Mazebound: System of Survival

A heavy, suffocating darkness consumed him. It wasn't the usual, comforting darkness of sleep; it was deeper, more profound, like he was floating in a void. His thoughts jumbled as if he had just woken from the strangest dream. Flashes of images, voices, and memories that weren't his own spun wildly in his mind. And then, suddenly, there was nothing.

"Where...am I?"

The thought echoed in the void as if no one was there to answer. Panic started to rise when a calm, synthetic voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts.

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**[Initializing system…]**

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The sudden voice startled him, and before he could react, a sharp, mechanical chime followed.

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**[Welcome, user. You have been granted the Survival System in the Maze Trial.]**

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Maze Trial? System?

The words bounced around his mind, struggling to make sense of them. He didn't remember signing up for anything, much less a 'trial'. The last thing he remembered was...dying. He had been...hit? By a car? No, wait, that wasn't right. His memories were foggy. But then, in the emptiness, a new memory surged forward.

The Maze.

He had read about it, watched the movies—"The Maze Runner". And now, somehow, it was real. Too real. He wasn't watching from behind a screen anymore; he was inside it.

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**[System activation complete. User objectives: Survive, adapt, and escape the Maze.]**

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The words sent a chill down his spine. Escape the Maze? That wasn't supposed to be real. His mind was racing, but the voice droned on.

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**[User privileges: Access to basic survival skills, stat improvements, and task-based rewards.]**

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Before he could fully digest the information, the ground shifted beneath him. He was moving. The darkness peeled away, revealing dull, metallic walls, vibrating around him as if he was in some kind of cage.

The Box.

Recognition slammed into him. He was in the Maze universe, in the worst possible place—the same steel coffin that brought Thomas into the Glade. His heart thundered in his chest. As much as he wished this was all some twisted dream, he knew deep down it wasn't.

The Box continued to rattle as it ascended. It was too dark to see anything clearly, but he could hear his breathing—fast, shallow, almost frantic. He needed to get a grip. The system voice returned, cutting through the tension.

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**[User, would you like to review available skills?]**

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Skills? He didn't know what the system could offer, but at this point, anything was better than the overwhelming sense of dread gnawing at his gut.

"Yeah," he croaked out, surprised by how dry his throat felt. "Show me."

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**[Basic skill options unlocked: Endurance Lv.1, Awareness Lv.1, Strength Lv.1. Additional skills will be unlocked based on survival tasks completed.]**

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That was something, at least. He would need every advantage he could get to survive the hellhole he was about to enter. But before he could make any decisions, the Box gave a final, jarring lurch and then stopped.

Silence.

He braced himself, knowing what came next.

The roof of the Box creaked and slid open, blinding him with sudden light. He shielded his eyes, squinting against the brightness. Faint, blurry figures loomed over him. Voices—muffled at first—slowly became clearer.

"Who is he?"

"A newbie, just like the others."

"What's his name?"

Panic surged again. He had no idea what his name was supposed to be here. The system hadn't given him that detail, and his past life felt too distant to even cling to. But before he could respond, the system spoke again.

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**[Name: Kade. Assigned designation: Greenie.]**

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"Kade," he whispered to himself, testing the name. It felt unfamiliar but also strangely comforting. Like the system had given him a lifeline amidst the chaos.

A hand shot down into the Box, and he blinked up at a boy around his age, early teens. His dark skin gleamed under the sunlight, and he had a commanding presence that felt familiar. Alby. The leader of the Gladers.

"Come on, Greenie," Alby said gruffly, offering his hand. "We don't got all day."

Kade hesitated, still dazed, but eventually took the hand. His legs wobbled as he climbed out of the Box and onto solid ground. The light stung his eyes for a moment before the surroundings came into focus.

The Glade.

Just like in the books and movies. A sprawling field surrounded by massive stone walls, taller than any skyscraper he had ever seen. His heart pounded in his chest. This wasn't fiction anymore. It was real—too real.

"Take it easy, Greenie," another voice called out, this one lighter and full of energy. A lanky boy with dirty blonde hair grinned at him. "We've all been where you are. Confusing as hell, but you'll get used to it. Name's Newt."

Kade forced a nod, still trying to catch his breath. His eyes darted around, taking in every detail. There were a dozen or so boys scattered around, most of them staring at him, sizing him up. He'd seen this scene play out in the movie a hundred times, but being in it was a whole different story.

The walls—massive and imposing—loomed in every direction. His mind raced with questions, but he knew the system would help him find his footing. If only he could stay calm.

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**[New task: Survive the first day in the Glade. Reward: 10 system points.]**

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"Points? What the hell do I use those for?" Kade thought, but before he could even ask, the answer appeared before him, a glowing, transparent interface that only he could see.

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**[System points can be used to purchase upgrades, skills, or resources. Current points: 0.]**

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Well, that would be useful if he survived long enough to collect any.

"You alright, mate?" Newt asked, noticing Kade's blank expression. "It's a lot to take in. Alby's gonna give you the tour, explain the rules."

Kade nodded again, feeling the weight of the day pressing on him. He had the system, sure, but he wasn't sure how much it would help. This wasn't just a game or a movie—it was life or death. And the Grievers... they were real too. His heart skipped a beat at the thought of those monsters roaming the Maze at night.

Before he could ask any more questions, Alby clapped him on the back, pulling his attention.

"First rule, Greenie. Do what you're told. No one survives long if they don't. Got it?"

Kade swallowed, his mouth dry again. "Got it."

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The rest of the day passed in a blur. Alby gave him the tour just as promised, pointing out the different sections of the Glade—the Gardens, the Homestead, the Blood House. It all felt surreal, like he was walking through a dream he couldn't wake from.

His head spun with information: the Runners, the Builders, the Cooks—all the different roles the Gladers played to survive. But one thing stood out more than the rest: the Maze. The towering walls with their shifting openings were an ever-present reminder that this place was a trap. And somewhere beyond those walls were the Grievers, waiting to tear apart anyone foolish enough to stay out too late.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Kade found himself sitting near the Homestead, staring up at the sky. The system remained quiet, offering no further guidance, and for the first time since arriving, he had a moment to think.

He had been given a second chance at life, but for what? To survive some twisted experiment? The system might give him an edge, but it didn't guarantee anything. If he wanted to live, he had to be smart. He had to adapt. And most importantly, he had to escape.

But as the doors of the Maze slowly groaned shut for the night, Kade knew one thing for certain:

He wasn't just going to survive the Maze.

He was going to beat it.