Entertainment Weekly has debuted the first images from "The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials," the sequel to last year's hit sci-fi action thriller.

The photos reveal -- surprise! -- that life is still rough for Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and the other survivors, even after their escape from the maze and the deadly Grievers.

Based on author James Dashner’s bestselling 2010 novel, "The Scorch Trials" follows Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they set out across a landscape left devastated by a massive solar flare, and contend with infected humans called cranks.

“We don’t want to call them zombies, but they fit into that category,” director Wes Ball explains “They’re not undead, but they are rage-filled.”

Opening Sept. 18, "The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" also stars Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee and Patricia Clarkson.