The Maze Runner: A Second Chance

Chapter 1

Stinging breaths achingly filled my lungs as my tireless feet plunged into the uneven earth. Undoubtedly knowing Thomas could catch up to me with considerable ease, I sprinted faster inadvertently causing my legs to throb. His desperate pleading grabbed the attention of nearby gladers prompting them to observe the unfolding events, curiously. I desperately needed to be alone, dashing for the deadheads. I desired an escape from this personal hell I reluctantly had to call home. As if reading my mind, my feet changed course propelling me in the opposite direction. I was fully aware of everything around me, but I didn't have control over my body. My feet had a preset destination of their own, and I was left helpless. It felt as if something took over my body; as if my body had a mind of its own and a destination in mind. Horrifying realization soon struck the observing gladers as I neared the prohibited target. No longer watching in curiosity, they bolted towards me attempting to steer my course elsewhere; yet, nothing stopped me. My eyes swelled crossing the threshold of the maze, fear rising inside of me as I was unable to stop. The Glader's faint shouts disappeared the farther I involuntarily ran beyond the maze's doors.

Running for what seemed like hours, I finally gained control, the nightmare coming to an end. Exhausted, I leaned against the vine-filled wall, my unsettled mind playing the scenario that unknowingly resulted in my unwanted adventure into the maze. Barely holding itself up, my body collapsed onto the solid concrete ground, as I tried catching my breath.

     Surprisingly, Thomas had the day off; a rare occurrence for runners, so I instantly jumped at the opportunity to spend time with him. While searching for him, I thought about those early mornings and exhausting nights we briefly saw one another. The genuine excitement of having him for a day radiated off me, but that came to a screeching halt. There they were, in the middle of the map room with frantic hands and parched lips locked on each other like they haven't seen each other in years. Overly focused on each other, they didn't see me in the doorway; giving me time to compose myself before separating them.

"Thomas!" I yelled stepping into the room, my voice bouncing off the concert walls.

Thomas and Teresa jumped apart at the sudden outburst, glancing towards the door. The color drained from Thomas's face at the sight of me.

Panic spread across his ghastly face as he quickly glanced between Teresa and me. "Jenny, it's not what it looks like," he frantically denied.

A wave of surging anger flowed through me as he blatantly lied. "Do you think I'm blind? You're cheating on me with that skank-," I raged furiously, but Teresa impatiently interrupted.

"I'm not a skank for your information," she sassed.

"Then what do you call messing around with someone's boyfriend?" I sneered. My overwhelming anger slowly faded to baffling sadness as the shocking events gradually sunk in. "It doesn't even matter," I mumbled inaudibly before abruptly running out the door.

Jennifer entering the maze sent gladers into a frenzy. Their hands were clammy, as they panic. The thought of whether they should enter or not raced through their minds, but the first rule of the glade held them back. In the homestead stood the one person Thomas feared to tell the news to, however, they would soon find out since word spread fast in the glade.