The world tilts and twists in an odd swirl of color before everything goes dark. When you open your eyes, you’re lying on your back in a moving elevator, the air tight and metallic.

It takes you a moment to process, but then realization hits you like a bolt. Maze Runner. You’re in the freaking Box.

A giddy laugh almost escapes your lips, but you clamp your hand over your mouth. Stay cool. You’re in the Maze. This is real. Doesn’t matter. Act scared. Don’t let them think you’re a spy.

The elevator jerks to a stop. A mechanical whine sounds above as the ceiling shifts, blinding light pouring in. Shadows lean over the edge, voices blending together.

"Another greenie, shanks!" one voice calls, and as the hatch opens, a lanky blonde boy reaches down to help you up. Newt.

"Come on, love, let’s get you outta there." His tone is cheeky but oddly kind, his grip steady as he hauls you to your feet.

You stumble into the sunlight, deliberately letting your face remain blank even as you suppress the urge to grin. You glance around at the massive walls of the Glade, the boys circling you like wolves sniffing out something new.

But then your gaze lands on him.

Thomas.

Your heart skips a beat, and it feels like someone hit the slow-motion button. The way he’s standing—arms crossed, dark hair messy in the breeze, lips pressed in thought as his brown eyes practically bore into yours—makes you want to scream into the void.

Act fool, act fool. Damn, he looks good. Especially those lips. No, focus! Act fool!

Thomas tilts his head, his gaze narrowing slightly. He’s observing you. Does he know? Did I stare too long?

You pretend to study the Glade. “What is this place?” you ask, keeping your voice calm.

Newt exchanges a glance with another boy. Alby, most likely. “Welcome to the Glade, greenie. Best not get too comfortable.”

You nod, biting your tongue to keep from grinning. Somewhere behind you, you can still feel Thomas’s eyes. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad place to end up after all.