It's bloody hot. That's all I can think.. Bloody. Hot. It never rains,but there's a first time for everything. "DEAR GOD LET IT RAIN!" I scream.
"You're asking for a lot buddy." Zart replies "You don't wanna be out here? Shouldn't have jumped."
I'm done I decide,we're supposed to get a Greenie today so there's no telling what Alby's up to. Chuck and some of the other Sloppers were obviously eager to befriend the greenbean so they were the first ones to run over when the ear piercing rattling came. We all gathered around. I found a spot between Alby and Jeff. When the doors opened,the light it the poor shank so hard he looked away,covering his face with his hands,there was a lot of noise.
"Look at that shank."
"How old is he?"
"Looks like a klunk in a T-Shirt."
"You're the klunk,shuck-face!
"Hope you enjoyed the one-way trip,Greenie." I can tell that's Gally
"Ain't no ticket back,bro."
Alby and I lowered a rope from above and tied the end in a big loop. As soon as the Greenie stepped in,we yanked back. When he gets up,Gally grabs him by the poor kids shirt and says "Nice to meet ya,shank. Welcome to the Glade.
He kept spinning. I'm sure his mind was too but he was physically spinning. He had dark hair,average height,maybe 16 or 17.
"Look at the Greenbean." Gally shouts "Gonna break his shuck neck checkin' out the new digs."
"Shut your hole,Gally." I snap back. I normally wouldn't do that,but something was different about this kid.
"Where am I?" he asks. His voice doesn't sound girly,but it's higher than normal.
"Nowhere good." Alby tells him "Just slim yourself nice and calm."
Everyone is treating this Greenie like everybody else. Something is different about him. That's partly why I haven't spoken a word to him. More people start to talk.
"Which Keeper he gonna get?"
"I told ya,shuck-face." Chuck shouts back and whoever asked. "He's a klunk so he'll be a Slopper. No doubt about it." Then he starts giggling. I'm surprised that he hasn't been killed yet he's so bloody annoying.
More voices. Gally mainly. "I said shut your holes!" Alby yells. I half grin. "Keep yapping and your next break'll be cut in half."
I decide to go meet the new,special kid.
"Since Nick was killed." I hear Alby say. I walk up behind him and slap him across the back of his head. Normally, he would've killed anybody who did that but he lets me do it.
"Wait for the bloody tour Alby." I say,trying to stand up for the terrified kid. "Kid's gonna have a buggin' heart attack,nothin' even been heard yet. Name's Newt,Greenie and we'd be all right and cheery if ya'd forgive our 'klunk-for-brains' new leader here."
He reaches out to shake my hand. I wink and gladly accept. "Pipe it shuck-face" Alby growled. He obviously feels that the Greenie is special too.
"This place is called the Glade, all right?" Alby says motioning is hands "It's where we live,where we eat,where we sleep. We call ourselves Gladers. That's all you..." He's interrupted by the Greenie
"Who sent me here? How'd"
"No interruptions boy!" Alby retorts "Whacker,if we told you everything,you'd die on the spot,right after you klunked your pants. Baggers'd drag you off, and you ain't no good to us then,are ya?"
The kid obviously looked confused so I take Alby by the shoulders "Alby,lay off a bit. You're hurtin' more than helpin', ya know?"
Alby chest heaves with steady breaths. "Ain't got no time to be nice,Greenbean. Old life's over and new life's begun. Learn the rules quick,listen,don't talk. You get me?" Poor kid,poor,poor kid.
He looked over at me. 'Stop it!' I scream in my head "Greenie,you get him, right?" 'Please stop looking at me.' I plead in my head.
I barely hear him mumble "Yeah"
"Good that" Alby says,I can tell he let some steam out. "First Day. That's what today is for you,shank. Night's comin,Runners'll be back soon. The Box came up late today,ain't got time for the tour. Tomorrow morning,right after the wake-up." Alby turns to me "Get him a bed."he tells me and walks off "Good that" with those words,everyone wanders off.
As he sat on the ground I plead in my head again 'Please don't make me be the bad guy,please don't make me be the bad guy.' "What'd I do?" Man,do I feel bloody sorry for the kid.
"What you're feelin'" I start,trying to make him feel better "We've all felt it. We've all had the First Day,come out of that dark box. Things are bad,they are,and they'll get much worse for ya soon,that's the truth. But down the road a piece,you''l be fightin' true and good. I can tell your not a bloody sissy. Chuck'll be a good fit for ya. He's a fat little shank,but a nice sap when it's all said and done." I hear a sharp scream pierce the air.
'Shuck it' I think 'Can't the bloody Med-jacks handle that boy for ten minutes without needing my help?'
"Find Chuckie." I tell him "Tell him he's in charge of your sleeping arrangements."
I sprint off. Leaving the poor Greenbean behind.
I walk up the stairs to see Jeff and Alby laying over Ben. My best friends hands are visibly shaking so I walk over and squeeze them.
"Why don't ya go make sure Gally hasn't snapped anybody's neck?" I tell Jeff. I need to talk to Alby, alone.
"Ya know," Jeff starts "Gally claims to've seen Thomas while going through the Changing."
"Thomas the Greenbean?" I ask
Jeff just nods in response.
"Another good reason to get the shuck out of here." I say loudly,but not yelling.
'I've gotta talk to him." I mouth while pointing to Alby.
Jeff nods and gets up. When he passes Alby, he pats him on the shoulder. Alby shrugs as if to say "Get off of me."
"You alright, mate?" I ask.
"I wish Nick was still alive. I liked being second-in-command better." Alby barely mutters. I see tears spill onto Ben's chest.
"We all do" is my only response.
"That Nick was still alive or you like me being second-in-command better?" Alby asks, while looking up and half-smiling.
'Yes!' I think 'It did it. He feels a bit better.'
"Nick" I tell Alby.
The night Nick died, the whole Glade seemed to be still. Of course,Gally was flipping out because he didn't have a second-in-command. It was a debate between me and Minho,but Alby decided Minho needed to keep all his focus on the runners.
I guess what you could call instinct told me to glance back, when I did, there's Thomas standing in the doorway. I roll my eyes,knowing what he's in for.
Alby jumps up and pushes the miserable kid out of the room and slams the door shut. I hear yelling outside. When Alby comes in, all he says is "That boy is too curious. He's gonna get himself in a mess."
And, of course, he did.