The Maze Runner (Thomas X Reader)

Chapter 1: The Ugly

Y/n POV

I felt cold and scared. The water that filled my lungs was killing me slowly. Around me was a metal compartment. Blue light sat on my skin as I pounded on the glass in front of me. I screamed and cried, but those people in front of me never helped one second. Occasionally, they'd look up and feel sadness, but quickly ignore it. 

I pounded so hard on that glass that it could've broke, but it refused to let me free. My air had been running out as I felt more water fill my nose and down my throat to my lungs. It was painful and I wished for anyone to come and help me, but nothing. I then saw a boy walk up to the glass. He looked into my eyes and saw my fear. I looked at him hoping he'd see reason, but he just stood there worried. Then, a woman with blonde hair walked up right behind him. She put her hand on his shoulder and told him something close in his ear. All I could make out was: "is good"

I grew tired of banging on the glass. I felt my body relax and all my muscles stopped moving. Everything began to be blurry and my vision was soon stripped away from me. There was too much water, and I knew this was my end. I closed my eyes and let myself go.

Soon, I was greeted by coughing as I laid on my back. I opened my eyes to see I was not dead. I coughed up most of the water that was in my lungs and observed what was around me. It seemed that I was in a metal cage like an elevator. I heard the gears shriek around me pulling me up. Supplies were stacked upon each other and I stood. I felt my blue long sleeved T-shirt stick to my arms and stomach as I soon realized that I was drenched in water.

"Hello?" I called.

No response. I looked up to see that the surface was coming closer and closer. 

"Hey! Can anyone hear me?" I shouted.

Fear filled my heart as I looked around aimlessly. The surface came closer and closer as the elevator grew faster and faster. Red lights were soon hitting the roof of the elevator cage. I fell back feeling the sudden thrust of the breaks. I stared at the lights as they turned green and flashed white. Then everything around me became black as night. My heart raced waiting for what was going to happen next.

Then, the beating sun shone in my eyes as I saw doors open and smelled fresh grass all around me. My eyes adjusted seeing few trees around the border. Then, a boy appeared. He was tall and had dark skin. He had big brown eyes as he stared at me in awe. I was a young girl of 13 years at that time and I was so terrified. He looked older and seemed more mature to me. He hopped down and opened the cage. 

"Here," he said as he put his hand towards me open.

I took it, and he pulled me out of the cage. I stood in front of him and our hands were back at our sides. I took a little time seeing four tall and menacing walls covered in vines. One wall was open and it looked like we could go in freely, but my attention was diverted to this boy who asked me:

"Who are you?" he asked me curiously.

"I-I... I don't know," I responded, "I can't remember anything..."

"Yeah," he sighed, "me either. All I know is my name,"

"I can't even remember that..." I hung my head low.

"I'm Alby," he said holding out his hand.

I shook his hand firmly and we let go, "Are you the only one here?" I asked.

He looked around him, "Yeah. I came here alone about a month ago. It's good to have someone else around,"

I nodded seeing a few huts and a hammock tied by strings around wooden poles. I saw a fire and some food roasting on it.

"I'll show you around the Glade," he said walking off.

"The Glade?" I asked taking a step forward.

"I named it that. I think it fits well," he chuckled.

I began following him as he showed me around. I saw several things he built like huts and a small tower. He also got all the supplies out of the cage with my help of course. As time went on, I grew scared. The sun began to set, and all I had was Alby at that time. 

"Alby?" I asked.

"Yeah?" he sat by the fire on a log.

"Who put us here?"

He sighed, "I don't know,"

"How do we get out?"

"I don't know,"

"Are we trapped?"

"I don't know," he shook his head.

"What do you know?" I asked rudely.

He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows, "I know that if you came up, then there has to be others coming up some time,"

I sighed and looked back down at the fire. The warmth slightly burned my knees, but it wasn't bad. I saw the sky turn a sweet shade of pink and then a light purple. Soon, the sun set, and we were off to our hammocks. I laid there thinking about what had just happened. I was scared and didn't understand anything. All I knew was the Glade and that Alby was my friend. I fell asleep soon, and woke up to crickets chirping. I then saw Alby beside my hammock.

He had a knife and a hammer.

"Come on," he beckoned.

I followed him to one of the walls that surrounded the Glade. He stood there and showed me a specific spot. He began to carve his name into it.

"What're you doing?" I asked.

"Carving my name. Might as well, y'know? If more people come up from that cage, I want to keep track of everyone,"

I saw an A form.

"Am I going to carve my name there?" I asked.

"Yeah. When you remember it," he huffed.

I watched his hands press hard to carve his name with that knife. The sun shone on the wall illuminating the stone. I sighed and watched closely until I heard a loud noise. Almost like a screech.

"What was that?" I asked with my heart racing.

"I have no idea, and I don't want to find out," he replied.

The day went on with me helping him around the Glade building things. I didn't hear anymore screeches for that day, but they were always the loudest at night. They sometimes kept me up, but Alby would always make sure I fell asleep. 

Day after day I grew smarter and more efficient. I soon remembered my name, which was Y/n, and carved it below Alby's name.

Month after month and more boys showed up. No girls. It made me slightly uncomfortable, but I got used to it. After the months, soon it was years. And over the years, I made really close friends. I was best friends with boys named Newt and Minho, but there was a boy named Gally who kept on flirting with me. He annoys me most of the time. Not a lot of people like him, especially Newt since Gally is always trying to get with me.

After three years of being stuck in the Glade, we made some good changes and kept order. Everyone had a job because this wasn't going to work if no one did anything. The most dangerous job I'd say would be the Runner position. Runners would map out the Maze and try to find a way out, but we hadn't found anything. We did find out it was a Maze, and we also found out what to call those things that screeched at night. We called them Grievers. And we had past runners who had gone in, and never came back out.

Those people who died had to get their names crossed off the stone wall. It was sad to see friends go, but death is inevitable I guess. I soon also became a Runner even though it was extremely dangerous. I found it exciting somewhat though. I would say goodbye to Newt every morning, and run with Minho into the Maze. 

It's funny that Newt would be up so early, since I always wake him up. I shake him at the brink of dawn until he wakes up. At first he hated it, but he soon got on schedule. Newt was definitely my favorite of the bunch. He was like my brother, in a way.

After three years, we thought that we had found a way out because of one boy. One single boy. And that boy became the bravest man I'd ever know, and the bravest man I'd ever love.