Clank. Clank. Clank.
I open my eyes groggily.
Where… where am I?
My back is against cold metal, the grate biting into my butt. I am in a box. There is no light, other than the blinking red one on the other side of this contraption. Peering around I notice crates with red, spray painted words pointing diagonally. WICKED.
Who the heck is WICKED?
I start to panic. My breathing comes out in short pants.
Keep it together…. Keep it together… what's my name? Why can't I remain anything?
The box comes to a halt, throwing me forward. I scramble to the corner.
Diana. That is my name.
Suddenly, the light of a thousand suns is burning my eyes and voices erupt from above me.
"Wonder if the greenie klunked his pants."
"Nah, I bet he's crying for mommy."
"Hope greenbean is a slicer, we could use another"
A boy jumps down into the metal contraption. He has ruffled, dirty blond hair and brown eyes that look like chocolate.
Did I just think that a guy I don't know has chocolate eyes. Dear God, I'm messed up in the head.
"Hey greenie, I'm Newt. Now, get up. You can't stay here forever," Newt introduces in a British accent.
I look up and meet his eyes.
"You're… you're a girl," he gasps.
"Umm… yes?" I respond uncertainly.
"Shuck," he mutters and runs his right hand through his hair.
"Hey, Newt! What's the hold up?" a voice inquires from above.
"It's a girl," he shouts.
It gets quiet for a moment, then it explodes into chatter.
"It's a GIRL?"
"Is she hot?"
"I call dibs."
"SHUT THE SHUCK UP!" an authoritative voice orders.
Apparently this guy is respected around here.
"Newt, bring her up here," respected guy says, no, more like orders.
Newt looks at me with a questioning look in my eyes. I slowly rise to my feet, leaning back against the wall for support. I take and step forward, staggering I fail to remain balanced. I would've fell on my face, had it not been for Newt's lean arm that snaked around my waist and pulled me against him.
I feel my face redden as I meet his eyes, he's blushing too.
"We, uh, we should, uh, go up there," he mumbles and I nod, "You should hold onto that rope and they'll pull you up."
I untangle myself from Newt's arms and grab the frayed rope and putting my foot in the loop.
"Pull her up!" Newt shouts to the people above.
The rope is pulled upwards. When I can reach the top of the box, I clutch the edge and lift myself out of the box, immediately landing in a crouch. I move my legs slowly until I am standing up.
I take time to observe my surroundings, there are enormous, cement walls enclosing us on each side, otherwise it looks like a little village. There are fifty to sixty people are gathered around me, and they are all boys.
Where are the other girls? Am I the only girl here? Why are they all looking at me like I am a piece of meat?
I begin to understand when a boy, about six foot with brown eyes and jet black hair, reaches to touch my chest.
"Touch me and you won't have any fingers to try again," I say venomously.
The boy recoils in shock, I'm not sure if it is because of what I said or the fact that I spoke. He slowly reaches forward and I narrow my eyes.
"I don't recommend you to do that, she probably would cut off your fingers, and she can do it with a variety of weapons," a familiar voice warns.
I scan the crowd for the person who spoke, then I see him.
"Gally!" I exclaim as I scramble over to him. I throw my arms around his neck and embrace him. He wraps his arm around waist and chuckles.
"Gally, who is the girl and how do you know her?" authoritative voice asks.
I turn and see he's a seventeen or eighteen year old African-American. He's dressed in a dark blue shirt and black jeans.
Realizing I have no idea what I'm wearing, I look down. I'm wearing a longsleeve shirt with gray and white stripes, black joggers, and high top converse that have gray and white zigzags.
"You worthless shanks get the pleasure of meeting my baby sister, Diana," Gally replies.
The African-American holds out his arms. "Well, Diana, welcome to the Glade."