Chapter 13
Three months had passed since I arrived in the Glade through the box but not much had happened in that amount of time. Everyone adjusted to the relationship between me and Newt fairly quickly, the annoying jokes nearly every glader made slowly stopped and it was only Minho, after all this time, who chose to make the same immature jokes every day.
Two new gladers had arrived in the box and they seemed to fit in well with the other boys which was good to see. The first boy to arrive after me had tried sprinting towards the maze doors, and got too close for comfort towards the entrance. Had it not been for Minho and I tackling the poor boy to the ground he probably would have been dinner for the Grievers within an hour. After that little incident the boys all decided that I shouldn't work on Greenie arrival days so that I could welcome them into the Glade instead of Alby and catch them if they tried to escape.
The newest Greenie should've been arriving in a few minutes which was why I was currently sitting in a tree carving lines in the trunk with a blade while everyone else worked. Minho was in the maze trying to find an exit as usual, Newt was in the gardens with last month's Greenie since that was the job he was best at apparently, and Chuck was in the shower hut cleaning up.
Lunch had already passed so the Greenie was late this month but I wasn't worried because last month's Greenie - his name was Davis - had come earlier than usual. Suddenly an alarm went off around the Glade, making a few of the boys jump slightly at the sudden noise whereas I just tucked the blade into the holder I had on my hip and grabbed onto a branch, flinging myself forwards onto another tree and landing gracefully on another branch. I continued doing this until I got to the last tree close to the box and jumped down from the branch, landing in a crouched position a few feet away from the tree I had jumped from.
All of the boys had gotten used to my tree jumping and climbing and despite Newt's constant begging for me to stop because it was 'dangerous', it was the quickest way to get me to places. I took off at a jog towards the box where some boys were already gathering to see the newest Greenie. The alarm was going off for about half an hour before the metal doors slid open revealing another pair of doors that Newt and Alby pulled open.
A boy with dark hair, plastered to his face with sweat was sitting in one corner of the box with a hand over his eyes to shield himself from the sudden light while his eyes adjusted. I jumped into the box in front of the boy and gave him a small smile while he squinted up at me with fear evident in his brown eyes. I gave him a quick once over, looking for any injuries he might have gotten through the panic of being in the box and when I found none I shrugged and yelled for the boys to lower the rope.
"What is this place?" He asked me as I turned around to grab the rope that was being lowered into the box.
"This is the Glade, your new home." I said, offering the boy a hand to help him up which he accepted and hoisted himself onto his feet, losing his footing slightly as he did so.
I told him to step onto the loop tied to the bottom of the rope which he did and I grabbed onto a second rope that was lowered for me. Once I was out of the box I went over to the boy who was on his hands and knees on the floor, coughing up water and heaving with nothing to throw up. I waited until the boy had stopped dry heaving before I made another move towards him but before I could say anything he sprung to his feet and pushed past me, running towards the open maze doors after a quick sweep of the area.
I fell onto my back from the sudden shove the boy had given me but quickly dusted myself off and stood back up, hearing the boys around me all shouting and hollering as they watched in amusement as the boy sprinted towards the doors.
"We got a runner!" Zart shouted from next to me
I looked over to Jeff who was watching me carefully, knowing what I wanted him to do. I watched the boy for a moment before I prepared myself to sprint towards him, casting a glance at Newt to see him smirking at the boy who ran, knowing what his fate would be when I caught him.
"TIME!" I shouted to Jeff before sprinting forwards, towards the boy who was running quickly towards the doors of the maze.
It didn't take me long to close three quarters of the space between me and the Greenie but I slowed as I watched in amusement as he tripped over his own feet and fell to the ground on his own. I walked towards him while he lay on the ground, panting and out of breath from the sudden exercise while I barely broke a sweat.
"You're fast for a Greenie," I mused as I bent over his body to stare down at him, "just not fast enough."
Newt, Jeff, Alby and Davis where all jogging towards us while I helped the Greenie to his feet again.
"Thirty-two seconds cupcake, you're getting slower." Jeff said as soon as I looked over at him.
We had decided to make a game out of my job as 'Greenie catcher' (Minho picked the name not me) so we put a note in the box asking for a stopwatch and it was now Jeff's job to time me as I caught the Greenie's before they made it out into the maze. Minho jogged out of the maze doors a few meters away from us at that moment, taking a quick glance at the Greenie before running to the map room with Ben next to him.
"You'll get the tour tomorrow since you got here so late but there are three rules you need to know before anything else," I started "One, everyone does their part. No room for slackers around here. Second, never hurt another glader, we gotta trust each other. And lastly, never go outside the Glade unless you're a runner."
The boy was still looking around with wide eyes, trying to take in everything he could see by the looks of it. I sighed at this, knowing how it felt but also knowing I had had it way worse than this kid since I was still the only girl and had been in a coma for two weeks after three days of me arriving in the Glade.
"Do you remember your name?" Alby asked
The boy looked like he was thinking for a minute with a face that could only be described as constipated written all over it. Then the constipated face turned to one of fear and confusion as he no doubt realised he didn't remember anything.
"I-I cant remember anything," I knew it "Why can't I remember anything?" He asked
"It happens to all of us shank, just slim yourself nice and calm for now." Alby said
The boy looked like he had so many questions to ask but one glare from Alby made him close his mouth, an effect Alby had on most people.
"Sky go find Chuckie for us will ya." Newt said
I nodded and jogged away, throwing a comforting smile to the Greenie as I felt his eyes on me while I went to find Chuck. I found him in the kitchen cleaning dishes for Frypan since he didn't like being around the box when a new Greenie came up, something about it scared him apparently.
Despite this fact though, Chuck seemed more than happy to come help with the Greenie, probably so he could stop washing dishes. I led him over to where the Greenie was sat under a tree and decided to stay with him for a while and try and answer as many questions as possible so that Alby wouldn't get too annoyed with him on the tour the next day.
"It gets easier." Was the first thing I said as I sat down beside them.
The boy's head snapped up at the sound of my voice and he seemed to relax slightly, Newt told me that the Greenie's were more comfortable around me because they saw me as less as a threat and even though everyone knew that wasn't true I still went along with it.
"Nobody will answer my questions." He said after Chuck sat down.
"I know, but you're doing better than most people here." I comforted
"Yeah I klunked my pants four times when I got here." Chuck said with a smile
The boy looked both confused and disturbed at this and I decided that I would let him and Chuck bond for a while. I stood up and got three steps away from the two boys before the Greenie called something over to me.
"What's your name?"
I smiled over my shoulder and started walking backwards, "Skylar!" I shouted before jogging to the gardens where I could see Newt working.
Davis was working next to him, raking through the dirt with the new tools the box had provided during the day and I crept over to the boys, walking as quietly as possible in hopes of scaring Newt. Once I was close enough I jumped on his back and wrapped my legs around his waist but to my disappointment he didn't fall or falter and instead he just dropped the rake he held in his hand and grabbed onto my legs to support me before he started walking backwards and spinning around.
I giggled and laughed as he did this, loving how carefree he could be and knowing it was me that caused it. Everyone in the Glade had commented that Newt had started seeming happier as soon as our relationship was known to them all which made a swell with pride and accomplishment grow in my chest.
Eventually he put me down and I fell to the ground, laughing hysterically on my back while he did the same. Once we had composed ourselves we both stood up and walked towards the homestead talking about random things as we did so.
"Greenie seems to like you a lot." He mentioned
"Doesn't everyone?" I joked and he laughed. I looked over my shoulder at the tree where the Greenie had been with Chuck to find them already gone but when I turned my attention to the gardens I noticed Davis staring at me and Newt.
"He's watching us again." I whispered
Newt cast a quick glance to the gardens, knowing who I meant before standing to a complete still suddenly and pulling me towards him, catching me off guard in a surprised kiss. It was one of the more passionate kisses we'd shared but there was also a lot of possessiveness in it as well. Davis had tried flirting with me as soon as he arrived in the Glade and would constantly watch me and Newt as we did anything together after I told him I wasn't interested.
When we pulled away a smirk was on Newt's lips as he looked past me towards the gardens where Davis was glaring at the floor.
"If he's going to watch we might as well give him a bloody show." Newt said
I laughed and pecked his lips before running towards the homestead with Newt behind me.
We got to his room and I immediately took off my boots and jumper, leaving me in a red tank top and black cargo pants. I jumped onto mine and Newt's bed and he followed suit.
We spent the next few hours kissing and talking about nothing in particular until it was time for dinner. I got dressed again and walked down the stairs of the homestead with Newt until we got to the kitchen where Frypan was already serving food to the Gladers.
"Good job with the Greenie today S." Frypan said as he handed me a plate of mashed potatoes and bacon, not the best combination but it was good enough.
I nodded in response and walked towards a table where Minho sat with Ben and Jeff while Newt followed behind me.
"-seems like a klunk in a T-shirt to me." Jeff was saying
"I hope you aren't talking about the new Greenie Jeffy." I said
"Course not." He lied
I sighed and rolled my eyes as I sat down with Newt opposite me. I ate my food with the others then headed over to the bonfire with the others to welcome the new Greenie. When we got there Gally was fighting some kid like usual while most people where just sitting near the fire and talking.
Newt and I went to our usual space at the front of everyone with our backs rested against a log. We intertwined our hands together and Newt put them on his leg while we watched everyone else laugh and joke around together.
"Where's the newbie?" I wondered as I looked around for him
"Probably with Chuckie somewhere." Newt said
I nodded and we lapsed into silence again until a huge amount of yelling and shouting started happening behind us which made us both jump up to see what was happening. A circle had formed around Gally and every Glader was surrounding him as he smirked at someone I couldn't see. I pushed myself forwards through all of the boys so I could get to the front to see what all the commotion was about and knew Newt was doing the same.
When I got to the front of everyone I noticed who the boy who would be fighting Gally was and why the gladers were making so much noise about the fight. It was the Greenie and he was going to be killed by Gally.
People started chanting for the fight to start and I could see Chuck standing on the opposite side of the circle looking worried and afraid for the new kid because it was clear they were already good friends. Newt stood next to me with a hint of worry on his face but nothing else.
"Shouldn't you stop this?" I asked over the shouts of the gladers around me
"Like we did with you? Kid knows what he's got himself into and Gally won't do him much harm after what happened with you last time." Newt said
I sighed, knowing he was right and watched as the new boy stepped forwards and readied himself for the upcoming fight while Gally - still as cocky as ever - just smirked and laughed at the boy.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The boys where shouting now
Alby was standing at the edge of the circle on my right, looking bored with the whole ordeal while I was beyond anxious for this boy, knowing how far Gally would take a fight, regardless of everything that had already happened because of it.
The Greenie took the first lunge towards Gally and tried tackling him to the floor but Gally was quick enough to withhold the boys attempt and ended up pushing him backwards so he fell on his back.
"Come on Greenie, we aint done yet." Gally taunted at the boy on the floor
He got up and dusted himself off before he started walking around, circling Gally like he was sizing him up.
"Stop calling me Greenie." He spat as he walked around
"What do you wanna be called? Shank?" Gally smirked while the boys around him laughed.
The Greenie made another lunge at Gally but he side stepped and ended up crashing into the Gladers behind him but they pushed him back into the middle of the circle where Gally was bouncing around on the balls of his feet.
Eventually the Greenie made another lunge at Gally but Gally grabbed him and started pushing him backwards while Greenie held on to his midsection while his feet pushed the dirt backwards with him. At the last minute Greenie let go of his hold on Gally's waist so that the Keeper fell onto his front. I saw his face set into a fierce glare before he twisted his feet and made the Greenie fall to the ground. The Greenie's head hit the ground hard before he took in a large gasp and stood up from where he was lying. He span in a circle once, and he stared at everyone in the circle, his eyes just skimming over all of us.
"I remember! I remember my name. I'm Thomas!" He shouted with glee in his voice
Alby was the first one to react as everyone else stood in silence, me included.
"Thomas!" He shouted and then ran up to the boy and clapped him on the back. The other Gladers followed suit and then I went after them all.
"Welcome home Thomas." I whispered and his eyes snapped to mine before I walked back towards Newt
"That was eventful." I murmured once I reached him and intertwined our fingers once more.
He hummed a response and led us back towards our log so we had our backs against it once again. While the fire crackled in front of us I rested my head on Newt's shoulder and felt myself falling asleep and before long I felt arms wrap around me and pick me up.
"I'll take her back to your room don't worry." Minho said as he picked me up
I wondered why Newt didn't wake me up but couldn't force myself to open my eyes with the fatigue that trapped me in my body. Minho started walking and I felt every step he took until I was placed on the familiar bed I usually slept in with Newt and felt Minho walk out of the room, mumbling a quick goodnight as he did so.
Newts POV
I watched as Minho carried Skylar off towards the homestead and I hoped she wouldn't wake up without me being there. The only reason I stayed behind was because the Greenie - Thomas - looked far too curious about the doors that had shut a few hours ago that led to the maze.
Minho offered to take Sky up to our room once he saw she had fallen asleep so I let him while I walked towards the Greenie who was pacing up and down, looking so out of place with the other gladers around him. Once I reached him I led him over to a random log near the fire for warmth.
One of the Gladers had handed me some of the drink Gally made every night which I offered to Thomas and I noticed him hesitate before taking a swig of it. He spat it out immediately and started spluttering out any remaining tastes of the drink while I chuckled from next to him and took a long drink of the weird concoction in the old metal tin I was using as a cup.
"What is that?" Thomas spluttered after a while
"I don't know, Gally's secret recipe." I muttered
That seemed to be all the explanation Thomas needed because he didn't ask any other questions about that subject for a while. I took the time to point out the different types of boys we had in the Glade and what the jobs where. I noticed he took a particular interest in what I said about Runner and when Minho came back from the Homestead Thomas watched him jog past us.
"That girl from before, is she the only one here?" Thomas asked after a while
I felt myself grow protective over Skylar, something that was a new side of me over the past few months and the other gladers had apparently noticed.
"Yeah but she's mine." I said "Alright just asking." Thomas out his hands up defensively and I nodded, hoping the newbie wouldn't try anything with my girl.
