Following the shocking escape from the Glade in the first book, Maze Runner: Prueba de Fuego (The Scorch Trials) throws protagonist Thomas and his fellow Gladers into an even more brutal and expansive nightmare. Where the first book was a confined puzzle, the sequel is a harrowing journey across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Plot Summary The story begins moments after the end of The Maze Runner . Thomas, Teresa, and the other surviving Gladers are rescued by mysterious figures in hazmat suits and taken to a seemingly safe bunker. However, their relief is short-lived. They are greeted by a man named Janson (nicknamed "Rat Man"), who explains that they have completed the Maze trials but must now endure a second phase: The Scorch Trials .