The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)

by James Dashner

The chorus of voices had grown silent, but someone spoke as they yanked him over the sharp edge of the dark box. And Thomas knew he’d never forget the words. “Nice to meet ya, shank,” the boy said. “Welcome to the Glade.”

He realized that Chuck might actually be his only friend in the world.

Then she spoke one sentence—her voice hollow and haunted, but clear. “Everything is going to change.”

She’s the last one. Ever.

Newt nodded, and his smile became more genuine. “You’re as smart as you look, Tommy. That’s one of the reasons we run this place all nice and busylike. You get lazy, you get sad. Start givin’ up. Plain and simple.”

Newt was there, too, but sat alone, ignoring everybody. His eyes were bloodshot, his forehead creased with heavy lines. Thomas watched as Newt chewed his fingernails, something he hadn’t seen the older boy do before.

And at that moment, in the space of only a few seconds, he learned a lot about himself. About the Thomas that was before. He couldn’t leave a friend to die. Even someone as cranky as Alby.

My memory’s fading already, Tom. I won’t remember much when I wake up. We can pass the Trials. It has to end. They sent me as a trigger.

What the freak

The dark room had a musty, wet smell, laced with a deep coppery scent so strong he could taste it. A distant, faded memory of sucking on pennies as a kid popped into his head.

Realest thing in this book

WORLD IN CATASTROPHE: KILLZONE EXPERIMENT DEPARTMENT