Hello again, humans.
I'm happy to see of the support for this story! I've just been getting so much that I get excited about writing. In HS writing was not fun at all. Anyway here's the third chapter (it's kinda boring) feat. the dudes of the Glade and a bit of a time skip. No worries, we haven't left S yet. I think the next chapter may be shorter, but I might just combine the next two parts into one update... you never know~
OCTOBER 2018: EDITED! Hehe, hey guys.
"Talking"
Thoughts
Flashback
Warnings: Uh, shankiness?
Disclaimer: I don't own TMR!
Chapter 3
He was flying across the field and away from the eyes and the jarring sneers. He didn't know where he was going or who he even was, but he had to get away.
"Hey, we got a Runner!" A voice shouted behind him. It was laughing at him, just like the others-
And then he tripped.
The dark haired boy tumbled on the grass, rolling until he landed on his stomach in a painful heap. Slowly, he rose to his knees as he quelled the nausea in his stomach. The boy finally looked up at his surroundings and took in the gigantic walls fencing in the green area. Once he stood, his eyes caught sight of the huge doors before a hand came down on his shoulder.
Joe and another Bagger named Tim relaxed at their posts by the Maze doors as the green bean tripped. Joe just let out an exasperated sigh, and Tim barked out a laugh at the sight.
He was in a cage.
Well, it was more like a big hole in the ground with woven wood and sticks for bars. He leaned up to the edge of the odd prison and looked out at the area around him. It was so green. Green fields, green forests on the other side of the area, green vines on the massive walls. He saw goats, a cow, numerous boys milling about, and those same doors that split one of the huge rock walls that enclosed the area.
The dark haired boy was staring at the doors when something just moved in front of him. He jerked back so hard that he fell against the opposite wall of the jail.
A another boy squatted in front of the 'door' of his prison. He had dark brown hair that was long enough to fall into his green eyes and just looked at the greenie through the bars.
Finally, after a few moments, the boy tilted his head and said, "Hey, greenie. I'm Nick. Now, do you remember anything? Names, places, people – anything."
The boy clenched his fists as he tried to remember anything, but nothing surfaced. No names, no places, no memories. Who was he? Who were these guys? Why did he come up that elevator thing and why couldn't he even remember his own name? "No. I – I can't remember anything. Why can't I – "
"Hey, relax. It happens to everyone who comes up that box." The boy shifted back onto his heels and moved to unlatch the door before raising an eyebrow at the amnesiac.
"You're not gonna run again, are you?"
When the greenie shook his head, the door was opened all the way and he was ushered into the Glade.
"So, this is the Glade." Nick waved his arms around him as the greenie watched. He was leading the new guy around the Glade, letting him gawk at their home. "Every month a greenie like yourself comes up, no memories, just a name. That's all they'll let us keep anyway-"
"They?"
"Whoever sent us here." Nick watched the greenie as he said this. "Anyway, the system we made works. We take care of each other, grow our own food – besides the meat – build our own shelter, and 'They' send us anything else we need in the Box." He waved his hand in the general direction of the supply Box as he took the greenie through the Glade. There were still some guys unloading the supplies.
Nick stopped in a spot that had a good view of the entirety of the Glade. "Everyone has a job and everyone does their job. Each job has a Keeper who's kind of like a supervisor. We have the Track Hoes –" He pointed at an area off to the right with rows and rows of plants, "who are the farmers and gardeners of the Glade. Their Keeper is Zart." He singled out a tall, burly boy with curly blond hair yelling something to another Track Hoe. "And there are the Slicers in the Bloodhouse," he then indicated a dank-looking building connected to the livestock pens on the far left, "Butchers basically. Winston's the Keeper of that." He looked at the green bean with raised eyebrows. "Watch out for their humor, 'specially that shank Winston. It's kinda creepy."
The greenie nodded and couldn't help a smile at Nick's haunted look and tone.
"Then we've got the Builders and their Keeper Gally. He's the one who pushed you earlier." The greenie scowled at this information and Nick could only roll his eyes.
"Hey, that slinthead saved your ass. Anyway they build stuff, obviously." He pointed out a few guys who were, well, building. "There's also the Brincknicks who are like the Builders, but they focus of repairs. Gally keeps them also." Nick jutted his chin at the blond, built Keeper with crazy eyebrows who was working with another guy to weave sticks together. "He's an ass, but he means well. Sometimes."
Nick then pointed to the impressively large building with several hammocks around it, about fifty yards in front of them. "This is the Homestead. You'll sleep and keep your stuff here. The Keepers have their own rooms, and that's also where the Med-jacks are. Clint and Jeff are the 'doctors', so if you ever get hurt, just see them. Then there are the Baggers and their Keeper Jacob." He was able to point out a dark skinned boy talking to two others. "They're like the police of the Glade. They'll break up fights, guard the doors, and throw people in the Slammer, which is where you just were. They also take care of the corpses."
The greenie's head whipped towards Nick in alarm at hearing this. Nick just waved off the look. "They haven't actually had to do that in, ah, over a year? Yeah. So don't panic, green bean." Nick then pointed at a building between the Homestead and the Bloodhouse. "The Kitchen. Frypan and his cooks make breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We've even got bells for those times." Nick gave the greenie a droll look. "Beware."
"And, lastly, but definitely not the most unimportant, the Sloppers. Their Keeper is Sam. They clean everything from laundry to toilets. They're cool. Most look down on them, 'cuz that's the job you get if you suck at everything else. I, personally, am grateful to have them." Nick popped his hands onto his hips and turned to the greenie. "You'll begin tryouts for all the jobs tomorrow. You'll start with the Tracks, and then-"
"What do you do?" The greenie asked.
Nick gave him a cheery grin. "None of them! I'm in charge around here. Now come on, I gotta introduce you to someone." Nick grabbed the greenie's shoulder and pulled him over to a pair of guys talking near the Box.
"The one on the left is Alby. He's the second-in-command. Whenever I'm not around, he's in charge." Alby was a dark skinned boy with what seemed to be a permanent scowl on his face. He had his arms crossed over his chest and head tilted at the boy on the right. "The other is Newt. He's the unofficial third in command. We didn't need one, but he kinda takes charge when neither Alby nor myself is around. He also helps Alby when I'm not here, but on regular days he's with the Track Hoes." Newt was a taller boy with tousled blond hair and dark chocolate eyes. Nick slowed their place and grinned at the newbie.
"Don't ever say it to his face, but he's like the Den Mother of the Glade. Always taking care of everyone and such. In theory, the greenies should go to Alby for help, 'cuz I'm kinda busy running the Glade, ya know? But they usually run to Newt, 'cuz Alby scares everyone. So now he's in charge of the greenies during their first week."
When they finally reached he pair Nick motioned to the boys. "Newt, Alby, meet the greenie. Green bean, meet Alby and Newt."
Alby only responded with a firm nod while Newt shook the greenies had with a bright smile. In a thick accent he said, "That was some dash you made earlier. For a second a thought you had the chops to be a Runner... Well, until you face planted."
The three Gladers chuckled until the greenie turned with a confused look to Nick. "Wait, Runner?"
"Yep, green bean. Unfortunately for you, the Runners are chosen. No auditions there." Nick caught movement near the walls of the Maze and grinned. "Speak of the devil!"
All four of them looked at the entrance of the Maze. Thomas watched as a few boys exited the Maze, all wearing leather harnesses and looking sweaty and tired.
"One more thing before I let you free." Nick told him before he turned to the other two.
"Can one of you go get Chuck for me?"
Newt only smirked and nodded as he limped away. Alby, recognizing the end of the conversation, turned back to the supplies he was helping sort (ordering around other Gladers, actually.)
"Come on, I'll show you the Peak."
"There're only three rules. One; Do your part. This only works if everyone is in on it. The second: never hurt another Glader. You'll just be asking to get thrown into the Slammer. And finally," Nick pointed to the Maze doors from his perch atop the scaffolding that overlooked the entire Glade. "Never leave the Glade."
The greenie had looked around in wonder, atop the tall 'tower' made of various wooden platforms, before staring at the doors Nick indicated. "Why? What's out there?"
Nick looked like he was about to answer before then heard a distant 'Nick!' come from below them.
Nick looked over the railing, previous seriousness gone as he grinned down at the Glader on the ground. "Haha! Chuck, my man. How's it going?"
The green bean looked over to see a young boy, about twelve years old, waving his hand. His curly dark hair bounced around his head and his cheeks, which still had a good amount of baby fat on them, were a healthy pink. The young Glader stood next to some supplies he had brought along.
"Let's go see the ex-greenie, greenie."
"What are you doing? We're not allowed to leave!" Chuck said, grasping the new greenie's arm.
"S'ok, s'ok. I just wanna look." The greenie said, patting the kid on the hand as he steps towards the Maze doors. The corridor just inside the Maze was gloomy and spooky. The walls were tall enough to cast an eerie shadow on the path, and vines were hanging from the large concrete walls of the Maze, nearly covering all the rock.
"Greenie-"
"HEY!" Suddenly, two hands pushed at the newbie from his right side, launching him away from the Maze doors and onto the ground harshly. A shorthaired blond boy stood over him, his tan shirt stretched across his muscles, crazy eyebrows narrowed at the dark haired greenie.
"You better back up, newbie, or you might end up like the she-bean," Gally said.
The new kid kicked at his assaulter; jerkily standing up and taking care to keep some distance between them. He spun wildly around when he noticed voices coming from behind him. The Gladers were all headed his way, due to the other boy's attempts to calm him down.
"Woah, greenie! Calm, calm, ca-"
"No! What are you guys doing? Why won't you tell me what's out there?" The greenie waved his arm at the doors, dark eyes panicked.
"Listen, we're just trying to protect you-" Newt was cut off by a thunderous boom that came from the doors of the maze.
All eyes watch the great doors close; some wide, some with expectant looks, one in wonder. Once they finally closed, the Keeper of the Builders heavily patted the dazed greenie on the back.
"Next time, I'll let you leave."
Thomas heard another one of the guys, Alby, walk closer to him and lean in:
"Welcome to the Glade."
"That's impossible." The newbie said in disbelief, his already light skin paling as he listened to the Maze changing. He and Newt were leaned against a log, watching the other Gladers celebrate the coming of a new greenie around a large bonfire.
"Changes everything night, mate," Newt said, shaking his head. "Listen, the Runners are the fastest and the strongest of us all, because when they go through those doors in the morning," He pointed his hand holding the jar of Gally's recipe to the doors on their left, "and they don't come back by the time the Maze closes, they're stuck out there all night."
The greenie was staring at the doors, hanging on every one of Newt's words.
"And no one has ever survived a night in the Maze."
The brunette glanced at Newt's face as the blonde stared at the bonfire the Gladers were surrounding.
"What's out there?"
To the greenie's question, Newt only grunted. When the greenie kept staring at him, the blond turned towards him and rolled his eyes. "How about this, we'll answer some of your questions in the morning. Okay, shank? You've still got to see the service and surprise."
The greenie's brow furrowed as he thought about Newt's proposal. Great, more waiting... But what's the service? I don't think the surprise will be all that wonderful, either...
The greenie nodded, letting it go to watch the Gladers celebrate. After a moment he turned back to Newt again. The blond almost huffed out a laugh at the brunette's unquenchable curiosity.
"Earlier, when Gally pushed me away from the doors-"
"Saved your life, you mean-"
"He mentioned something about a she-bean. What's a she-bean?" He continued softly, as if he could feel the heaviness surrounding the word. Newt stared at the newbie, searching his gaze, for what the amnesiac didn't know, before the blond sighed.
"The term 'she-bean' is given to a female Glader who comes up in the Box." Newt said, eyeing the new guy, knowing he had just opened the floodgates to even more questions.
"Girl Glader? I thought it was all guys here?" The greenie asked, perking up as his eyes scanned the crowd of Gladers, like a girl was going to randomly pop out of the woodwork.
"There was. Once."
"What-"
"We'll tell you about it tomorrow, greenie... Anyway, this party is for you, ya' know. You're the guest of honor!" Ignoring the greenie's protest, Newt only stood and hauled the 'guest of honor' up to his feet. "Let me show you around."
Thomas. His name is Thomas.
He stared up at the wooden ceiling of the Homestead and smiled, happy that he finally remembered something, even if Gally literally knocked it into him.
Thomas closed his eyes and dreamed flashes of a past he doesn't remember.
Newt woke Thomas up in the morning, telling him quietly to follow him. The greenie got up and rubbed sleep from his eyes, and look at the hammocks around him. Few were empty, but most still had Gladers sleeping in them.
He followed the limping third in command into the Deadheads, in the waking hours of dawn and too sleepy to protest, but awake enough to wonder what was going on.
"Newt? What's this?" Thomas stared at the glass cube-like window that was in embedded in the rock wall in amazement, his previous sleepiness gone in a flash.
"Just watch."
It took five minutes and several questioning glances at the blond before he saw it.
Thomas jerked back as the shadowy figure crashed into the glass, but didn't shatter it, surprisingly. He leaned forward to get a better look and almost wished he hadn't.
It looked like a spider – a gooey spider with an ugly set of teeth and metal legs, with a scorpion tail attached to it. He almost puked at its ugly face and how it produced all that disgusting slime.
"This is why you shouldn't ever go into the Maze. These things, Grievers we call them, come out after the doors close and tear anyone in the Maze to pieces."
Thomas turned towards Newt and followed him as he led him back to the Homestead.
"Those things kill us?"
"Yup."
"Has anyone ever met one of them before? Without the glass, I mean, in the Maze?"
"Not anyone who's alive right now."
"You guys've tried everything to get out of here, right? Like over the walls-"
Newt cut him off. "Tried it."
"Well, what about through the Box?"
Newt looked back at Thomas as they trekked back to the Homestead. "Of course we tried. We've been here for three years! We've had time to try everything. Whatever you're thinking, greenie, we already did it. Our only chance – our only hope is through the Maze with the Runners. We just can't get caught by the Grievers."
Chuck met them at the back of the Homestead, near the restrooms and showers, excited eyes on the slightly green Thomas. The boy let Newt pass him as he waited for the greenie that had lagged behind to process the blonde's words.
The kid's nose scrunched up. "You saw it, right? I almost klunked my pants when I did."
Thomas followed the younger, curly haired boy to the front of the more awake Homestead where Newt and Alby were standing. They were watching Nick, Minho, and the other Runners gather at the doors. The Asian boy was carrying a small box to the others and set it down just inside the doors when they opened. After a farewell from their leader, the Runners ran in the Maze.
"What's that?" Thomas asked, nodding his chin at the little ritual.
"We stressed not running into the Maze yesterday for a reason, greenie." Alby stated, face in his usual scowl, with an eyebrow raised.
"A little over a year ago we got a greenie like we always do – came up the Box like the rest of 'em. Except when we finally got her," Newt stressed the word at Thomas, "out of the Box, she took off the moment I took my eyes off her. She ran straight into the Maze. We never saw her again."
"They couldn't even find her body. No blood, nothing." Chuck added in cheerfully, still watching the box at the doors. It was weird, hearing a cherub-faced kid saying that in such a tone of voice.
"Come on, greenie. We've got to get breakfast and then get to Zart for your first day as a working Glader!" Thomas and Chuck followed Newt to the Kitchen while Alby stayed at the Homestead.
Chuck chatted amicably to the older Gladers as they walked. "Some shanks call it The Offering. Apparently, even though the she-bean passed, the Creators still send up stuff for her. I don't even think they know about her being gone, ya know?" Thomas raised an eyebrow at the term 'Creators', but took it in a stride.
"Why leave that stuff at the Doors then?" Thomas asked, just as intrigued about the Offering as Chuck was.
"We got a supply box for her the month after she died in the usual monthly delivery." Newt started. He couldn't help but smile at Chuck's enthusiasm, which had spread to the greenie, about the rumors. "Nick decided to leave it at the Maze doors for the day to pay respects. Scared the klunk outta Bagger Joe when it disappeared."
"What! It disappeared?"
"Yup!" Chuck replied excitedly. "I heard that Joe was the first up there after the Runners left, because of he had door duty. He freaked when he saw that the girl's stuff was gone."
Newt chuckled. "Damn shank blamed the Runners for taking it with them when they went into the Maze. They didn't, of course. Minho confirmed it." He turned until he was limping backwards to face the two and jabbed a finger at the doors. "It became a monthly thing, 'cuz everyone tries to catch who takes it. Bet you that at some point that box'll suddenly vanish by the end of the day. Even with everyone watching it."
"But how does it disappear? And why call it The Offering?"
Chuck had the audacity to huff and roll his eyes, "It vanishes, greenie! One moment it's there and the next, poof! Like magic and its gone. Some shanks call it the Offering, 'cuz they think her ghost takes the box into the maze!"