Thomas and friends escaped the Glade in "The Maze Runner," but they find out that the outside is far, far worse than anything they faced in that maze.

The first trailer for "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" debuted today, and it levels up the action and conspiracy a few notches. Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), and their fellow teens discover that the Glade was just phase one of a plan created by WCKD -- and that they may have been allowed to escape in the first movie.But when Thomas tries to flee the clutches of WCKD, he finds that the "real world" is a parched, desolate hellscape. Maybe the Glade's walls weren't there to keep them in — but to keep the terrible things out.

"Maze Runner: Scorch Trials" opens in theaters September 18.

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