1.
(180 days ago)
She knew there was something wrong when she felt the ground rushing up beside her. For a moment, she had panicked and nearly jumped, only to realise that she was in fact limited in space and capability. Feeling like she was about to drown, she tried to utter a few requests for help, which only died in her throat like a bubble before she could get them out. She slammed her fists on the side of the metal cage in desperation, hoping that she was not lonely in the universe, and that there were people out there waiting to save her.
'This is the most exciting part of being in the Glade- waiting to see what shank they send us every once a month,' a voice stated before breaking into an amused chuckle.
Before she could apprehend anything, the light was blinding her, and she immediately brought her hand up to shield her eyes.
There was only a stunned silence around her when she slowly let her arms fall back beside her. 'Oh shuck, that was not what I expected,' that same voice exclaimed passionately. She wondered briefly in her mind what in heaven's name 'shuck' and 'shank' was, because they certainly were not very intimidating swearwords. And before she could fully comprehend her thought-train, she had suddenly felt a headache grab hold of her and then she was falling back into the black hole. Down and down and down and down….
…and then she sat up, gasping loudly.
'Oh well, she's awake.'
Before she could control her lips, the words, 'We really needed your exceptional observation skills,' had slipped out of her lips carelessly, and she cursed herself for her apparent stupidity.
The boy who had made the obvious statement merely raised his eyebrows. 'Well, this one doesn't like to keep her tongue to herself,' he commented.
'I'm sorry,' she immediately backtracked, shamefaced. 'I was just caught surprised.'
His eyebrows went higher up his forehead. 'You're a girl.'
Annoyance filled up to her chest, and pushed the words that she had been meaning to swallow. 'Oh, are we playing that game again? Please, tell me something I don't already know.'
Damn, she mentally berated herself again, I need to learn how to shut up.
'Your tongue is sharp. We may have to cut it out,' he gave her a sharp glare. Her eyes widened, but then she composed herself again, simply pressing her lips together in hope that she did not start blurting out offenses again. 'Now that we're not being smart shanks, let's talk. My name is Alby. Who are you?'
'I don't know.'
He grinned. 'Well, it'll come back to you sooner or later,' he answered, 'Now let's get to the basics. What are you doing here? Because we sure as hell never had any girls before.'
Her dark eyebrows pulled together. 'What? What do you- you mean there are only boys in this place? Then does that mean I'm the only girl? But that-'
Alby gave her a dark glare again, and that shut her up very efficiently. 'Listen, here. You obviously know more than you let on. You're a girl. They never send girls. Why would you come- in the middle of nowhere?'
She wondered how to answer him when she didn't even understand how she got here in the first place. It wasn't as if she wanted to be stuck in the middle of a testosterone filled environment- she wasn't pleased with her own situation either. And then suddenly, Alby seemed to deflate a little. He sighed. 'Fine. Newt will show you around. But I'll be watching you. You'd better watch out. We don't play nice with traitors.'
The girl just frowned. Just my luck to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of sexist pigs.
The door opened behind them, and she turned to see a brown haired boy walk towards them. 'Hey Alby, you called?'
'Yeah, show the greenie around.'
She didn't even bother to ask what in heaven's name 'greenie' meant. Following the shorter boy, she got a feeling that he was much chattier than his friend. When she was quite sure he wouldn't lash out at her for talking to him, she opened her mouth. 'Hello.'
He smiled. 'Hello. So, welcome to the Glade. I would say you'd fit right in, but I really doubt it, honestly. What's your name?''
Without thinking, the words slipped out of her lips. 'Romana,' she blurted out, and then surprised, she added, 'I think.'
They continued to walk for a few minutes in silence. She marvelled at the green grass beneath her feet.
In a split moment, she made the decision to take off her shoes. Newt did not comment, but only raised his eyebrows slightly in enquiry. She did not answer either, but simply smiled back at him, hoping the smile was a genuine one. The grass was prickly and not soft nor comfortable under her bare feet, but for some reason, it felt stimulating. For once, she felt like she was not dreaming- that she was real, after all.
'We only have three rules here, Romana, and they expect us to keep them. Number one, everyone does their part. Number two, never hurt another Glader. Number three, Never go outside the Glade,' he stated seriously, and she nodded seriously. And then suddenly he grinned amusedly. 'Why are you in a dress?'
She looked down at herself and shrugged. She was in a little white lace dress that was stained in some places. 'That is not the most appropriate attire for a place like this,' she commented, raising her eyebrows at her own wardrobe. He laughed, and after some hesitation, she joined in his laughter.
After that, they seemed to be much more comfortable with each other. He continued to show her around the Glade, until he excused himself to the washroom. She hung around awkwardly, now knowing whether she should sit or just stand around.
After a few moments, she felt an arm around her waist. 'Hey, girly.'
She turned around, alarmed, raising her arm to defend herself. Before she could, he had gripped her wrists and yanked them behind her. 'Getting feisty, aren't you?' he breathed in her ear. Tears sprung forth in her eyes, but she would not let them fall. They were not tears of desperation, but tears of frustration and anger. 'Why don't you stay still like all girls should, and do what you do best, hmm? I called dibs on you, so just stop struggling and it will be way easier us all.'
'You bastard, get the fuck off me!' she shouted, before he could slam his palm over her lips. She tried to struggle to get him off her, but he was too strong. He did not take well to her outburst. Giving a growl, he slammed her to the side of the wall, and she heard a loud crack. And then, just as the lights started to go out, she wondered if that was the sound of her skull caving in, or if it was merely her nose crunching.
There was a loud ringing in her ears, and she could only make out distant voices calling out.
'What the shuck is this?'
'Get your hands off her!' Newt's voice demanded.
'Is that a shucking girl?' a new voice chuckled, 'Well, I wouldn't blame Johnny boy for trying one on her either.'
And then, the lights between the dark spots began to fade too. She could only catch a glimpse of black hair and dark brown eyes- with the same complexion as her, before she finally succumbed to the darkness once again. She let her last thoughts run through her mind as she did. Damn. I'm not giving the sexist pigs a good impression either. I've fainted twice in a day. Talk about damsels in distress.
