Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of The Scorch Trials
    DystopianScience FictionYoung Adult

    The Scorch Trials

    by Dashner, James
    “The Scorch Trials” by James Dashner is the second installment in the “Maze Runner” series, following protagonist Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by solar flares and a deadly virus. After escaping the Maze, they face a new set of challenges in the Scorch, a desolate wasteland, as part of a mysterious trial orchestrated by WICKED. Themes of survival, trust, and moral ambiguity are central as the group encounters treacherous environments, rival factions, and shifting alliances. The novel expands the dystopian lore while maintaining suspense and action, appealing to fans of young adult science fiction.
    PreviousNext
    The Scorch Trials

    Chapter 20

    by Dashner, James

    Thomas spots a mys­te­ri­ous girl stand­ing near a build­ing in the dis­tance and imme­di­ate­ly hopes it’s Tere­sa, despite their tele­path­ic con­nec­tion hav­ing van­ished. He tries reach­ing out men­tal­ly but gets no response. The girl’s pos­ture sug­gests she’s watch­ing them, spark­ing debate among the group about her inten­tions. Min­ho jokes about “psy­cho girl nin­jas,” but Thomas insists on approach­ing her alone, dri­ven by a mix of hope and cau­tion. Newt protests, but Thomas walks toward her, con­vinced by her famil­iar stance that it’s Tere­sa.

    As Thomas nears the build­ing, the girl retreats inside, leav­ing the door open. Despite the poten­tial dan­ger, he fol­lows her into the dark, cool inte­ri­or, hear­ing her breath but see­ing noth­ing. When she lights a can­dle, Thomas con­firms it’s Teresa—clean, well-dressed, and strik­ing­ly beau­ti­ful, yet vis­i­bly ter­ri­fied. Her tear­ful, trem­bling demeanor con­fus­es him, espe­cial­ly when she screams at him to stay away. Her fear reminds him of Gally’s errat­ic behav­ior before Chuck’s death, deep­en­ing his con­cern.

    Thomas tries to reas­sure Tere­sa, express­ing how much he’s missed her, but she remains dis­traught. Sud­den­ly, she rush­es for­ward, embrac­ing him tight­ly and kiss­ing him. The moment over­whelms Thomas, eras­ing his ear­li­er con­fu­sion and fear. How­ev­er, the abrupt shift in her behav­ior leaves unan­swered ques­tions about what she’s endured and why she’s so afraid. The emo­tion­al inten­si­ty of their reunion con­trasts sharply with the uncer­tain­ty of her sit­u­a­tion.

    The chap­ter ends on a cliffhang­er, with Thomas and Teresa’s kiss sym­bol­iz­ing both con­nec­tion and unre­solved ten­sion. Her unex­plained ter­ror and sud­den phys­i­cal affec­tion hint at exter­nal forces manip­u­lat­ing her actions. The scene under­scores the emo­tion­al stakes for Thomas, who remains torn between relief at find­ing her and dread over what might come next. The building’s mys­te­ri­ous set­up and Teresa’s errat­ic behav­ior fore­shad­ow fur­ther chal­lenges ahead.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does Thomas initially react when he sees the mysterious girl near the building, and what does this reveal about his emotional state?

      Answer:
      Thomas’s immediate instinct is to hope the girl is Teresa, attempting to communicate with her telepathically despite their previous connection being severed. His repeated mental calls of “Teresa?” and his quick nod to Newt’s question reveal his desperate longing for her. This highlights his emotional vulnerability and unresolved feelings about her disappearance. His internal conflict—balancing hope with caution—shows how deeply her absence has affected him, even as he tries to mask his emotions from the group.

      2. Analyze the significance of Teresa’s physical appearance and behavior when Thomas finally sees her in the building. What might these details suggest about her circumstances?

      Answer:
      Teresa’s clean, well-groomed appearance contrasts sharply with Thomas’s expectations of someone surviving in the harsh desert environment. Her fresh clothes, clean hair, and unblemished skin suggest she has been cared for—or controlled—by an outside force. However, her terrified expression, trembling, and stifled sobs indicate she is under extreme duress, possibly against her will. The juxtaposition of her pristine condition and her distress hints at manipulation or coercion, paralleling Gally’s behavior in earlier events, where external control overrode personal agency.

      3. Why does Thomas insist on approaching the girl alone, despite the group’s objections? How does this decision reflect his character development?

      Answer:
      Thomas’s insistence on going alone stems from a mix of hope (that it’s Teresa) and tactical caution (fearing a trap). His urgency overrides the group’s skepticism, showing his growing independence and willingness to take risks for answers. However, his claim that “we’d be idiots to all go over there” also reveals strategic thinking, balancing his personal desires with leadership instincts. This moment underscores his transition from a follower in the Glade to someone who trusts his instincts, even when they conflict with others’ judgment.

      4. Compare Minho’s and Newt’s reactions to Thomas’s plan to approach the girl. What do their differing responses reveal about their personalities?

      Answer:
      Minho responds with sarcasm (“psycho girl ninjas”) and a joking challenge, masking concern with humor—a trait consistent with his role as the group’s morale booster. In contrast, Newt calls the plan “bloody stupid” and volunteers to accompany Thomas, displaying pragmatic caution and loyalty. Their reactions highlight Minho’s tendency to deflect tension with wit, while Newt prioritizes safety and solidarity. Both, however, ultimately defer to Thomas’s judgment, showing their trust in him despite their reservations.

      5. What thematic role does the kiss between Thomas and Teresa play in this chapter? How does it contrast with the preceding tension?

      Answer:
      The kiss serves as a fleeting moment of emotional catharsis amid chaos, symbolizing hope and human connection in a hostile world. It temporarily overrides the chapter’s tension—Teresa’s terror, Thomas’s confusion—and reaffirms their bond. However, its abruptness and Teresa’s earlier distress suggest deeper unresolved conflict, foreshadowing future betrayal or manipulation. The contrast between the kiss’s warmth and the surrounding dread emphasizes the fragility of trust in their dystopian reality, where even intimate moments may be overshadowed by external control.

    Quotes

    • 1. “The abscess left when she disappeared was still in his head—like an empty pool. But … it could be her. Might be her. Maybe something had happened to their ability to communicate.”

      This quote captures Thomas’s deep emotional turmoil and desperate hope upon seeing a mysterious girl in the distance. It illustrates his lingering connection to Teresa and the psychological void left by her absence, while also showing his struggle to rationalize their broken telepathic link.

      2. “But her eyes sparkled with tears; her lower lip trembled with fear; her hands shook at her sides. He saw recognition in her eyes, saw that she hadn’t forgotten him again, but behind that there was pure and absolute terror.”

      This powerful description reveals Teresa’s conflicted state upon reuniting with Thomas. While she clearly remembers him, her physical terror suggests she’s either being controlled or facing some unseen threat, creating intense suspense about what has happened to her since their separation.

      3. “And then they were kissing. Something exploded within his chest, burning away the tension and confusion and fear. Burning away the hurt of seconds earlier. For a moment it felt like nothing mattered anymore. Like nothing would matter ever again.”

      This climactic moment represents both emotional catharsis and narrative turning point. The passionate reunion temporarily overcomes their fears and confusion, but the unfinished sentence (“But t…”) hints this respite will be short-lived, maintaining the chapter’s tension.

    Quotes

    1. “The abscess left when she disappeared was still in his head—like an empty pool. But … it could be her. Might be her. Maybe something had happened to their ability to communicate.”

    This quote captures Thomas’s deep emotional turmoil and desperate hope upon seeing a mysterious girl in the distance. It illustrates his lingering connection to Teresa and the psychological void left by her absence, while also showing his struggle to rationalize their broken telepathic link.

    2. “But her eyes sparkled with tears; her lower lip trembled with fear; her hands shook at her sides. He saw recognition in her eyes, saw that she hadn’t forgotten him again, but behind that there was pure and absolute terror.”

    This powerful description reveals Teresa’s conflicted state upon reuniting with Thomas. While she clearly remembers him, her physical terror suggests she’s either being controlled or facing some unseen threat, creating intense suspense about what has happened to her since their separation.

    3. “And then they were kissing. Something exploded within his chest, burning away the tension and confusion and fear. Burning away the hurt of seconds earlier. For a moment it felt like nothing mattered anymore. Like nothing would matter ever again.”

    This climactic moment represents both emotional catharsis and narrative turning point. The passionate reunion temporarily overcomes their fears and confusion, but the unfinished sentence (“But t…”) hints this respite will be short-lived, maintaining the chapter’s tension.

    FAQs

    1. How does Thomas initially react when he sees the mysterious girl near the building, and what does this reveal about his emotional state?

    Answer:
    Thomas’s immediate instinct is to hope the girl is Teresa, attempting to communicate with her telepathically despite their previous connection being severed. His repeated mental calls of “Teresa?” and his quick nod to Newt’s question reveal his desperate longing for her. This highlights his emotional vulnerability and unresolved feelings about her disappearance. His internal conflict—balancing hope with caution—shows how deeply her absence has affected him, even as he tries to mask his emotions from the group.

    2. Analyze the significance of Teresa’s physical appearance and behavior when Thomas finally sees her in the building. What might these details suggest about her circumstances?

    Answer:
    Teresa’s clean, well-groomed appearance contrasts sharply with Thomas’s expectations of someone surviving in the harsh desert environment. Her fresh clothes, clean hair, and unblemished skin suggest she has been cared for—or controlled—by an outside force. However, her terrified expression, trembling, and stifled sobs indicate she is under extreme duress, possibly against her will. The juxtaposition of her pristine condition and her distress hints at manipulation or coercion, paralleling Gally’s behavior in earlier events, where external control overrode personal agency.

    3. Why does Thomas insist on approaching the girl alone, despite the group’s objections? How does this decision reflect his character development?

    Answer:
    Thomas’s insistence on going alone stems from a mix of hope (that it’s Teresa) and tactical caution (fearing a trap). His urgency overrides the group’s skepticism, showing his growing independence and willingness to take risks for answers. However, his claim that “we’d be idiots to all go over there” also reveals strategic thinking, balancing his personal desires with leadership instincts. This moment underscores his transition from a follower in the Glade to someone who trusts his instincts, even when they conflict with others’ judgment.

    4. Compare Minho’s and Newt’s reactions to Thomas’s plan to approach the girl. What do their differing responses reveal about their personalities?

    Answer:
    Minho responds with sarcasm (“psycho girl ninjas”) and a joking challenge, masking concern with humor—a trait consistent with his role as the group’s morale booster. In contrast, Newt calls the plan “bloody stupid” and volunteers to accompany Thomas, displaying pragmatic caution and loyalty. Their reactions highlight Minho’s tendency to deflect tension with wit, while Newt prioritizes safety and solidarity. Both, however, ultimately defer to Thomas’s judgment, showing their trust in him despite their reservations.

    5. What thematic role does the kiss between Thomas and Teresa play in this chapter? How does it contrast with the preceding tension?

    Answer:
    The kiss serves as a fleeting moment of emotional catharsis amid chaos, symbolizing hope and human connection in a hostile world. It temporarily overrides the chapter’s tension—Teresa’s terror, Thomas’s confusion—and reaffirms their bond. However, its abruptness and Teresa’s earlier distress suggest deeper unresolved conflict, foreshadowing future betrayal or manipulation. The contrast between the kiss’s warmth and the surrounding dread emphasizes the fragility of trust in their dystopian reality, where even intimate moments may be overshadowed by external control.

    Note