Disclaimer: I do not own the Maze Runner series.

Third POV

Thoughts

Memories

Never Give Up

She got so far this time. It was within her reach, so close...Then he came from behind the corner like a shadow, his fingers clutching her wrist tightly. It didn't matter; she surpassed the cold fear quickly. She was fighting, pushing, kicking, scratching. She wasn't going to give in, not now! Not after all she's been through!

"I'm not going to give up, Janson," she told him darkly.

A narrow face of a man emerged from a blurred darkness, thin lips twisted into a malicious smile, pale piercing green eyes full of pure evil that seemed to be able to see right through her.

"I never expected you to."

Moon sat up, taking a sharp breath. She was looking directly at a timber wall, confused to the core.

Where the hell am I?

The answer came quickly when she heard a noise and turned her head blearily. The blond boy had just jumped off his hammock.

"Rise and shine, Greenie!" he said merrily.

"Dear Lord, I'm still here..." the black haired girl moaned, rubbing her eyes as she could rub the image of that dark haired man from her head.

"Yep," Newt nodded. "What a delightful moment. The start of the day number two." His voice was laden with dry sarcasm.

After Moon put herself together, Newt showed her all the important places in the Homestead, such as the bathroom. He gave her new clothes, which were meant for boys, so they were a little baggy for her, but better than nothing. Moon was surprised that the building was deserted, but Newt explained that Gladers began work very early in the morning. It looked like the sun had just come out, so Moon shook her head in amazement. It's like a military camp, she thought.

When they came out of the house, Newt started to walk directly to the boy in the distance she later identified as Alby. In that way, they passed a couple of boys and every one of them raised his head to them.

"Have they never seen a girl before?" Moon murmured under her breath, shifting uncomfortably.

"As a matter of fact, they haven't," Newt chuckled. "Relax, it's gonna pass eventually. Or maybe not."

"I feel much better now, thank you," she replied sarcastically.

"At your service," Newt smirked.

"Morning, Greenie," the great leader Alby greeted her. At least Moon assumed he was, given how he was bossing everybody around. "How was your first night?"

"Charming," Moon said, evidently not done with sarcasm just yet. Her head didn't hurt anymore, but her bruises started to itch and her curiosity was quickly reaching an unbearable height. "Can I have a look at the Gate now?"

Alby frowned, rolling his gaze to his friend.

"She is really a piece of work, isn't she?"

Newt just sighed and Moon folded her arms. She didn't like their attitude towards her, it was somewhat… aloof. They acted as if they got her and now had to take care of her. She was starting to feel even more claustrophobic because of it.

"You should know that after your arrival I set certain rules," Alby told her as if he was doing her a big favor. "If someone of those shanks would harass you, just point your finger and I will kick him straight off the Cliff," he added gracefully.

Moon raised her eyebrows.

"You have a cliff here?" Then she started to studying the Glade. Perhaps in the woods somewhere?

Newt chuckled.

"Yeah, peachy. I need to talk to you, Alby," he said, then turned to the black haired girl. "Wait here, okay?" He pointed to one of the stumps.

Moon felt a bit like a dog; she sat down on the spot, which he showed her, frowning after the boys in consternation as they walked away. Sure. Let's pretend that you're not going to talk about me.

She snorted for herself.

"It sucks, doesn't it? Being a Greenie here?" said a voice beside her.

Moon turned her head only to see a chubby young curly-haired boy, carrying something that looked like a pile of dirty laundry. He couldn't have been older than twelve years old.

"It sucks to be here in general," she said wearily. "Who are you?"

"Chuck," the boy said proudly. "I was the greenest before you showed up here. Now I'm only the youngest... "

"And that's why you're the one who gets to do the laundry? That's rude," she frowned.

"Oh, yeah. And other stuff. I'm a Slopper, it's just how it goes. If you don't prove yourself in any of the normal works, you get to do all the menial things."

Hm. It seemed a certain hierarchy worked here. Everyone was probably forced to do their part. It made sense... if you have planned to stay for a longer period of time. But this wasn't a vacation, this was supposed to be a starting-line. If they haven't stood in her way - Moon would have run into the labyrinth a long ago, but they… were settling here?! Why weren't they seeking a way out? She was broken out of her thoughts abruptly as she realized Chuck was watching her intensively.

"Stop staring at me, kid."

"Sorry. But you're the first girl… you know," he shuffled his feet.

Moon felt slightly sorry for the child, alone in a vast field of boys older than himself. But well, at least he wasn't a girl.

"I've never seen a male washerwoman before and am I staring at you?"

"Move your sorry butt, Chuck. No shirking," Newt told him when he came back, his hand resting on his hip.

"Sure thing, boss," chuckled the curly-haired boy and disappeared.

Moon turned to the older guy.

"So? Have you finished your little gossip session?" Moon asked, somewhat venomously. She actually felt a little betrayed. Alright, maybe he had to tell Alby everything - he was apparently the big leader here - but he could have at least asked her. And that he did it without her was making it even worse.

Newt didn't look one bit guilty.

"I have no secrets from Alby. He's our leader."

"Your leader," she corrected him.

Newt gave her a knowing look.

"I've been through it, trust me. But by the end of the week, you will accept everything. It will be easier for you… More bearable."

Accept? Moon wasn't going to accept anything...

She was so frustrated right now.

"We'll see about that," she mumbled quietly.

"Okay…" Newt sounded unconvinced. "Anyway, we have decided not to say the other Gladers for now. You know, about your memories…"

Moon blinked in surprise.

"Why?"

"Well, usually they don't respond very well to the unexpected things. Some of them are even angry at you for showing up here at all. They're not used to change after the same routine, every day, for three years."

"My heart bleeds for them," Moon said sarcastically. Wait… What?! Three years? They've been here three years?! I am leaving right now! "So? Can I see now? You promised me yesterday."

"Well, technically I didn't- Hey! Wait!"

Moon didn't stop. Newt caught up with her quite easily, and that was when she first noticed his limb. She didn't want to ask, so she let it go. Actually, she didn't want to do anything else, then finally look outside. And get the hell out of here.

There it was. After so many hours, she finally stood in front of the Gate into the Maze. It was huge, enormous, leading to a long corridor covered with ivy. The stones inside looked old, as if they had been there for thousands of years. It seemed so mysterious, dark and dangerous... A sudden wind blew through the labyrinth and ruffled her hair. Her fingers were almost vibrating with excitement.

This was the way out!

Newt was measuring her with a frown on his face the whole time.

"Don't get too carried away, girl. We have a rule - no one sets a foot inside, except for Runners."

"I want to be a Runner," the black haired girl said back immediately.

"What?!" The boy's dark eyes widened. "Hang on - you don't even know what that is!"

Moon kept her eyes fixed on the Gate.

"I don't care. I just want to go inside."

"You are crazy then," said a voice behind her. Moon turned to the muscular guy who grabbed her by the elbow yesterday. "Or stupid as shuck. There is a reason why we aren't going in there, don't you get it?"

"Actually, I do," she said. She could feel it in every cell of her body; the Maze was dangerous. That had to be crystal clear for anyone who got close enough. "But it doesn't really matter... Can't you see it my way? I woke up in the cage and there are open doors! Of course I want to go inside, no matter what!" She wasn't sure why but she wanted them to understand so badly.

Newt looked at her, frowning deeply.

"You are quite different then most newbies, I'll give ya that…"

"What are they usually like?"

"Disoriented, lost, confused. Crying in a corner for days."

Moon shrugged. She was frustrated to no end, but for some reason, she wasn't losing hope. Not yet. As if everything had a reason… And she was getting out of here. At any cost.

"It's perfectly simple, boys," she said nonchalantly, pointing to the Maze. "This is a way out."

She took a step forward, but she couldn't take a second one. Newt apparently lost his patience because he rapidly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She hissed painfully when he touched her bruises, but he didn't seem to care at that moment. His bright eyes darkened; his easy-going smile was gone.

"It's bloody dangerous out there!" he snarled at her, standing between her and the Gate. "We've been here for years, that's not a way out - that's just a vicious mockery! Don't you ever do that, don't act as if it was just a game and we didn't know how to play it! We lost in that bloody Maze dozens of friends... And with this attitude, you're just the next in line."

Moon met his intense gaze. His eyes reflected years of suffering and helplessness. Hard to believe that she could piss him off so easily. The expression of the other boy told her that this wasn't very common for him and Moon didn't care in that moment.

"I'm willing to risk it," she said flatly.

Newt snorted, letting go of her hand, shaking his head.

"I can't bloody believe you…"

"Told you she's not right in the head…" the muscular guy said.

"Shut up, Gally," the blond boy hissed at him, annoyed.

Moon rolled her eyes. She didn't have time for arguing. Her eyes were fixed on the Maze again. If she ran, a skinny English guy with a bad leg surely wouldn't be able to outrun her. About that macho-man, he wouldn't dare to venture beyond the Walls and break his own rules, would he? So, she could just-

Newt stepped into her point of view again, black eyes full of anger.

"You are not allowed to go in there."

Is he reading my mind or something?

"I'm not allowed?" Moon raised her eyebrows. "Who forbids it?"

"That would be me," he said calmly, and then grabbed her wrist again.

This time, Moon began to fight against his grip immediately. Something about this whole thing reminded her of today's dream and she started to feel quite uncomfortable with this memory in her head.

"Who do you think you are, giving me orders? You have no right- "

"Go ahead," Newt said coldly, eyes full of unfamiliar ice. "Keep going like this and you will spend the rest of the day in the Pit. It wouldn't be the first time we stuck a Greenie there to cool off his head."

Moon wavered, ceasing to struggle.

"What is the Pit?"

"I bet you are gonna find out within this week, Greenie…" Gally sneered, but when he met Newt's furious gaze, he turned and left.

The blond boy waited until he was out of earshot.

Then he turned back to her.

"Done for now?"

Moon stared at him defiantly.

"Not in the least, no."

"Good that," Newt said and began to pull her away from the Gate with far more force than she would have guessed he possessed.

"Hey!"

"Don't be so bloody difficult," he murmured, annoyed.

Newt didn't release her until they were in front of something what looked like a homemade tower. Significantly, he pushed her to the ladder.

"Move it," he prodded her.

Moon frowned.

"You first."

"Nah. Ladies first," Newt drawled out.

She examined the tower doubtfully.

"It doesn't look very steady, though…"

"Should I drag you up there in my teeth, bloody woman?!"

Moon chuckled at that thought, but given just how upset Newt currently looked, she started to climb. The tower was sturdier than it looked. It didn't even shake beneath her feet. She leaned against the railing, her eyes fixed on the Gate once again. She had a good view from here. Was this a watching tower?

"Why are we here?" she asked after a moment.

"We're here," Newt started meaningfully. "because I'm not letting Alby give you the tour. After your first rebellious remark, he would have kicked you off the Cliff."

Moon turned to him.

"Sorry, that was supposed to scare me?"

The blond boy's eyes narrowed.

"Don't push your luck, Moon. This is your second day and I get it, but my patience has its limits. You have to learn to obey orders."

"I probably won't be very good at that," she said, this time with a softer tone.

"No shit," Newt grinned without the smallest hint of humor. "The thing is, I don't bloody care, Greenie. The rules are same for everyone, and all those years a certain order works here. You break the rules, you get punished. That's it."

Order… Moon wanted to snort. So they have built up some kind of system. She didn't understand it. She was here for two days and started to freak out just from the thought that she was trapped in an unfamiliar place, where she had been sent by people who nearly had erased all of her memories. And they were undoubtedly watching them right now. How was it that someone could endure three years of that? She felt freer in the Box…

"Good that," Newt said, breaking her thoughts and the momentary silence. "So... Could you look away from that bloody Maze for a moment?!"

Moon sighed and turning her face to him.

"Now when I've gained your revered attention, I'll tell you something about our order."

"Can't wait," the sarcastic remark slipped through her lips.

Newt seemed to be seriously considering pushing her down off the tower for a moment.

"Sorry."

He didn't respond to that.

"We have three basic rules. You already know the first one - never go beyond those Walls. Never. Secondly - everyone is involved, everybody does his - or her - part. Third - never harm another Glader; none of this would work if we didn't have a trust. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"The key one for you is the first rule," add Newt.

Moon frowned.

"So you will seriously stand in my way to run away from here?" she asked. "That's just ridiculous…"

"Yeah, we will stand in your way to commit suicide," Newt replied with a roll of his eyes.

"It can't be so bad if the Runners can go in," Moon pointed out.

"They are a completely different league. They know the Maze. They're the brightest, fastest and strongest of us. And - no offense - but you're not exactly displaying signs of great physical or intellectual strength so far."

Moon stared at him, mouth open in shock.

"Did you really just say that I can't go into the Maze because I'm stupid and small?"

"I suppose, yeah."

"You gonna regret that." That was a promise.

Newt looked anything but frightened.

"Whatever, shorty. The truth is that you're not going in there. Period."

Moon was frowning deeply. He was so freaking over it!

"Tell me, have you ever been in the Maze?"

He winced. A certain emotion ran through his gentle face, but she didn't manage to identify it.

"I have," was the blunt answer.

"Then tell me…" Moon leaned towards him. "What's so terrible in there?"

His eyes narrowed, he folded his arms.

"Except moving walls, darkness and the horrible pressure you feel every single second? The Grievers."

"What are the Grievers?" Why does everything have to have a name I don't understand?

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

"You're a real chatterbox," she sighed. "Guess I'll have to find out on my own."

His eyes darkened again. "Not gonna let ya."

"Why the hell not?" Moon snapped. "I understand you've been here for a long time, so let me explain something to you. That someone sends you something in a box doesn't mean it's yours! You don't have any obligation, stop acting like you have some damn responsibility for me!"

"Sure we have! But someone like you could never understand that. You're here for two days and already think you know everything? Don't be so bloody stupid…" Newt just tiredly shook his head.

When she saw the look in his eyes, she knew that this would get her nowhere. He treated her like a child and as such he also considered her. Only a confused kid who didn't understand anything. The more she pushed, the more it would be convincing him in his affirmation and the more she would be under observation. More people would stand in her way…Newt, Alby, Gally... whoever they'd tell about her, if they got suspicious of her… and if they were really that strict about rules, it would be pretty hard to get around them, if she was to be constantly watched like a time bomb.

It was time to turn around.

Moon sat in the corner of the tower, pulling her knees to her body, lowering her eyes.

"I just ... I want to get out of here," she whispered.

Newt watched her from above a while before answering.

"I know. We all do."

His pure voice didn't tell her if he believed in her sudden change of attitude or not. From what she knew about him so far he was very careful, but also sensitive. It shouldn't be too difficult to get around him…

"Okay," he said with a softer tone. "For now, this lecture is over. It's time to go to Frypan for breakfast."

"I'm not hungry."

"But I am. So hurry up, Greenie."

Moon watched him slowly climbing down the ladder and she turned to the Maze one more time. I'm not going to give up, she promised for the second time that day.

So, two chapters behind us! I really hope you liked it. :)

Thanks to those who favorited, followed or reviewed - it means a lot to me.

I should probably say that Gally in my story is the Gally from the movies - he seemed more reasonable and real that way, he's still a jerk but you can sort of understand him. :D

Alright, see you later! :)