The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials is a Young Adult novel by James Dashner, and is the second installment in the Maze Runner Series. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the novel deals with the mysterious and devastating events surrounding a group of teenagers who are being manipulated and tested by a seemingly omnipotent agency known as WICKED. The novel takes place immediately after the events that take place in The Maze Runner, leaving Thomas, Teresa and their friends fighting for their lives in another set of Trials.

Having been rescued from the Maze, Thomas and the others are placed in dorms for the night. Though they have their misgivings, the teenagers are told they are safe now, and will be protected. However, Thomas and the others soon find that this is not the case. Thomas awakes to discover that Teresa is nowhere to be found. Though she was separated from the boys the previous night, Thomas now has no telepathic connection with her. Moreover, just before Thomas wakes up, Teresa tells him telepathically that something is wrong.

The Gladers find that the fearsome Cranks are at each of the windows, attempting to get in. Worse, the rescuers from the precious day are all dead, their bodies hanging from the ceiling.