girl in the maze // {the maze runner, thomas}

chapter 11

 "Don't. Move," Thomas mutters through clenched teeth.

My eyes are locked on the creature. It looks like some sort of mechanical spider out of a messed up lab experiment. Every few seconds, spikes pop up out of the creature's simy flesh and it curls up into a ball, rolling forward with alarming speed. I spot needles sticking out of it in seemingly random places, and make the connection that these must be what it uses to sting its victims.

Another smaller whirring noise sounds from somewhere behind Thomas, and when the creature starts rolling again, I slowly turn my head around to face him. A red light on the wall near his face catches my attention, and that's when I see what looks like a metal caterpillar, with eyes giving off a bright, red glow. Upon further inspection, I notice something far more alarming than the numerous amount of legs, twelve to be exact, jutting out of its body. Inscribed on it's torso, as if written in blood, is one, chilling word:

WICKED

I have no clue what this could mean, but as my eyes glance at Thomas, his face is cast with a look of slight recognition. He knows something.

A few, long seconds pass before the creature scurries off the same way it came, disappearing into the ivy.

I force my attention to return to the terrifying sounds coming behind me, but this time I don't turn to look. I can sense that the Griever is close enough that any movement will prove to be extremely dangerous.

Instead, I lock eyes with Thomas. His are reassuring, as if he's making sure I won't panic. Somehow, his gaze allows a sense of calm to wash over me.

We remain like this, suspended 30 feet in the air by vines, eyes locked on one another's, for what feels like an eternity.

The Griever continues its slow approach to the Door, and consequentially, the wall we are hanging on. Time seems to stand still as I hold my breath, anticipating it sensing and brutally murdering us.

The creature emits beams of light, which I assume are some type of scanners. They whir around randomly, never settling in one place.

Suddenly, they go out, and the Maze becomes shrouded in darkness. I can't even see Thomas anymore, which frightens me more than my inability to sense where the creature is.

It's as if the Griever just shut down. Along with the lack of illumination, there's no more sound.

I feel lost, suspended in nothingness. I try to take calming, deep breaths through my nose but my heart doesn't get the hint to slow down. It grows faster and faster until I feel like it might explode, and then it grows even faster.

I'm sure the Griever can hear it. I'm sure the Griever can smell me, or see me, despite the lack of light or sensors. I don't think I've ever been as scared as I am right now.

Seconds pass, then minutes. My chest is tingling from the vines wrapped tightly around it, digging into the flesh and putting pressure on my bruised ribs. All I can do is pray that this monster will go back to whatever lair it came from and leave us alone.

Suddenly, in a burst of light and sound, the Griever comes back to life, whirring and clicking.

And then it begins to climb the wall.

Thomas immediately jumps into action, frantically untying the vines around him and starting to go down.

I remain where I am, petrified by fear as I helplessly watch the Griever come towards us.

"Lizzie!" Thomas hisses at me, trying to keep his voice low. "C'mon!"

I want to move. I really do. But my nerves are shot, and I'm so scared of falling, and I worry that any movement will cause the creature to advance faster.