❝The Maze Runner❞ || Thomas

The Gathering

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"Lynn," Newt breathed out as our eyes met. "Come on," he paused for a moment as I stood to my feet. "I think there's something connected with the maze. Come to the gathering." He turned on the balls of his feet. "Everyone's waiting."

I gripped my quarterstaff, now jogging towards the gathering. We were met with the faces of Alby and Gally.

"Okay," I breathed out, exchanging glances amongst everyone in the group. "What do we got?"

"Whoever had built this maze, the Glade--they obviously had a purpose. And nonetheless, the walls seem to have a very important part in our civilization, right?" Newt has questioned as we all listened. "None of this would make any bloody sense unless there was a shuck of an exit," Newt breathed out as we all looked to one another in agreement. "There has to be a way out. If there wasn't," he paused for a moment. "Everything we've been put through, everything we've done, would be meaningless. And I know for a fact that we weren't just wiped from our memory and thrown into a maze to fend for ourselves, and that's that. There is a main course of action that needs to be taken place. And I believe, whoever they are, is waiting for us to make our next move."

"What are you proposing?" I questioned, looking to Newt with reasoning and understanding as a small smirk lifted from his lips.

"I say we get our bloody backsides up and start finding our way out through that Maze," he added, pointing to the south gate of the maze.

"I've been in that Maze more than enough times," I added. "I've seen nothing but more walls and more vines," I stated, exchanging glances with the men in the room before me. "I even got lost at one point, and you better be glad I made it out alive," I finished off as they all looked to one another with unsure expressions.

Newt then took a step closer, his face inches from mine. "Have you searched every part of that maze?" He questioned, waiting for me to reply.

I hesitated before shaking my head slowly.

"Alright, then," he breathed out, turning to the rest of the crew. "Now what do you think?" Newt questioned, looking directly at me as I stood there, thinking before I finally concluded.

"Newt and I will go into the Maze," I breathed out as Newt grinned with a nod of respect. "Alby and Gally," I paused, looking to the two of them. "You two will stay here," I stated, grabbing two of the lightweight backpacks from the gathering room. I grabbed two canteens of water, throwing one to Newt. "Continue with the rest of our plans. We'll be back before dawn."

"Lynn," Alby paused as I looked to him with recognition. "Good luck."

A slight grin lifted on the corner of my lips.

Newt and I found our way to the south entrance. We ventured through the vast walls, corridors, and strategic pathways. There was nothing but concrete walls and floors for a few miles. Vines grew high above the walls everywhere. Left, right, ahead, right, right, straight, so many different turns, and yet nothing but the same old klunk I had seen before.

"You know," I began through heavy breaths as Newt and I jogged side by side. "I still think," I continued, as my chest rose up and down rapidly. "It's funny how you just got here only a few weeks ago, and you already want to run through this shucking Maze," I finished between breaths as my lungs thirsted for water. I could feel my blood pumping through me faster than normal as my heart raced. Newt chuckled with no words to speak as we continued.

My feet dragged behind me as my calves and thighs burned from the pain. We ran through more and more corners, weaving through the Maze, but nothing.

Suddenly, something caught my eye, stopping me dead in my tracks. I swung my hand to Newt's chest, stopping him from running any further. I thought I had seen something hidden underneath some vines that had grown overabundantly. A letter, maybe? A number? Well, there was only one way to find out.

"Newt," I paused as I slowly gestured for Newt to come closer to where I was standing. "Check it out."

We both stepped closer to the wall, heavy breaths escaping our chests. We took a glance at one another before ripping the ivy off the wall. We pulled as hard as we could at the same time with full force. Once the vines were on the ground, we looked up to see a large number two printed against the wall.

"It's something," Newt broke the silence.

We both locked our gaze on the large number with amazement. We exchanged glances once again as I ran my fingers through my hair. After all these months of being here alone, searching for anything at all, it's been here all this time.

"We have to let Al know."

We quickly turned on the balls of our feet, running back towards the entrance. We weaved through the maze as our individual minds had taken us into deep thought. We continued to run with our best ability before we turned a corner, seeing our exit. We ran towards the Glade, looking on to see Alby and Gally working on some equipment closer by the Homestead.

"Alby!" I called out as Alby and Gally both turned to look at the two of us.

"We think we found something," Newt finished off.

Newt and I tried our best to catch our desperate breaths. We all exchanged cautious glances, looking to one another in hope and in faith.

"Well, go on," Gally spoke up.

Newt and I exchanged uneasy glances.

"We think it may be some type of coding, or label—some numbered off section to the Maze. We found a number two printed against one of the Maze walls." I caught my breath yet again. "There's gotta be other numbers out there. Who knows where it may lead us," I breathed out as they listened closely. "Think about it," I paused as we started to walk towards the Gathering. "There's bound to be more numbers leading to other sections." I grabbed a rock from one of the tables that held down a small piece of paper. "Here's the entrance—" I placed the rock on the left side of the table, "—Newt and I had run across till this point and found that printing on the wall. If we go to the right next time and continue on for a few miles, I am almost certain we will find more sections surrounding the rest of these areas."

We all exchanged hopeful glances.

"I think we found a start to our way out of this bloody Maze."