❝The Maze Runner❞ Thomas

chapter eight

     My eyes fluttered open to see I was laying in a soft bed directly in one of the rooms in the Homestead. I slowly sat up, throwing the blanket off of me, swinging my legs over the bed, and groaning from the soreness of the pain from last night. The back of my neck the worst it's ever been, my chest heavy and sore before the face of the new Greenie found its way into my memory.

I wonder if he's dead already.

     I had thought to myself carelessly before slowly sending to my feet. I stretched slightly, trying to loosen up the muscles that seemed a little too tight. I opened my door to see the beautiful sun shining from up above in the sky and directed myself from out of the Homestead. I looked to the busy men working on their particularly assigned jobs as a smile lifted upon my face. I heard someone running up behind me at a steady pace so I knew it wasn't any threat of any sort.

     I turned around slowly glancing over my shoulder seeing Newt coming up to my left. I smiled looking over at him as he was walking at the same pace as me. "How's the Greenie coming along?" I questioned as he exhaled a deep sigh of frustration. "Hard to handle?"

"Once he gets used to the system, he should be able to calm down a bit," Newt breathed out as a few waves came from the boys that continued to work. "You're feeling well?" He questioned as I shrugged my shoulders for a moment.

"I'm not dead, now am I?" I questioned with a slight smirk placed upon my lips as a snicker escaped Newt's chest. "So," I paused for a moment. "He got a name?" I questioned as Newt nodded his head in reply.

"Dean," he breathed out as I chuckled to myself slightly from the thought that had erupted. "What?" Newt questioned as I glanced over to Newt's gaze.

"Sure does sound like an old shank," I breathed out as Newt nodded his head in agreement. We continued to walk through the busy Glade, getting smiles every so often from the rest of the boys. "Where's he at?"

"Bloodhouse," he replied as I nodded my head in understanding. There was a long pause of silence as we continued to walk, answering a few questions the Gladers may have had.

"Well," I breathed out. "Let's hope he becomes one of us sooner rather than later," I stated as Newt agreed to my statement.

•••

     Dean easily got used to how everything ran inside the Glade and beyond the Maze walls, believe it or not. He got passed that crazy phase from the moment you get out of that box like everyone else did. Newt and I had then decided to place Dean as a runner. We knew he had spunk in him, he was a natural, and he sure was more than ready to search for a way out like the rest of us. I would switch between Newt and Dean when we went running throughout the Maze. Every other day I would pair up with one of them, but Newt seemed, somewhat off lately; he wasn't acting like he always had and it bothered me a bit.

     I turn from washing my hands from the bucket down by the well before walking through the Glade, seeing everyone working hard on their assigned jobs; making me smile in the moment. It was pretty early in the morning, but today just seemed more beautiful than before. There were more clouds, a good soft breeze of fresh air, and the company of those around us all.

      "Morning, Lynn! Nice seeing yah!" I had heard Mason yell from where he was standing before I turned to face him, sending him a wave and a soft grin.