Thomas (Maze Runner Prologue)

The Lights

Thomas and his mother had sat in silence nearly the entire drive to the airport. It had been three hours now and the cars tires were just touching the parking lot pavement. Thomas's mother let out a strange gasp that caught Thomas's attention. He looked to his frazzled mom.

"What is it mom?" She turned her head in every direction possible searching the peoples faces outside for answers.

"I'm not sure yet sweetie." Instead of pulling up to the sliding door for pick-up, Thomas's mother pulled into the first empty parking space she could find and turned to her son. "You need to wait here. I'll be back in a few minutes." She opened her door and stepped outside. Just before shutting the door again she looked to Thomas's confused face, "Everything's going to be okay." Thomas's eyes followed his mother as she made her way to different people. He didn't;t know what she was saying or asking so he looked to their faces for answers. Most people were crying while others sat in shock. In other words, he knew nothing was 'going to be okay' like his mother had promised. The car next to Thomas's window contained a woman sitting in peace with a tissue in one hand and a clenched fist as the other. Every few minutes she would break down and start crying, then returning to her silent state. A lady across the parking lot was sitting on the parking lots asphalt behind her car staring ahead in silence, never moving or saying a word. Thomas looked back to where he had last seen his mother but just as his eyes  grasped her, she started sprinting towards the airports doors. Thomas sat there by himself for what seemed like forever with nothing to do other than watch people break down. Few people pilled into cars and filled out of the parking lot while others sat on phones for hours with tears streaming down their cheeks. The car door opened on the other side of Thomas nearly making him scream.

"It's okay sweetie, it's only me." The voice belonged to his mother. Thomas looked over to her as she jumped behind the wheel. Her makeup left long black streaks down to her lip. Her eyes were swollen as well as red, and she let out a small sniffle every couple of minutes. 

"Mom, what's the matter? Why's everyone so upset?" Then Thomas remembers the only reason they were at the airport. "Mom...where's dad?" Thomas's mother pulled over as another tear made its way down her face. She looked to her son as her eyes flooded.

"There was an accident." Thomas was beginning to understand and started shaking his head. "The plane ran out of engine and the radio wasn't working properly." His mother could barely finish her sentence and Thomas couldn't believe it.

"No, no. That's not possible. That's not true." His face held anger, frustration, and despair. His mother reached over to him and put her hand onto his shoulder. She knew he would need time, as did she, so they remained quiet on the side of the highway.

After shedding tears with one another, Thomas's mom pulled back onto the busy road to make theur way home. The silence became unbearable as Thomas leaned forward to reach the radio button. The station to first come on was a news station.

"That's right Sarah, the plane requested landing for fuel but no one heard it and no one answered."

"How unfortunate for the friends and family -"

The station became fuzzy and turned off. Thomas controlled his emotions by distracting himself. As they drove past the forests he would keep his focus on the trees and birds. His mother, on the other hand, would break down after every half or so. The sun began to set and the trees began to disappear. Thomas became drowsy but fought off his heavy eye lids. His mother began crying again. Thomas started to focus his attention to the cars in the other lanes. But then, a set of bright head light stared right at them. It came closer and closer, and never stopped. Then Thomas's vision went black.