**The Labyrinth Beckons**

The last thing Thomas remembered was nothing. No, that wasn't quite right. He recalled a flash of light, a feeling of falling, and then... nothing. His memories began and ended with the same blank slate. As he slowly opened his eyes, he found himself in a large, open area surrounded by towering stone walls. The air was thick with the murmur of voices and the smell of sweat. Groggily, Thomas sat up, taking in his surroundings. He was in a large, grassy area, surrounded by about 50 other boys, all of whom seemed to be staring at him. They were all dressed in simple, worn clothing, and their hair was messy and unkempt. One of the boys, a tall, lanky kid with a messy mop of hair, approached him. "Hey, I'm Chuck," he said, offering Thomas a hand up. Thomas took it, and Chuck helped him to his feet. "Where am I?" Thomas asked, looking around. "You don't remember?" Chuck asked, a look of concern etched on his face. Thomas shook his head. "No, nothing. What's going on?" The boys exchanged uneasy glances. "You're in the Glade," Chuck said finally. "We all are. We've been here... well, I'm not really sure how long. Time works differently here." Thomas's eyes widened as he took in the sheer scale of the Glade. There were buildings made of stone and wood, a garden filled with vegetables, and a large, ominous-looking maze looming in the distance. "What is that?" Thomas asked, pointing to the maze. The boys' faces turned grim. "That's the Labyrinth," one of them said. "It's... well, it's a killer. We've lost people in there." Thomas felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at the maze. Something about it drew him in, even as it filled him with fear. The boys began to introduce themselves, and Thomas tried to take it all in. There was Gally, a tough-looking kid with a scar above his eyebrow; Newt-like Echo wasn't around but a mention of a girl nobody seems to know much about sparked Thomas's curiosity. As the boys continued to talk, Thomas found himself glancing at the maze, feeling an inexplicable pull towards it. He didn't know what was on the other side of those stone walls, but he was determined to find out. "What's the point of the maze?" Thomas asked, turning back to the boys. Chuck shrugged. "We don't know. We just know we have to survive. And get out." Thomas nodded, a sense of resolve forming within him. He would survive. He would escape. And he would uncover the secrets of the labyrinth. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the Glade, Thomas felt a sense of unease growing within him. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he was ready to face it head-on. Little did he know, his obsession with the maze, and a mysterious girl within it, was only just beginning.