The First Runner

Whatever you do, don't stop

Jess POV

I ventured deeper into the maze. The surroundings shifted, the walls grew taller, the ivy disappeared, and the air felt thicker. It was as if I had crossed an invisible boundary into a different part of the maze, an outer ring untouched by time or the presence of Gladers. The silence was eerie, amplifying the sound of my own breathing and the soft thud of my footsteps.

As I explored this new section, my eyes scanned every wall and crevice, searching for any clue or sign. The walls were smoother, devoid of the creeping ivy that covered the inner sections. It was as if this part of the maze had been left untouched, forgotten. My heart raced with a mix of fear and anticipation. This was uncharted territory, a place none of us had ventured into before.

Then, I spotted it—a large number four painted on the highest wall. It stood out starkly against the grey stone, a clear marker. My mind raced with possibilities. What did it mean? Was it a clue, a sign, or something else entirely? I couldn't shake the feeling that this was important, a piece of the puzzle we had been missing.

I pressed on, my senses heightened. The air felt heavier, the silence more oppressive. The further I went, the more desolate the maze became. There were no signs of life, no traces of anything living. It was as if this part of the maze was abandoned, forgotten by even the Creators themselves.

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a low, ominous moaning, followed by a series of clicking sounds. My heart leapt into my throat. Grievers. I had gotten so distracted by the new surroundings that I hadn't heard them approaching. Panic surged through me as I realized how vulnerable I was. I took one last look at the number four, burning it into my memory, before turning and sprinting back towards the ivy-covered sections.

The sound of the Grievers grew louder, a cacophony of mechanical noises and guttural growls. I rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. There they were, two Greivers, blocking my path. Their grotesque forms loomed in the dim light, mechanical appendages clicking and whirring. I had no choice but to turn back, but as I did, one of the Grievers slammed into me, knocking me against the wall with bone-crushing force. I felt something crack, pain flaring in my chest, but I couldn't afford to stop.

I pushed off the wall, trying to run, but agony seared through my back as one of the Greivers' claws raked across my skin. I cried out, feeling the warm, sticky blood soak through my shirt. Desperation took over, and I reached for the knife at my belt. With a swift motion, I threw it at the nearest Greiver. The blade hit its mark, and the creature let out a shrill screech before collapsing in a heap.

Breathing heavily, I yanked the knife out of its lifeless body, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Another Greiver lunged at me, but I was ready. With a quick flick of my wrist, I threw the knife again. The second Greiver went down, its death throes echoing in the now-empty corridor.

I stood there, panting, the pain in my back, arm and chest throbbing in sync with my racing heartbeat. The maze was silent once more, the only sound my ragged breathing. I glanced back at the section where I had found the number four, my mind racing. What was the significance of this place?

I found an alcove in the maze, a small indentation in the stone walls that offered a momentary reprieve from the relentless pursuit of the Greivers. I crawled inside, my body trembling with exhaustion and pain. I leaned against the cold wall, every breath a reminder of my battered state. The numbness spreading through my limbs was a welcome distraction from the searing pain, and I allowed myself a brief, fitful rest.

The quiet of the alcove was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. I closed my eyes, but sleep was elusive. My mind raced with thoughts of the maze, the Greivers, and the fear of what awaited me. Despite the overwhelming fatigue, I eventually drifted into a shallow, uneasy sleep. It lasted only a couple of hours, interrupted by the distant sounds of the Greivers' clicking and moaning.

When I woke, my body ached with every movement. The pain in my back and chest was sharp and unrelenting, but I forced myself to stand. The Greivers were closing in again, their relentless pursuit a constant reminder of the danger I was in. I couldn't afford to rest any longer. My survival depended on my ability to keep moving, to keep fighting.

I stumbled out of the alcove and began running again, my legs feeling like lead, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. The maze seemed to stretch endlessly before me, the walls towering high and the paths winding in confusing patterns. Every corner I turned seemed to bring me face-to-face with more Greivers, their menacing forms emerging from the shadows.

The next few hours were a blur of adrenaline and pain. I ran, hid, and fought, my movements becoming instinctive as I faced off against the Greivers. Each encounter was a desperate struggle for survival, a battle to stay one step ahead of the mechanical beasts. The blood from my wounds stained my clothes, mixing with the dirt and grime of the maze.

Despite the exhaustion and the constant danger, I kept moving. I couldn't afford to stop, to let my guard down. The maze was merciless, and the Greivers were relentless. The only thing that kept me going was the hope of finding a way out, of making it back to the Glade.

As dawn began to break, the sky painted with light purple and pink hues, I pushed myself even harder. The first light of day was a mixed blessing. It brought a glimmer of hope but also made me more visible to the Greivers. Their clicking grew louder, more insistent, and I knew I had to keep up the pace.

The maze seemed to shift around me, the walls changing, the paths twisting in ever-more confusing patterns. I could feel the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me, but I fought it with every ounce of strength I had left. The Greivers were closing in, their relentless pursuit a constant reminder of how close I was to being caught.

I rounded a corner and nearly collided with another Greiver. I threw my last remaining knife with trembling hands, the blade finding its mark with a satisfying thud. The Greiver crumpled, but I couldn't afford to stop. I darted past its lifeless body, pushing myself to run faster, to escape the growing number of Greivers that were closing in on me.

I knew I couldn't keep this up forever. My strength was waning, my injuries were taking their toll, but I couldn't give up. I had to find a way out of the maze, to survive, and to make it back to the Glade where my friends were waiting.

The light of dawn grew stronger, casting long shadows across the maze. The Greivers' clicking grew louder, more frantic. My determination to survive drove me forward, even as my body protested with every step. I could see the faint glimmer of hope on the horizon, the promise of safety and escape. It was just out of reach, but I had to believe it was there, waiting for me.

Almost there. Almost there. Almost there.