The Maze Runner Series Complete Collection Read Online Free Page B

strongly—curiosity to know what was inside, or dread at finding out.
    Thomas had just moved his attention to the four vast openings in the middle of the main walls of the Glade when Chuck arrived, a couple of sandwiches cradled in his arms, along with apples and two metalcups of water. The sense of relief that flooded through Thomas surprised him—he wasn’t
completely
alone in this place.
    “Frypan wasn’t too happy about me invading his kitchen before suppertime,” Chuck said, sitting down next to the tree, motioning to Thomas to do the same. He did, grabbed the sandwich, but hesitated, the writhing, monstrous image of what he’d seen in the shack popping back into his mind. Soon, though, his hunger won out and he took a huge bite. The wonderful tastes of ham and cheese and mayonnaise filled his mouth.
    “Ah, man,” Thomas mumbled through a mouthful. “I was starving.”
    “Told ya.” Chuck chomped into his own sandwich.
    After another couple of bites, Thomas finally asked the question that had been bothering him. “What’s actually
wrong
with that Ben guy? He doesn’t even look human anymore.”
    Chuck glanced over at the house. “Don’t really know,” he muttered absently. “I didn’t see him.”
    Thomas could tell the boy was being less than honest but decided not to press him. “Well, you don’t want to see him, trust me.” He continued to eat, munching on the apples as he studied the huge breaks in the walls. Though it was hard to make out from where he sat, there was something odd about the stone edges of the exits to the outside corridors. He felt an uncomfortable sense of vertigo looking at the towering walls, as if he hovered above them instead of sitting at their base.
    “What’s out there?” he asked, finally breaking the silence. “Is this part of a huge castle or something?”
    Chuck hesitated. Looked uncomfortable. “Um, I’ve never been outside the Glade.”
    Thomas paused. “You’re hiding something,” he finally replied, finishing off his last bite and taking a long swig of water. The frustrationat getting no answers from anyone was starting to grind his nerves. It only made it worse to think that even if he
did
get answers, he wouldn’t know if he’d be getting the truth. “Why are you guys so secretive?”
    “That’s just the way it is. Things are really weird around here, and most of us don’t know everything.
Half
of everything.”
    It bothered Thomas that Chuck didn’t seem to care about what he’d just said. That he seemed indifferent to having his life taken away from him. What was wrong with these people? Thomas got to his feet and started walking toward the eastern opening. “Well, no one said I couldn’t look around.” He needed to learn something or he was going to lose his mind.
    “Whoa, wait!” Chuck cried, running to catch up. “Be careful, those puppies are about to close.” He already sounded out of breath.
    “Close?” Thomas repeated. “What are you talking about?”
    “The Doors, you shank.”
    “Doors? I don’t see any doors.” Thomas knew Chuck wasn’t just making stuff up—he knew he was missing something obvious. He grew uneasy and realized he’d slowed his pace, not so eager to reach the walls anymore.
    “What do you call those big openings?” Chuck pointed up at the enormously tall gaps in the walls. They were only thirty feet away now.
    “I’d call them
big openings
,” Thomas said, trying to counter his discomfort with sarcasm and disappointed that it wasn’t working.
    “Well, they’re
doors
. And they close up every night.”
    Thomas stopped, thinking Chuck had to have said something wrong. He looked up, looked side to side, examined the massive slabs of stone as the uneasy feeling blossomed into outright dread. “What do you mean, they
close?”
    “Just see for yourself in a minute. The Runners’ll be back soon; then those big walls are going to
move
until the gaps are closed.”
    “You’re jacked in the