Subject A27- The Ender (A Maze Runner Fanfiction)

Chapter One- The Box

                 Rattling was the first sound I heard. A horrible grinding noise that set my teeth on edge. And the feeling of a slow descent upward. Why am I....ugh....where am I? I thought, the last phrase accompanied with a sharp gasp. I shot into a sitting position, immediately regretting it as the dimly lit cage spun. I laid back down on the cool mesh, seeking relief from my pounding migraine. Wait. Cage? I slowly raised my head once more, squinting to make out the features of my surroundings. Giving up on sight, I stretched out my hand to touch the wall. I bit my lip when I was met with the same mesh-like metal as the floor. Searching with my hands, I brushed along the wall, and was met with a corner. Pivoting, I did the same on the other side, and was met with another corner. So yes, I was in a cage. And a very small one at that. This did nothing to soothe my already frazzled nerves. I had a feeling I was claustrophobic.

         I sank to the floor, crossing my legs. With my aching head in my hands, I realized just how empty said noggin was. I. Didn't. Remember. Anything. Speaking aloud for the first time, my hoarse voice croaked the most prominent question. "Who...am I?" My breath quickened, causing my head to spin even more. I forced myself to stop gasping when my vision went spotty. "Okay, okay. Stop. Just..stop." I whispered to myself, doubting my sanity even more.

                The whole cage suddenly jolted, seemingly coming to a stop. Boy, was I wrong or what? I had just started to stand on shaky legs, when my prison violently lurched upwards. I was thrown to the ground, landing hard on my hands and knees. The cage was hurtling upward, and a blaring alarm had started. "Please! Help me!" I shrieked, each word ripping from my hoarse throat. Looking up, I could see a...I don't know what it was. It was an end. A wall. So I had been thrown in this cage, no memories, all alone, just to crash into a wall and perish? Who does that?

        I curled into a ball, protecting my empty head with my pale arms. I guess if I was going to die, I at least knew something about myself. I was pale as milk. The alarm grew louder, and the cage grew nearer, and nearer to the wall. I clenched my eyes shut, not wanting to see what happened. I opened my mouth in one final scream, but it died in my throat. Why spend my final moments screaming? I thought. So I smoothed my contorted face, and prepared for impact... But instead of the brutal crash I'd been expecting, the cage only slowed to a halt with a slight hitch at the end. The alarm died down, and the infernal rattling that had been present stopped with the cage. I could hear...voices.

              With a groan, the cage door was wrenched open, and glaring sunlight assaulted my eyes. I put a hand in front of my face, and gasped in surprise when somebody landed in the cage with a dull thud. I lowered my hand, and stared in mute horror at the boy in front of me. Not that he was horrible, but you'd be terrified too in my situation. "It's a....it's a shucking girl." he said, pure confusion written in his eyes. He was tall. Much taller than me, especially since I was still on the ground. His eyes were chocolate brown, and he had sandy hair that looked like it had just been ruffled. Feeling brave -or stupid- I replied with a sarcastic, "It's a shucking boy!" Not that I knew what that even meant, but the adrenaline and fear were impairing my rational side. Did I even have a rational side? Once again, I was baffled at how little I actually knew about myself.

                   Seeming to snap out of whatever trance he had been in, he raised an eyebrow. "Great, another Minho." his accented voice proclaimed, as he stuck out a hand to me. He had an amiable smile on his face, and he didn't seem very threatening, but what did I know? I hesitated, not quite trusting my hand to be steady. "They're sending up girls now?" yelled a voice. The bubble of silence burst, and everybody began to talk at once. Questions were tossed every which way, and I could only catch a few. "How old is she?" "What's she look like?" "Is she hot?" I cringed at the last one, shrinking down. "Slim it!" hollered a booming voice, immediately quieting down the eager group of....boys? I was surrounded by boys?