Come on drink some gally made it he said it relaxes you," newt said with no sign of deception or sketchiness on his face. Thomas took a swig and felt a burning in his throat causing him to cough and spit out what was left in his mouth. He handed it back to Newt and listened as Gally began talking about a battle. Gally and a bunch of the other gladers walked over to a large circle lined with rocks and with a sand inner floor. Suddenly Gally and one of the gladers begin trying to knock each other out of the circle and it's apparent that Gally wins all of them. "Come on greenie show me what you got," Gally said to Thomas. "Or let me guess you gonna run again.. Maybe Greenie is the right name for you I think I'll call you Shank" Gally said to which the entire group snickers and laughs and then chants 'shank' repeatedly even newt following through with it.

Thomas stood up and walked into the circle looking at the taller boy as he moved forward. "First to 3 knockouts of the circle wins," he said and rushed Thomas sending Thomas onto his back a few inches away from falling out of the circle. Thomas stood up and looked at Gally again this time he rushed but was grabbed by him and spun around but before Gally could push him Thomas swiftly moved to the side and Gally fell face down into the sand. Gally looked at Thomas as Thomas was turned away and swiped his feet out from underneath him causing Thomas to hit his head. The sudden jolt to his head and the tiny amount of blood dripping from his head caused him to remember something, something that the other gladers hadn't remembered for days. "Thomas," he said trying to catch his breath. The entire group fell silent and Newt stared at him. Just at this moment Minho and Alby showed up. "What's going on" Minho said before Alby could get it out. "Thomas," Thomas said louder as he pushed himself up noticing Gally had already gotten up and was staring at him. "What was that shank" Gally said. "I remember.. my name.. my name it's Thomas," he said, and as soon as he said it again the entire group except Gally erupted in cheer. Soon after the bonfire it was time for everyone to sleep and Thomas was set up on a sleeping bag next to Chuck. It didn't take Thomas long to fall asleep but when he did that's when the first batch of dreams flooded in.