Different (The Maze Runner)

Chapter 2

In the morning, I wake up to someone shaking my shoulder. I slowly open my eyes and see its Alby. "Rise and shine green bean."

I roll my eyes and sit up. "So it wasn't just a nightmare."

He chuckles and says "that's what everyone says. C'mon, we got stuff to do."

I slowly get out of my hammock and rub my eyes. "Why so early? Why can't the Tour be at like, noon?"

"Because I said I'd show ya a Griever."

Oh right, those slug monsters that live beyond the walls. I follow him out of the forest and look around for the opening.

"You went to sleep early, you missed the bonfire."

"Bonfire?"

He nods and says "every month, to welcome the greenie."

I just shrug. "Where's the opening?"

"In the walls? Closed for the night, gonna open again soon." He leads me to a small window in one of the walls and pulls back the vines. I look through the window and say "what am I looking for?"

"Just watch."

I watch through the window for a minute, until I suddenly hear a small clicking sound. Moments later, I see a giant slug in the window. And it's terrifying. I jump back and say "okay I won't go beyond the walls."

"Good. Now, go to the Homestead and eat, then I'll get you afterwards and give you the Tour."

I nod and go to the Homestead. I get a breakfast sandwich and sit down at a table. Most of them are empty, since no one's up yet.

Minho comes and sits down next to me. "Up early, greenie?"

"Don't call me greenie."

"Fine. Up early, Coyote?"

I nod. "Alby showed me a Griever. Scared the crap outta me."

He nods. "They're pretty shucking frightening. I've gotta run out there with them."

"You run with Grievers?"

"I'm a Runner. Keeper of the Runners, actually. Alby will tell you about that, though."

I nod and take a bite out of my sandwich.

After about five minutes I've finished my breakfast, and not many people are awake yet.

Newt walks into the Homestead, gets some food, and sits next to me. "Hey Coyote."

I say "hi."

"How'd you sleep?"

"With my eyes closed."

Minho says "you did not just use sarcasm."

I roll my eyes and say "shut it, Minho."

Newt laughs and says "god you two shanks are hilarious."

I shrug. "I'm uh, I'm gonna go walk around..."

"You okay?"

I'm the only girl in a field of guys, I don't know who I am, why I'm here, and I think my name is Coyote. I'm sure as hell not okay. "I'm fine, I'm just gonna walk around." Before they can say anything else I get up and walk out of the Homestead. Wander around the Glade for about half an hour as more people wake up, a couple of them approaching me and introducing themselves. I met Ben and Jeff.

After a while, Alby approaches me. "Ready for your Tour?"

I nod and say "yep."

"Follow me." he leads me to a large tower with a ladder. He starts climbing it and says "c'mon."

I follow him up the ladder, and when we reach the top I look around the Glade. I can see it all from here.

"This is all we've got. We worked hard for it. Over there are the Deadheads," he points to the forest and continues "the gardens," he points to some gardens then finishes "and over there as you already know we've got the Homestead." He points to the Homestead.

"So this is it?"

He nods and says "it doesn't exactly seem like much but it's all we get. And we work hard to keep it the way it is."

"What's out there?" I point to the massive stone walls.

"Out there, that's the Maze."

A Maze? "Is that why you're still here? You can't solve it?"

He nods again. "It changes every night."

"We're trapped here, aren't we?"

"Not exactly trapped. More stuck."

I say "synonyms."

He nods.

I stare off at the Glade for a few minutes, until he finally speaks. "We've got three rules here, that's it."

"What are they?"

"One, do your part. If someone doesn't work, the whole system falls apart and we fall into chaos again."

"Again?"

He nods. "We've had some dark days, lost a lot of boys."

"What are the other rules?"

"Never harm another Glader. We need to trust each other. And finally, never, ever go beyond those walls."

I nod. "Is that it?"

"For the rules, yes. For the Tour, no."

I look out at the Glade again, slightly nodding my head. I suddenly hear a conversation going on in the gardens.

"It's been one day man."

"It's not like I'm bloody in love with her, I'm saying she's kinda cute. Quit being such a slinthead."

"I'm not being a slinthead I'm saying that in one day you've managed to start falling for the one girl in the Glade."

"I'm not falling for her!"

Alby says "c'mon, I need to show you something else."

Since I was focusing my hearing and he was right next to me, it sounded like he was shouting. I cover my ears and almost fall off the tower. "Ah!"

"Whoa you okay there green bean?"

I slowly stand up and say "yeah I-I'm fine. Sorry I was just focusing on something, you scared me."

He chuckles. "C'mon."

I follow him down the ladder and over to one of the walls, where a bunch of words are carved into the stone. No, not words. Names.

"You're one of us now, Coyote. You need to promise me that you'll follow all the rules. Can you do that?"

I nod and say "I'll follow all the rules."

He hands me something and points to the wall. I look at the object in my hand. A small knife. I push the knife into the wall and carve the word Coyote.