Fighting Against You: A Mazerunner Fanfic

A New Home

The first thing I notice when I gain consciousness is the intense heat of wherever I am at and the sweat that drips down my face. I force my eyes open and attempt to take in my surroundings, breathing hard and trying to stay calm.  There's metal all around me and a dull red light pulses, illuminating the wooden crates and burlap sacks.  

How did I get here? 

I scan my brain for any recollection of a memory, even a shred.  The only thing I see is a face and even that's fading away and turning blurry.  I try to study the features of it--brown hair, green eyes, glasses.  A teenager that's smiling and laughing.  Or at least I think he was.  Within five seconds the face is gone, leaving me empty and isolated. 

A loud alarm blares and I cover my ears with my hands.  It drills into my mind, sending me a pounding headache that couples with my already aching body.  I scoot back until I hit a wall and squeeze my eyes shut.  It could be minutes, hours, or even days before the thing I'm in stops flying upwards.  It comes to a jarring halt, making me lurch to the side and hit my head on a box.  I groan and sit up, rubbing the sore spot. 

Then light floods the space. 

I rise up to my feet, putting a fake bravado on.  Whoever I see next needs to think I'm not scared and weak. No matter how much I want to curl into a ball and cry until someone I know comes rescue me, I have to appear strong.  

The intense light causes me to squint and I raise an arm to cover my eyes, wiping the sweat off my face in the process.  My heart's beating rapidly in my chest, reminding me of a drum.  How can I know what a drum is, but know nothing about myself? 

" Who's the Greenie this time? " Someone calls out, followed by some snickers.  

The thing I'm in shakes as someone drops down.  I instinctively back away and drop my arm from my face, nearly tripping over a pile of rope.  There's a teenage boy, staring at me with a dumbfounded look on his face. 

" Who the hell are you? " I ask, my words coming out weak and shaky.  His features morph into something of a smile and he holds his hand out towards me.  I glance at it, then back up at his face.  Dirty, blond hair and brown eyes.  I don't trust him. 

" M'name's Newt.  " He sounds British, " I won't hurt you. " 

His eyes are soft and he seems nice enough, but I still don't trust him.  

" Newt, " Someone calls out, another boy, " What's the hold up? Is the shank scared? " 

They're mocking me and they don't even know me.   With a huff of irritation I climb on top of one of the wooden boxes and grab onto the ledge.  Mustering up all the strength I can, I pull myself out with trembling arms and kneel on the concrete that's surrounding the area.  

" I-it's a girl? " A boy near me asks.  I look up at blue-eyed boy and offer a small smile, but he still stares at me like I'm a freaking alien or something.  These people are weird.  Have they never seen a girl before? 

Upon further inspection of the small crowd, they're all boys. Every single one of them. 

Teenage boys. 

I feel like screaming. 

" Slim it Alex. Don't scare the poor Greenie. " The boy next to him says, slapping his arm.  

" I'm not scared. " I lie, " I'm just in shock.  Where am I? " 

Newt climbs out of the thing and offers his hand down to me again.  I look at it warily before taking it and allowing him to help me stand.  I don't know if I'd be able to stay steady without it.