The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is the second book in The Maze Runner series. After escaping the maze, Thomas and his friends, the Gladers, are faced with a new set of challenges. They are taken to a desolate, scorched landscape where they must survive extreme heat, dangerous creatures, and the treacherous environment in order to complete their mission. As they journey through the Scorch, they discover more about the organization WICKED and the experiments being conducted on them. Along the way, Thomas faces betrayals, shifting alliances, and moral dilemmas as he struggles to understand the true purpose of their trials and the role he plays in WICKED's plans. The novel explores themes of survival, trust, and the lengths people will go to for freedom.