Trapped // Newt

02: Terrible Place

MY HEART RATE speeds up as my feet pound against the concrete ground. I run faster than I thought I would on my empty stomach. Adrenaline must be the only thing keeping me going.

I'm almost there, a few more steps and I'm out of here, I take a couple more leaps before two sweaty hands push me away with such a force that it knocks me to the ground. The breath gets knocked out of my lungs and I land on my left elbow. I bite down on my bottom lip to keep from yelping. I look up to see a boy with greasy, curly black hair and a big nose that looks like it's been broken a few times.

"What do you think you're doing?" He demands.

I slowly get to my feet, trying to catch my breath. He is standing between me and the open corridor behind him, my only way out. I look behind me to see Newt and the other boys jogging to catch up with me.

"I need out! Please let me leave!" I plead, not caring how desperate I might appear.

He shakes his head and moves forward to grab me but I dodge him and take one clean punch to his throat, immediately causing him to choke and stumble. Quickly after that I push him out of my way and sprint into the giant opening. I hear people's voices behind me as I run, but I can't stop for anyone.

"You're going to let her leave?" I hear the big nosed boy croak.

"It's against the rules to run into the Maze, it's too risky to send someone after her. Let's just hope she finds a Runner before the doors close." Newt's voice replies, sounding anxious.

Maze? Runner? Is this a maze? What does he mean by doors?

My fears have become worse, instead of a box, I'm in between two walls in a stone corridor. What if I stop running? Will the walls move in and flatten me? The corridor ahead of me looks to stretch on forever and the ground feels like it's moving like a treadmill, I wasn't even aware my feet were moving anymore.

Tears start pricking the corners of my eyes, I run almost blindly by the towering walls. I've lost track of where I'm running, but I don't care, I just need out! There has to be an end to where this is leading me.

Just as I'm stumbling around a corner, I slam into something, shooting pain down my injured elbow.

"What the—?" I hear someone curse. "Who the shuck are you?"

I look teary eyed at the person I slammed into. Another boy, perhaps he is one of those "Runners" Newt mentioned. But that doesn't matter, I move to step around him to continue running.

Before I can go anywhere, he grabs my wrist and asks in a stern voice, "Who are you and why are you in the Maze?"

"I need out of here! Let me go!" I try to break free but his grip only tightens.

"Hey, calm down, lady. I'm going to take you to the Glade." He says carefully.

I get a good look at him, his spiked black hair adds to his already towering height and he's dressed like all the other boys; in dirty, worn clothing.

"No, I have to get out!" I repeat. I pull against his hold, pain pinching at his grip.

"There is no way out from here!" He yells, becoming frustrated. "This is a maze! You'll only get yourself lost and killed!"

All I can do is stand dumbfounded for a few seconds. No way out? I'm stuck here?

"Oh god," I groan. "No, no. The walls!" I silence myself with my hand over my mouth, realizing I must look pathetic to the spiked haired boy. "I'm s-sorry." I whisper in uneven breaths.