The Scorch Trials
Chapter 64
by Dashner, JamesThomas awakens to an unsettling, all-white void, devoid of any shapes or shadows. Initially dismissing it as a dream, he becomes aware of his physical sensations—breathing, touching his skin—yet remains surrounded by an eerie, featureless brightness. The surreal environment triggers a flicker of panic, but he rationalizes it as a vivid dream. This disorienting setting establishes a tone of confusion and unease, hinting at deeper psychological or supernatural elements at play.
A voice interrupts Thomas’s thoughts, one he recognizes as belonging to a girl. The exchange feels familiar, as if they’ve communicated this way before. She asks if he’s okay, her tone troubled, which puzzles him. When she cryptically mentions that he’ll “understand more very soon,” Thomas grows wary. The conversation takes a darker turn as he notices something off about the voice, sparking a creeping sense of dread.
Thomas’s fear intensifies when he questions the identity of the speaker, no longer convinced it’s who he initially believed. After a tense pause, the voice claims to be Brenda, a revelation that fills him with terror. Her ominous warning—“Things are about to get bad for you”—shatters any remaining sense of security. The chapter’s tension peaks here, as the line between dream and reality blurs, leaving Thomas vulnerable to an impending threat.
Overwhelmed by fear, Thomas screams uncontrollably until he jolts awake, escaping the nightmare. The chapter ends abruptly, leaving the nature of the experience ambiguous—whether it was a dream, a psychic intrusion, or a premonition. This chilling conclusion underscores the psychological horror of the narrative, setting the stage for darker developments. The brevity and intensity of the chapter amplify its impact, leaving readers unsettled and eager for answers.
FAQs
1. What is the initial setting Thomas experiences when he awakens in this chapter, and how does he rationalize it?
Answer:
When Thomas first awakens, he finds himself surrounded by pure whiteness—no shapes, shadows, or variations, just an unbroken expanse of white. Initially, he feels panic but quickly rationalizes the experience as a dream. He notes the strangeness of the dream but reassures himself by focusing on sensory details: he can feel his body, his fingers against his skin, and hear his own breathing. This suggests his mind is attempting to ground itself in familiarity despite the disorienting environment. The seamless whiteness and his self-awareness within it create an eerie, surreal atmosphere, hinting at deeper psychological or supernatural elements at play.2. How does Thomas’s interaction with the voice (presumably Brenda) evolve, and what does this reveal about his emotional state?
Answer:
Thomas initially responds casually to the voice, assuming it belongs to Brenda and that she is communicating with him in a dream, as he believes she has done before. However, as the conversation progresses, he grows increasingly uneasy. He notices something “off” about the voice, and Brenda’s ominous warning—”Things are about to get bad for you”—triggers a visceral fear. His emotional state deteriorates rapidly, culminating in a scream so intense it wakes him. This shift from calm to terror underscores his vulnerability and foreshadows impending danger, while also highlighting his instinctive distrust of the unfamiliar, even in a seemingly controlled dream state.3. Analyze the significance of the line, “You’re about to understand more. Very soon now.” How might this relate to broader themes in The Scorch Trials?
Answer:
This line serves as both a warning and a narrative catalyst, suggesting that Thomas is on the verge of a revelation or pivotal moment. In The Scorch Trials, themes of deception, hidden truths, and psychological manipulation are central. The phrase implies that Thomas’s limited understanding of his circumstances is intentional, part of a larger scheme by WICKED or other forces. The ambiguity of “understand more” leaves room for interpretation—it could refer to his identity, the purpose of the trials, or the nature of his relationships. This uncertainty mirrors the novel’s exploration of control and the blurred lines between reality and illusion, keeping readers and Thomas alike in suspense.4. Why might the author have chosen to frame this scene as a dream sequence, and how does this choice impact the reader’s experience?
Answer:
The dream sequence creates a disorienting, unreliable narrative perspective that mirrors Thomas’s confusion and heightens tension. By blurring the lines between dream and reality, the author immerses the reader in Thomas’s psychological turmoil, making his fear more palpable. The whiteness symbolizes a blank slate or a void, reflecting Thomas’s lack of control and knowledge. The abrupt awakening—triggered by his scream—leaves the reader questioning what was real and what was imagined, reinforcing the novel’s themes of uncertainty and manipulation. This technique also allows for cryptic dialogue (e.g., Brenda’s warning) to carry greater weight, as dreams often serve as conduits for subconscious fears or foreshadowing.5. How does Thomas’s reaction to the voice’s identity reveal his character development up to this point in the series?
Answer:
Thomas’s terror when questioning, “Who … who are you?” demonstrates his growing wariness and trauma from past betrayals and manipulations. Earlier in the series, he might have accepted the voice at face value, but now he instinctively doubts its authenticity. This reflects his hardening resolve and heightened survival instincts, shaped by the harsh lessons of the Maze and the Scorch. His scream—a raw, involuntary response—also shows that beneath his developing toughness, he remains emotionally volatile when confronted with the unknown. This moment encapsulates his dual nature: a leader learning to distrust, yet still susceptible to fear when faced with the inexplicable.
Quotes
1. “He awoke, blinked, wiped his eyes and saw nothing but pure white. No shapes, no shadows, no variation, nothing. Just white.”
This opening line sets the disorienting and surreal tone of the chapter, emphasizing Thomas’s confusion and isolation as he finds himself in a blank, undefined space. It introduces the dreamlike (or nightmare-like) quality of his experience.
2. “A flicker of panic until he realized he must be dreaming. Strange, but a dream for sure. He could feel his body, feel his fingers against his skin. Feel himself breathing. Hear himself breathing. Yet he was surrounded by a complete and seamless world of bright nothing.”
This passage captures the unsettling contradiction between physical sensation and visual emptiness, blurring the lines between reality and dream. It highlights Thomas’s growing unease despite his attempts to rationalize the situation.
3. “You’re about to understand more. Very soon now.”
This ominous statement from the voice (purportedly Brenda) serves as a turning point in the chapter, signaling that Thomas is on the verge of a painful revelation. The vagueness of the warning intensifies the suspense and dread.
4. “Who … who are you? he finally asked, terrified of the answer.”
This simple question marks a critical moment of realization for Thomas as he begins to doubt the identity of the voice communicating with him. It shows his growing fear and distrust in what he’s experiencing.
5. “It’s me, Tom. It’s Brenda. Things are about to get bad for you.”
This chilling revelation confirms Thomas’s worst fears and serves as the chapter’s climactic moment. The blunt warning “Things are about to get bad for you” creates a sense of impending doom that propels the narrative forward.