Special Thanks to Belinda Valentine Bite to be the first reader to Favorite and Follow this story!
I am a little sad that I got no reviews on my first chapter; silly really, since this is just the first chapter of my first story, what was I supposed to hope for?
Anyway, I'll keep on updating (won't be everyday, don't get you hopes up) and improving.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Maze Runner Trilogy, only Phoenix.
Chapter 2: New Home
Gladers, shank, klunk, all of those unfamiliar words ran through Phoenix's mind over and over again.
Newt had called this place "The Glade". It didn't exactly ring a bell, but something stirred inside her brain, as if she should recognize the words but had somehow deleted it from her memory; which was practically the state she was in now. "The… Glade?" She asked, timidly. "W-What- Why am I here? Who are you?"
The dark-skinned kid - the Leader - stepped forward. He seemed to survey the girl, who still clutched at the bag in her arms. "Name's Alby." He said gruffly. "I'm not sure how to put this, since you're the first girl here." Alby sighed. "Lemme guess, you can't remember anything - your past and your memories - all except your name, right?"
"Yes…"
Newt clapped Alby on the back. "I'll handle this one." He turned back to Phoenix. "Everybody here-" he nodded his head towards the crowd of boys still staring at her. "is like you. There ain't one of us that knows why we're here and who we are. We pretty much just work together to stay alive. Supplies come once a week, and a Greenbean once a month." Newt caught Phoenix's confused look. "Greenbean, something we call the new Glader that arrives here. That means you're the Greenbean now."
Phoenix bit the inside of her cheek. "Uh… thanks?" She wasn't sure if she was supposed to be afraid or be thankful. These guys didn't seem to want to hurt her, and she was starting to enjoy the attention; Newt was nice, but she wasn't so sure about Alby.
The blond boy laughed, nudging tiny Phoenix with his shoulder, which almost made her topple over. "Anyway Greenie, I'd better show you your place in the Homestead." He glanced at Alby. "Where's she gonna sleep?"
"Not with the others, obviously." Alby said, his features finally softening slightly as he looked at the girl. "There's a spare room in the Homestead. She can stay there."
Newt seemed stunned. "You're letting her take one of the spare rooms for the Keepers?!"
Alby shot him a look. "Problem, Newt?"
He only laughed. "Nah, just surprised. Well, c'mon shank." Newt glanced behind his shoulder at Phoenix. "Time for you to make yourself at home."
The Homestead was a rickety teetering old wooden building that had two floors. The bottom floor was the Gladers' bedroom, the top floor was the Medic Area and the Keepers' room. Newt led Phoenix up the creaking stairs - which felt as if it might collapse any second - and directed her to one of the smaller spare rooms, right beside the Medic Area, which was the largest room placed right in the middle of the floor.
She turned the brass handle on her new room's door. It wasn't much. A single bed with their white sheets, a wooden chest, and a set of drawers. The dusty window at the corner of the room looked down at the Gardens. Phoenix blew on the glass pane, sending dust everywhere and reduced her to a coughing fit.
Newt had already left, giving herself some time to set out her things. Curiosity surging through her, the girl brought her bag over to the hammock, and unzipped it. Inside were some T-shirts and tank tops, a few pairs of long and short jeans, shorts, and cargo pants. There was even two pairs of skirts - a normal black miniskirt and a short jean skirt - and a single white blouse. Phoenix almost laughed at that; as if she would wear that sort of thing.
There were some other things too. Period Pills for her to take once a month - she had yelped with glee when she had found the bottle, Goodbye period! - a toothbrush and toothpaste, some tampons and pads incase the pills didn't work, a thin comb and a thick hairbrush, and finally - a mirror.
"Finally!" Phoenix gasped in delight, fishing the decent-sized mirror out of the bag; it was big enough to show her whole face. Grey eyes blinked at her from out of the mirror, long slightly-dirty blond hair spilling past her shoulders, and her cute button nose. If she was correct, her face was still the same.
Something deep inside her sparked, she felt as if… she really was at home; she felt safe, safe and sound. Phoenix stared around the room. Her clothes dumped inside the wooden chest, her drawers open and stuffed with bits and pieces from her bag, the window pane sparkling after she had found a rag and wiped it clean. This was her room, The Glade was her home.
A voice broke her out of her train of thought. "You done, Greenie?" It was Newt. Phoenix quickly slid the mirror under the blankets on her hammock.
"Yeah. Is something wrong?"
Newt shrugged. "Nah, nothing's wrong. Except that you're going to miss the Runners comin' back if you don't hurry."
The girl quickly skidded over to the lanky boy, keeping close to him as they passed the Medic Area. The door was open, and two boys were sitting on the beds, reading. Phoenix stared at them; they stared back. One of the boys waved, the other just grinned; she smiled at them, before jumping down the steps. "Who are they? Those two boys I mean, and the Runners too. What do they do?"
They were walking towards one of the high concrete walls; one of them had a long slit down the middle, like an opening. "Those boys? Jeff and Clint, Med-Jacks. If you like healing, you can start tryouts with them tomorrow. As for the Runners? They scout around the Maze," Newt jerked his head at the walls. "The Maze is behind the walls, pattern changes every night. That opening is called the East Door. Closes some time at night, and opens up again at morning."
"Why can't we go in there?"
He scoffed. "Ya got a death wish, kid? It's scary inside the Maze, constantly changing. And then, there's the Grievers; large nasty creatures that are half machine, half animal; kinda like a half-mechanic spider."
Phoenix shivered. "You've been there before?"
Newt's face hardened. "Yeah, I was a Runner… once."
"What happened?"
"Griever caught my leg, couldn't continue on."
She stared at Newt's legs; he did seem as if he was limping. Phoenix decided to drop the subject. A sour Newt wasn't as fun as a happy and joking Newt. He seemed to be staring at the East Door, so Phoenix followed suit.
Finally two figures emerged; one a well-built Asian boy with black hair standing straight up, another a thin boy with hair the color of rotten corn. "Ben and Minho," Newt explained, as the two Runners joined the rest, the Asian boy in the lead. Phoenix watched them disappear into the woods. "Minho's the Keeper of the Runners, best we have."
"Where are they going?" She asked out of curiosity. "Shouldn't they get a rest first?"
"They're going to the Map Room to map the section of the Maze they'd scoured today." Newt gestured with his hand. "C'mon, you must be hungry. Frypan'll whisk something up for you, I'm sure."
The Kitchen was built near the Dining Area. It was a small concrete building, with smoke coming from a slanted chimney. Inside, the boy named Frypan and some other boys were busying themselves by making dinner. Phoenix watched in awe as they worked, the smell making her stomach rumble; she really was hungry.
Frypan spotted her and Newt. "Hey Greenie, Newt," He kept on stirring the mashed potatoes. "Whatcha doing here?"
"Getting the Newbie a snack," Newt said. "and maybe one for myself."
The cook waggled his finger at the blond boy. "No food until mealtime, Newt. But I think I'll make an exception for this young girl." The girl beamed at Frypan, sending Newt a smug look.
Newt groaned. "Come on, Fry! Just one small bite!"
Frypan groaned. "Fine, whatever. Get yourselves some sandwiches, whatever, I don't care. Just this time, mind you."
"Can I be a cook?"
The question was so out of the blue, both Newt and Frypan seemed stunned. Phoenix had her eyes wide, her bottom lip jutting out. "Please?" She asked sweetly.
"Ya sure, Greenie? Not many people would want to be a cook. Tis a tiring job, having to cook every Gladers meals, rushing all over the place. Can't have you quitting on your first day."
Phoenix nodded solemnly. "I can do it."
Frypan held up his hands. "Okay, tell ya what. You come over tomorrow morning to help with breakfast as your tryout, and I'll decide whether or not to make you a cook. You okay with that?"
The girl nodded, smiling brightly. "Mm-hmm! Thank you Frypan!"
He laughed. "No problem. Now, get your snacks and out with it!"
Chapter 2 complete! How do ya shanks like it, hmm?
Phoenix is finally making herself at home! She's met Minho as well.
More Minho/Phoenix in the next chapter (hopefully)!
Can any one of you guys think of a couple name for Phoenix and Minho?
Either post your idea as a review or PM me!
Please review/favorite/follow!
~Kim~
