Author stuff: I have zero recollection of writing this chapter. I'm not sure if I wrote it at work or at home or at the library, but apparently it was done and here it is for you.

Trigger warning: There is some drinking of alcohol in this chapter.

Have fun.


Chapter 4

In Which There Is A Wrestling Match

It wasn't as bad as he thought – he was glad he didn't have to help cleanup after lunch – but collecting dry underbrush and tinder wasn't much better. He was certain he'd gotten two dozen or so splinters. He didn't want to complain, though. Something told him that he would receive a massive amount of teasing for it.

That, and Flossy didn't seem to mind in the least. The work, that is. A few of the Gladers followed after her, carrying anything she unwillingly handed them. They reminded him of puppies or ducks or something. It was sickening to the point he thought he might actually vomit. They were doing all the heavy-lifting for her.

"Do they really have to do that?" a boy – Archie didn't know his name – said. He nodded in the direction of Flossy and her ragtag group.

"It's like they've never seen a girl before," he said.

"Not that any of us can remember."

"How long have you been here?"

"I was the second one to come up, so about… sixteen months now? Yeah, that sounds right."

Archie whistled.

"You've been here a long time, then."

"Not as long as some of the others."

"The original thirty, right? I think I remember Nick or Newt mentioning them."

"More like nineteen now, but yeah."

"What… what happened to the other eleven?" Archie said.

"The Maze happened," the boy said, nodding to the high walls.

Not for the first time, Archie looked them over. They were tall and imposing, sure – and he did feel a smidge claustrophobic stuck in the Glade – but they also had this sort of… safe feel to them that he couldn't quite describe.

"What's out there?" Archie said.

"What?"

"What's out there that's got everybody all… freaked out?"

The boy gave him a confused look, mulling over his words, before answering.

"Nothing for you to worry about, Greenie. If the Keepers decide that you need to know, then they'll tell you. As it stands, you don't need to know. Just stay out of the Maze, and you'll be fine. Good that?"

"Good that." The words felt strange on his tongue.

"Now, let's get those shanks to leave the poor Girlie alone, yeah? They have their own jobs to get to."


Archie watched as the group of boys who'd been trailing after Flossy – all Builders and Bricknicks, he'd learned – stuffed the underbrush and kindling into the chest strangely made skeleton-eqsue figure. It reminded him of a horrifying scarecrow of sorts. A scarecrow made of wood and topped with an animal skull – goat if he remembered correctly.

"Gally's idea," the boy – Dave, he'd learned after asking – said. "Started making these a tradition four months after I arrived. It's for the bonfire tonight."

"We're having a bonfire?" Archie said, blinking at him.

"Have one every time a new Greenie shows up. It's tradition at this point. And with three of you, Nick decided we'll have a half day tomorrow so everyone can sleep in a little longer. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome?"

Dave laughed at that.

"Don't worry, shuck-face. You'll have fun. You and the Girlie and the Greenbean."

"Flossy and Graham."

"Yeah, them."

"Why can't you guys call us by our names?" Archie said.

"Another tradition – I think Alby or Minho started it. Can't remember who. It's been too long."

"Who's Minho?"

"You'll meet him later, don't worry. Nice guy, really. Kind of full of himself and cracks a lot of jokes, but he really cares about everyone here. You'll like him."

Archie just nodded, continuing to help Dave and a few others set up tables and benches around a sandpit – for wrestling, Dave told him – and the firepit. He wasn't sure how long they had worked for, but by the time they finished the sky was starting to change colors and the Keepers just broke up their Gathering.

Alby headed straight for Flossy, who quickly dismissed herself from the conversation with the Builders and Bricknicks. They moved a ways away from the firepit to speak in private. It looked like a solemn conversation, but the way the tension left Flossy's shoulders made him think it was good news.

"I have a feeling Alby's going to have you watch something in a bit," Dave said. "We all had to see it on our first day."

"Another tradition?" Archie said.

"Sort of? It's more like… It's more life and death than anything else. It just kind of shows why we are the way we are, and why we do certain things."

Dave was right. As soon as Alby was done conversing with Flossy, they headed straight to him. Together, they all walked to the North opening in the Wall. Gally and one of the Baggers – what the other boys essentially called guards – brought Graham out. They held tightly to his arms until they reached the gathered group.

While they waited two people jogged into the Glade from whatever lay beyond – an eerie sort of place dripping with ivy and shadows between the high walls. It stank of damp and mold and rot. The very sight of it sent cold fingers down his back, tracing odd patterns that zigzagged and curled on his spine.

One of the people, one of the boys, was a tall Asian boy and the other was a lanky kid with very dark skin. They looked almost like all of the other boys in the Glade. Nothing about them really told him that he should pay attention to them.

"Hey, Alby," the Asian boy said. He and the other kid paused, taking in the three new faces. The Asian boy's eyes stopped on Flossy, his eyebrows rose up. He opened his mouth to say something.

"We'll talk later," Alby said to him.

"Good that," the boy said, nodding.

"That was Minho," Dave said quietly to him.

Before Archie could respond, there was a loud grinding noise. The ground under his feet trembled, little pebbles on the cobbled floor of the world beyond the Walls bouncing like jumping beans. He could only watch in awe as the opening started to close in front of him. A strong breeze – like a heavy breath – that smelled of dirt and moldy greens and wet stone blew past them.

Graham sank to his knees as he watched on, mouth and eyes open in abject horror.

No one said anything after the Walls – the North gate – closed in front of them. A few of the Gladers who'd decided to watch their reactions left – a few groaning and snarling at their failed bets, mostly against Flossy from what he could pick up (they'd expected her to faint or something).

The three of them – Archie, Flossy, and Graham – were left to muddle over their own thoughts.

"We're trapped here," Flossy said after a few quiet moments. Her voice was soft – curious but soft. "I wonder what's out there. That closing us in is necessary."

"Nothing good," Archie said. "If the walls close, there's nothing good out there. They're meant to protect us."

"It's a prison," Graham said. He slowly nodded his head. "We're prisoners in this place."

"I don't think so," Flossy said. "I think there's a way out, they just haven't quite got it yet."

"Why would it take them so long then?" Archie said. "I mean, it can't be that difficult, can it?"

"Well, they have a limited amount of time. Figure that in with how long they've been here, how expansive the place beyond the walls are, and some other factors… It's entirely possible they just haven't found the exit yet. Or maybe they have, and they just didn't realize it."


Graham sat off to the side, watching the festivities take place. His downcast expression made many of the Gladers steer clear of him. No one wanted to be brought down from the high they seemed to be riding on since the three of them arrived.

Newt introduced them to all of their different groups of Gladers – Slicers, Builders, Bricknicks, Cooks, Baggers, Sloppers, Track-hoes, Med-jacks, and Runners – as well as their Keepers. It was a lot of information and a lot of new Gladers to take in. Archie's head was swimming.

Graham seemed like he could care less about the goings on in the Glade, as if he'd rather not know anybody. It was kind of sad.

Flossy, meanwhile, was swamped with attention. Every time she'd managed to break away from one group, she'd be absorbed in another. She looked a little overwhelmed again.

Newt eventually came to her rescue and corralled the three of them back together. Well, truthfully, Newt had them sit by Graham so he could talk to the three of them.

"Right," Newt said, "so, only a partial day tomorrow."

"Dave mentioned that, though he said a half day," Archie said. Newt nodded, taking a sip of… something from a jar. A lot of the Gladers seemed to be drinking it. He wondered what it was.

"Builders, Bricknicks, Sloppers, and Track-hoes got a half day. Anyways, Nick left it up to me to tell you about what you'll be doing tomorrow." Archie and Flossy leaned closer and tilted their heads in interest. Graham remained impassive. "I've already talked to Winston, and he said he'll take you three on. You'll be working in the Blood House."

"We," Flossy said, making a face. "We won't have to… kill any animals, will we?"

"Winston won't make you do anything you don't want to." Newt took another sip of his jar. Archie thought he heard him say 'I hope', but he wasn't absolutely certain. "Now, being a Slicer is an all day thing because you have to help take care of the animals. You won't be starting as early as Winston and a few others, but you will be working most of the day. Nick was able to arrange that, at the least. Sorry about that."

A loud cheer rang up from around the sandpit. Archie turned and saw Dave sprawled out on the ground. Gally, laughing good naturedly, offered a hand to help him up. Dave took it, patting Gally on the back once he was on his feet. Dave turned and saw him watching.

"Hey, Greenie," he said, "why don't you give it a try? Come on, Gally will go easy on you."

The Gladers whooped and hollered at the thought. One came over and pulled Archie over. Newt and Flossy followed after them, Flossy tugging Graham with her.

"You can't avoid everyone forever," he heard her say to the other boy. He didn't tug away from her, surprisingly. He just looked irritated.

Archie kicked off his boots and socks, feeling the sand slide between his toes. It was pleasantly warm and not the least bit uncomfortable.

"Alright," Gally said when he was ready, "the rules are simple: Play fair and if you fall out of the ring, you lose. We go three rounds, good that?"

"Good that," Archie said, nodding. That phrase was starting to feel very familiar on his tongue.

The Gladers around him cheered. They were rather rowdy, all with jars of the same amber liquid that Newt was drinking. Some of it sloshed onto the sand, creating wet clumps that would stick to his feet if he stepped on them.

He and Gally slowly circled the ring, neither of them taking their eyes off the other. Neither of them trusted the other person not to make the first move. The din around him was overpowered by the thump-thump of his blood pumping in his ears. He tried to keep his breathing steady, but it was difficult.

It was Gally who made the first move – stepping and taking a swipe at Archie, who dodged easily. They met in the middle, hands raised. They grappled the other's elbows and held fast.

Gally had a bit more traction than Archie, forcing him to slide backwards in the sand. Archie dug his feet down, in hopes of slowing his progress. His toes clamped around the sand as they tried to hold him in place. It was in vain.

Archie ducked down and to the left, causing Gally to stumble. Archie kicked his leg back, aiming for Gally's knee. He made contact, but he hit lower than he'd intended.

Gally landed on his hands and knees. He quickly scrambled to his feet, kicking up sand in Archie's direction. Archie was forced to cover his face, unable to see the hit that came next.

He was hefted up and over, landing on his back. The crowd let out a cry – whether in sympathy or encouragement, Archie wasn't sure. He was too worried about the possible bruise and gaining his breath back.

He was pulled up again and forced out of the circle, into the onlookers. They pushed him back in. He practically belly flopped the ground.

Gally offered him a hand up.

"Round one, Greenie," he said, smiling. "Ready for round two?"

Once Archie had his bearings, he nodded. Round two began.

It was Archie, this time who made the first move. He zigzagged forward, arms at the ready. Gally rose up to meet him in the middle.

Archie swiped his feet out, trying to trip Gally up.

Gally ended up using that to his advantage. He knocked Archie flat on his back. Archie rolled over and kicked Gally's knees, managing to hit the backs of his knees this time.

The kick didn't knock him down, but it allowed Archie a chance to get back on his feet. He grabbed Gally's arm and swung him towards the edge of the sandpit. Gally tripped on the low rope that acted as a barrier, sending him out.

The Gladers sent Gally back in – a little more kindly than they had Archie – and round three began.


Author stuff cont'd.: I don't write action scenes very often. And this actually turned out okay. Nothing but smiles from me over here. Hopefully it made sense to y'all.

What am I listening to? Exolore: facts-based fictional worldbuilding

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