Disclaimer: I don't own The Maze Runner or Maximum Ride

togssg16

"I think we should keep this a secret." Alby stuttered. He stared wide-eyed at our wings. Our wings were about fourteen feet long; they overlapped each other in a small space like this.

"You've got bloody wings?" Newt said, startled.

This went better than I thought, huh? I sarcastically told my Voice. I knew it didn't like this.

Fang nodded. "Yeah, I guess we're a bit different, huh?" I curled my wings back and slipped on my jacket, I thought I heard someone coming. I guess Fang did too.

"Alby! Newt!" Thomas came running through the small path, "It's Minho! He-"

"He should be running!" Alby snapped. Thomas simply nodded. "He says it's real important. Come on!"

"Better be important," Alby mumbled. He hesitated then ran off with Thomas toward one of the gates of the Maze.

"What was that all about?" I asked Newt.

"I don't know, probably another life claimed by a Griever."

"Griever?" Fang asked.

Newt looked around then leaned in closer to our faces and smiled. "Yeah, a Griever. They protect the Maze; they mostly come out a night. You guys wanna sneak a peek?"

We nodded.

"Meet me tonight by the East door. Don't tell anyone. Especially Alby." With that, he leaned back and continued our tour. I shot a quick glance at Fang once his back was turned. "Let's do it." I whispered. He nodded. Within a few minutes, we could hear the sequels of poor-fated animals coming from the Bloodhouse.

I stared at the night sky. It was dark navy, with specks of gold lighting the sky. I stood not far from the Box, waiting on Alby. Fang came with me; we waited for about five more minutes in silence. Alby came from behind us silently.

"Gosh, Alby. You scared the crap out of me!" He chuckled softly and led us to the walls of the maze. I was scared half-to-death while Fang only grinned.

"All right, what you are about to see will be permanently grilled inside your minds." Newt said. He pulled some vines from the walls, revealing a small window, cracked slightly in the middle. I stared at Fang. His face glowed different colors, his eyes wide. Mouth dropped open is utter disbelief. I turned, facing the window. I felt my face drop to resemble his.

It was a Griever.

It was a huge mess of green goop, glowing green. It's hard shell wrapped around its body. Spikes jutted out of the metal shell, popping in and out every few seconds. It stopped for a while, then continued. Making the same noise it did as it approached us, leaving.

Whirr-click-click-click. Whirr-click-click-click.

The harsh sound of metal-against-metal left buzzing through my ears.

Whirr-click-click-click. Whirr-click-click-click.

"Griever," I said.

"Griever," Fang repeated.

"Yeah," Newt said, still staring at the window, probably waiting for something that will never come back. "I've seen 'em before out in the Maze. You know, I used to be a Runner."

"A Runner?" I asked. Newt nodded.

"Yeah, they go out into the Maze every day. You remember when Thomas came running blabbing something about Minho?" Fang and I nodded. "He's a Runner, Minho. I twisted my ankle when I was running from one of those buggers, so now I'm an assistant to Alby."

"Wow," I said, "have you ever seen anything else in the Maze?"

Newt sighed; he looked Fang dead in the eye, then gave me the same stare. "Minho, he said that he saw something else today. Alby told me they're going tomorrow to see what it is."

"What?" Fang asked.

"What do you mean what?"

"I mean, what did he see out there."

"Another monster, this one was half wolf, half man, still in an ugly sort of morphing stage. It was near a dead Griever, with a bunch more like it. But these wolves looked more human."

I took a chance at giving Fang a quick glance. When he said something about the first wolf, something clicked inside me. I knew these monsters, but I didn't remember what they were called.

Erasers, Max. They're called Erasers. You do know the first one he said. His name is Ari.

"I know them." Fang said. "I've seen them before. But I don't know where."

"That's the problem in the Glade." Newt said.

"Yeah," I told him, "it's like a math problem we'll never solve." I sighed. "But I know him, too. His name is Ari."

"Ari," Fang said. "Yeah, that's his name!"

"How do you know him?" Newt asked. I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe that's the creator's way of hurting us, the bird freaks."

You're really smart, Maximum, smarter than I expected.

"Thanks," I huffed under my breath, hoping no one would hear me.

"I'm not sure, I don't know. I don't know anything. You guys better get back before you get sleepy-eyed, see you in the morning."

"Yeah, later." I said, turning around. "Thanks," Fang said, following.

I lay in my bed that night thinking about the Grievers, about they're horrid appearance. I thought of Ari, whom I've never met. Well, I never remember meeting him. Was my Voice leading me the wrong way? Who was my Voice, or what was it?

TA-DAAAAA!

As you may know, tomorrow night is a special night, in the story. I don't how long my friend will make it, so it may just be Iggy, or it may be Iggy and the Maze night, I'm not sure.

Anyway, please review! Thanks!