Girl Who Ran the Maze • Thomas

02. Exploring

Over the next few weeks the box came up weekly with more and more supplies. Sylvia found the guts to go through the walls. She realized every early morning the doors would open and every night right before sundown they would close. It was timed.

Sylvia figured if she was gonna be here alone. She would make an impact in history. Sylvia figured out her name the day after she got to the Glade. The glade she named it.

Sylvia ran through the walls daily, making sure to get back by sundown. Realizing it was a maze. She trained herself. Getting herself stronger and faster. Ready for whatever's next.

She ran to the box as she heard the rumbling of it coming up. Sylvia stood on top of it as the machine opened up. Instead of the supplies she expected. She found an Asian boy with black hair blocking the sun from his eyes. Including the supplies around him.

Sylvia's eyes widened as she slowly crawled into the box. "Who are you!" The boy asked, picking himself up. "Calm down, calm down" she held a hand out showing him she had no weapons.

"I'm Sylvia. Who are you?"

"I-I don't know I can't remember anything." The boy held his head like Sylvia did the first day she got here. "Let's get out of this box"

---

The boy sat next to her with their backs on a log as Sylvia explained what was going on. "Welcome to the Glade" Sylvia slightly smiles. "The glade?"

"Well, that's what I call it. I got here exactly like you. I don't remember anything either. Your name will come sooner or later." Sylvia said. The boy looked around wearily. "Minho." He mutters.

"Nice to meet you Minho."

"Are we the only people here?" Minho asks scanning the glade again. "Yeah, I've been here for least a month. I should be thanking you for coming up here to accompanying me." Sylvia jokes taking the food she was cooking from the fire onto a plate.

"I don't even know how I came up here." Minho mutters. Sylvia hands him a plate as he muttered a thanks. "What's behind those walls?" Minho asked gesturing towards the doors. "A maze. Huge maze. Wait shhh." Sylvia hushed Minho as the rocks grinded onto each other.

"What's that?" Minho asks as Sylvia nods to the maze doors as they slowly closed. "Every night at sunset. The doors close. They reopen every morning."

---

Over the next few weeks Minho and Sylvia became close friends. Sylvia would bring Minho into the maze to explore it. They would share sarcastic and sass moments. And Minho would help Sylvia build shelters, train, everything.

"Hey, right here's perfect." Sylvia calls out brushing her hand over a blank space on the maze wall. Sylvia held a sharp point against the wall and hammered it with a rock. She carved out her name and Minho did too. "Can't get rid of us now." Sylvia grins.

The next day Sylvia woke up due to slight groans next to her. She pulled herself up. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you." Minho says.

Sylvia looks out to the glade. "Suns coming up anyway. Why are you up?" She asks.

"Nightmare." Minho mutters. "What's it about this time?"

Minho shakes his head. "Not important. What do you remember?" Minho quickly switches the subject. Sylvia hesitates before letting it go knowing he doesn't want to talk about it.

"First, I remembered my name. Obviously. Then, I remembered I had a brother. His name is Newt. He would show up in my dreams sometimes" Sylvia leaned back into her hammock smiling.

"Brother?" Minho chuckles. "Lucky. They let you remember someone." Minho slightly shoves Sylvia.

"Yeah okay." Sylvia laughs standing up. "Come on, you're helping me train today."

The two were practicing aim until suddenly the box alarm sounded. "Pick up the pace Minho!" Sylvia laughed as she got to the box just in time for it to open.

Sylvia opened the box. There lied a blonde boy. Sylvia jumped in. "Hey, welcome to the Glade." The boy stood up and looked at her. Sylvia narrowed her eyes. He seemed so familiar. "Who are you?" He asks. His accent was heavier than hers. "Newt?"