A/N

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CHAPTER THREE

Newt glanced at me awkwardly and then looked to the floor. I heard him mumble something but couldn't quite make it out.

"What did you say?" I asked. He looked up at me surprised and took a deep breath.

"I said that if you want me to, I can leave." He said this quickly and then looked back down at the floor. I suddenly felt a wave of guilt, he was just a boy. Granted, he seemed older than me but still. I felt bad for asking to not be alone with him. Thinking back on his smile, it didn't seem as creepy as I had originally thought. Intrigued maybe? Friendly even?

While I was thinking about this, I didn't realise that Newt had walked over to the door, taking my no answer as an answer in itself.

"Wait." I called out in a rush, "You can stay," He looked at me surprised, but I thought I saw a hint of relief in his eyes as well.

"Good that." He said with a small smile, which I thought was an odd response but didn't comment on. We sat in awkward silence for a bit, him on the bench and me sitting on the edge of the bed. I saw Newt glancing around the room, almost sadly, and I wondered what that was about. I decided to say something to take his mind off of whatever was bothering him. Even though I barely knew him, I still got the feeling that I didn't want him to be sad.

"So," I began, "What's this bonfire thing Alby was talking about?" Newt seemed relieved that I had spoken first and quickly took the chance to talk.

"Every month a new greenie comes up in the box, this month that's you. On box day we always have a bonfire to celebrate and welcome the new greenie." I could see him relax a little as he was talking.

"It's a tradition," he finished.

"Sounds fun," I responded, though not really believing it. I had so many questions and I didn't know where to start.

"What is this place?" I finally asked. Newt looked unsure like he couldn't really answer that.

"It's the glade," he said after a pause, "It's our hom- where we live," I nodded, though not really satisfied with the answer.

"Why are we here?" Again, Newt looked uncomfortable. I wondered why he was so closed up. I supposed it was because I was new.

"We don't really know," he told me, "Alby will explain everything on the tour tomorrow. Tonight, is about getting to know each other and having some fun." I didn't respond this time, instead standing up and walking over to the window.

As I looked over the glade, with its grassy floor and massive stone walls, I tried again to recall a memory. A hint of anything. My name. My age. My parents. But nothing came. I gave a groan and turned to Newt.

"Why can't I remember anything?" I asked while trying, and failing, to keep the frustration out of my voice. Newt looked up at me and held my gaze.

"None of us can," he spoke softly and I took a step closer to hear better, "All of us came up in that box, just like you, with no memories and no idea where we were. You'll get your name back eventually but that's it."

As he spoke, he confirmed what I didn't want to hear. I sat on the bed and put my head in my hands. I would never remember anything again! Only a measly name. What about my parents? Family? Friends? All the things that should be easy to recall. Surely I had them.

Newt must have noticed how I looked because he slowly approached and sat down on the bed next to me. I could sense his hand hovering above me before he delicately placed it on my shoulder. I could tell he wasn't used to this.

"Hey," he said, "Don't worry it'll get better. You'll find a life here and you'll be happy. It doesn't matter if you're the only girl or not." Oh shoot, I had forgotten I was the only female. I groaned.

"Look at me," he said. I slowly raised my head and turned it to stare him in the eyes.

"It will get better. It does for everyone." As I looked at him, I could tell he wasn't telling the entire truth but didn't want to push him. I nodded and stood up. I pasted a small smile on my face and turned to Newt, who was still sitting on the bed.

"Aren't we meant to be going somewhere?" I asked.

"Oh shuck!" Was his response, "I bloody forgot! Follow me, it's almost dinner time."

At the mention of dinner my stomach grumbled and I realised how hungry I was. I began to follow Newt out of the door when I remembered the wooden plank still gripped in my hand. I stared at it and then looked back at Newt. He was standing in the doorway looking at me quizzically.

I took a deep breath, dropped the plank and followed Newt out the door. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Newt

After hearing the girl proclaim that she didn't want to be alone with me I felt a rush of sadness that I hadn't prepared myself for. I didn't know why, I barely knew her, but for some reason I had subconsciously hoped that she would like me. That we might become friends. Alby left the room and it was just us together. I could sense that she was looking at me so I chanced a quick glance up before looking down at the floor again.

"I can go if you want," I mumbled. There was a pause before she responded.

"What did you say?" She asked. I looked up and took a breath in.

"I said that if you want me to, I can leave." I told her, looking back down at the floor once I'd finished. I was sure she would ask me to but I hoped that maybe I had misread her earlier comment and she wouldn't mind my company. Alas, when I looked at her again she didn't say anything and just glanced blankly between me and the door. I sighed and took that as my cue to leave. I headed towards the door, worried that I had just ruined my chances for a new friend. The first real change to happen around here in ages. I had just begun to open the door when she called out.

"Wait. You can stay." I looked up at her in surprise, trying to remain calm. Inside I was buzzing with relief and happiness.

"Good that." I stated, closing the door and walking over to the bench I had previously been sat on. I flashed her a small smile as I walked past.

As we sat together in silence, I once again noticed the room we were in. I had struggled to come in, in the first place but when talking to the girl I had forgotten. Now it all came flooding back. This was Nicks room. His room before he…passed away. I almost shook my head. Passed away made it sound too peaceful. He was sliced in half, not peaceful at all.

I glanced around the room feeling the wave of sorrow that swept over me. I shouldn't have let him go down that box chute. I should have tried harder to stop him. But the truth is, I had been excited about the possibility of a way out. Everyone had. We shouldn't have been so naïve. There was no way the creators would trap us in a giant maze if the way out was that simple.

"So," The greenie spoke, looking at me. I was startled out of my thoughts and looked up at her.

"What's this bonfire thing Alby was talking about?" I was almost relieved by her question and took the opportunity to take my mind off of Nick.

"Every month a new greenie comes up in the box, this month that's you." I started to explain, "On box day we always have a bonfire to celebrate and welcome the new greenie. It's a tradition." I felt my shoulders untense as I was talking and realised that I was already finding myself more comfortable around this girl.

"Sounds fun," she responded plainly and I almost chuckled at her lack of enthusiasm.

"What is this place?" she asked instead. I looked up unsure, not knowing how to answer. How could I explain something that I didn't fully know myself?

"It's the glade," I started with the basics, "It's our hom-," I stopped myself. Did I really think of this place as a home? No. Not even close.

"Where we live." I finished awkwardly. She nodded, although without any real conviction.

"Why are we here?" she pressed. I sighed and rubbed my forehead. How was I supposed to answer any of these questions? I decided to try being honest. She seemed like she could handle it.

"We don't really know. Alby will explain everything on the tour tomorrow. Tonight, is about getting to know each other and having some fun." I tried to make my response upbeat to make up for the lack of knowledge but I couldn't tell if it worked.

I watched as the girl greenie stood and walked over to the window. As she looked out, I took her in. I guessed she was about 5"7, maybe taller but shorter than me. She had tan skin and brown hair that reached her lower back. She was still holding the wooden plank that she hit Alby and Gally with but it was hanging limp at her side. As I looked at her, I realised that she really was beautiful. She turned back to me and we locked eyes. I felt a weird tingling sensation rush through me. What was going on? Her eyes were a bright blue and they were mesmerising. I felt a smile play on my lips.

Catching myself staring I realised she was speaking.

"-remember anything?" she was saying. I didn't want to seem like I hadn't been listening so I answered quickly, hoping I referenced the right question.

"None of us can." She took a step closer and I continued, gaining confidence in my response, "All of us came up in that box just like you, with no memories and no idea where we were. You'll get your name back eventually but that's it."

Her face fell after I spoke and I felt a ripple of sympathy. I knew the feeling. She sat down on Nick's bed and put her head in her hands. I was sure a thousand thoughts were going through her mind but I didn't know what to do. How to comfort her.

Of course, I had done this sort of things with the other boys but this was different. She was a girl. I couldn't even remember interacting with a girl before her, let alone how I was supposed to act around one.

Tentatively I walked over and sat next to her. I raised my hand, unsure of where to put it, before placing it gently on her shoulder. I half expected her to shrug it off and felt that same weird tingling sensation when she didn't. I decided to attempt some words of comfort.

"Hey. Don't worry it'll get better. You'll find a life here and you'll be happy." I wasn't sure if I believed the words that were coming out of my mouth but I spoke them anyways, "It doesn't matter if you're the only girl or not." As soon as I said that last part she groaned and I silently cursed myself. I had probably just reminded her of another reason to be worried. Great.

She still sat with her head in her hands so I tried again.

"Look at me?" I asked her. She slowly did that and I met her eyes.

"It will get better," that part I believed, "It does for everyone," That part not so much. I tried to look like I was being sincere and telling the truth and let out a sigh of relief when she stood up and looked at me with a small smile.

"Aren't we meant to be going somewhere?" She asked and my eyes widened.

"Oh shuck!" I exclaimed, "I bloody forgot! Follow me, it's almost dinner time." I gestured towards the door.

At the mention of dinner I saw her eyes light up and, again, I almost laughed. I started to walk out the door, sensing that she was following, when she stopped. Looking back from the doorway I saw her staring at the wooden plank still gripped in her hand. For a fleeting second, I thought she might attack me but just as quickly pushed that thought away as she dropped it onto the floor and walked towards me. I bit my lip to cover my wide smile as we walked towards the exit of the homestead. It appeared she trusted me now.