Maze Runner

Chapter 3

Prologue: What would you do if you woke up somewhere with no memories? If you were forced into a completely foreign environment where everyone depends on each other for the sole reason of surviving? Would you give up, or would you keep fighting? Disclaimer: I don't own Maze Runner or Naruto.

Naruto exited the medic's tent, slightly limping. He eventually made it over to a large tree and looked up, eyes catching a flash of silver and red. He leaned heavily against the tree and observed the boys as they went about their jobs, talking and laughing. They all seemed like they belonged here, like they each had a purpose. Naruto felt lost, confused, and empty. He didn't belong here, They weren't his people.

"Hey!" Naruto looked over as he heard the shout, only to blink when he noticed the young kid with the goggles standing there with a stupid grin on his face.

"Uh, hey?" Naruto muttered.

The kid walked up to him, taking him in. "You look pretty cool, new guy! So, what's up? Oh, my name's Konohamaru."

Naruto blinked again. "Naruto. Neji told me that you would show me where I'll be sleeping."

Konohamaru grumbled, but nodded. "Yeah, right this way." He lead the blonde past groups hard at work and into a hut with a bunch of hammocks as beds. Konohamaru grinned. "They're not much, but they do the job."

"Yeah," Naruto muttered, eyeing the fabric. "whatever."

Konohamaru suddenly frowned. "What's up with you? I mean, you didn't freak out when you got up here to the Glade, sometimes you're happy, but then others you're all happy and act kinda like me."

"I honestly don't know." Naruto grinned suddenly. "I think I might be bipolar."

Konohamaru rolled his eyes. "Yeah, think. Now come on-"Another scream pierced through the air from the medic hut. The memory of the boy laying on the bed, writhing in pure agony, pushed to the forefront of Naruto's mind, while Konohamaru shot a weary glance in that direction. "I feel sorry for Dosu. He's sick. They got him."

Naruto shot a glance at the boy. "'They'?" He'd heard the bitter tone in Konohamaru's voice.

"Yeah, 'They'."

"Who's 'They'?"

Konohamaru grinned. "You better hope that you'll never find out."

This is my guide for the night? Naruto thought. He couldn't shake his extreme discomfort, and now annoyance crept in as well. Nothing made sense; his head hurt. "So why is everyone calling me Greenie, or Greenbean?" He suddenly asked.

"It's 'cause you're the newest newbie." Konohamaru replied, pointing at the blonde with a laugh. Another bone-chilling scream came from the hut.

Naruto sighed. "Geez, this place sure seems welcoming."

"He'll be okay. No one dies if they make it back in time to get the Serum. It's all or nothing. Dead or not dead. Just hurts a lot." Konohamaru muttered.

"Erm, what hurts?"

Konohamaru looked unsure of what to say. "Um, gettin' stung by grievers."

"Grievers?" Now Naruto really wanted to know. The kid only shrugged and looked away. "So…"

"Don't worry. You'll be all whacked for a few days, but then you'll get used to this place. I have. We live here, this is it. Better than living in a pile of shit." He squinted.

Naruto grimaced. "...Okay."

The brunette laughed. "Don't worry about anything, Naruto! I've been here a month, I'll show you how everything works."

"You can't even tell me anything. I wouldn't call that taking care of me." Naruto bit out.

Konohamaru shrugged. "Nothin' I say'll do you any good," he said. "I'm basically still a Newbie, too. But I can be your friend—"

Naruto sighed as he stood up and headed back towards the medical tent as another scream came, leaving Konohamaru behind to catch up. "Let's talk about this later." He reached the door, only to notice the boys crowded around outside looking hopeless.

"Hey, look, it's the Greenbean," one of the older boys called out. Naruto realized it was the black-haired guy who'd given him the look of death earlier. He looked like he was fifteen or so, tall and skinny. "This newbie probably shit his pants when he heard old Dosu scream like a girl. Need a new diaper, shit-face?"

"My name is Naruto." The blonde glared, heading to enter the hut he'd been in earlier, but paused when the other boy stopped him.

"Hold on there, Greenie." He jerked a thumb in the direction of the hut. "Newbies aren't allowed to see someone who's been … taken. Neji and Shikamaru won't allow it."

"What's your problem?" Naruto asked boldly, wondering what the kid had meant by taken. "I don't even know where I am. All I want is to help the dude who sounds like he's dying."

"Listen to me, Greenbean." The boy wrinkled up his face, folded his arms. "I've seen you before. Something's fishy about you showing up here, and I'm gonna find out what."

A surge of heat pulsed through Thomas's veins. "I've never seen you before in my life. I have no idea who you are, and I couldn't care less," he spat. But really, how would he know? And how could this kid remember him?

The bully snickered, a short burst of laughter mixed with a phlegm-filled snort. Then his face grew serious, his eyebrows slanting inward. "I've … seen you, newbie. Not too many in these parts can say they've been stung." He pointed up the stairs. "I have. I know what Dosu's going through. I've been there. And I saw you during the Changing." He reached out and poked Naruto in the chest. "And I bet your first meal from Chouji that Dosu'll say he's seen ya, too."

Naruto pointed up the stairs and worked on ignoring the kid, from where the moans of the sick kid echoed through the building. "If Neji is in there, then I wanna talk to him."

The boy said nothing, stared at Naruto for several seconds. Then he shook his head. "You know what? You're right, Naru-chan—I shouldn't be so mean to Newbies. Go on upstairs and I'm sure Shikamaru and Neji'll fill you in. Seriously, go on. I'm sorry." He lightly slapped Naruto's shoulder, then stepped back, gesturing towards the door. But Naruto knew the kid was up to something. Losing parts of your memory didn't make you an idiot, and his instinct told him that this kid was trouble.

"What's your name?" Naruto asked suddenly.

"Zaku. And don't let anyone fool you. I'm the real leader here, not the two geezer's upstairs. Me. You can call me Zaku-taisho if you want." He smiled for the first time; the look matching his ugly attitude.

"Okay," he said, so sick of the guy he wanted to punch him in the face. "Zaku-taisho it is." He exaggerated a salute, feeling a rush of adrenaline, as he knew he'd just crossed a line.

A few snickers escaped the crowd, and Zaku looked around, his face bright red. He peered back at Naruto,, hatred furrowing his brow. "Just go in there," Zaku said. "And stay away from me, you little shithead." He pointed again but didn't take his eyes off of Naruto.

"Fine." Naruto retorted, spotting Konohamaru standing by the door and shaking his head.

"You're not supposed to," the younger boy said. "You're a Newbie—you can't go up there."

Naruto scoffed. I've already been in there, and so have the others. Why didn't they notice anything?

"Go," said Zaku with a sneer. "Go on up."

Naruto stuck his tongue out at the boy and opened the door, walking in. His eyes immediately landed on Dosu to see the image again. A twisted, pale figure writhing in agony, chest bare and hideous. Tight, rigid cords of sickly green veins webbed across the boy's body and limbs, like ropes under his skin. Purplish bruises covered the kid, red hives, bloody scratches. His bloodshot eyes bulged, darting back and forth. The image had already burned into Nsaruto's mind once more before Shikamaru jumped up, blocking the view but not the moans and screams, pushing Naruto out of the room, then slamming the door shut behind them.

"What do you think you're doing, Greenie?!" The normally calm Shikamaru hissed, face drawn and tight with anger.

Naruto straightened. "I wanted to help. I… feel like I know what to do."

Shikamaru shook his head. "Get out, now. Konohamaru'll help you. If you're seen here again before tomorrow, I literally will throw you off the Cliff."

Naruto glared but turned around and walked out the door, slamming it behind him and grabbing Konohamaru's arm while storming past the other boys. All looked shocked, even Zaku. "let's get outta here." He muttered to Konohamaru.

"You got it!" The boy piped cheerily, thrilled to be needed. "But first let's get some food from Chouji, I'm starving!"

Naruto shrugged as he sat near a tree and waved Konohamaru off. "I guess so."

"Okay!" The kid said. "Just give me ten minutes."

Naruto wished for all the world he could remember something about his previous life. Anything. His mom, his dad, a friend, his school, a hobby. A girl. But nothing came to mind. Some words popped into his head and he frowned.

The Changing. Whatever was happening to Dosu was called the changing.

Not much muse today, but eh, I got it done.