The Maze Runner chapter one written by James Dashner narrated by Firehouse gaming chapter one he began his new life standing up surrounded by Cold darkness and stale Dusty air metal ground against metal a lurching shutter shook the floor beneath him he fell down at the sudden movement and shuffled backward on his hands and feet drops of sweat beating on his forehead despite the cool air has backstruck a hard metal wall he slid and long it until he hit the corner of the room sinking to the floor he pulled his legs up tight against his body hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the darkness with another jolt the room jerked upward like an old lift in a mine shaft harsh sounds of chains and pulleys like the workings of an ancient steel factory echoed through the room bouncing off the walls with low tinny wine the lightless elevator swayed back and forth as it ascended turning the boy's stomach sour with nausea a smell like a smell like burnt oil invaded his senses making him feel worse he wanted to cry but no tears came he could only sit there alone waiting my name is Thomas he thought that that was the only thing he could remember about his life he didn't understand how this could be possible his mind functioned without flaw trying to calculate his surroundings and predicament knowledge flooded his thoughts facts and images memories and details of the world and how it worked he pictured snow on trees running down a leaf strewn Road eating a hamburger the Moon casting a pale glow on a grassy meadow swimming in a lake a busy City square with hundreds of people bustling about their business and yet he didn't know where he came from or how he had gotten into the dark lift or who his parents were he didn't even know his last name images of people flashed across his mind but there was no recognition their faces replaced with haunted smears of color he couldn't think of one person he knew or recall a single conversation the room continued to ascend the room continued its Ascent swaying Thomas grew immune to the ceaseless rattling of the chains that pulled him upward a long time passed ministration into hours although it was impossible to know for sure because every second seemed an eternity no he was smarter than that trusting his instincts he knew he'd been moving for roughly half an hour strangely enough he felt his Fearless to wave went like a swarm of nass caught in the wind replaced by intense curiosity he wanted to know where he was and what was happening with a groan and then a clunk the rising room halted the sudden change jolted Thomas from his huddle position and threw him across the hard floor as he scrambled to his feet he felt the room sway less and less until it finally stilled everything fell silent a minute passed two he looked in every direction but only saw Darkness he felt along the walls again searching for a way out but there was nothing only the cool metal he groaned in frustration his Echo Amplified through the air like haunted like the haunted moan of death excuse me it faded and silence returned he screamed called for help pounded it on the walls with his fists nothing Thomas backed into the corner once again folded his arms and shivered and the fear returned he felt a worrying shutter in his chest as his heart wanted to escape and flee his body someone help me he screamed each word ripped his throat Raw a loud clang rang out above him and he's he sucked in a startled breath as he looked up a straight line of light appeared across the ceiling of the room and Thomas watched as it expanded a heavy grating sound revealed double sliding doors being forced open after so long in darkness the light stabbed his eyes he looked away covering his face with both hands he heard noises above voices and fear squeezed his chest look at that shank how old is he looks like a clunk in a T-shirt you're the clunk shank face dude it smells like feet down there hope you enjoy the one-way trip Greenie ain't no ticket back bro Thomas was hit with a wave of confusion blistered with panic the voices were odd tinged with Echo some of the words were completely foreign others felt familiar he will desires to adjust as he squinted towards the light and those speaking at first he could only see shifting Shadows but they soon turned into the shapes of bodies people bending over the hole in the ceiling looking down at him pointing and then as if the lens of a camera sharpened his Focus the face is cleared they were boys all of them some young some older Thomas didn't know what he expected but seeing those faces puzzled him they were just teenagers kids some of his fear melted away but not enough to calm his racing heart someone lowered a rope from above the end of it tied into a big loop Thomas hesitated then stepped into it with his right foot clutched the Rope as he yanked as he was yanked Towards the Sky hands reached down lots of hands grabbing him by his clothes pulling him up the world seemed to spin a swirling mist of faces and color and Light a storm of emotions wrenched his gut twisted and pulled he wanted to scream cry throw up 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 would never forget the words nice to meet you shank the boy said welcome to the Glade