I woke with a start, finding myself in a confined, dimly lit space. The cool of the cage-like floor beneath me, licked at my exposed skin. I shifted up, leaning on my elbows and peering around curiously. The box-like elevator was packed with barrels, boxes and odd robes and a cage. All seeming stuffed to the brim. A unconscious and attractive boy lay to my left, sprawled out lazily on his front. I was beginning to see theme, but I wasn't quite sure who wanted two unconscious kids in this thing. My eyes fell to the stuffed duffel between my legs, seeming to be the only one in here.
"What the hell?" I groaned, pressing a hand to my throbbing head. I slowly sat up, looking over the boy beside me. He was attractive, very much so. A thick layer of dark hair, perfectly sculpted face, and well-built muscular body. A machine hum overpowering any other noise, the boy didn't even stir. I grabbed my duffel and scurried back, tucking my body behind a few barrels fearfully. I was ready to climb back out, face whatever was happening. But froze upon seeing the boy wake, angry jolting awake and loudly sucking in deep breaths. Then coughing them back out, falling to the side. I watched curiously as he peered around his face one of pure panic and confusion. Coughing between deep breaths as he stared down the elevator shaft, taking in the height. I ducked away as he stumbled into barrel's I hid behind, not looking back till he was shouting.
"HEY! HEY! GET ME OUT OF HERE!" He yelled desperately, stood on a barrel in front of my, grasping at the top of the cage. Only encouraging the elevator to move fast, seeming speeding towards the closing in top. The boy swiftly fell back, landing in front of the covered up cage he had previously jumped away from. Suddenly we were plunged into a silent darkness, I had to cup a hand over my mouth so my breaths weren't as audible as the boys the ceiling opened up, letting in a stream of blinding light from above, touching everything it could with it's a luminous glow. The boy, in direct sight of the golden light, raised his arm, using it as a shield for his eyes. Only to drop it as a dozen shadows appeared from above, surrounding the ceiling of the cage. Boys, sniggering and looking. Not at me, I could see them, but they weren't seeing me. Just the boy, something I was thankful for at this moment in time. Two thumps sounded as a large boy jumped down, stopping in front of the panicked boy and leaning in close.
"Day one Greenie, rise and shine" the boy stated, grabbing hold of his shirt and dragging him up. Other boys pulled him out, there was a little noise. Then there was a lot.
"WE GOT A RUNNER!" a boy announced loudly, a chorus of laughs backing him up. I knew one thing for sure, I had yet to see or hear a single girl. Hear a sudden out burst of hysterical laughter, I slowly unwedged myself from behind the barrel's, crawling around to the front and grabbing the duffel. I couldn't of explained why in a test, I just knew that it was mine, without even checking. I struggled mercilessly to climb out, my short stature held back my full potential to climb out of the cage-levator. The weight of the duffel didn't help either, causing me to , not once by twice, almost fall backwards and off the barrel. As I finally managed to reach the rim of the cage, though still failed miserably to pull myself up, feet appeared just above my head. Just above the cage. A tall, blonde boy, the one that man handled the other boy appeared above me. Staring down, in what I assume is his shocked face. His eyebrows slightly confused me.
I was quickly shoved in a concrete box with a cell door crafted out of Bamboo and some frayed, wood like string. The boy, from the box, was promptly shoved into the one beside me. Looking terrified and sweaty... but his curiosity spiked quickly. With a wary glance around the cell, again oblivious to me being near. He crawled over to the the door, carefully grasping two bamboo sticks and pressing his face into one of the squares. Staring out at the his new surroundings, from the farm to the wall. The high as high, stone wall, open a tad. Nature, in the form of green vines, climbing the sides, claiming the wall as it's own. A small, home made farm, complete with it's own set of animals. The other boys, stood off in the background, wandering around and minding there own buisness. A boy stepped in front of my neighbours cell door, scaring the boy who fell back into the stone wall behind him. His greeting of Hey going unnoticed by the panicked teen, who stared up at the legs, till the boy crouched down. Looking through the cell door and to the boy,
"Hey there, Green Bean" the boy greeted. "You're not gonna run again, ok?" he asked, watching the speechless boy who didn't nothing but stare. It seemed to be enough for the black boy, as he didn't mind opening his door, and crouching again in front of it.
"My names Alby" the introduction was short lived, "Now can you tell me anything about yourself? Who you are? Where you came from? Anything at all" he prompted the still silent boy. Who I almost forgot had been yelling in the cage-elevator, yelling to be let out. The boy looked away, now as ashamed as he was afraid and panicked. He fiddled mercilessly with his hands, his mouth moving to make the word's he never let out. Shaking his head and forcing out a shaky breath, obviously unhappy with his lack of knowledge.
"Can you tell me your name?" Alby asked, offering a brief and weak smile. The boy once again shook his head, only lightly, a few sounds escaping his mouth.
"I... I er can't remember anything" he supplied shakily, distraught over the fact. "Why can't I remember anything?"
"It's alright" Alby interrupted, hearing the panted breaths from the boy, "Hey relax... relax" he commanded cooly. Instantly calming the 'Green Bean', who finally looked up at Alby, meeting the other males gaze. "It's normal" Alby stated worrying serious, "It happens to us all, you'll get your name back in a day or two... It's the one thing they let us keep." Who's they?
"What is this place?" Green Bean asked, staring up at Alby who suddenly met my prying gaze.
"Let me show you" he replied coolly, flickering his gaze to the boy as he held out his hand for him. "Both of you" he added, looking over at me. 'Green Bean' who had been staring at his hand, finally looked at me, his eyes wide in shock.
"We eat here, we sleep here, we grow our own food, we build our own shelter" Alby listed leading us through what looked like a olden days village. One of only boys, "Whatever we need, the box provides, the rest is up to us" I nodded, pretending to listen as I stared around.
"The box?" 'Green Bean' questioned, staring over at the concrete in the ground we had come from.
"Yeah, it's sent up once a month with fresh supplies and a new greenie" he answered, before glancing at me, "This month that's you and her, congratulations" with one last glance at the box he turned back to me. "You're the first girl, and the first set of two" he added, sparking a new interest within me.
"Sent up? By who? Who put us here?" Greenie fired questions looking to Alby for the answers.
"Yeah, we don't know" Alby replied, looking unbothered by the fact. I wanted to know, I wanted to find out and I had a feeling I got what I wanted a lot.
"Hey, you alright Alby?" a tall, blonde, british boy asked walking up to us with a detected limp. Alby smiled widely, letting out a small laugh as the boy got within reaching distance. A wide smile on his handsome face.
"Green Bean's meet Newt" Alby introduced, moving aside so I came into view of the boy, who momentarily looked shocked but quickly covered it, mumbling a quick Hi to us. "When I'm not around, he's in charge" Alby stated, Newt shook Green Bean's hand, then turning to me to shake mine. He noticeably softened his grip from the boys as he shook mine.
"Well it's a good thing you're always around then" he said, turning his gaze to Alby then back to the other boy. "Listen that was some dash you made earlier, you know for a second I thought you had the chops to be a runner" I didn't see the run, but know the shouts made sense. "Till you face planted" he added seriously, earning a laugh from Alby and audible giggle from me. One I tried to hide with my hand, ducking my head away.
"Wait, Runner?" Greenie asked, looking between both boys for an answer. Both seemed unwilling to answer, not out of secrecy, I'm pretty sure it was laziness.
"Listen, do me a favour?" Alby asked Newt, still smiling, "Go find Chuck" Newt nodded, mumbling and almost inaudible alright as Alby thanked him. I watched the british boy walk off, following his retreating form before Alby rested a hand on my arm. Walking myself and the boy forward,
"Look, I'm sorry to rush this, you came up a little late, we have a lot to do" Alby explained, "Got something special planned tonight," seeing the boys gaze on the pile of wood behind me. Leading us across another field of grass, to a wooden built, three floor high building of sorts. Than began climbing the ladder, stopping halfway to look down at us.
"Hope you're not afraid of heights" he said jokingly, watching as I shared a look with the boy, "let's go, come on" It was the first time I noticed the covered knife hanging from his belt, igniting a small puddle of worry within me. I followed him up, leaving the boy to stare up at it, he soon followed too. Alby led us to the top, he leaned his body against one of the railings, watching as we both looked over the whole place. It seemed like every inch was covered in the brilliant green grass, the wall surrounded us. There was a small forest on one side, one I couldn't wait to explore.
"This is all we got, we worked hard for it" Alby stated, looking over it proudly "You respect this place, we'll get along just fine." I smiled, running my fingertips over the wooden banister.
"What's out there?" the boy and I asked in sync, sharing a look before looking out at the gap in the stone. The vine jungle you could see near the back. A eery silence fell over the three of us, as we all looked out at the creepy gap. We finally looked back at Alby, who looked slightly put off by the whole thing. He pushed off the banister, turning and planting both hands firmly on the banister in front of him, his eyes still on us unnervingly.
"We only have three rules" he replied, leaving the question unanswered, "First, do your part, no time for any freeloaders. Second, never harm another glader, none of this works unless we have trust. And most importantly, never go beyond those walls... You understand me Greenie's?" Unnerving me with the look he was sending us,
"Hey Alby!" a voice cut in, before either of us could reply.