It was another sunny day in the Glade, which is why I was so happy to see Joe and let him take over in the kitchen so I could get out. The sun was so warm, but I felt so sticky and gross I hadn't showered in what felt like weeks, but I knew I had to wait until later.
"Hey," a voice caught my attention and I turned to see Lee waving to me.
I raise my arm up a little and wave back, Lee took that as an invitation, so he jogged over to me.
"Hey," he repeated with a sweating smile.
"Hey," I greeted him.
"I've been meaning to talk to you," he panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead but then streaking it with dirt from his hand.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, just wanted to properly meet you, you know? WE met on my first day but I don;t see you around very much."
"Oh, I keep busy in the kitchen."
"Yeah, believe me, Gally keeps us plenty busy too," he laughed looking back at the rest of the builders.
I saw Gally, he was pointing at something and telling someone what to do.
"I remember my day with the builders, it wasn't really my style."
"Course not," he smiled. "Pretty little girl like you, being in the sun all day would be murder."
Pretty? Did he just say pretty? Did he say little girl?
I went to ask him what he meant when Gally came up to us.
"Not paying you to sit around and talk," he told Lee.
"You're not paying us at all," Lee responded and Gally and him laughed together.
Gally turned to me," Good to see you Greenbean," he smiled.
"Hey Gally. The building looks nice."
"Yeah," he looked back at it proudly," We're nearly finished. Maybe a few more days and it'll be done."
"Yeah it will," Lee and Gally high-fived one another.
"Hey Lee, Go check on the binding on the back corner, looks a little loose."
"You got it," Lee looked to me once before heading to his job, but Gally stayed in front of me.
"I've been meaning to seek you out, Greenie," he turned back to me.
"Why is that?"
"Just to see how things were doing. You know, we look out for one another here," he smiled.
"I'm good. Doing great," I smiled convincingly.
"I'm glad that the whole...," Gally searched for the word. "Situation didn't get under your skin."
"Gally, there was no situation," I tried to say lightly.
"Yeah, oh yeah, believe me. We all know that nothing happened," he said. "I mean," he paused. "I know it had to of been hard. I know you and Jackson were... close."
"Yeah," I nodded, turning away so I could leave. This is weird.
"Wait, wait, wait," Gally jumped in front. "What I'm saying is that... I'm here if you ever need anything. Ever. I mean it Greenbean, you can always come to good ole Gally."
"Thanks...," I side stepped." Oh, there's Stan!" I saw him lugging some pots to be washed. "I've been meaning to talk to him about something. About the kitchen. The dishes. Dishes from the kitchen," I corrected myself. "Gotta go!," I jumped to the side and jogged away from Gally. "Hey Stan," I waved him down.
He turned around and saw me, almost dropping what he was holding.
"Oh... H-Hi," he stopped moving.
"Uhm, hey, yeah Stan. Yeah, great to see you. How... How is everything?"
"Everything?," he asked.
"Yeah, the whole Slopper do you like it? I had to do it as punishment so I know it's not all easy," I rambled quickly, waving my arms to make it look likea real conversation just in case Gally was watching me.
"Well, I mean, Tucker i-is nice. He s-says I'm doing a g-good job."
"Siggy thinks so too. He likes that you come a little after the lunch rush to pick things up, instead of during when we're so swamped."
"Y-yeah?"
"Yeah, he appreciates it."
That's a lie. Siggy had never said anything about Stan before. But I wanted to stretch this out as long as possible, but I was already out of material.
"Is he watching?"
"Who?"
"Gally," I told him. "Is he watching us?"
Stand peered over my shoulder," No, I d-don't see him."
I let out a deep breath, "Good."
"Why?"
"Uhm... no reason. Just... he can be a little intense sometimes, you know? You ever talked to him?"
Stan shook his head.
"I think it's just his eyes, you know? They kind of bore into you a little, I just had to get away," I tired to laugh it off but Stan looked terrified. "Uhm... well, thanks for cleaning the dishes, I'll see you around," I backed away and then turned and headed to my hut.
Well that was disaster! You probably looked insane! Stan looked at me like I was a ghost... And what the hell was that "pretty little girl" thing? Who even is Lee!? I've been here longer than him!
I went into my hut and paced the floor, I felt so high energy, like I almost needed to take a lap around the Galde to get rid of this wild energy inside me. I felt angry almost, like I might need to let out a scream.
Why does this place keep acting like I'm so different!? I do my part, I'm a Glade too, but still it's like I'm so weird pet they have that they have to protect and keep safe because I can't do it myself! Like I don't have my own mind and can't make my own choices.
I heard a low grumble outside my room, it sounded like a animal, but also I heard a clink like it was metal. A griever! I waited for another sound, but the air was still and there was nothing, not even a breeze to rustle the trees. That's impossible! It can't be here! It's daytime. Grievers aren't out during the day! I have to tell someone!
I ran out of my room and towards the Garden, I broke free of the Deadhead and sprinted as fast as I could. I saw Newt, carrying a bucket of water towards the pump and he saw me. He looked a confused and stopped walking, then he dropped the bucket and ran towards me.
"Are you okay?,"he asked as we reached one another in the open space of the Glade. He was holding my forearms in his hands, but I wanted to throw myself on him, I was so scared.
"I heard a griever!," I told him panicked. "It was outside my room, in the maze!"
"Wait? What?"
"A griever! I heard it in the maze! It was there! They are in the maze right now!"
"Wait, wait... Are you sure?"
"Come!," I grabbed his hand started to run.
"No, I have to get Alby!," he let go of me and ran towards the Deadhead. I followed him through the people, pushing our way towards Alby. He was at the bottom of the observation tower, when Newt and I ran up to him.
"Alby, there's a griever in the maze," Newt told him.
Alby did not hesitate," Where?"
"By my room!," I told him.
"Show me," he commanded and I guided the both of them to my back corner.
We all stood there in front of my small twig hut, waiting for a sign of the Griever. Minutes ticked on, Alby glared at the wall, listening intensely for the beast on the other side of the concrete. I didn't hear anything, the day was still, but still we all were patient. More time passed then Alby turned to Newt.
"Is this where you heard it?"
"Yeah, it's where she hear it."
Alby turned to me," Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
"It might have moved, Alby," Newt told him.
"This has never happened before," Alby stared at the wall. "They don't come out in the day."
"I know what I heard," I told him.
Alby sighed," I'm not saying you didn't hear something. But a griever?"
"I know what I heard. I know what a griever sounds like!"
Alby turned to Newt," No one can know unless we're sure. Newt do a perimeter, listen carefully. Don't let others see you."
Newt nodded and took off down the wall of the maze, Alby then turned to me.
"Have you told anyone else?"
"No, I found Newt right away."
"Tell me exactly what you heard."
"It was like a low rumble and then there was this weird clicking sound, just like a griever."
I saw Alby processing it all, "I'm going to go and see if Mihno is back. Let's keep this between ourselves for now."
"What do you want me to do?," I asked.
"Wait here," he said already running towards the maze opening.
I watched him disappear, This has never happened before. Grievers don't come out in the day. Why is outside? Why is it here? What if it finds the runners?! BEN!? Is he out today? I haven't seen him, he must be out there! Oh god, why if it gets him... he could die! Oh my god... what do I do? What are we going to do?
I ran towards the entrance to the maze, flying past the Homestead, then the builders and the kitchen, I ran to the crowd that was now forming at the entrance.
"Is everything alright Alby?," Zart asked him.
"Everything is all right," Alby assured everyone. Just wanted to see if Mihno was back yet."
"We have to go in there! We have to warn them!," I was frantic.
"Warn them? About what?," Clint was curious.
"What is happening?," Tucker demanded to know.
"Why is everyone shouting?," Lee shouted over everyone that was talking at once.
"Alby, we can't just leave them in there," I begged him.
"No one goes in," he stated.
"Why would we need to go in?," Hank asked.
Alby sighed, realizing keeping it all under wraps was not going to happen, so he announced," It was reported to me that a griever was heard outside the Glade earlier."
The crowd murmured ins disapproval.
"That's not possible!"
"Grievers only come out at night!"
Alby gained control of the crowd," Yes, yes! I know this, but I want to be safe and investigate. Has anyone else heard anything?"
"No, of course not!"
"Alby, we have to get them out," I pleaded.
"No one is going in," he declared again, this time he said in a way that meant it was final and there was no debate.
"We can't just sit here if there is a griever loose! It could kill them!"
"They know the risks," Tucker grunted.
"Alby we don't have any serum," Gally half whispered to him but I overheard.
So if anyone gets stung, they'll die. I stared into the maze, willing Ben to walk around the corner. I wanted him to come back and be safe, I couldn't imagine having to watch them bury him in the ground just because no one will go in and get them out.
"I'll go get them," I turned Alby.
"Absolutely not."
"We can't leave them out there. They might not know it's out there."
"It might not even be out there,"Alby told me.
"I know what I heard!"
"I won't say it again," Alby gave me a cold stare.
"So you'll just let them die."
"I won't risk anyone else."
I looked back into the maze, they can't stop me if I start running. They won't be able to stop me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, getting ready to sprint down the long hall in front of me. I lurched forward but right as I tried, Alby yelled, "Grab her!," and I felt arms wrap around me lifting me off the ground.
I flailed my arms and legs," Let me go!"
"Take her to the Slammer."
"Put me down! LET ME GO!," I struggled in the arms of whoever had me. They were strong, nothing I did loosened the grip they had around me. I was ready to throw my elbow into the their face, but I couldn't reach, they were too quick. I was dropped into the dirt cage and looked up to see Lee.
"You put up a good fight," he told me and Alby locked the door.
I ran up and gripped the bars," Alby you can't just leave them out there."
"I also can't have you running into the maze."
"I wasn't going to run into the maze!," I lied.
Alby gave me a side look, he knew it wasn't the truth. "I'll come get you when Mihno and Ben come back."
"Alby! Please!," I begged him as Lee and him walked back towards the entrance. I saw Newt walk up to them and he looked at me. I was guessing he asked them what happened and they were telling him I tried to run into the Glade. They spoke for a few minutes, then Alby and Lee kept going on there way and Newt jogged over to me.
"Hey, what happened?," he kneeled down.
"Nothing! They just threw me in!"
Newt tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "You tired to run into the Glade?"
"No," I lied and I could see on Newt's face he didn't believe me. "Okay, maybe..."
His head dropped," Seriously?," he sounded disappointed.
"They just want to leave Mihno and Ben out there!? They could die, Newt!"
"That doesn't mean you go running out into the danger!"
"I would have came back!"
"Unless the griever got you!," Newt shouted.
I stepped back from the bars, I had never seen Newt this way. He was mad, at me. I could see the anger burning in his eyes. How can he be mad? I was doing the right thing!?
"It was the right thing to do," I defended and turned away from the bars.
I heard Newt sigh," I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell."
"But you did!," I crossed my arms and faced him. "Your treating me like they are! Like I'm some sort of different freak here!"
"That's not what this is," Newt defended. "You can't just run into the maze, no one can."
"I thought Gladers stuck together, had each other's pack. That means you don't just sit around and wait for them to be attacked!"
"But you don't endanger yourself," he countered.
"Why not?! It doesn't matter!," I was slipping and my anger flared.
"What doesn't?"
"ME!," I told him.
A moment of silence fell between us, he was searching me, looking me over, I don't know what for but I stood tall.
"You can't think that... Do you?"
I felt tear build in my eyes and I wiped them away," It's true. I don't matter here at all. I don't belong, Newt. You have to see that."
"You belong here," he said without hesitation. "You are a Glader."
I shook my head," I'm not. I'm not one of you."
"Don't do that."
"Do what?," my voice cracked.
"Isolate yourself. Don't separate yourself from us."
"You just don't understand," I felt so tired and cold.
"I want to understand," he told me softly.
"I can't explain it... it's just a feeling."
"I don't want you to feel that way," he said lowly.
"I don't want to feel this way," I stepped back to the bars, locking my fingers around the wood.
Newt placed a hand on mine, a small gesture but it really did make me feel better.
"We'll figure it out," he smiled.
"If anything happens to Ben, I-"
"Nothing is going to happen. They'll be back."
"But what if they don't," I felt the tears build up again.
"If they don't, running into the maze won't help."
I looked down to the floor, so all we're going to do is sit here and wait.
"I'm gonna go talk to Alby. See if we can get you out of here," he stood up and I took my fingers from the bar. "I'll be back," he turn and moved towards the crowd. I looked around him to see if the runners were back, but it looked like everyone was just like me, watching and waiting.
Come on Ben. Make it out. Get out of there. When do they usually come back? If he goes in the morning, he usually meets me in the Deadhead a while after my shift in the kitchen, so it should be any minute. Why aren't they back?! SHUCK, I didn't ask Newt if he heard the griever, what if it is getting closer to the entrance! It could just walk right into the Glade and we would all be trapped! I would be stuck in the Slammer!
I shook the bars, hoping that the door would just swing open so I could be free, but they were sturdy, I had to give Gally some credit. I watched as the crowd started to slowly disappear and the Gladers went back to their jobs for the day; a few people stayed a while longer: Newt, Alby, Hank and Zart. Then Newt and Zart walked back to the Garden and I saw Alby turn and head towards me.
He stood in front of the Slammer quietly for a moment.
"Can't let you out, Greenbean," he stated.
"Are they back? Did you see them?," I asked but already knew the answer.
"Not yet," he replied.
Alby squatted down to the bars," I'll let you out when they get back, but for now, I can't risk you running into the maze."
"Alby, I wasn't going to run into the maze. I'm not going to do it now either!," I didn't know if that last part was true. I might've bolted right for the entrance if he had opened the door.
"Sorry," he apologized. "I can't risk your safety."
I bowed my head, I really am stuck in here.
"Don't worry, they will come back," Alby reassured me.
"But what if the griever finds it's way here, Alby!"
Alby looked to me," Newt went over the whole Glade, he didn't hear it."
"It might have moved away but it could still come back!"
"When Mihno and Ben return, I'll talk to them, see if they heard or saw anything, but if not. There's not much I can do," I went to interrupt but he stopped me. "I don't think you made this up, Greenie. I don't, but unless we get some more information, I can't just bring the Glade to a stop," Alby stood up. "I'll come get you when they come back," he promised before leaving.
There was nothing left to do but wait, all I could do was stand there in a makeshift dirt hole and stare at the opening on the wall of the Glade. There was no real indication of time, the sun was behind me and while I kept checking the shadows, I felt like there was no change. I couldn't look away, I just kept staring, waiting for the emergence of Ben and Mihno. There was a few times my eyes tricked me and I though I saw them but there was nothing there; it was the worst feeling to have the rush of relief and then realize it wasn't real. Then it was real, I saw Mihno run into the Glade, it was actually him, not some imagination in my head., then seconds later Ben followed him.
"BEN! BEN!," I screamed and rattled the bars. He turned to look and he looked confused, but before he could come over, the Glade swarmed them.
Everyone ran to them, I saw Alby go up and welcome them both back. I stood there captivated, my heart racing and the relief of knowing he was alive could finally settle instead of being washed away. Then it was Newt who approached me and opened the gate. He helped me out and I couldn't help but pull him into a tight hug, he wrapped his arms around me.
"They're both okay," he told me.
I pulled away and ran towards the crowd, I pushed past people to get to Ben.
"No, we didn't see anything," Mihno was telling Alby when I got to the middle.
Ben turned to me and perked up," Hey," he looked concerned.
I almost started to cry and I embraced him tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay!," I whispered as I hugged him. Ben still seemed confused, but he hugged me back carefully.
"Yeah, we're okay."
I pulled back," There was a griever in the maze," I told him.
"Yeah, so we heard," he looked to Alby.
"Someone had heard noises outside the wall," Alby told them, not looking at me. "But if you didn't see or hear anything...?"
"Nothing," Mihno told him.
"Then it might have been something else, so for now, we'll air on the side of caution and the runners will stay in the Glade."
No one objected and then people peeled off again, going back to their day. I pulled Ben off with me.
"Did someone really hear a griever," he asked.
"I did!," I told him. "It was a griever."
"Grievers aren't out during the day," he said out loud.
"I know that," I was annoyed. "But I also know what I heard, it was a griever. I could have killed you."
"But there wasn't one out there."
"Not that you saw," I countered.
"Because it wasn;t there."
"Ben!," I couldn't believe that he thought this was lie.
"It doesn't matter," he brushed it off. "Why were you in the Slammer?"
I rolled my eyes," Alby though I was going to run into the maze or something."
"Really?!"
"I wasn't," I lied.
He scoffed," Well, obviously. Running into the maze is basically suicide."
"What? You do it everyday!"
"Yeah, but I've trained for it, I know the maze, you don't."
My anger was rising," I wan't going to run in," I said through gritted teeth.
"And I'm happy about that. Just like I'm happy this was all some big misunderstanding."
"So you think I lied," I crossed my arms.
"No, no, no. That's not what I'm saying."
"Then what are you saying!?"
Ben stopped and rubbed his forehead," I... I don't know. Maybe it was something else?"
"What else could it be? You said there was nothing in the maze!," I replied loudly.
"I-I don't know, maybe a-"
I held up my hand," Slim it!," I told him and stomped away.
"Hey, wait up," he followed me.
"Leave me alone," I told him and started to run.
"Hey, wait! No!," he followed me.
"No, just stop!," I turned around. " You don't believe me!"
"That's not what I said," he defended.
"But I can see it. In your eyes, you think I'm lying."
"No, not lying. I think maybe you were confused-"
"I'm not. I wasn't. So if you think I'm confused, just leave me alone. I mean it," I emphasized before turning away and going back to my room.
There was still time in the day, but I didn't want to see anyone. I don't even think Jackson could calm me down right now, I was furious. I spend the day in the Slammer, worried he was going to die and he think I'm a liar?! I was ready to risk my life to go in and save him! I did everything I could, and he just doesn't believe me? How dare he!
I go to sit in my hammock, but sit too far back and swing backward, falling out and hitting my head on the floor.
"SHUCK!," I cry out and rub my head, this only building on my previous frustrations.
Why is today the worst!? Then I notice that I have blood on my shorts, Oh great! Of course! Of course! Why not? Let's pile it all up! One big horrible day! I change my shorts and feel my emotions building again, No , no more tears, I tell myself but my body doesn't listen and them spill down my face. Why today? I think as I carefully lay in my hammock. I was drained, so I feel asleep, only to be awoken by a tap on my hut. I wake up and see Newt standing in the door.
"Hey," he calls out softly. "I didn't know if you wanted to still go for a run or not?"
Judging by the bright glow of evening light, I had slept through the rest of the day. I shook my head," No, I... I don't think so."
He walked into the room and over to the middle hammock," I... I guess I should tell you that I saw you fighting with Ben."
I groaned and rolled over to the wall," I don't want to talk about him."
Newt was quiet for a moment then he said," We heard it last night. That griever in the maze."
I didn't know why he was bringing it up, Is this his way of saying he doesn't believe me either? That everyone thinks I'm crazy!
"I know what I heard," I sat up and face him. "I'm not making this up!"
Newt's eyes widened," Of course not. I don't think you made it up."
I drew back a bit and sighed," You're the only one."
"Alby believed you," he told me.
I shook my head," he doesn't... neither does Ben."
"Is that what you fought about?," he asked.
I felt the tears coming back, but I pushed them down. "He thinks I was confused," I told Newt softly.
"But you heard it."
"I did. It was out there. I... I just...," my voice was getting shaky. " I just don't know why everyone thinks I would make this up."
"It's never happened before."
"Neither have I! A girl in the Glade... apparently, things are changing! You guys need to see that."
Newt nodded," I know, I think it'll take time."
I sighed and laid back down," I can't take all this," I told him.
"Take what?"
Mistrust. Uncertainty. Skepticism. Coddling. Treating me like a baby.
I closed my eyes," Can we just stop talking about it?"
"Sure," Newt said and I heard him adjust to lay down in his own hammock. Then I felt him grab my hand, and my eyes opened, he was half sitting up in his hammock, looking at me. "Just know that I'm here when you want to talk about it."
I nodded and Newt laid down, but he kept his hand on mine. Then I made a move, I turned my hand over, and interlocked out fingers together, letting my arm fall between the hammocks. Our hands now clasped together were now between us, suspended in the air while we both swayed in our own hammocks. I was trying to forget the events of the day, I wonder what he was thinking about?
