The next morning, the greenie is feeling much better about everything. He's even got his name back: Chuck.
He's a sweet kid, but doesn't do so well during his shadowing period. He'd puked before even stepping foot in the bloodhouse, knocked over an entire pile of lumber at the building station in thirty seconds flat, and Frypan hadn't even let the poor kid into the kitchens.
He's even shorter than Ash, and so couldn't reach half the things he needed for the gardens; when Ash had let him into the medjack hut to try to help bandage up a slicer, Winston laughed as he watched Round Two.
Given how easily Chuck gets out of breath, running isn't an option either. The only two left are slopper and animal pen duties— though Nellie ends up having to save him from a particularly ill-tempered hen. Which just leaves slopper duties. (Chuck is not happy about it, but he doesn't complain… much.)
Ash finds herself taking on a big-sisterly role with him, which she actually enjoys, though she's becoming more and more absent-minded as the days go on. The others don't seem to notice, except for those who know her best.
Newt, Frypan, and Gally.
"You okay, dude?" Fry asks her one evening over dinner, about two weeks after Chuck's arrival.
"Hm..?" She glances up from her plate, having been staring intently at the hunk of meat for the last several minutes. "Oh, I'm fine— just a little out of it, that's all."
"Been doin' that a lot, though," Newt points out. Ash shrugs, taking a bite of her food.
"Just… tired, I guess," she mumbles. "Can't sleep much. I feel… just, weird. I dunno how to explain it."
Her two dining companions give her skeptical looks, but don't push the subject as Chuck finally joins them. Glancing around, Ash spots Gally sitting on the other side of the dining area, laughing and chatting with some of the other builders. Alby, Ben, and Minho are missing from the crowd.
Her leg starts bouncing of its own accord, practically vibrating. Newt, sitting directly next to her, elbows her. She nudges him back, not bothering trying to control her leg.
Her inattentiveness only gets worse the closer to the next Box day they get. Even other Gladers are starting to notice, not just her close friends.
The morning the new Greenie is supposed to arrive, the alarm doesn't go off until nearly two hours past its usual time. Everyone's restless by that point, knowing they'll have to hurry through the next steps in order to start the bonfire on time.
As usual, Ash stays in her room with Nellie until one of the others— usually Alby or Newt— swings by to let her know it's safe to come out.
Meanwhile, the Box finally arrives.
The kid inside is about average age this time— 16 or 17, though no one knows their own ages for sure— but he's soaked. Sweat, water, whatever. It's unusual, but not unheard of. He's clearly just fallen onto his back, shielding the sun from his eyes as Gally hops down into the Box with him.
"Day one, Greenie," he says. "Time to rise and shine!" He smirks as he helps haul the kid to his feet, and two of the other builders join them down below to get him—and the supplies— out.
The moment the greenie hits the grass, he scrambles to his feet and books it away from the Box. Zart's voice is heard even above the laughs and jeers of the other boys, calling out,
"We've got a runner!"
He gets maybe fifty feet before tripping and taking a hard tumble. Newt watches with interest as Alby and two others approach the greenie and help him back to his feet, promptly hauling him off to the pit to calm down and orient himself.
Shaking his head, Newt gets back to work, helping unload supplies and direct others to take them where they belong. The new pig in the crate proves a bit more difficult to handle, but they eventually get the creature to the animal pen with the others.
Eventually everything gets put away, and he spots Alby and the greenie just starting the tour, standing in the middle of everything. He half-jogs over, doing his best to hide his limp. No need to freak the poor newbie out any more than he already is.
"You alright there, Alby?" he calls out, chuckling to himself, and Alby joins in for a second before introducing him to the greenie.
"Meet Newt," he says, "when I'm not around, he's in charge."
Newt suppresses a shudder, covering it with a joke as he shakes the greenie's hand. "Well it's a good thing you're always around, then." He meets the greenie's eyes, sizing him up. They're about the same height, and even a similar build, though this new boy is a bit broader in the shoulders. He gets a bit more serious for a moment, finally letting go of the kid's hand.
"Listen, that was some dash you made earlier," he says. "For a second, I thought you had the chops to be a runner… 'til you face-planted." He finishes with a smirk, and Alby laughs again.
"Wait," the greenie says, brows furrowing. "Runner?"
Alby sighs, sharing a look with Newt. "Do me a favor and go find Chuck?" Despite his tone, Newt can tell it's not an optional request. He nods, passing between the other two in order to do so.
Alby pats the greenie on the shoulder and guides him away in the opposite direction. "Look, I'm sorry to rush this," he says brusquely, "you came up a little late, and there's a lot to do. We got something special planned for tonight."
The greenie glances back toward Newt, and Alby follows his gaze before turning him back on track. "You'll see," he says with a small smirk.
They approach the tower, and Alby doesn't hesitate to start climbing the ladder. "Hope you're not afraid of heights," he calls over his shoulder, pleased when he can hear the greenie beginning to climb as well. At the top, he pushes the trapdoor open and crawls through. Standing, he goes and leans against the railing as the greenie joins him, looking out over the open fields of the Glade.
"This is all we have," Alby says quietly. "We've worked hard for it- if you respect this place, you 'n I will get along just fine."
He's not sure the greenie's listening, though, because instead of nodding along or even answering, the kid asks, "What's out there?" The greenie points toward the maze doors, and Alby can only sigh as he follows his one more wandering gaze.
He turns back to the greenie with exhaustion seeping into every bone in his body, choosing not to answer as he grips the railing with both hands. "We only have three rules," he says, getting to business with a warning edge to his tone.
"First, do your part. No time for any freeloaders."
The greenie seems to sense the shift in mood, looking over to Alby with much more attention than before.
"Second," Alby continues, "never harm another Glader- none of this works unless we have trust. But most importantly-" he shifts closer to the greenie, leaning in as he emphasizes the last official rule. "Never go beyond those walls. You understand me, greenie?"
The pair lock eyes for a moment, but the greenie is robbed of the chance to respond as a new voice calls up from the ground. They both look over the edge to see Chuck waving up at them, grinning from ear to ear. He's got a fresh hammock and blanket rolled up at his feet, ready for the greenie to set up himself in the homestead.
Taking one last look around the Glade, looking at all the boys wandering around with supplies, or leading animals back to the pen, or prepping for the plans Alby had mentioned, something clicks in the greenie's brain.
"Why aren't there any girls here?" he asks, and Alby laughs as the serious nature from before begins to dissipate.
"There's actually one," he says. "You'll meet her later; just remember rule number two, okay? She'll kick your ass herself if you try to break it."
She finally gets to leave her room when Alby swings by to tell her that the greenie's when informed and sufficiently warned. Nellie's certainly glad, immediately bolting toward the animal pen to check on the chickens. She's gotten oddly attached to them, in an almost motherly sort of way.
Ash herself wanders toward the kitchens, keeping an eye out for the greenie. It's not long before she sees him, striding toward the maze doors with Chuck hot on his heels. Biting back a small smile, she decides to follow them. She's still a ways away when Chuck finally manages to stop the greenie, just as Minho and Ben return from their run.
"Hey Chuck," she can hear the latter call, "new greenie, huh? How's it feel to be promoted?"
"Feels great, Ben," the boy calls back, grinning. That smile grows even wider when he sees Ash finally catching up.
She simply tilts her chin up in greeting, flashing a peace sign to the runners as they pass. "I've been told my reputation precedes me," she says, directing her words to the greenie. "My name is Ash. I'm in charge of making sure the guys around here don't get hurt."
He doesn't seem to be paying attention, still staring after the runners who are now long gone. "I thought no one was allowed to leave."
Ash rolls her eyes at the greenie's seemingly one-track mind, though she can't exactly blame him. "They're the exception."
"I said we're not allowed to leave. They're different, they're runners," Chuck explains. "They know the maze better than anyone-"
"Chuck," Ash says sharply, but it's too late. The greenie had certainly been paying attention just then, already questioning the boy's slip of the tongue.
She sighs, following the boys once more as the greenie tries to get even closer to the doors. "You really don't wanna go out there," she warns. "It's not as fun as it sounds- and you especially don't wanna get too close right now."
"It's not safe," Chuck adds, looking to her for support.
"I just wanna take a look," the greenie brushes them both off, and Ash pinches the bridge of her nose as he takes yet another step towards the doors. All three of them can see down the entry corridor now, and the breeze from it sends a shiver down her spine. After one more moment, she opens her mouth to tell him that time's up, but she doesn't get the chance to speak.
"Hey!" A familiar voice shouts, and Ash smoothly takes a step back just in time for Gally to shove the greenie, sending him flying several feet before landing on his side in the grass.
Something about seeing that interaction sends a different kind of shiver up her spine, and she bites her lips together. Shaking herself out of it, she refocuses just in time to hear Gally's snark.
"We gotta stop meetin' like this, greenie," he says, clearly trying to ease the tension he himself had just created, but the greenie isn't having any of it.
Scrambling to his feet, the greenie shoves Gally away from him, even as the builder raises his hands in defense and tries to tell him to calm down. The volume of it all draws the attention of the other Gladers, and Ash sighs as they gather around.
"Don't touch me," the greenie snaps. "What the hell is wrong with you guys?"
"Just calm down, alright?" Newt tries, reaching the front of the small crowd with Alby right behind him.
"No- why won't you tell me what's out there?"
"We're just trying to protect you, man," Alby says placatingly.
"You can't just keep me here!"
"Well we can't let you leave," Alby retorts.
"Why not?"
And as though those were the magic words, the squealing of concrete on metal echoes from within the maze as it prepares for its evening routine. Ash groans quietly, plugging her ears to try to keep the worst of the sound out. It's not too bad from the other side of the Glade, but it's almost unbearable for her to be so close to it.
The greenie mutters in surprise as the doors begin to close, and no one else speaks until it's over.
"Next time, I'm gonna let you leave," Gally says with a scowl before walking away. Most of everyone else goes after him, slowly heading back to their previous activities until only Alby and the greenie are left staring at the spot where the two doors meet.
"Welcome to the Glade."