The Maze Runner, #1
The Maze Runner
by James Dashner
Contents
Chapter 58
Overview
With the button pressed, all Grievers power down, and the surviving Gladers regroup, mourning heavy losses. Following an opened door, they descend a slick chute into a vast underground control chamber. There, among pods and machinery, they finally confront the observing Creators behind dark windows, confirming who imprisoned them.
Summary
As the Grievers abruptly power down and retract their instruments, Thomas collapses in pain and relief. Teresa credits Chuck for spotting the literal button implied by the code, and Thomas hails Chuck as the hero who saved them. Their elation dims when Minho stumbles in, reporting a brutal battle above that ended only when the Grievers shut off.
Newt, Frypan, Winston, and others drop through the Hole until twenty-one Gladers stand together, bloodied and exhausted. Newt confirms that roughly half died, and the group falls into shocked silence. Minho reframes the loss as survival and urges escape. Thomas points them down the tunnel where he heard a door open, and the Gladers file out with Thomas taking the rear.
Soon, cries ahead reveal the tunnel ends in a steep, oily slide. Despite dread, Teresa goes first, and Thomas follows, hurtling through a twisting chute that reeks of machinery and rot. After a nausea-inducing descent, they spill into a heap; Thomas vomits, and the group regathers.
They find themselves in a vast underground chamber crowded with machines, wires, ducts, computers, and a bank of coffin-like white pods. Across the room, large glass doors stand opaque in the harsh lighting. Most chilling, a horizontal row of dark windows reveals thin, pale men and women silently observing them.
Recognizing the watchers, Thomas understands they have reached the heart of the operation. The Gladers are finally face-to-face with their captors—the Creators who stole their lives and placed them in the Maze.
Who Appears
- ThomasRelieved yet grieving; organizes the retreat through the tunnel and recognizes the Creators in the control chamber.
- TeresaCredits Chuck for the button insight; communicates with Thomas; leads down the slide into the chamber.
- MinhoSurvives the battle, reports heavy casualties, and insists they move out to escape.
- NewtConfirms half died, urges immediate departure, helps marshal survivors.
- ChuckPraised as the hero who found the button; descends with the group toward the Creators.
- FrypanArrives from the battle wounded and joins the survivors in the tunnel.
- WinstonOne of the bloodied survivors who escape through the tunnel.
- The CreatorsPale observers behind dark windows in the control chamber; revealed as the captors.