The First Runner

Maybe it will all work out

The next morning arrived sooner than I expected, the first light of dawn creeping through the small windows of the Homestead. I stretched, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the previous day's work. Bark was already awake, sitting by my door with his tail wagging gently.

"Morning, boy," I whispered, giving him a quick pat on the head. I got up and walked out my room and down the corridor checking all the rooms. All the boys were still knocked out cold so I decided to leave them like that for now.

I quietly padded downstairs and made my way out of the Homestead and over to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. I scrambled some eggs and toasted some bread, hoping the familiar smells would help ease the boys into their first full day in the Glade.

As I was finishing up, I heard movement behind me. Turning around, I saw Alby enter the kitchen rubbing his eyes, looking around with a mixture of confusion and wariness.

"Morning," I said with a smile. "I made breakfast."

Alby nodded slowly, still taking in his surroundings. One by one, the other boys began to wander though into the kitchen, their expressions mirroring Alby's as they remembered where they were.

"Come on, let's eat," I encouraged, setting the plates on the table. The boys hesitated for a moment before joining me, their hunger eventually overriding their apprehension.

We ate in relative silence, the boys too preoccupied with their thoughts to talk much. I could see the questions in their eyes, the fear and uncertainty that still lingered.

"I know you guys have a lot of questions," I began, breaking the silence. "And I'll do my best to answer them. But first, let me show you around the Glade and explain how things work here."

After breakfast, we stepped outside. The morning air was cool and fresh, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere inside the kitchens.

"This is the Glade," I said, gesturing to the open space around us. "It's our home for now. Over there is the garden I've been working on. We grow our own food here to supplement what the Box sends up. It comes up once a week carrying everything from clothes to tools,"

I led them to the animal pens next. "These are the chickens and pigs. They help us with food as well. We get eggs from the females and any males get cooked once they're old enough"

The boys listened intently, their eyes wide as they took in everything.

"And this," I said, pointing to the towering stone walls surrounding the Glade, "is the Maze. It's constantly changing, and it's our way out. Every day, I run through it, mapping it out, trying to find a way to escape. It's dangerous, but it's our only hope."

Alec, one of the quieter boys, spoke up. "Is there really a way out?"

I looked at him, seeing the desperation in his eyes. "I don't know yet," I admitted. "But I believe there is. And I'll do everything in my power to find it."

We spent the rest of the morning exploring the Glade, the boys growing more comfortable as they familiarized themselves with their new surroundings. I showed them the fields, the supplies shed, and the makeshift map I had been working on.

By the time we returned to the Homestead, the sun was high in the sky. The boys looked more at ease, the initial shock of their arrival beginning to wear off.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together. "Any questions?"

They all shook their heads. 

Nick who looked to be the oldest boy spoke up first, "What do you want us to do?"