In The Maze ➸Newt x Reader

1

Newt finally pulled me out of the forest, away from the swarm of men. He then let go of my hand, glancing at me briefly as a slight blush crept on his face. His touch lingered on my fingers, and I wiped my hand against my shirt.  

I then walked around and met everyone. The guy that first called me greenie, freckle face, was Gally. He seemed like a giant flirt and cocky son-of-a-bitch. I then met Thomas, the greenie that came up two days before me. Alby was the very first person to come here, Chuck, a short little tween, who recently got here as well, and Minho, who was a super fit 'runner'.  After the amount of chaos that just occurred, I really hadn't looked at the surroundings very much. I took the time to pause,  glancing around at the land that layout in front of me. Four huge stone walls covered with ivy captured us. Along with one of those walls, there was an enormous opening leading into a strange abyss. Again, where the fuck am I. 

And, now that I think about it...why can't I remember a god damn thing?

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After soaking up my surroundings, calming my nerves a bit, Newt started showing me things around the glade. We started by walking around the inner perimeter. 

"Ok, we have three rules. One, do your part. We don't want any freeloaders here. Second, never, ever, harm another glader. We need to trust one another. Third, never go beyond those walls. Got it, shank?" He stared at me intensely.

I nodded lightly, attempting to rehearse his words, but the unordinary vocabulary threw me off. Seriously, what's with this strange language- shank? Greenie?

"What's out there?" I asked as Newt and I approached the gaping gap in the middle of one of the stone walls. I could faintly see vines and webs surrounding the inner walls. It looked dangerous, and perhaps quite enticing; it was something unknown as if anticipating for me to discover its secrets. 

"Well, that's the maze." Newt looked out towards the wall opening. "Every morning, the runners, which mentioned earlier, run into the maze. They try to find a way out, but they must be back before sundown or the doors will close, and you're trapped in there for the night." Newt turned to me seriously, "and no one has ever survived a night in the maze." 

A shiver ran down his back. "So what your saying is that this whole thing is a maze?" I asked, eyes widening.

"Pretty much," Newt said, nodding. 

The two of us stared into the gigantic crevasse before I decided to ask him about my memory.

"Why can't I remember anything?"

Newt looked over at me. His eyes softened for a moment before he turned away, "The people who put us here took our memories. I don't know how, I don't know who, and I don't know why; but all I know is that when you come up from that box, all you can remember is your name." He swallowed harshly, staring intensely at the entrance. His face scrunched together as if he began feeling angry. He let out a frustrated sigh, before sitting down on a nearby log. I joined him, the two of us remaining in comfortable silence. 

The maze entrance stared back at me with an attractive glow, and suddenly that runner thing seemed to be tempting. Thinking about who I think I am, I feel like I enjoy taking risks. I want to be part of the action. 

I also do not understand why we were just thrown into some gigantic maze, and I want to find out why. 

I broke out silence, shifting on the log, "I want to be a runner." I said and looked at him. Shock and a quick sternness filled his eyes as they widened before he composed himself.

"No no-no-no. No. First off, you're a greenie. That position is earned. Secondly, you're a girl. I'm not being sexist, but I'm sure girls can't last a full day in that thing- believe me, us guys barely can. It's far too dangerous." He stated.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "That sounds like a shit excuse. And that is totally sexist, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean shit." I glared at him.

I tried to take the comment whole-heartedly, and as if he was looking out for me, but I felt entirely offended. The wind began to whirl up around the entrance of the maze. A big creaking noise filled my ears and I noticed the walls began closing in. I watched in amazement.

"We're safe now," Newt spoke, scratching the back of his neck before continuing, "Look, I didn't mean it like that. I'm not saying you aren't good enough-"

"You literally just said that." I protested.

"I didn't mean for it to be offensive. I'm sure you're very talented. But, you're the only girl that has been here, and that means that something is up, something is going to happen. And, as second in command, it's my duty to make sure shit doesn't hit the fan. You need to be protected." Newt looked at me softly.

I understood where he was coming from, but I don't need protection. I'm an independent person.

A loud screech erupted from a distance, and I snapped my head in the direction in panic, "What was that?" I uttered. Fear shot through my veins. Obviously, it wasn't a good thing- It sounded like a dying animal. 

"That is what we call a griever. The grievers are around the maze at night. No one ever seen one and lived to tell about it," Newt shrugged, "Once you come in contact with one, they sting you with a kind of poison, it makes you jacked, messes with your mind. However, you do remember your past. You're just really fucked up after and can't communicate normally after that. You begin to change, turning into some sort of creature." Newt explained, sighing. 

Well, that got the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.

Newt then looked up at the sky. The sun was almost set, but it lacked color. The sky didn't feel warm, it felt empty. It felt like an expired painting that lacked technique, one that didn't get an extra coat of varnish.

"I think it's time to call it a night greenie. I'll get you in the morning to finish the tour, so you can pick out your job." He offered a hand, which I accepted, and pulled me up from the log. He walked me to a building filled the hammocks.

Why does he keep offering me his hand? 'Suppose it's just a gentleman thing.

"Here's your hammock," Newt nodded curtly, "G'nite greenie."

He smiled at me softly, lingering his eyes for a bit before turning his back towards me and walking away. I laid back onto the hammock, letting out an intense sigh. I couldn't stop thinking about the fucked up situation I was in, about the maze, and about how I was trapped here like a jack in a box. 

But mostly, I couldn't stop thinking about the blonde British boys' lingering gaze and doe-eyes when he approached me inside that metal crate. 

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