Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

*Previously*

“Hey, why don’t we just move on?” suggested Clint. 

At his words, more text appeared on the screen. 

Next, you all will be watching a film called Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, where you will see what happens after Thomas and the rest of the gladers after they escape the maze. 

“Okay…” said Jeff. “Let's get to it.” 

…

Slowly the darkness fades back to show snow falling as light leaks into the night. 

A barbed fence is shown with bright white spotlights shining. 

The angle changes to show feet walking slowly on pavement, the sound muffled, moving upward to show a crowd of people, some wearing masks. 

The screen shows them pushing up against one side of the fence, hands waving towards it. 

“What’s going on?” askes Chuck. 

“Im not sure…” mutters Thomas back.

The camera pans by someone- seemingly a guard- wearing a rubber suit with a gas mask, along with others holding barking dogs.

A crying woman pushes through the crowd with her child in her arms. 

The child, a little boy, looks at the crowd as his mother walks. 

The dogs continue to bark and claw at the barricades as the guards stay still. 

The woman reaches the front, her arm outstretched. 

“What is she doing?” asks Newt. 

“You’ll soon see.” Answer Dr. Paige.

She crouches down and has her son stand, holding his shoulders. 

Ahead, another guard emerges from a gate, walking towards them. 

The woman talks to her son, the sound muffled. She smiles, reassuring him. 

Thomas squints towards the screen. That woman looks eerily familiar, but he doesn't know how. 

The boy stands there, before tears start to fall from his eyes, along with his mother. 

The guard approaches, and picks the boy up, taking him away as he calls out. 

Teresa looks sadly at the heartbreaking scene, wishing she could have had more time with her own mother before she got infected.

“MOM!” 

The woman holds her hands out smiling sadly at her son. 

Thomas’s eyes widen, finally recognizing the woman, his hand coming to cover his mouth slowly. 

Newt looks at him concerned. 

“MOM!” 

“Why are they taking him away?” askes Chuck? 

“It's because of the Flare.” answers Gally.

The scene changes to show the boy on a train, surrounded by men holding guns. 

Other children sit in the train, looking at the guards warily. 

The boy makes eye contact with one of the men, who turn towards him, smirking. 

The boy looks away. 

“Thomas.” a voice whispers as a hand lays on the boy's shoulders.

“What? That's you?” Asks Minho. 

“Yeah, but I don't remember this part clearly.” Respondes Thomas. 

The camera moves to show Dr. Paige. 

“It's okay.” She whispers, before slowly leaning back, Thomas looking at her warily. 

“Yeah right.” scoffs Gally.

She smiles at him from her seat. 

The camera suddenly spins, switching into when Thomas was in the Box as it rises fast. 

“What's going on? Why is he back in the Box?” asks Alby.

“We never put him back in the Maze.” answers Dr. Paige calmly. 

The Gladers look at her confused.

Now older, he stands up, one hand going back to support him as he stumbles. 

He falls back down against the great wall, shocked. 

“No no no!” he says through clenched teeth, clawing against the wall. 

He screams, before looking up towards the top of the shaft that rapidly approaches. 

“NO!” he screams as the top opens, light encompassing the screen.

Suddenly Thomas' eyes opened, panicked. He’s laying on some bags as Minho yells from above. 

“It was a nightmare…” mutters Newt.

“Wake up! We gotta go! Come on!”

Loud rotors fill the air, muffling Minho. 

Thomas gets up quickly, climbing down from the helicopter as a man grabs him by the arm. 

“We gotta go! Let's go!” the man yells, pulling Thomas forward. 

Thomas stops. 

“WAIT WAIT WAIT!” He yells, running back to the helicopter, the men trying to pull him back. 

“What's wrong?” asks Gally, concerned.

“We don't have time!” someone yells. 

Thomas fumbles through the bags, looking for something. 

“What's so important you would risk your life?” Asks Jeff

Suddenly, Chuck’s carving falls out of a bag. Thomas quickly grabs it as the men grab him and haul him away. 

“Thanks Thomas.” says Chuck. 

“No problem.” he responds. 

“Get outta here!” a man yells. 

Inhuman screams come from the darkness behind them. 

The man pushes Thomas forward, and runs towards the sound, shooting at it with his gun. 

“GO!” he yells.

Some else grabs Thomas by the waist as he looks back at the sounds. 

“What took you so long?” Says Gally, slightly annoyed. “You can't just hang around like that at night.”

“Well seeing as this was my first time seeing cranks in real life, you would think I would get some understanding.” snarks back thomas (playfully, mind you). 

“...” 

If you were looking closely, you would see a small smile on Gally's face. 

They exit the helipad onto sand as others run forward. 

The camera pans to show a metal building with search lights making a path towards the door, the gladers being escorted by guards. 

Thomas, far behind, runs slowly, disoriented. 

Men continued shooting, zombie-like figures falling to the ground. 

“What are those?...” mutter chuck, as Alby pats his shoulder.

The helicopter takes off, a crank falling off the skid. 

Thomas runs through the rapidly closing doors, turning back for a second. 

“That was close.” muters Brenda. 

He looks forward and walks through the other Gladers further into a busy warehouse, swarmed with military personnel and workers. 

“Woah…” mutter Chuck.  

The screen turns black, before lettering appears, writing “The Scorch Trials” 

The black fades to show a metal door being opened by a man dressed in military grade uniform, a gun strung across his chest. 

Inside, the Gladers or shown lounging on surrounding surfaces. They turn quickly towards the door, before jumping up. 

Next to the door, a man enters the threshold. He’s wearing a blue shirt and a leather jacket, with salt and pepper hair, a smile on his face.

The gladers glare at Janson, who just rolls his eyes. 

“You kids doing alright?” He asks.

Thomas and the group approach the door. 

“Sorry about all the fuss. We had ourselves a bit of a swarm.” 

“Who are you?” asks Thomas.

“A priss ass bitch.” Said Brenda. 

Newt snorts loudly, making the other Gladers laugh.

The man smiles, moving his head to the side slightly. 

“I'm the reason you all are still alive. And it's my intention to keep you that way. Now, come with me. We’ll get you kids squared away.” He says as he walks back from the door, heading to the right. 

“I can't believe we believed him.” mutters Minho. 

“While now it does seem too good to be true, we were desperate earlier. We’re lucky we got out in the first place.” Says Thomas. 

The camera shows the Gladers standing there confused for a moment. 

“You can call me Mr. Janson.” The man says as they follow him through a room filled with workers' buildings. 

“I run this place. For us it is a sanctuary, safe from the horrors of the outside world. You all should think of it as a waystation, kind of a.. Home between homes.”

“Tell that to my friends.” Snarls Aris. 

Harriet pulled him back, similarly pissed, but not wanting to give Janson the time of day.

“-Watch yourselves-” he says as someone weldes next to them.

“Are you taking us home?” Asks Thomas. 

“A home of sorts.” Janson Answers. “Sadly there wouldn't be much left of where you came from, but we do have a place for you. A refuge, outside the scorch. Where Wicked will never find you again.” He turns towards them with a serious look on his face. 

“That's what he told you guys?” Asks Gally. 

The Galder nod. 

“Damn, now that i think about it, literally anyone would take up his offer if they were in your situation.”

“That's the point.” smirks Janson. 

“It wasn't a compliment. You rather remind me of a rat.” Says Gally back.

The Gladers burst out laughing. 

“How does that sound?” 

Minho and Newt exchange glances. 

“Why are you helping us?” Minho asks. 

“Lets just say the world out there is in a rather precarious situation, and we’re all hanging on by a very thin thread. The fact that you kids can survive the flare virus, makes you the best chance of humanity's continued survival.” 

They eventually approach a sealed door. 

“Unfortunately, it also makes you a target. There's no doubt by now you've noticed.”

“Yeah no shit.” Said Gally. 

“Beyond this door, lies the beginning of your new lives.” 

“More like the end of it.” Muttered Brenda. 

Chuck glanced nervously at Janson.

Janson swipes his card through a pad, opening the door, leading into a long hallway. 

“First things first, let's do something, about that smell.”

The scene changes to show a shower spout, exclamations of appreciation echoing through the room. 

Laughter envelopes the room. 

“You guys really enjoyed that huh?” Said Brenda, smirking. 

“How was I supposed to know people were gonna hear me afterwards?” Snarked Minho back.

The camera pans down to show Thomas in a stall, leaning towards the wall, one hand holding him up as he wipes water away from his face, clearly exhausted. 

Newt looks away, a blush on his face. 

Breanda side eyes him with an amused look on her face. 

“This feels great!” yells Frypan.

More laughter erupts.  

The camera shows the grate at his feet, as blood drops into it. 

The laughter dies down, remembering where the blood came from. 

The scene changes to show a nurse walking into a medical lab. 

Someone puts a tray on viles down on a desk as a scientist squeezes liquid out of a beaker. 

Newt is seen sitting in a chair as a doctor picks up a syringe. 

“That's not terrifying at all for people who just escaped a death trap, not at all.” Says Gally sarcastically.

“Uhh, wait what is that?” He asks. 

“Just a little cocktail, calcium, flouate, vitamins A-Z, pretty much everything you've been deprived of out there. Try to relax. ” 

Newt looks at him warily, holding his arm up. 

The camera then shows Minho running on a treadmill, wires attached to him, reading his vitals. 

“You look like a lab rat.” comments Brenda, disgust in her voice. 

“That's pretty much what they are.” Says Janson, smirking grossly. 

Gally growls at him, holding up a fist. “Say that again and you won't have teeth.” He threatens. 

“You best not underestimate him Rat-man, he could survive the end of the world if he wanted.” Snarks Minho as the other Gladers nod along.

Thomas rests his arm on his thigh as a doctor withdraws blood, before putting gauze on the opening. 

“Sure you got enough there?” Thomas asks warily. 

A woman walks past. 

“Evening Dr. Crawford.” The man drawing blood says. 

“Evening.” She responds. “How are the new arrivals holding up?” 

“So far so good.” the doctor replies. 

“Thomas looks warily at the woman, who approaches where Teresa is sitting on an examination table. 

“Alright… You must be Teresa.” Dr. Crawford says, reaching to pull the curtain closed. 

Thomas sits slumped slightly in his chair, one hand holding the injection site. 

A man walks up to him. 

“Thomas?” 

The Glader looks to the man's thigh where a gun is strapped in its holster. 

“How friendly of him.” Mutters Brenda. 

“..Yeah.” Thomas responds. 

“Come with me please.” 

Thomas puts down the gause and rises to follow.

Minho, across the room, watches them pass from where he’s running. 

Thomas turns, making eye contact with Teresa as the Doctor closes the last curtain. 

Thomas is shown sitting at a table in a small room, looking at his hands. 

He looks up, eyes breaking into the room and they find a camera attached to the wall. 

“Interrogation room much?” Says Newt, clearly pissed.

The door beep sounds, and Thomas sits up suddenly, on guard. 

Janson crosses the threshold. 

“Thomas.” He says, smiling. “Thank you for seeing me. Sorry for the inconvenience. I was just just hoping we could get a moment to chat in private, away from the others.” 

“Ew he sounds like a pervert.” says Sonya. 

 A disgusted look takes over Thomas’s face, while Newt’s fists clenched tightly.

Jason turns and pulls up a chair, a packet of paper in one hand. 

“Well, I won't take up too much of your time. I really only have one question.” 

Thomas looks at him seriously. 

“What do you remember about Wicked?”

“What the fuck? They get saved then immediately he wants to know all about his trauma? What is this, show and tell?” Says Jorge furiously. 

Thomas’s brows furrow slightly. 

“You’re not in trouble. We’re just having a conversation. I'm just trying to understand.” 

“Understand what?” Thomas mutters. 

“Who’s side are you on?” Janson asks. 

“Huh i wonder who? The one who saved me, or the one who tried to test and kill me for research.” Says Gally, turning to look back at Janson. 

“I know you're just acting, but you're full of shit.”

Janson, furious, trys to stand but is stopped by Dr. Paige raising a hand. 

“While it seemed like a reasonable question at the time, Janson, I rather think it just builds suspicion towards you in the first place, so it was probably not the best thing to ask someone like Thomas.” She says calmly. 

Janson sat down furiously, figurative steam practically pouring out of his ears. 

The camera pans to the side, showing as Thomas’s eyes flutter up and down, before showing his face again. 

“I remember I used to work for Wicked.” He says. 

Janson turners his head slightly, not interrupting. 

“I remember that they sent me into the maze.”

“I remember watching my friends die in front of me.” 

Newt scooting closer, and wraps an arm around Thomas, rubbing his shoulder. 

“I'm on their side.” 

“Thanks Thomas.” Says Alby, smiling sadly. 

“It's no problem.” he mutters back.

“Interesting.” Jansn says, an odd glint in his eyes. “You say you worked for Wicked, but they sent you into the maze. Why would they do something like that?” 

“Probably because I betrayed them to save innocent people.” Thomas says, shocking the Glader who never made it out of the maze, having not heard of anything like this before. 

“I don't know, maybe you should’ve asked them before you killed them all.” Thomas responds. 

Jansons lip twitches slightly. 

“Someone's angryyyy” teases Brenda. Making Janson bare his teeth at her.

“Well... I'll be sure to keep that in mind.” He says, rising from his chair. 

“Enjoy the rest of your stay.” 

Thomas' head tilts a twitch. 

“Wha- uh that's it?” he asks, dumfounded. 

“Yeah you've told me everything I need to know. You and your friends have all been cleared to join the others. Soon, you’ll all be moving on to greater pastures.” Janson says as he opens the door. 

“Not so sure about that.” muttered Aris, crossing his arms.

Thomas sits up slightly. 

“Wait.... Others?”

Thomas is shown walking down a hallway, the noise of loud chatter slowly increasing. 

He leans forward slightly, coming up to a big cafeteria filled with other kids eating together. 

“Woah…” says Chuck, amazed at all the different people on screen. 

“Hey Thomas!” A voice calls. 

The glader turns to see Minho walking up to him. 

“Minho, what's going on?” 

“We weren’t the only maze,” the korean responded.

“Your saying there was more than one Maze?” says Jeff, dumbfounded.

Thomas nods, shocking those who never escaped.

“What?” mutters the glader.

Thomas follows Minho up to a table, where the rest of the gladers are sitting. 

 “And there was this big loud explosion,and these guys came outta nowhere. Started shooting up the place.” A boy says from across the table.

“It was intense.” someone next to hum agrees. 

“They pulled us out of the Maze and brought us here” He finishes. 

“What about the rest?” asks Newt.

The boy looks at him. 

“The other people left behind in the Maze, what happened to them?” 

“I didnt even think of that. Being left in the Maze.” Mutters Teresa.

He shrugs. 

“I don't know. I guess, Wicked still has them.”

Thomas shoots a glance at Newt, who returns it, before turning back to the others. 

“How long have you guys been here?” 

“Not long, just a day or two.” The boy turns to behind him, where someone sits in a gray hoodie. 

Harriet grabs onto Aris’s hand as he shakes, clearly remembering those he lost while at the facility.

“That kid over there, he’s been here the longest. Almost a week.” 

The other kid turns back. “His Maze was nothing but girls.” 

The Gladers have a moment of science for the girls who died in that Maze. 

Minho looks up, interested. “Really?” he asks. 

The first kid shrugs, “Some guys have all the luck.” He says. 

“I was lucky to be with you guys.” Aris says to Harriet and Sonya, who hug him in appreciation. 

“Good evening gentleman, ladies.” A voice calls out. 

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Jansons walk into the cafeteria followed by guards, who stand by the door. 

“You all know how this works. If you hear your name called, please rise in an orderly fashion, join my colleagues, behind me. Where we will escort you to the eastern wing. Your new lives are about to begin.” He says, motioning to the two muscular men standing at the wall of the room. 

“More like the end of them.” mutters Aris sourly, remembering the rest of the girls from his maze, that he never saw again after their names were called. 

Harriet pushes her shoulder against his, exchanging a mournful look with him. 

Light clapping ends Jansons speech, as the teens look around excitedly. 

“What's he doing?” Asks Chuck, looking at Thomas expectedly. 

“You’ll know soon, I think. But I can tell you, it's not anything good.” The galder replies. 

Those who weren't at the facility shift nervously in their seats, what could this man possibly have done to Thomas and the others that was worse than the Maze?

The director opens his clipboard, before looking up at the kids. 

“Conner.” A boy stands up behind Thomas and the others, high fiving his friend. 

“Evelyn.” A brown haired girl smiles as she rises from her seat. 

“Justin.” 

“Peter.”

The camera shows Aris sitting alone, his hood covering his face, as he shiftily looks around, an unreadable expression on his face. 

Newt sends him an understanding look from a few seats over, as Aris looks down at his feet. 

“Allison.”

“...Squiggy.” Laughter erupts as a boy gets up from his spot to join the others at the end of the room. 

“Alright settle down.” Says Janson, as he smiles at the kids indulgently, before continuing to call names.

“Franklin.”

“And, Abigail.” 

Janson closes the clipboard with a snap as kids around the cafeteria groan. 

Janson smirks, before his smile slowly forms into a scowl, remembering how everything was ruined when that brat figured everything out.

“Now, now, don't get discouraged. If I could take more I would. There's always tomorrow. Your time, will come.”

Janson moves to leave the cafeteria. “Go on, Eat up.” 

The remaining kids clap as he exits the room.

The camera switches to show Thomas and the others looking at the retreating backs of the kids whose names were called. 

“Where are they going?” Asks Minho.

The kid in front of his has a resigned look on his face. “Far from here.” he says, before turning back to them.

“Lucky bastards.” 

The kid next to him turns around. 

“Some kind of farm. A safe place. They can only take in a couple people at a time.”

“If only that were true,” mutters Aris.

Thomas looks to the side, seeing Dr. Drawford as she walks past a window, Teresa following behind, wearing a tanktop. 

His brows furrow. “What the hell?” Thomas whispers as he gets up from his seat on the bench. 

“Ugh you're not gonna be a dumbass again, Are you?” groans Gally. 

“Shut up.” grumbles Thomas. 

“It's fine Gally.” Says Newt, rubbing Thomas on the shoulder. “Nothing happens.” 

“...Right then anyways.” he mumbles. 

“Hey Teresa!” Thomas says loudly, walking fast to get to her. 

Aris sits up, pulling his hood off his head as he watches Thomas. 

“Teresa!” He yells.

“I knew it.” says Gally resigned. 

Just as she leaves the view of the window, Teresa’s head turns back, before disappearing. 

Thomas gets to the door, but is stopped by the guards stationed there. 

“Hey! Hey hey hey.” One of them says, holding up a hand towards Thomas. 

“Where are they taking her?” the glader asks.

The man pauses, before speaking. “They just have to run a few more tests. Don't worry, they’ll be done with her soon.” 

“He has no bloody idea what they’re doing.” snarks Newt. “He just tryin’ to make sure you don't’ make a ruckus.” 

Thomas nods at him, remembering the man from before. 

“Is she okay?” Thomas asks. 

“She’s fine.” The guard responds. 

Thomas pauses, a debating look on his face. 

The scene changes to show a door opening as a man lets the gladers inside a room. 

Frypan enters and the camera backs away to show that the room’s filled with bunk beds. 

He turns towards the beds a smirk on his face. 

“Oo I got top bunk-” says Frypan as he reaches for one of the beds. But before he can climb on top minho jumps up from behind him and sits on the bunk, a smug look on his face. 

“Ahh too slow.” He gloats.

“You know, you're such a brat sometimes.” remarks Gally, smirking at Minho. 

“It's part of my charm.” Says the korean dryly.

One of the glades lays on a bottom bed, making himself comfortable. 

“I could get used to this.” He remarks, a smile on his face. 

Thomas walked forward with Newt behind him. 

“Yeah, it's not bad.” The brit agrees, looking around. 

The turn at the sound of the door locking. 

Thomas turns towards Newt, stepping closer. 

Newt blushed slightly, at that time, he hadn't been sure of his feelings for the greenie, but now- later -he was sure of himself. But not so much about Thomas’s. 

“What do you think those guys want with Teresa?” He asks.

“You know, if there's one thing I know about that girl, it's that she can take care of herself.” 

“Thanks Newt.” Says Teresa quietly. 

“It's fine.” he says moodily, side eyeing Teresa, who was looking at Thomas as he gazed at Newt during their exchange. 

Newt turns to climb the bunk ladder. “Don't worry about it.”

Thomas sighs, watching Newt climb up before looking away. 

The scene changes to show the gladers sleeping, light creeping through the door window in the dark. 

The camera moves above someone in bed to show Thomas at a sink, washing his face with water, before switching to him laying in bed, wide awake. 

“It was the same for me the first night there.” Says Aris, looking at Thomas with understanding. 

Thomas nodded at him, a small smile on his face.

A light clanging noise echoes by him. 

The greenie’s brows furrow, looking towards the sound, sitting up in bed. 

“Psst. Hey.” a voice calls below the bed.

“That sounds so creepy.” laughs Brenda. 

Aris blushes as people giggle at his reaction. 

Thomas looks down. 

“Down here.” the voice says again. 

Thomas leans over the side of the bed, coming face to face with Aris, who’s inside the ventilation. 

“What a coincidence that the vent would be directly under Thomas’s bed,” remarks Alby. 

Newt nods, a look of curiosity on his face.

Aris shushes the glader, motioning for him to come. 

“Follow me.” He says quietly, turning around in the vent. 

“What?” whispers Thomas, a confused look on his face.

Small bursts of laughter echo through the room. 

The scene changes to show the glader crawling on his hands and knees through the vent, before coming up to a corner, where Aris is to up ahead. 

“Hurry, this way.” he says, before crawling forward. 

Thomas pauses, a debating look on his face. 

“Come on.” echoes Aris’s voice. 

“From that angle I can see how confused you would be.” Laughs Aris. 

“Yeah it was kinda weird at first.” chuckles Thomas, before a serious expression covers his face, remembering what he sees next after this.

The greenie starts to move. 

At another place, Aris’s head peaks out from an intersection, checking around him, before quickly moving. 

As they move quickly through straight away, Thomas stops them. 

“Hey wait a second. What the hell are we doing?” He asks. 

“You said it,” mutters Gally. 

“Come on! Wee gonna miss it.” The boy responds. 

Thomas shakes his head, before following him. 

“The hell am I doing?” he mutters to himself.

Newt chuckled lightly, it's not often that Thomas is unknowingly comedic, but when he is, it's always funny to him. 

The greenie crawled through as the camera shows Aris stopped before a vent opening. 

Thomas turns towards the boy. 

“What are we doing?” he asks. 

Aris lifts a finger to his lips, shushing him. “Shh. Come here.”

Thomas stumbles towards the grate. 

“Watch.” Aris says. 

The camera moves to show through the vent, where it shows a hallway. 

Suddenly, Dr. Crawford walks past, turning back while getting her badge out of her breast pocket.

Behind her, approaches a monitoring table, where someone lies, their diagnostics displayed on the screen above.

A silence emcompases the room. 

“What’s that?” asks Chuck. 

“They’re people.” Answer Aris, a blank look on his face. 

Thomas shifts around the vent to get a closer look. 

Below, Dr. Crawford opens a keypad with her badge, letting the people in hazmat suits push the tables through the door, following the second one in as the door closes behind. 

Aris looks up at thomas. 

“What the hell was that?” asks the Glader, a confused look on his face. 

“They bring in new ones every night like clockwork.” the boy responds. 

“And what do they do with them?” Thomas asks.

“I don't know.” Aris says. “This is as far as i've ever gotten. Vents don't go into that section.”

“It can't be anything good from what we’re seeing.” Mutters Jorge.

“But once they go through that door, they don’t ever come back out. I don't think anybody ever really leaves this place.”

Minho turns to Thomas. “I'm sorry we didn't listen to you before. We were just happy to finally be out of the maze and didn't want to think about how we were tricked again.”

“It's fine. I understand.” Replies Thomas. “I wasn't in the maze as long as you guys, so I was still expecting the worst for everyone.”

“And you’re just paranoid.” Responds Gally.

Thomas’s nods, admitting that he is often paranoid, but for good reason.

They exchange serious looks. 

“Come on. We gotta before somebody notices we’re gone.” Says Aris, moving to leave.

“Why’d you show me this?” asks Thomas. 

Aris pauses, before turning towards him. “Cause maybe the others will listen to you.” He responds. “There's something weird going on here, and I know you think so too.”

Newt turns slightly, but Thomas stops him. 

“I know. It's fine.” The greenie says.

As Aris starts to climb through an opening, Thomas stops him. 

“Hey wait. What's your name?” The glader asks.

“Aris.” The boy responds, before climbing through. 

“You know, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have ever known what was really happening.” Comments Frypan. “Thanks.”

“Oh it's really nothing, I just thought that someone had to know.” Says Aris, his face pinking slightly. 

Thomas turns back to the vent, the light below illuminating his face. 

“Alice.” 

The scene changes to show Janson from behind the next day, once again reading names off a clipboard. 

“Barry.”

The director pauses, looking around. 

“Walt.”

“Edgar.”

The camera closes in on Thomas's face, a determined look on his face. 

“Samantha.” 

“I wanna know what's through that door.” The glader says. 

Newt turns towards him. 

“No we’ve been over this. You said they were covered up so you don't know what you saw.” He says. “It coulda been anything under there.” 

Newt puts a hand on Thomas’s shoulder, and an apologetic look on his face. 

Thomas puts his hand over Newt’s, understanding showing through the motion.

Thomas shakes his head. “No, I know exactly what I saw, they were bodies. Aris said they bring in a new batch every night.” 

“Who the hell is Aris?” asks Minho.

Thomas points across the room, to where Aris sits with his hood up, regarding a piece of food. 

Aris blushes slightly as the theater laughs. 

The gladers give him apologetic looks, a little sheepish. 

“It's fine,” he says, “I wasn't exactly looking very reliable then.”

The gladers turn back. 

“Well, I'm sold.” says Minho sarcastically.

More laughter erupts.

Newt turns to Thomas, but is interrupted by Janson finishing the name call. 

“And last but not least, David.” 

The cafeteria claps as the named kids leave. 

“Thank you for your attention. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Janson says, turning around to leave. 

A guard uses his badge to open the door as personnel walk through. 

Newt leans close to Thomas. 

“Kay, until we know anything for certain, we should just keep our heads down and try not to draw any attention to ourselves. Alright.” 

“Like that's gonna freakin work.” Chuckles Gally. 

Thomas suddenly stands, slamming his hands on the table as he gets up.

“I spoke too soon.” Says Gally, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

Laughter fills the theater. 

Thomas quickly walked towards the door. 

Aris is seen watching him from his seat, a confused look on his face.

“You probably didn’t expect that when you showed him the vents.” laughs Minho. 

“I didn't,” Replies Aris. “It was really surprising.” 

“What is he doing?” Asked Newt.

“Making a scene.” giggles Brenda. 

“I think he’s drawing attention to himself.” Replies Frypan.

Thomas is shown from behind as he walks to the line of kids falling through the door. 

“You seriously thought that was gonna work?” Asks Gally, a desbelives looks on his face. 

“Not really.” says Thomas. 

He’s suddenly stopped by a guard, who pushes him back by the chest. 

“Woah, hang on. You weren't called.” Says the man.

“How would he even know, unless they were keeping tabs on you.” Said Newt. 

“They were. Cause I used to work for them.” Responds Thomas. 

Janson smirks from his seat. There was no way Thomas would have been able to get through that door, he was too recognizable. 

“Yeah I know, I'm just gonna be a second.” Says Thomas, trying to pass the guard again.

“Dude. You just lie. You don't say that you weren't called.” Says Minho. 

“I haven't  done that before, so how would I know?” Asks Thomas.

“It's common sense bro.” Says the glader. 

Newt laughs at Thomas's annoyed expression. 

“This is a restricted area, kid.” The man says, pushing the boy back farther.

Thomas pants slightly, before stepping closer. 

“I just wanna see my friend, can you let me through?”

The man pokes Thomas in the chest. 

“That's not gonna be good.” Says Gally. 

Alby nods, remembering Thomas’s temper.

“Get your ass back in that chair.” The man says threateningly.

Thomas turns around to leave slowly, taking a few steps before suddenly turning back as making a mad dash to pass the men. 

He’s quickly stopped by the guard and shoved backwards. 

The gladers run up from their table as Thomas pushes the guy back. 

“What’s your problem man!?” Thomas yells. 

“Oh Geez, here we go again.” mutters Gally.

The man pushes him back as Janson approaches from the hallway behind the door. 

“What the hell, huh!?” Thomas continues yelling as the gladers hold him back as Janson gets closer. 

“WHY WON'T YOU LET ME SEE HER?!”

“Thanks Thomas.” Says Teresa. 

“It's fine. You're like a sister to me, I couldn't just let them take you.” He says.

The guard points at Thomas, talking to the other boys. 

“You need to control your friend!” he yells.

Janson pulls the guards back, stopping the fight. 

“What’s happening here?” he asks.

The gladers let go of Thomas, watching suspiciously towards the men. 

Janson turns in a circle, looking at everyone, before stopping at the gladers. 

“Thomas. I thought we could trust each other?” he says reaching and arm onto the boy's shoulder. “You know we're all on the same team here.” 

“He is revolting.” says Harriet. 

Janson scowles. 

Thomas pants slightly, looking at Janson with an unreadable look on his face. 

“Are we?” he asks quietly.

Janson’s smile solidifies, and his eyebrows raise as he looks up for a moment, before lowering his gaze. 

He makes eye contact with Thomas. 

“Get them to their bunks.” he says. 

“And now we see his true colors.” says Minho.

The scene changes to show the gladers being thrown into their room, before the door slams. 

They all turn to Thomas. 

“What the hell was that about?” Asks Minho. 

“You didn't really think they were just gonna let you through?” Newt asks disbelievingly. 

“No, of course I didn't.” Thomas responds, reaching into his pocket, before taking out the guards key card, showing it to the gladers. 

Exclamations fill the theater. 

“Even I can admit, that was nicely done.” says Gally. 

“Thanks man.” Says Thomas, smiling lightly.

Everyone releases breaths of surprise and disbelief. 

“Now we’re gonna know what's on the other side of that door.” Thomas says. 

Newt crosses his arms. 

“Newt, they’re hiding something!” Thomas says. “Okay, these people, are not who they say they are.” 

“No, Thomas, you don't know that!” Newt says, stepping closer. 

“The only thing that we do know, is that they helped rescue us from Wicked.” he says. “They gave us new clothes, they gave us food, they gave us a proper bed. Some of us haven't had that in a long time.” 

“Yeah but-” Thomas starts, but is interrupted by Newt. 

“Some of us a lot longer than others.” 

Thomas looks to Newt, before rubbing a hand on his shoulder. 

Newt gazes at him thankfully.

Brenda looks between the two, a slow dawn of understanding showing on her face. 

Jorge looks at her questionly. 

She shakes her head at him, a small smirk on her face.

Thomas pauses, silent. 

The quiet is interrupted with a loud bang as the vent suddenly flies out from underneath Thomas’s bed. 

Aris crawls out from below. “Hey Thomas.” 

“What the?-” says Frypan. 

Laughter echoes through the room.

The gladers stand shocked as Aris continues. 

“You got it, didn’t you?” he asks. 

“Who is this kid?” mutters someone.

“Yeah.” Says Thomas, holding up the key card. “Lets go.” 

Thoma pauses, putting the card in his pocket, turning towards everyone. 

“Alright look, maybe you guys are right, maybe I'm just being paranoid.” He says, sliding down underneath the bed. “But I gotta find out for sure.”

“And it was a good thing I did.” mutters Thomas.

“Just cover for me. I'll be back as soon as I can.” he says, disappearing into the vents. 

The gladers exchange worried glances. 

The scene changes to show a hallway, where the vent opens and Thomas drops out of it, Aris following soon after, before putting the grate back on. 

Thomas walks to back check for anybody, then takes out the keycard, and swiping it through the lock,  the door opening easily.

The screen showed the two slowly walking through the door as they entered a pressurized room with hazmat suits hanging on the walls. 

Thomas turns towards a window, and as the camera closes in, you can see gigantic water filled tubes, holding young versions of the Grievers inside.

“What the hell?” Says Alby.

“Why would they have those?” Asks Chuck. 

“Because they made them.” says Thomas quietly. 

Chuck gasps softly, before hugging Thomas’s side. 

They go through another door, and the camera slowly back away to show people strung up by their chests, test tubes going in and out of their bodies. Oxygen masks over their mouths and nearby screens graphing their data. 

“Oh my lord.” Says Jorge. 

“Those poor kids.” said Brenda faintly. 

To be Continued...

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Previously...

“Oh my lord.” Says Jorge. 

“Those poor kids,” said Brenda faintly. 

The screen shows Aris walking past the suspended kids, the tubes glowing a bright blue. 

Thomas gazes at them, watching as they are slowly injected with mysterious substances. 

“What are they doing to them?” Asks Chuck worriedly. 

“You’ll just have to see.” Mutters Thomas, eyes downcast. 

Thomas looks ahead and sees a girl's wavy brown hair covering her face as she hangs. His eyes widen and step forward hurriedly. 

“Teresa!?” 

Teresa's eyes widened slightly, thinking about how Thomas would react if it was her. 

“Was she there too?” asks Alby quietly.

Thomas shakes his head slightly, trying to not tell the others.

He steps in front of her, and raises his hand gently, brushing the hair out of her face. He released a breath, seeing that the girl wasn't Teresa, but someone else.

Unknown to himself, Minho releases a breath of disappointment. He suffered from what Teresa did, and if she had been there, it wouldn't have happened.

Seeing her face, Harriets heart breaks a little, after they had left, she had never seen the other girls from the maze again, and to actually see what they went through was terrible.

Aris appears at Thomas' left, looking at the girl with an unreadable look on his face. 

“Rachel,” he says.

Thomas looks at him. 

“They took her the first night.” Aris says. Gazing at her with sadness in his eyes. “I told her it was gonna be okay.” 

The gladers look down in remembrance of Rachel, and the life that was taken away from her at such a young age. 

Behind them, the sound of releasing air echoes. The boys turn around, and jump behind the metal pillars just in time for Janson to enter the room. 

Janson sneers from where he was sitting. He can't believe he missed them so narrily. 

“You sure this can't wait?” he asks the person beside him. 

Thomas slinks to the other side of the pillar as they pass.

“She was very specific, sir. She wanted to speak with you personally.” the man responds. 

“As if I don't have enough to deal with.” Janson mutters.

Aris hides behind a tank as they listen to the conversation. 

“Just uh, bear with me.” The man says nervously. “We're getting some interference from the storm.”

“Come on, It's good enough, make the connection!” Orders Janson.

“He’s such a bitch.” mutters Brenda.

The mirror in front of the light up, a screen appears, showing Dr Ava Paige sitting at a desk, shuffling papers. 

“Good evening Dr paige.” Says Janson jovally. “Lovely to see you again. Although I admit I... wasn't expecting to hear from you quite so soon.”

Thomas crouches from his position behind the pillar, a shocked look on his face as he sees Dr Paige alive.

“That was the first time you saw her?” asked Jeff. 

“Yeah” answered Thomas. 

“Change of plans, Janson, I'll be arriving sooner than expected. First thing tomorrow.” She says, getting up from her desk. 

“Oh! Well, I mean, delighted to have you. You’ll be pleased with the progress we made. As you can see, early results have been.. extremely promising.” Janson responds, a nervous tilt to his voice. 

“He’s scared of her, but he also hates her.” Says Alby, a knowing look on his face. 

He pauses. 

“Whatever it is, you've been doing to them in there, it's working.” he says. 

Dr Paige shakes her head slightly, “Not well enough.” she says. 

Jason looks at her surprised. 

“I just received board approval,” she continues. “I want all the remaining subjects sedated and prepped for harvest by the time I arrive.” She finishes. 

“Harvest?! What are we, animals?!” Minho yelled angrily. 

Newt grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back from attacking the wicked director. 

“Not now.” He muttered into Minhos ear. “You can do it later.”

Minho slowly nodded, turning back to his seat, and sitting down. 

Jansons eyes widened slightly. “Dr paige, we are going as fast as we can, we are still running tests-” 

“Try something faster.” She interrupts. “until I can guarantee their security, this is the best plan.” 

“Ma’am, security is my job. We are on a 24 hour lockdown here. I am assuring you, the assets are secure.” Janson says. 

“Oh ho hoh, he’s gettin pissed.” chuckled Gally. 

“Have you found the right arm?” She asks. 

Janson pauses. “Not yet” he says. 

“And wouldn't ever have if it wasn't for Teresa.” Said Brenda. 

Teresa flinched slightly, wincing as she listened to the murmurs of agreement from the other viewers. 

“Hmm.” Ava humms. 

“We tracked them as far as the mountains.” Janson tries to say. 

“So they're still out there! And they’ve already hit two of our installations.” Dr Paige says.

Jorge smirked and high-fived Brenda. 

Thomas looks to his left, and exchanges a glance with Aris.

“They want these kids as badly as we do.” She says. “And I cannot!... I cannot afford another loss. Not now, when I am so close to a cure.” 

“If you are not up to the task, then I will find someone who is.” 

Oohs echoed through the theater, and laughter soon followed, much to Janson's fury.

Dr Paige turned to go sit at her desk, as the camera focused on Janson again. 

“That won't be necessary,” he said. “Might I suggest we start with the most recent arrivals?-”

“Just get it done.” Paige said firmly, turning away.

“Isnt that you guys?” Asked Chuck. 

“Yeah, it is.” Muttered thomas.

As he turned around to leave, Dr Paige called him. 

“Janson.” She said, “I don't want them to feel any pain.”

He gazed at her, an unreadable expression on his face.

“They won't feel a thing.”

He spun once again, turning his back to the director, and walked away with a smirk slowly forming on his face as the man behind him ended the video call. 

“He’s not telling the truth,” said Alby quietly.

Thomas dodged his sight as they left, panting in his panic. 

The scene changed to show Thomas as Aris rushed to crawl through the vents. 

The vent door burts from under the vent as Newt paces, and Thomas slides from underneath. 

“Thomas!” yelled Minho. 

“We gotta go. We gotta go right now!” the galder yelled hurriedly. 

“I mean, considering they know nothing, what Thomas is saying sounds very confusing to be honest.” Said jorge.

“It was.” Said Minho.

“What the hell are you talking about?!” Asked Minho. 

“What do you mean ‘we gotta go’?” Asked Newt incredulously. 

“They’re coming, we gotta go!” 

Thomas rushed to his bed, pulling up the sheets. 

“Come on, we gotta go! They’re coming for us!” He yelled. 

The camera moved to show Janson marching down the hallway, flanked by armed men. 

It shifts to show one person holding a tray of syringes. 

“What is that for?” Asks Chuck. 

“It's probably a tranquilizer.” Said Gally. 

“Oh…” Said Chuck, a worried look on his face. 

Thomas is shown tying his sheets around the door handle, securing it tightly. 

“What happened? Aris What happened?” Asked Frypan, turning to the shorter boy.

“Thomas, can you just calm down and talk to us?” Newt asked as he was  tying the sheets. 

“It's already been said, but it's still true, you're obviously not helping matters by not telling them anything.” Said Gally.

“I know.” Thomas muttered, looking down slightly. 

Newt reached and lightly touched his nape, turning the greenie to look at him. 

“It's fine Thomas. You were freaking out and couldn't really explain properly at the time. But, you have now and we’re grateful for you practically saving our lives.” he said warmly, a small smile on his face.

“She's still alive.” He said urgently. 

“Who's she?! Teresa?!” Asked frypan, clearly confused. 

A few chuckles littered the room briefly. 

“Eva!” Thomas said.

“Eva?” Said Newt, brows furrowing. “Would you just turn around and talk to us?!” 

Thomas turned around suddenly, “IT'S WICKED!” he yelled. 

The gladers are shown with shocked looks on their faces. 

Thomas brushes past them quickly. “It's still wicked. I-it's always been wicked.” he said. 

The gladers sit silently, lamenting how they were given hope, only to have it ripped away by selfish dictators.

Jason turns a corner, heading towards the boys’ door at the end of the hall. 

Thomas pants, hurriedly picking up a mattress to block the door. 

“Like that’ll do much.” Muttered Gally. 

“I was panicking.” Said Thomas.

He leans against it, breathing heavily. 

Newt comes up from behind, resting a hand on the mattress. 

“Thomas,” he says, “What did you see?”

Thomas pauses, and in that moment, Janson arrives at the door. Sliding his ID through, the man goes to open the door, only for it to stop suddenly part way open, the sound of a falling mattress coming from inside. 

He pushes on the door, before moving his head into the gap to surveigh. 

He turns around, not saying a word, and the guards run forward to slam into the door, forcing it open. 

Chuck chewed his bottom lip in worry, hoping that the others listened to Thomas in time. 

The group quickly walks in, only to find it deserted. 

Chuck lets out a sigh of relief, unknowingly joined by many of the other viewers.

The scene changes to show Thomas pushing through a vent. 

The greenie walks forward slightly, before turning back and rushes everyone else forward. 

“Come on.” he says quietly. “Okay guys, let's go!” 

“You guys go ahead, there's something else I gotta do.” Aris says, pausing at the vent opening. 

“What are you doing?” Asked Harriet. 

“You’ll see.” Said Aris.

They walk back, looking at him in alarm. 

“What are you talking about?” Thomas says. 

“Trust me, it's important.” Aris says “You guys wanna get outta here right?” he asks.

“Just go.” he finishes, climbing back into the vent. 

“I'll go with him.” Says Winston.

“Okay Winston go.” Thomas says hurriedly, ushering everyone else to hurry up. 

“Are we gonna trust this kid?” Asked Minho. 

“You don't wanna know where we'd be without him.” Thomas says quickly as they turn a corner. 

“In that clunking experimentation room.” Muttered Gally. 

They’re stopped abruptly by the appearance of a woman, Dr. Crawford. 

“Ah!” says Frypan. 

Minho chuckles, after all this time, frypan still got spooked by jump scares. 

Dr Crawford startles, holding her chest, she stops to look at the group, glancing at them warrily.

“What are you kids doing out?” She asks. 

Just as she finishes, The yellow lights light up along the hallways, and an alarm blares loudly.

“Now you're caught.” Laughed Brenda. 

They boys glance up at the sound, before exchanging looks. 

The scene changes to show a control room, Janson walking quickly through it. 

“I want this place locked down. Call everyone in! No one leaves till everyone is accounted for.” he says, approaching the security cameras. “Tell me you’ve got eyes on them!” 

“Still looking, still looking” says the man sitting at the control table. 

“Come on, come on, come on.” Janson repeats, slowly losing his patience.

“There!” the man says, enlarging a screen, showing Thomas holding Dr. Crawford by the arm, escorting her along with the other gladers. 

“Who is that?” someone says. 

“Crawford.” Crumbles Janson angrily.

“Does he not like her?” asked Chuck. 

“I don't know, maybe she got on his nerves.” Said Minho 

“They’re going after the girl,” he said. “Get everyone to the med wing!” 

“Yes sir!” a guard responded. 

“I want them alive!” 

The scene changed to show the glader running through a passageway, tugging Dr Crawford along. 

They collide with a wall in their hast to turn a corner but are confronted with a guard down the hallway. 

“FREEZE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” the man yelled, shooting electric stunners at them. 

The gladers dodge, narrowly missing the shots. 

“That was close.” muttered Jorge.

“Why are they shooting at us?!” yelled Frypan as they ran back where they came from. 

Minho pauses, turning back. 

“Minho! What the hell are you doing?” Yelled Thomas. 

The korean charged towards the corner, meeting the guard before he could turn, and kneed him in the chest, slamming him up against the wall, knocking him out. 

He glanced back as the rest rushed forward again, looking at the man.

“Shit, Minho.” Said Newt. 

“Shit indeed, Newt.” Said Ably, smirking. 

Thomas bent down and took the man's gun, before reaching back to grab Dr. Crawford again, this time holding the weapon to her back.

“Come on! Let's go!” he said. 

The camera shows Janson running down the hall, followed by a group of heavily armed men. 

The lab is shown to be in chaos, scientists rushing to pack things away as the alarm continues to blare. 

A man turns to put something away, and as he’s doing that the door next to him opens, revealing Dr. Crawford. 

“Dr. Crawford?-” The man begins, before she's pushed towards him as Thomas comes up from behind, holding the gun forward. 

Yells encompass the lab as everyone raises their hands in fear. 

“Where is she? Where is she?” Thomas asks, aiming the gun towards a scientist. 

“You shoulda just left her.” Muttered Gally. But knowing Thomas, even if he knew, he probably still woulda saved her. 

Teresa looked down. 

“WHERE IS SHE?!” he yells. 

Thomas turns his head, and seeing something, he hands the gun to Minho, who points it again. 

The greenie shoves a curtain away, revealing Teresa laying on a hospital bed, a breathing tube connected to her face. 

Thoma cradles her head, and whispers her name urgently as the other gladers yell at the doctors.  

“Get down!” 

Teresa opens her eyes slightly, waking up gradually. 

“What did they do to you?” he asks. 

“Thomas.” She whispers.

“Gimme your hands!” Yells Newt, as he ties the scientists with medical bandages. 

“You’re never gonna get away with this!” says Dr. Crawford.

“These shits get away with anything.” Said Brenda, chuckling. 

“What's going on?” Askes Teresa urgently. 

“You gotta get up right now.” Thomas says in lieu of answering, and pulls Teresa lightly by the arms. “Come on.” 

“Guys! They’re comin where do we go?!” Yelled Frypan, looking through the door window. 

“Frypan move!” Yelled Newt, pushing over a metal table. 

The two push it against the door just in time before a guard slams into it. 

“Get back!” Yelled minho. “We gotta get outta here!” 

“Everybody stand back!” yelled Thomas, picking up a chair, smashing it into the window next to Teresa's bed. 

When it doesn't work, Minho picks up another chair, and swings with Thomas in tandem, fully shattering the window. 

“GO GO GO!” they yell as Thomas smashes away some more glass. 

Behind them, the guards try to squeeze through the small gap. 

Teresa lays down a blanket over the glass as Thomas helps her over the ledge quickly. 

“HURRY!” yelled Minho, turning back one last time before tossing the gun over to Thomas and jumping through the frame.

“Stay behind me!” Thomas says, before opening the door. 

They’re stopped abruptly by a guard, and the two momentarily freeze before Thomas quickly shoots the man, stunning him.

Laughter follows. 

They watch as the man writhes as he’s shocked by the device. 

“Shit.” mutters thomas. 

They quickly run past, turning into a hallway. 

“There it is!” yells thomas. 

They stop at a bay door, and Thomas desperately slides the ID card through multiple times. 

“Shit, come on.” he says, but to no avail. 

“That's definitely not good.” said Jeff.

“No no no no no!” 

“Thomas!” 

They group turns to see Janson leading a group, those beside him holding shields. 

Thomas walks forward, and cocks the gun. “OPEN THIS DOOR JANSON!” he yells 

Janson, with his arms raised, smirked jovally. 

“You really don't want me to.” he says. 

“Try me.” Spat Thomas. 

“And fair warning, you have before and didn't exactly survive the encounter.” Said Minho, laughing. 

Janson seethed, wishing he could just kill these damn brats already. 

“OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!” Thomas screams. 

“Listen to me!” Janson yells over him. 

“I'm trying to save your life!” Janson says. 

“Trying to save it by turning him into a lab rat for testing, right?” Said Gally, glaring at Janson. 

“Anyone would have died in the scorch, its just his dumb luck he survived.” Ratman sneered. 

“Actually I think it's because he was capable and had people willing to fight with him.” Murmured Teresa, earning shocked looks from those around her. 

Thomas pants as he aims the gun at him. 

“The maze is one thing you kids wouldn't last one day out in the scorch.” the director says. “If the elements don't kill you, the cranks will.” 

“Thomas has enough will and courage to survive anything and I would bet my life on that.” Said Newt, smiling at Thomas, who blushed at the praise.

“Thomas! You have to believe me. I only want what's best for you.” He says, smiling. 

Thomas glares at him, breathing heavily. 

“Yeah lemme guess, Wicked is good?” the glader says. 

“You tell him amigo.” Said Jorge.

Janson puffs out a laugh, lowering his arms. “You're not getting through that door Thomas,” he says. 

All of a sudden, the door flashes green and opens up, revealing Aris and Winston on the other side. 

“Hey guys.” Aris says. 

Laughter erupts throughout the theater at Jansons expense. 

“Wait so that's what you were doing?” Asked Harriet.

“Yeah.” Aris said. 

“Come on!” says frypan. 

“Thomas! Come on, let's go!” yells Newt.

Thomas glances back, before turning towards Janson and firing. 

Desperately dodging, the director hides behind the shielded men.

“I wish he got hit so we could see him being shocked, but alas, he is like a rat, and can greasily slip away at moments notice.”Said Jorge, making everyone laugh more. 

When the gun runs out, Thomas throws it away and sprints towards the door.

The men follow him as Janson speaks to a com on his wrist as he runs. 

“Shut the main vault door, shut the main vault door!”

The camera shows Thomas sprintin desperately as the glader on the other side yells for him and the door slowly gets lower. 

“Please make it.” Whispered Chuck, clutching his hands in his lap. 

At the last second, Thomas slides underneath the door, narrowly missing it. 

‘Thank god.’ Chuck thought.

Aris runs forward and slams something into the control panel, breaking it. 

Thomas watches as Janson slams against the door. 

Winston runs forward and steals a gun off an unconscious guard's body. 

Janson glares at the gladers through the window, and Thomas raises a hand to flip him off. 

Everyone bursts out laughing. 

Gally chuckles loudly, and even Dr. Paige has a small smile of amusement on her face.

“You little shit.” Says Janson, his voice muffled. 

Minho picks up a backpack, running forward. “Come on thomas! Let's go!”

Thomas turns away, and they sprint through the docking bay. 

“Come on, keep moving!” 

“You guys are almost there!” Said Chuck excitedly. 

“Yeah…” Said Thomas, smiling sadly.

The gladers arrive at the giant door, and Thomas turns an emergency lever, opening it. 

The gap reveals a sandstorm, everything past 5 feet invisible. 

“How can you escape in that weather?” asked Alby. 

“Through desperation and never letting go of each other.” Said Newt. 

They pause for a moment, before Tomas rushes them forward, into the Scorch.

The camera shows the gladers rushing up a sand bank. 

“Alright come on, keep going!” Thomas yells. 

They turn back to see dozens of men rush out of the base with flashlights. 

“I'm surprised they went out in the dark, but also not really, as they were desperate for you kids.” Said Brenda. 

“Come on, We’ll lose em in the storm!” He yells. 

“Hopefully you don't lose each other.” Muttered Jorge, remembering how he hadn't met some of the people in the group that escaped.

The men continue to search the sand, four wheelers driving through, desperate to find them.

A little ways away, the gladers lay atop a sand bank, before Thomas ushers them away. 

“Okay, go go go, stay low!” He whispers. 

To be continued...