newt　broke　out　in　a　laugh,　but　quickly　cut　it　off.　“i　like　you,　greenie.　now　shut　it　and　let　me　show　ya　somethin’.”

        newt　stepped　forward　and　dug　his　hands　into　the　thick　ivy,　spreading　several　vines　away　from　the　wall　to　reveal　a　dust-frosted　window,　a　square　about　two　feet　wide.　it　was　dark　at　the　moment,　as　if　it　had　been　painted　black.

        “what’re　we　looking　for?”　thomas　whispered.

        “hold　your　undies,　boy.　one’ll　be　in’　along　soon　enough.”

        a　minute　passed,　then　two.　several　more.　thomas　fidgeted　on　his　feet,　wondering　how　newt　could　stand　there,　perfectly　patient　and　still,　staring　into　nothing　but　darkness.

        then　it　changed.

        glimmers　of　an　eerie　light　shone　through　the　window;　it　cast　a　wavering　spectrum　of　colors　on　newt’s　body　and　face,　as　if　he　stood　next　to　a　lighted　swimming　pool.　thomas　grew　perfectly　still,　squinting,　trying　to　make　out　what　was　on　the　other　side.　a　thick　lump　grew　in　his　throat.　what　is　that?　he　thought.

        “out　there’s　the　maze,”　newt　whispered,　eyes　wide　as　if　in　a　trance.　“everything　we　do—our　whole　life,　greenie—revolves　around　the　maze.　every　lovin’　second　of　every　lovin’　day　we　spend　in　honor　of　the　maze,　tryin’　to　solve　somethin’　that’s　not　shown　us　it　has　a　bloody　solution,　ya　know?　and　we　want　to　show　ya　why　it’s　not　to　be　messed　with.　show　ya　why　them　buggin’　walls　close　shut　every　night.　show　ya　why　you　should　never,　never　find　your　butt　out　there.”

        newt　stepped　back,　still　holding　on　to　the　ivy　vines.　he　gestured　for　thomas　to　take　his　place　and　look　through　the　window.

        thomas　did,　leaning　forward　until　his　nose　touched　the　cool　surface　of　the　glass.　it　took　a　second　for　his　eyes　to　focus　on　the　moving　object　on　the　other　side,　to　look　past　the　grime　and　dust　and　see　what　newt　wanted　him　to　see.　and　when　he　did,　he　felt　his　breath　catch　in　his　throat,　like　an　icy　wind　had　blown　down　there　and　frozen　the　air　solid.

        a　large,　bulbous　creature　the　size　of　a　cow　but　with　no　distinct　shape　twisted　and　seethed　along　the　ground　in　the　corridor　outside.　it　climbed　the　opposite　wall,　then　leaped　at　the　thick-glassed　window　with　a　loud　thump.　thomas　shrieked　before　he　could　stop　himself,　jerked　away　from　the　window—but　the　thing　bounced　backward,　leaving　the　glass　undamaged.

        thomas　sucked　in　two　huge　breaths　and　leaned　in　once　again.　it　was　too　dark　to　make　out　clearly,　but　odd　lights　flashed　from　an　unknown　source,　revealing　blurs　of　silver　spikes　and　glistening　flesh.　wicked　instrument-tipped　appendages　protruded　from　its　body　like　arms:　a　saw　blade,　a　set　of　shears,　long　rods　whose　purpose　could　only　be　guessed.

        the　creature　was　a　horrific　mix　of　animal　and　machine,　and　seemed　to　realize　it　was　being　observed,　seemed　to　know　what　lay　inside　the　walls　of　the　glade,　seemed　to　want　to　get　inside　and　feast　on　human　flesh.　thomas　felt　an　icy　terror　blossom　in　his　chest,　expand　like　a　tumor,　making　it　hard　to　breathe.　even　with　the　memory　wipe,　he　felt　sure　he’d　never　seen　something　so　truly　awful.

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