5SOS Imagines/Preferences ✓

The Maze Runner || Preference.

The Maze Runner || Preference.

Preferences based off The Maze Runner series. No copyright intended.

Calum: I opened my eyes, but I was met with darkness. My head was pounding and I seemed to be laying on some sort of cold metal which sent shivers through my body. It was only then that I realised I was being moved in an upwards direction, the crate I was in travelling at a fast speed showing no sign of slowing down. I tried to call out, but my voice caught in my throat, stopping me from doing so. Though it was hopeless anyway, there was no one around. After what felt like minutes, a thin line of light shone down on me, expanding until an almost blinding light took over my vision. My body slammed down against the floor once the crate had stopped and I almost hit my head in the process. One by one, dark shadows started appearing before me and it wasn't long until I made out unfamiliar faces all of whom belonged to a minority of around 50 boys. The ceiling of the confined space I was in was soon opened as boys from each side reached down to remove the barrier separating us. A rope was chucked down to me, one which had a loop at the end, big enough to tie around my waist. I was hesitant at first but I knew that I didn't have an option. Who knows what was waiting for me up there? I fell to my feet once they pulled me out, relieved to feel the familiar sensation of fresh grass under my fingers, taking a moment to catch my breath before looking up towards the crowd of angst boys. I turned around, remaining sat on the grass as I nervously looked to everyone as they formed a circle around me. I tried to not let anyone see my fear, because as far as I was aware, they weren't on my side; but the bitter reality was that I was scared to death. I coughed a little, not even sure if I had enough understanding in me to talk. "Wh-where am I?" I asked out, and the boys each erupted into laughter. I stood up, scanning the faces as I spun around. One of them, the leader perhaps, stepped closer to me, the circle adjusting to fill his absence. He wondered over to me, walking around me several times as his eyes glanced up and down at me, mine too defensively. He had dark and dirtied ripped jeans on, a faded navy shirt on which clung to his muscles. As I looked at his face I noticed a small lip ring which he took between his teeth. The object made me confused, such questions as to how he has one in such a place we are, or why for that matter? It led me to an even deeper set of questions, the main one being "why are any of us here?". But they didn't answer me with what I wanted to hear. "Don't worry, shank. You'll get used to it."

Ashton: My eyes shot open and I instantly sat upright, breathing heavily and struggling to regain my breath. It seemed that every time I closed my eyes, the visions came on stronger, more haunting, more destructive. It felt as though I was always so close to finding something out, though I would never allow myself to think quite that far, or to even remember that much for some reason. I wanted to know why I was here, who I was, and why anyone would do something so inhumane as to keep us trapped up like animals, wiping any memory of who we are. It was still late, or maybe it was really early. I didn't have a clue as to year it was, let alone the hour. It was quiet, the crackling noises emitting from the fire along with birds in the far distance were the only things to be heard, that is of course when the walls of the maze weren't changing. I drifted over towards the ancient looking tree which rested slightly to the left of the centre of The Glade. I sat down, resting my back up against the bark, tearing apart some blades of grass in between my fingers. I thought I was alone, but I turned around after hearing footsteps, a face I learned to be Michael making his way over to me. He sat down beside me without a word, taking a rock and juggling it in his hands aimlessly. I hit my head back against the tree a few times, the ache that came along with the action somewhat soothing. Michael huffed beside me, a tired smile reaching his lips as he skipped the rock along the ground, his eyes following its movement until it came to a stop. "What's so funny?" I ask him, half expecting some sort of weird insult that everyone else understands, to be thrown at me. "You," Michael tells me as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "You've been here three days and you already have more desire to leave than half of those guys over there." He tells me as he nods towards the bunkers where everyone is sleeping soundly. I don't say anything else, and neither does he for a moment. I look up. The sky is still the same. That seems to be about the only thing that hasn't changed, the only thing I haven't forgot other than my own name. Six letters, that's all I remember, and the sky. A sudden overwhelming fear strikes me and I yell out, punching the ground I sit on as tears spring my eyes. "Calm down buddy, you'll wake the others." Michael chuckles slightly, almost unsure how to deal with the situation at hand. I feel my lips tremble as I am unable to stop the rush of unanswered questions that flood my mind, all the 'what if's and the 'why's. Michael looks over at my empathetically, and for a moment, I almost forget that he's been in the exact situation I have. Everyone here has. "Why can't I remember who I am, Mikey?" I ask him, my voice breaking midway. His face falls and he looks down for a moment, his eyes travelling back up to meet mine. "What did I do wrong?" I ask him, quickly receiving an answer. "You didn't do anything wrong." He tells me. "But how do you know that? What makes you think that I didn't do something to deserve this?" I question him, the thought that I may have caused such a crippling pain onto a person almost driving me insane. "You didn't do anything wrong." He repeats, not a single trace of doubt in his voice. I look into his eyes questioningly but I still receive the same answer. "None of us could have stop this, Ashton, whatever it is. Not even you."