pre-the maze runner
chapter four

❛❛ i'm still half asleep and it feels like this is all just a bad dream ❜❜

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An hour before the door reopens for the day, Poe was awoken by Nick with a shake on a shoulder. Poe barely opened his eyes, the blurry figure of a boy standing over him, different shades of blue in the sky mixed with orange and reds hinting it was early dawn. Poe couldn't fall to sleep until late, to sleep on a hammock was mildly uncomfortable, to adjust his brand new life yesterday and meeting strange people.

"Get up, sleeping beauty" Nick whispered, "and follow me"

Poe rubbed his eyes, sat up groggily, his bare foot touched the ground, his back ached from sleeping on the hammock all night and he was rather slow while putting on his shoes. His hammock was connected to Anton's where they shared a tree, the little boy was still sleeping heavily, snoring, his leg and arm dangling down. Poe only wanted to go back to sleep. Nick did mentioned Poe has an early start and he wanted to show him something. Poe was curious to see what it is.

Nick was squatting by the pond, washing his hands and splashing his face. Poe came closer and he let out a loud sigh, "It better be a good reason why you woke me up, otherwise I'm heading back to sleep"

Nick stood up straight as he chuckled, "Trust me, I think you're going to love it" the leader began walking toward the Homestead, "Come on"

Poe followed the leader toward the Homestead, but when they got there, Nick passed it and was heading toward the giant wall. Poe had seen the two Runners, Ben and Minho at the picnic tables, having breakfast, seems that those two, Nick and Poe are the only Gladers up at this hour. Everyone else were still sleeping, Poe's body seemed to be half-asleep as he was almost stumbling while walking, his body needs more rest. Besides Poe, Nick and the Runners being awake, there were birds chirping somewhere in the trees, a cow mooing faintly from the Bloodhouse and a dog barking.

Nick stopped at the wall, he pulled the ivies to the sides and revealed to an old small rusted window. Nick held the ivies against the wall and kept them aside from the window. He gestured at the window for Poe to take a look. "This is how we knew what's on the other side"

Poe looked at Nick suspiciously for a moment. He then stepped close to the window, leaned his face forward until he was inches from the window. It took a moment for his eyes to focus what's in the other side. It was almost dark but the early dawn's light dimmed the Maze.

Something was moving in there, Poe thought it was some sort of ugly giant beetle on the other side of a glass until his eyes cleared and focused. Something big was definitely moving in there. It was large, bulbous, and wet, multiple large, metallic tentacles connecting to it's body, walking like a spider.

"What the—" he breathed.

"Hideous, ain't it?" Nick smirked.

Poe didn't know how to react, but he was sure stunned. He stared at it for what it feels like a long time, the strange, large creature merely stood at the spot and pacing back and forth. This is what lurks begins the walls, what kills those who stay in the Maze and they call them— "Griever?" He looked at Nick.

He nodded then let go of the ivies. The ivies covered the window. "Well, playtime's over, Greenie. You were sent here for a damn reason like the rest of us, I expect you to be useful and not sit around without helping around"

Was Poe still considering about wanting to be a Runner after seeing the weird creature? He wasn't sure now. Like the familiarity he has been feeling since yesterday, he felt he has seen the creature before but unable to remember where. Maybe that's why the sight of the monster doesn't scare him. Or he'd be scared if only he were in the other side of the walls.

The hour passed, the booming sounds sent the entire Glade, waking up the rest of the boys to begin their daily routines. Poe already had breakfast shortly after Nick showed him the Griever. Surprised how he still had the appetite.

Poe tried talking to the Runners during breakfast, he joined their table and both, Ben and Minho were mostly quiet. Before Poe could even asked them a question. Minho got up from his seat, nudged Ben and announced that it was time to get ready then they left.

Poe sat alone in his table for a long moment until Teo and Winston joined. Poe met Winston last night during the bonfire when Teo introduced them both. Winston is the Keeper of Slicers, he and Poe talked a lot and both seemed to get along just fine.

"You're an early bird" Teo said as he sat down the table. "You must be excited"

"Nick woke me up just to show me the Griever" Poe grumbled, he was a little cranky, still too tired.

"Yeah?" Winston laughed, "hope you didn't klunk your pants"

Poe didn't think the Griever wasn't that terrifying enough to shit himself in the pants but he sure would if he was in the other side. He shook his head, "Doesn't look that bad"

Teo and Winston exchanged odd looks, furrowed their brows before looking at Poe. "Not that bad?" Winston scoffed, "Griever is not some cute kitten. You make it sound like you've seen worse"

"I'm just tired" Poe rubbed his eyes, "I don't know what I'm thinking right now, I'm still half asleep and it feels like this is all just a bad dream" He was resting his head on his head when Teo tossed his spoon and hit Poe's head. "Ow!"

"Is it all still a bad dream?" Teo cooed and mocked.

Winston laughed. Poe rubbed his head, tossed the spoon back at Teo, he shield himself while laughing.

An hour after the door opened, Nick ordered everyone to get to work. Teo and Winston left to head to the Bloodhouse. Winston gave Poe a heads up that Greenies always try out Slicers first. Poe wasn't sure what to expect when he does try out but he was looking forward only because Teo is working there.

"Alright Greenie, time to start your Trials" Nick said. "You'll be spending the next couple of days working every jobs and see what you're good at. If nothing suits you, then you have no choice but to work as a Slopper. No one likes Sloppers, of course"

Poe already knew what Sloppers do, they do all the clean up in the Glade, as what Teo said.

"Come on, let's get you to the Bloodhouse" Nick began walking to the farm. "Winston will explain what the job is"

"Butchering chickens?" Poe grumbled.

"Well, yeah" Nick shrugged, "Not only butchering animals, of course"

When they arrive the farm, Winston and Teo were already waiting for him. They both had machetes tucked into their belts, and they were smirking. "Just the guy we're waiting for!" Teo sneered.

"Take it easy on him, alright?" Nick told them, "Most Greenies don't last an hour in there, they insist of trying another job. Come and see me if you start puking. Good luck" Nick pat Poe on his back.

When Nick was gone, Winston began, "Okay, Greenbean, so you already know that I'm the Keeper, and Teo here is next in line in case anything happens to me" the Keeper of Slicers went into the barn, but came back seconds later with an extra machete, "There're only few more of us here, others; Sam, Phil and Bill. All the Gladers there threw up on their first slaughter, they're not keen into killing animals" Winston handed Poe the extra machete along with the holster. "Come on, give you a lil tour"

Poe followed Winston and Teo into the barn. The barn was small, only could fit in three cows on the left side, couple of pigs on the right, nearly a dozen of chickens near the front door they came in from. All of them making animal noises. The rest of the Slicers, Sam, Phill and Bill guided the animals to the outside where they can wander around, there are fences outside as well so they can't wander off further from the barn.

The only thing that Poe didn't like being in the Bloodhouse was the smell. It smelled like the rest of the farms; dirt, wood, animals and even animal fece. Teo said the Sloppers are the ones that clean off the fece off the ground.

"So, you ready?" Winston asked Poe as they went outside and walked around the small building.

"For what?" He was a little confused.

Winston opened the fence and gestured him to go in. Poe reluctantly went in, the fence around him was small and isolated, like its all private, Teo was already in there waiting and also an animal. A pig strolling around within the fence. The animal was large like its fully grown. Poe then immediately knew what he has to do.

He gave a sigh as he looked at the animal, he pulled the machete and holster apart. "You want me to just butcher it like killer-style, or chop his head off?"

"Whichever you prefer" Teo had his arms folded on his chest, leaning back against the fence.

Fifteen minutes passed, the three Gladers did struggle to keep the animal still for Poe to kill it. When they did, Poe barely even hesitate to kill it and he did it quickly before the pig squealed loud.

Poe was washing his hands outside the building, a small pool of water was just by the entrance. Some blood got on his face and he washed it off. He took his shirt off, there were smears of animal blood on it, and he still had another shirt on underneath which was sleeveless.

"You didn't even flinch" Teo commented, "like its not your first rodeo"

"It's a pig" Poe shrugged, "pigs are food, aren't they?"

Teo looked at him as if he was strange. "Yeah, I guess. But I gotta be honest, you did well. Winston likes you and he's hoping he gets you into this job before other Keepers do"

Poe wasn't positive about this job, he didn't really mind to get this job, it was better than being a Slopper for sure. Winston reminded him that he'll be switching to a next job after lunch. He spent the rest of the morning around the Bloodhouse, he skinned the animal that he killed before chopping it into hundred of pieces and even milked a cow. What he loved being in the Bloodhouse was the dog. A Labrador they named Bark and whenever Poe took a break, he'd pet Bark.

He spent his lunch break with Winston and Teo. During the lunch break, Nick approached him and reminded him that he'll trying out another job for the rest of the noon. Once the break was over, Nick came to him again and Teo and Winston bid good luck to him before they went back to the Bloodhouse.

Nick nudged Poe's arm to follow him. "So, how was Slicers? Horrible?" Nick was walking toward the Gardens. "Or not, since unlike others, you didn't give up"

"Wasn't horrible" Poe stated. He was curious where Nick was taking him. "What's next?"

"Track-hoes" The leader answered, "easy job, unless you know about growing plants and all that klunk"

Track-hoes are those who work in the Gardens, they grow the crops or tend it. Poe doesn't know much about gardening. The job didn't sound like it's for him. "Probably not" Poe mumbled, "Who's the Keeper?"

"Newt" Nick replied.

Poe almost halted for a moment there, he swallowed, "Newt? The one with the limp?"

"No, the tiny lizard, of course" Nick chuckled.

Poe sighed sharply, "Can I move on to another job? I don't know anything about gardening"

"You gotta try out every job, Track-hoes is nothing, I'm sure Newt will show you the ropes" Nick assured, "don't worry about Newt, he's a good lad"

"I'm sure he is" Poe grumbled.

Nick and Poe arrived the Gardens, There was Newt already waiting for them. Poe wasn't looking forward to this job and to be stuck with the boy for the rest of the day.

Poe couldn't look at Newt as Nick greeted, "Hey, Newt, you've met the Greenie, right?"

Poe had his head lowered, lifted only a little as his eyes looked Newt. "Yeah, I have" he smiled. His smile didn't look honest and he looked to be almost peevish.

Poe looked down at the ground again. "Greenbean's all yours" Nick turned to Poe, "have fun, Greenie" he pat him on the arm then left him.

The Greenie looked back at Nick and watched him walking away. He really wanted to skip this job. He turn his glance at Newt, the boy didn't look happy at all as he stared at Poe. He felt that his stomach was knotting as his eyes met with the boy's. He swallowed before he decided to say something. "So... you're a Keeper of... Gardens... Care to show or tell me what I can do around here?"

Newt tilted his head and still stared at Poe. He didn't speak for a brief moment. "Come on" He nod his head back, telling him to follow, Newt walked toward the Gardens and Poe reluctantly followed him.

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