The Maze Runner: The New World

Chapter 2

Nervous and excited chatter engulfed the room. Instantly, everyone was speculating about the new development. Even Thomas didn't know what the announcement was going to be - although he was deputy. Minho lowered himself back into his seat and was clearly waiting for quiet. Slowly, people began to hush, quiet rippling through the air. "We found out that humans on Earth have perished because of a note sent through the flat trans," Minho produced the note from his right pocket and continued, "What you are unaware of is that there was another note," He pulled out another crumpled piece of paper from his other pocket, smoothed it out and began to read, "'As you know, this is the end for us. But not for you. Scientists have been researching your planet for the entire time you have been living there. It became the most important thing to secure as soon as we realised that Earth had no chance. We have discovered that your planet and sun are very unpredictable. You may need to leave at a moments notice. There is another flat trans three miles north from the clearing. Please ensure to drop everything and go through it should any abnormalities occur.'"

Nervous chatter swarmed back into the room, only with a thousand times more urgency. Thomas was once again knocked speechless. They had set up camp here. They had created a community and they had buildings, homes, beds, fire and reliable water source. It had taken countless hours, sleepless nights, aching bones and failiures to get things up to a liveable condition. How could they just be told that they may have to leave at any time just like that? He peered at Brenda, who was staring into her lap, hands clammy and twisting a small piece of who knew what. In an instant, all the words in his entire lexicon pushed their way up his throat and fought to get out of his mouth attempting to comfort Brenda. "This is gonna be tough," He began, thinking to himself, great job, just the way to reassure someone, "We can get through this, though. We proved so much more than this in the Scorch and.."

"I don't give a crap about that, OK? I don't need a pep talk from you. Just because I'm a girl doesn't make me weak. I thought I'd proven that to you, out of all people!" Brenda shot at him.

Thomas wanted to smack himself. He should have known better than to start treating Brenda like a baby. She was the toughest woman he'd ever met. He knew that she was just as capable as him, if not more. "Sorry I.."

Brenda cut him off, "Don't bother, sorry, just ignore me, just come and find me later." She stood up from her seat and walked over to the doorway, glanced at it for a moment but turned backwards, to lean her side against the wall, facing away from Thomas. He felt like an idiot - he knew better.

Thomas's thoughts were cut off by Minho raising himself back up and clearing his throat. For once, his demeanour was powerful. "We have to be prepared for this at all times. We don't know what unpredictable means. For all we know it could mean this entire shuck place could blow up at any second! From now on I suggest we all have to stay with at least one other person at all times."

Thomas was barely listening to Minho. The developments of this morning were so huge, yet all that was washing round his head was Brenda. He'd never seen her like this and he knew for a fact that something wasn't right. He knew that his priorities were skewed. At this moment he should probably be freaking out inside - his whole life could fall apart any second and he couldn't understand why he wasn't affected.