The First Glader |Canceled|

So It Begins

Newt slapped him on the back. "Let's make a deal. "

"What?"

"You keep your mouth shut about it, and I'll put you on the list of potential trainees as soon as you show some clout. Don't keep your trap shut, and I'll bloody make sure ya never see it happen. Deal?"

I could tell Thomas didn't want to wait and I could tell he was supposed to be a runner, something told me that. "That's a sucky deal. "

Newt raised his eyebrows.

Thomas finally nodded. "Deal. "

"Come on, let's get us some grub from Frypan. And hope we don't bloody choke." I gave a worried look to Newt. "I'm joking, he just doesn't like people in his kitchen. When was the last time you ate?"

"I don't really eat much other than apples and granola bars," I said as we walked. We joined the breakfast line where we met up with a boy named Chuck. He was very talkative, as we sat down after getting our food. A large group of Gladers got up and ran toward the West Door, talking excitedly about something.

"What's going on?" Thomas asked.

Newt and I shrugged, "Just seein' off Minho and Alby-they're going to look at the buggin' dead Griever. "

"Hey," Chuck said. A small piece of bacon flew out of his mouth when he spoke. "I've got a question about that." I nodded for him to continue.

"Yeah, Chuckie?" Newt asked, somewhat sarcastically. "And what's your bloody question?" I kicked Newt in the shins, hard.

Chuck seemed deep in thought. "Well, they found a dead Griever, right?"

"Yeah," Newt replied. "Thanks for that bit of news." Another kick.

Chuck absently tapped his fork against the table for a few seconds. "Well, then who killed the stupid thing?" A image flashed in my mind. A woman with a tight, round faced woman with her hair pulled back with a man. He was thin, with gray hair, a mole on his cheek and a rat like face. Different names came into my mind Ava Paige and A.D. Janson.

I didn't even realize I let go of my fork until it hit my plate making a loud noise, jolting me out of my thoughts. The three boys gave me worried looks but I forced out a smile. I couldn't let them know. Thomas went off to do his job while I stayed and helped Chuck who kept saying I didn't need to or I shouldn't, bit of news, I didn't listen. I spent the whole day helping out Chuck, which got us teased by a few of the stupider older boys. I quickly found out most people just flat out ignored Chuck before this, well that was until he started hanging out with the youngest girl they knew.

By midafternoon the day was busy with life and work. Lunch was getting ready to be served in two hours so Frypan was cooking it. I was helping around in the Kitchen when Thomas walked in, he looked bored. He grabbed an apple and left, I looked toward Frypan who nodded, letting me go. I followed Thomas who plopped down next to Chuck and Newt.

"What's wrong with him?" Chuck whispered. "Looks like you did when you popped out of the Box."

"I don't know," Thomas replied. "Why don't you go ask him. "

"I can hear every bloody word you guys are saying," Newt called in a loud voice. "No wonder people hate sleepin' next to you shanks." I choked back a laugh and took a apple out of Newt's hands and took a bite.

"What is wrong with you?" Chuck asked. "No offense, but you look like klunk. "

"Every lovin' thing in the universe," he replied, then fell silent as he stared off into space for a long moment. "The girl from the Box. Keeps groanin' and saying all kinds of weird stuff, but won't wake up. Medjacks're doing their best to feed her, but she's eatin' less each time. I'm tellin' ya, something's very bad about that whole bloody thing."

Thomas and I surprisingly looked at one another, wide eyed. Newt let out a long sigh. "Shuck it. But that's not what really has me buggin'. "

"Then what does?" Chuck asked.

Thomas leaned forward and I just sat there, not pushing the poor teen. Newt's eyes narrowed as he looked out toward one of the entrances to the Maze. "Alby and Minho," he muttered. "They should've come back hours ago."

"I'll go look-"

"No."

"Newt! I know where the Griever is! I know how to get to them. Please let me help them!" I said my voice low so no one else could hear.

"Fine, but if Alby comes back and has my head for letting you go, you get blamed deal?"

"Deal," We shook on it and I got up, grabbed two apples from the Kitchen as well as a water bottle. I put them in a back pack that had come up with the girl. WCKD orchestrated this so I had everything I needed for here.

I looked back at Newt who looked even more nervous with the fact that I was leaving too. I just knew that something was wrong. When I looked inside the maze a shimmer that belonged to a ruby would be there. Why would a ruby be in the maze, it's a trap, my mind screamed. That's why I'm going, to help Minho and Alby.

I took one last look at Newt and then turned back to the maze, I didn't look back.

At WCKD:

Janson and Ava Paige watched as the two children went into their mazes to go after the two people in each maze. To bad, this really needed to be done.

"Let the Switch begin." Janson stated to the crowd of scientists who cheered. The man pressed the button and all hell broke loose concept began.