The Maze Runner

As they eat their final meal before going into the Maze, Thomas is surprised at how calm Chuck seems, but figures it is just an act. Chuck asks who he is named after, and Thomas guesses Charles Darwin. Chuck says that he is not scared because only one person will die. Thomas says nothing but is both annoyed and uneasy about the fact that everyone is clinging onto the belief that only one person will die, as the Creators could easily reprogram the Grievers. In the end, however, he admits that false hope is better than no hope, and tells Chuck that if they all fight, maybe they can all make it home. He reminds Chuck about his promise to get him home, and Chuck says that as long as Thomas gets him out of the Maze, he will be happy.

Newt and Alby start rallying the Gladers and telling them that it is time to enter the Maze. Thomas notices Alby and wonders about his mental stability. The group heads over to the West Door, where Minho and Teresa are going over the code plans. Minho tells Thomas that if his plan does not work, he will kill Thomas before the Grievers can. Thomas wonders whether the idea of escaping has been planted in his head by the Creators, but realizes that there is no going back now. Newt calls the Gladers to attention, reminding them about the plan. Thomas is distracted when he sees Alby skulking away from the group, and decides to keep an eye on him while in the Maze. Minho jokes about giving a pep talk and tells everyone not to die. Newt tells the Gladers that up to now they have been treated like mice by the Creators, but tonight they are taking the fight to the Creators themselves. The Gladers start cheering and Newt raises his weapon and runs into the Maze, with the rest of the Gladers charging right behind him. Thomas falls in line with Chuck and Teresa and is overwhelmed by fear for them, but wills himself to keep going and make it to the Griever Hole.

The Gladers run through the Maze for an hour without encountering any Grievers. Thomas is filled with dread at what might happen, but Teresa steels his nerves telepathically. As they reach their target, Thomas allows himself an ounce of hope. They have yet to meet any Grievers and they are already at the corridor leading to the Cliff. Minho stops everyone and peers around the corner, then turns around with a look of horror on his face. Thomas hears the sounds of Grievers. Minho says that there are over a dozen Grievers in front of the Griever Hole, and they look as if they have simply been waiting for them. Thomas realizes that the beetle blades must have shown the Creators what they were planning. Newt and Alby move to the front, and Newt says that they knew they would have to fight anyway, though his tone is unconvincing. Thomas suggests that someone has already been taken back at the Glade, which is why the Grievers are just standing there. 

As if in response to Thomas’s theory, two groups of group of Grievers approach them, one from behind them, and another from the other end of the corridor, blocking off any means of escape and pushing them towards the Cliff. The Gladers are unsure what to do next, but then Alby, declaring that they should never have come, breaks into a run and dives onto one of the Grievers. He is attacked by a group of Grievers as Newt tries to break away and help him. Thomas restrains Newt and they watch in horror as Alby disappears. Minho says that they cannot let Alby’s sacrifice go to waste and tells Thomas that they will fight a path through the Grievers for him and Teresa to punch in the code. The Gladers will follow when they give them the signal to. Minho yells at the Gladers to protect Thomas and Teresa and the Grievers all power up and begin moving slowly toward the Gladers. Thomas and the others realize that Alby’s sacrifice has been in vain. 

Thomas tells them that he needs to get through the mass of Grievers blocking the Griever Hole. Newt nods, and Minho tells the Gladers that they are to make a path for Thomas and Teresa, and to fight the Grievers and push them towards the walls. Minho then leads the charge into the Grievers near the Griever Hole, with Newt right behind him and the rest of the Gladers in tow. Chuck is about to run past as well when Thomas grabs him and tells him to stick with him and Teresa, which Chuck is relieved to hear, though he will not admit it. Thomas says that he and Teresa might need Chuck’s help if there are Grievers waiting in the Griever Hole. Teresa says that a path has been cleared, and Thomas takes off towards the Griever Hole with the sounds of war all around him. Thomas hears people dying left and right, but knows he cannot stop to help and hopes that no one he knows has been killed. He and Teresa both get injured by a Griever, and Teresa yells out that Chuck almost got taken as well, but they make it through most of the fighting and end up at the edge of the Cliff. 

Teresa jumps in first, and then Thomas helps Chuck to jump into the Griever Hole as well. As he helps Chuck, he feels kinship for him, as if they have the same mother. The battle continues behind Thomas, and he feels guilty at leaving his friends to face the Grievers. However, he knows he must do his part and so he jumps off the Cliff and into the Griever Hole.