Chapter One
One year, 86 days, 6:42 PM
Claire was running. Feet pounding, heart racing, tears streaming down her face. For even a she ran as fast as she could through a maze she had memorized, she knew she wasn't going to make it in time. 'I don't want to die' she thought hysterically. Through her panic she thought of the brown eyed boy waiting for her in the glade. 'I promised' her mind wandered back to that very morning, when everything was perfect.
One year, 86 days, 6:14 AM
They were lounging on her hammock, his fingers running through her long brown hair as they watched the sun rise over the wall. She played idly with the fingers on his free hand until they heard the walls open, the loud groaning making them both wince. She sighed, propping her chin up on his chest.
"We've got to get up." she'd whispered quietly, not wanting to break the peace surrounding them. He pulled her closer, hand in her hair coaxing her to lay her head back on his chest.
"Just a bit longer love." She didn't listen, pushing herself to sit up despite his protests.
"If we're late Minho come looking for us and we'll have to deal with his whining, and it'll be all your fault." she teased, flashing her dimples at him.
"Nope! He's your best friend, you have to deal with him whining." he flashed her a smile as she pouted at him.
"Newt!" she whined, trying to get out of the hammock, only for Newt to flip her so she was under him. The hammock swayed precariously, though they managed not to fall. She laughed gleefully and he smiled, utter adoration clear in his eyes.
"Lets just be sick today," he murmured, taking her hands and pinning them above her head, interlocking their fingers. "Stay in bed…"
Still giggling, she leaned up and kissed him sweetly until he was thoroughly distracted, before flipping him over, managing to overturn the hammock as well. Newt groaned at the impact but still overpowered her, flipping her over once more. He pinned her once more, lacing their fingers unconsciously.
"I win." he teased, leaning down to kiss her nose, then her mouth. They kissed slowly, often interrupted my smiles and laughter, pure happiness shining through. They may be stuck in a seemingly endless maze, but they had each other. And that was all they really needed. Before they could go any further they were interrupted by a pounding on the door.
"Rise and shine you shanks, you're late!
"Bugger off Minho!" Newt yelled back, annoyed at the interruption
"If you're not out by breakfast, I'll get Gally to drag you out!" Newt groaned and dropped his head into Claires neck.
"Give us a minute slinthead!" Claire yelled at her best friend, kissing Newt on the cheek before shoving him off of her and jumping up. She quickly plaited her hair and got changed into her shorts and red t-shirt. Claire saw Newt staring and smirked. She kissed him slowly and pulled back. "Later." she promised.
Of course, that was before everything had gone to hell.
One year, 86 days, 6:48 PM
She should've stayed in bed.
Claire had kissed Newt goodbye and taken off into her assigned section. Everything was normal at first, she'd been in the outside section of the maze when everything changed. The ground lurched beneath her feet, throwing her to the ground. Claire rolled for a few feet before jumping up, staring in confusion at the maze around her. It was still and silent. Then all at once, the walls began to move. Claire started, shocked, for a moment before taking off, dodging walls and crawling through the cracks for hours, and when it was finally still again, the sun was getting low and she was lost. By the time she figured out where she was, it was to late.
She was so close. She turned the last corner and could see the glade, only five hundred feet left. But the doors were well over half way shut. Nearly the entire glade was gathered just passed the entrance, Gally pinning Minho to the ground while Alby, Fry, and Nick holding back a struggling Newt. The rest of the gladers were screaming for her to run faster.
Three hundred feet… two hundred…
She skidded to a stop, the doors nearly shut. If she tried to get through the walls would crush her. She locked eyes with Newt just before the doors sealed shut.
She was locked in the maze.
No one survived a night in the maze.
But she was sure as hell gonna try.