Ｂｏｒｄｅｒｌｉｎｅ － Ｔａｍｅ Ｉｍｐａｌａ
He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air.
Metal ground against metal; a lurching shudder shook the floor beneath him. He fell down at the sudden movement and shuffled backwards on his hands and feet, drops of sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool air. His back struck a hard metal wall; he slid along it until he hit the corner of the room. Sinking to the floor, he pulled his legs up right against his body, hoping his eyes would soon adjust to the darkness.
With another jolt, the room jerked upward like an old lift in a mine shaft.
𝑀𝑦 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝑢𝑙𝑢𝑠… he thought.
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Chapter 1: The Box
Regulus woke with a start, his body jolting as the ground beneath him lurched. His eyes snapped open to pitch darkness, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. He could feel the cold metal floor beneath him and the rough texture of the burlap sack he was lying on. For a moment, he lay there, trying to gather his thoughts, but his mind was a jumbled mess of confusion and fear.
"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the confined space.
As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he became aware of the rhythmic clanking of gears and the vibration of machinery. The sound was loud, almost deafening, and it reverberated through his bones. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, his hands exploring the surrounding walls. They were smooth, metallic, and unyielding.
The box he was in shuddered again, and Regulus felt a sudden rush of motion, as if it were being lifted. His heart raced, and he gripped the sides for support, his knuckles turning white. A sense of dread settled over him, but he forced himself to stay calm. Panic wouldn't help him now.
After what felt like an eternity, the box came to an abrupt halt. The grinding of gears ceased, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, with a loud creak, the ceiling above him began to open, flooding the space with blinding light. Regulus squinted against the brightness, his eyes tearing up as he tried to make out what lay beyond.
"Well, look who decided to join us," a voice called out, dripping with sarcasm.
Regulus blinked rapidly, his vision slowly adjusting. He found himself staring up at a group of boys, all around his age, peering down at him with a mix of curiosity and wariness. They were dressed in tattered clothes, their faces smeared with dirt and sweat. The one who had spoken was tall and lanky, with unruly black hair and a smirk that didn't reach his eyes.
"Welcome to the Glade, newbie," the boy said, extending a hand to help him out of the box.
Regulus hesitated for a moment before accepting the hand and scrambling out. As he emerged, he took in his surroundings. He was in the center of a large, open area surrounded by towering stone walls that seemed to stretch endlessly upwards. The ground was covered in grass and dirt, and scattered around were makeshift huts and tents. Dozens of boys milled about, some casting him curious glances, others too engrossed in their tasks to notice him.
"I'm Sirius," the boy who had helped him out said, his smirk softening into a more genuine smile. "And you are?"
"Regulus," he replied, his voice still shaky. "Regulus."
"Regulus, huh? Sounds familiar," Sirius mused, scratching his head. "Anyway, come on. I'll introduce you to the others and give you the grand tour."
Regulus nodded, still feeling disoriented. As he followed Sirius through the Glade, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. The other boys' gazes were intense, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of place he'd found himself in.
"This is the Glade," Sirius explained as they walked. "It's home, for now at least. We all woke up here the same way you did, with no memory of how we got here or who we were before. Our only goal is to survive and, hopefully, find a way out."
Regulus listened intently, his mind racing with questions. "And those walls?" he asked, glancing at the looming structures.
Sirius's expression turned serious. "That's the Maze. Every day, the doors open, and our Runners go out to map it. It's dangerous, and we haven't found a way out yet, but we're getting closer."
A sense of determination settled over Regulus. He didn't know why he was here or what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: he would do whatever it took to find a way out of the Maze and uncover the truth about his past.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the Glade, Regulus knew that his journey had only just begun.