Never Stop Running

Chapter 1

Maddie's POV

I woke up in the darkness. A quiet buzzing noise in the background. My heart racing. I put my hand to my chest and focused on my breathing. That's when I remembered that to stop panic attacks I had to focus on something. I began to focus on the red lights that flashed by. I blocked everything else out and focussed only on the lights. My breathing began to slow down. I started to register the buzzing sound again as I noticed that the metal cage I was trapped in, was moving up. Squinting, I tried to look and see where I was heading. The box began to shake as I tried to stand and I was thrown against the cold metal sides. My heart beat quickened again and I curled up in a ball in the corner with my hands covering my ears, eyes closed. Blocking out the faint siren and hiding from the red lights, wanting it all to stop. What was happening and why was I here? My head was hurting and I felt my eyes tear up. Then all of a sudden it all stopped.

My head stopped spinning. Slowly I opened my eyes, moved my hands from my ears and quickly wiped away a tear from my cheek. This was so unlike me to cry. Holding back my tears, I slowly stood up and stood on top of a box next to my feet. The top of the metal cage looked like a hatch. I pushed but it wouldn't budge. I pushed harder, starting to get frustrated. I looked around again. What was I supposed to do? I was trapped in this dark cold metal cage. With a few cardboard boxes. I stepped off the box I was stood on and fumbled trying to find where I could open it. After finding it, I quickly opened it up, peering inside. Cutlery. Why the hell would there be cutlery in this box? How would cutlery help me? All I could see was spoons and forks. I moved them around a bit trying to get deeper into the box. That was until I rapidly pulled my hand back. Blood poured from a little wound on my palm. I pulled out a large kitchen knife that was at the bottom of the cardboard box. I closed the box keeping the large kitchen knife out. I started to move towards another box until sunlight poured in from the top of the metal cage.

Rapidly I rolled, grabbing the knife in my hand. i curled up behind a box, knife clung to my chest. I heard talking but could barely make it out.

"Is he even there?" I heard a voice say. I gripped the knife harder. Then the cage shuddered as if something landed next to me.

"There's no one down here," he said with a heavy British accent. Who were these people and who were they looking for? Theres no one else in here with me. "Oi, help me out." he said and the box shook again. I assumed that the British boy had gotten out. Now what do i do? They dont know I'm here. I felt the urge to just run. I had a weapon to defend myself with. They wouldn't try and hurt me. I carefully put my head round the corner and saw there were two boxes lined up. All I would have to do would be to jump the last bit and pull myself out into the turned back round and closed my eyes. I could do this. Quickly, I bolted and threw myself up the boxes and jumped, landing hard on the edge of the cage. I pulled myself out and ran faster than I had ever run before.

I barely registered the boys shouting after me. But it didn't stop me. I didn't know them. I didn't trust them. I needed to get out of here. I kept running until I noticed what I was running towards. Slowing down I saw the four huge stone walls that surrounded me. Then I was thrown to the ground. The knife escaped my hands. My head smashed against the floor and my vision went very blurry. A boy knelt next to me and I felt him shake me as my eyes closed. Passing out.

I woke up in a wooden hut. Laid in a hammock. My head was pounding. I lifted my hand and rubbed my head slightly, trying to ease the pain. I lifted the cover off me and moved my legs to the side of the hammock and stood up. What had I missed? Crap. Where was my knife? Where was I? I felt my heart start beating way too fast again as my breathing picked up speed. These panic attacks really needed to sort themselves out soon. I sat back down on the hammock, focussing on the wall in front of me. Interesting. It was made of light brown sticks, held together by a thin yellowish rope. Almost manmade. Looking up, I noticed the roof was also made of sticks, but these were more straw like, coming to a point at the top in the centre of the room. I trailed my eyes back down to the ground, realising the room had no floor but that it was just grass. My eyes wandered to the door which blew in the wind slightly. It was made of a thin grey cloth, hanging on the sticks above it. Such a strange design.

However it made me less fearful. If these boys wanted to keep me somewhere, then they would have put me somewhere with a door that wasn't made of cloth. Another breeze went by and the scent of fresh air hit my nose. This made me completely forget about my sudden panic attack as my breathing had calmed down. Maybe there was nothing to be worried about after all.

In front of me there was a little table made of wood, holding a cup of what looked like water. I lifted the glass and peered inside. I jumped when someone spoke to me.

"You can drink that. Its only water." He said to me. He walked over to a cabinet near the door. Opening the draw he pulled out a pack of what looked like tablets. He emptied the pack into his hands and walked over to my bed. "I'm Jeff." He said. Nervously, I looked up at him. "It's okay, its just some painkillers" He said handing me the two tablets in his hand. I hesitated before putting them in my mouth and taking a gulp of water. After I put the cup down, I looked back up at him, wondering what to do next. But he spoke before I could say anything.

"Alby wants to give you a tour of the Glade and introduce you to everyone. But not until your ready that is?" He began walking towards the door, closing the draw he had previously opened. He stopped before leaving, turning to me. I nodded and stood up. Then he disappeared behind the cloth door, round the corner. I walked around the hammock and towards the door. Could I trust these boys? Well they hadn't tried to hurt me yet. Without hesitation I left the room and headed out into the open. I noticed Jeff stood talking to another boy just metres away. He instantly saw me and gestured for me to follow him.

We walked out into an open field which I recognised. Except this time I saw a huge forest, dark at its centre, on the other side. I noticed the farms which 3 or 4 boys were tending to, digging tools deep into the ground and pulling them back up. Baskets next to them. Hardworking expressions on their faces. Scanning the vast grass land I also saw many wooden structures, with cloth roofs, with straw roofs and with wooden planked roofs. However, the biggest of them all was furthest away. Tucked in the corner. Much taller than the other structures and looked much more impressive. Jeff was leading us to this wooden building. On the outskirts of this grass land were 4 huge stone walls. For what purpose they are there for, I don't know. However this time I notice here is a gap in one side. On the side that has the forest. Not a very big gap, but it was noticeable. The huge stone structures were so tall. They looked so menacing. Trapping me in here. Except for that one hole in one side.

Jeff opened the door to the building when we approached it. He gestured for me to enter first. I gulped and walked in. It reminded me of a Greek theatre the way there was different layers which all led to an empty 'stage' in the centre, where 3 boys stood. I recognised one of the boys as the one who shoved me over. They all noticed me instantly.

"She's alright now," Jeff said standing next to me. He was nice, I liked him. Being able to trust someone in here made me feel better already.

"So Greenie, a bit of a display you put on there," The dark skinned boy said laughing. The other two boys smiled. I blushed.

"She's gotten further than most of the other boys though. Gotta give her some credit. "The blonde boy said. I recognised his voice from the metal cage I had previously been in. "She almost outran Minho," He snickered.

"Hey, no she did not! Anyways at least I have eyeballs that I can actually see girls with." The Asian boy widened his eyes with his fingers, mimicking the blonde boy. The blonde boy gave him a punch in the shoulder.

"Alright you two. Anyways, I'm Alby" The dark skinned boy said. "This is Newt, and this is Minho" He said, introducing the two boys in front of me.

I tried to reply. Introducing myself. But I couldn't. Because I didn't know what my name was. How did I not know what my own name was? I tried to think back realising I couldn't remember anything. Not a thing. Not who I was, how old I was or even why I was here.

"It's okay, it'll come back to you," Newt said folding his arms. I must've looked confused because he somehow knew exactly what to say. "Just give it a few days," I nodded slowly. Not sure what to say.

"Minho, you want to take our greenie on a tour of the Glade?" What's a Greenie and what's the Glade.

"Sure," Minho said smiling at me. I smiled back.

"Try not to knock her over, or knock her out in the process," Newt said. I faintly smiled. The boys seemed trustworthy. I realised there was nothing to be scared of. Why should I be worried? The only thing that had properly worried me so far, was the four huge stone walls that seemed to be trapping me here.

AN

Okay so Chapter 2 should be out soon, depending on how much free time I get in the near future. :) I'd love to hear feedback via review or dm. :)

Thanks for reading Xx

MazeRunnerGirl24