Hi guys! So I've been thinking about writing this for a while. It's going to be a two or three-part story of Newt's first few weeks or days in the Maze. Here's a short prequel (this scene will probably be rewritten later); let me know if I should continue :)
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was a square of bright blue sky. Not a single cloud in the deep azure. And circling that sky was a ring of teenage boys.
Newt scrambled to sit up, pushing himself back against the wall of the Box. His chest heaved, a thousand scattered thoughts crowding his mind, eyes wide and panicked. The ring of boys shuffled, murmuring to each other. They all shot him curious glances. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. Who were they? Who was he?
A dark-skinned guy spoke first, in a deep commanding voice. "So who's gonna get him out of there?" he asked, folding his arms over his chest.
A black-haired guy with an ugly face and wearing a dirty white tee sneered. "I think the ugliest should get him, right, Frypan?"
A burly guy with chestnut hair gave the black-haired boy a shove. "Shut your mouth, Gally," he growled. "If anyone's the ugly one, it's you."
"I think the strongest should get him," a wide-eyed, younger boy put in honestly.
Newt watched as all eyes went to a broad-shouldered Asian with spiked, black hair. His black T-shirt sleeves were rolled up to show off his powerful arms. He glowered at all of them and Newt was hypnotized by his low voice as he said, very simply, "I'd rather shuck with Gally."
The boys erupted into laughter.