AN: I know! Throw stones at me! I wasn't able to keep my promise as teachers pestered me with homework. But this is a longer chapter than usual. I hope that makes up for lateness.
Also, this is a DARKER chapter involving some sexual harassment but I do not, in any way, support it nor promote it.
Disclaimer: First chapter.
From now on, Monroe will be referred to as Madison and vice versa to avoid confusion. Unless of course when I say otherwise. (::)
"Newt." Monroe arrived, calling him out.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It's really boring. Is there anything fun to do around here?" She replied.
The boy behind Newt laughed.
"She-greenie, you seriously asking for fun in this shuck-hole? There's really nothing to around here except shuckin' work. Seeing you don't have one, go and look for something that catches your eye. But I'd doubt you would. You look hard to impress, greenbean. I'm Zart by the way." Monroe smirked.
"That all ya need, greenie?" Newt inquired.
"Nothing to do much, huh? Can I start trials now? With this garden thing?" Monroe queried.
Newt and the boy looked at each other before nodding in understanding then went and faced her.
"Well, first, you're going to have to have ya hands a little dirty. That good?" Newt responded.
"I don't mind. I'd get my hands dirty if I have to." Monroe replied.
And so, Monroe was instructed to dig. She dug a couple plant holes and decided they looked quite decent, even getting Zart's approval.
By nightfall, everyone had begun eating their dinner. Monroe was accompanied by Newt to sit with them at the Keepers' table because she didn't belong with the others. After getting her share to which Frypan commented, "You look like a living stick, shank. You need some meat on you." Monroe laughed. And realised, she wouldn't be taken seriously if she looked like what Frypan described her to be. From the comments earlier, she would never be taken seriously around here. Everyone seemed sexist and just downright discriminating except a few.
Setting her tray on the empty side of the table, she sat down and began eating quietly. There was a couple times they invited her to join the conversations they had but she was disinterested. She didn't belong here and they knew that as well.
"So greenie, doing well so far?" One blond kid, the same one who has been kind to treat her like an equal greeted.
"Fine. I haven't caught your name, by the way." Most boys laughed, teasing the blond guy.
"Clint."
"Oooh! Clint's getting laid tonight!" They all shouted. Monroe smiled innocently.
"Jealous?" She laughed. Alby looked almost ready to burst in laughter.
"C'mon, Monnie─" Monroe glared at the boy who called her that.
Finishing her food, she stood up and left without a word, making the Gladers confused about her behaviour.
I shouldn't have done that. I knew Monroe would never act like that. She thought. Before she could even notice, someone was actually chasing after her.
"Hey, you okay, greenie?" Minho chased after her. Of course he was going to be concerned for his new 'roomie' as he coined it.
"Yeah." She replied.
"You going to the room?"
She nodded.
"You'll be back for the bonfire, right?"
"Why're you so curious?"
"Nothing. It's just that, you know, it's hard to see through a girl's shuckin' behaviour." He retorted.
Monroe laughed.
"You're going right?"
"Yes. I'm not one to miss a party, as far as I know." Monroe smirked.
"Never knew you'd be a party girl, doll." He smirked. Well, it's best to just accept that name. It is probably going to stay.
The bonfire was loud and rowdy. Boys took swigs of a urine-like substance they called Gally's brew. They let out Gally that late afternoon but he kept his distance.
He said he knew her. How could he?
Like a typical drunk party, everyone slurred and yelled utter nonsense. Monroe got there seeing everyone tipsy except a few. Alby, Newt, Minho, and other Keepers she didn't know the name of made that list along with a couple younger ones.
There was a bit of music from a guitar. It was mostly very soft and wasn't suitable for this kind of party.
"Havin' fun?" Newt asked.
"What's fun in a couple of guys' mock-fighting and obnoxious noise?" Monroe responded.
"Yeah. Good point. But this is for you." Alby agreed.
"Well, it would be a waste to complain about it, now, wouldn't it? Come on! Dance with me, Minho!" Before she could stop herself, Minho had smirked and taken her hand, spinning her over and over again. She was getting dizzy, almost to the point of falling but she laughed it off. If she fell down, it would be on soft lush grass.
"Shuck greenie. You ain't even drunk and you're already dizzy." Minho joked.
Monroe laughed. "You spun me a lot! 'Course I'd be dizzy!" She complained, not really meaning it.
"And before you say it, no. I am not drinking piss." Monroe regained some of her composure, but her cheeks were not pale as usual but had a faint pink from all the spinning.
Before she knew it, she was dancing with everyone. Even at some point, she went near the fighting circle and chanted.
"Don't wanna fight me?" Gally laughed mockingly.
"Ha! Sorry, Gally. I would feel guilty for making you lose." She sneered, making Gally furious. Boys cheered and laughed. It was overwhelming. It was hard for her to recall when she had this much fun. Not that she remembered anything anyway.
While heading to Minho's room, she was exhausted from all the laughing and dancing. Her feet ached, and her eyes drooped. She could feel someone grab her and drag her away. About 4 builders had helped Gally do his dirty work as she noticed from her bleary eyes. She had to act and act fast at that.
"Before you kill me, wouldn't you want me?" She slurred, she might've drunk that piss earlier this evening.
"Let's have a go, boys! This pretty little thing would be such as waste if we just kill her right now, wouldn't it?" One of Gally's cronies sneered and held her chin harshly. The other two boys stood guard and one other boy held her arms behind a tree.
He tried to kiss her. Tried. Before he could even put his lips on hers, she bit it down, hard. She could feel the blood seeping out of it. The other boy momentarily lost his grip on her. She grabbed his wrist and twisted it as hard as she could. The other builder who almost kissed her let out a growl, blood seeping down his chin, letting the two other builders who were at a bit of a distance know something was wrong. They ran to the tree only to see their pseudo-leader with his lips bleeding and the other one with an oddly twisted wrist.
The two helped the two injured builders and decided the Greenie was not worth their time and got to the Homestead where the Greenie arrived. She smirked.
"4 boys against 1 girl. And you couldn't even kiss me." She jeered. Other boys were already asleep by now, in their hammocks, snoring loudly. But some sat on their own hammocks, looking at the scene unfold. Clint saw two of the boys injured, one with a twisted wrist and the oddest one injury he'd ever seen, they were a pair of bleeding, bitten, lips. He immediately came to their aid, waking Jeff up to help him.
"Gally told us─" One of them got cut off.
"I never told you do that!" Gally protested. Monroe looked at him.
"Look. I would've never thought of that. Greenie ain't worth my time in the Slammer." Gally explained. Alby grunted. Monroe believed him.
"You 4 are going to the Slammer. If this happens again, then you'll be banished. Am I making myself shuckin' clear?"
"Don't," Monroe replied, making the boys look relieved.
"Why the bloody hell not!?" Newt looked at her in disbelief. Minho kept quiet. He was curious to see where this would go.
"They'll be doing the perverted walk of shame, as long as I'm around." Monroe smirked maliciously.
"Think you can away with this? I'm more than capable of just being a pretty face." She left for the bathroom to get off the filth that marred her lips and hands. Minho, Alby, and Newt looked just as shocked as the rest of the Gladers looking at the scene.
Your hands don't deserve to be dirty because of them. She thought.
Sleeping had been a bit of an awkward topic to discuss with Minho but he agreed to have her back against his own. The cot was a bit bigger, as far as Monroe could see. Runner perks, maybe.
But aside from that, they all got along and slept easy, but not in Monroe's case. She struggled desperately to keep sleeping but vision-like dreams invaded her eyes. Noises filled her ears. Voices. Shouts. Cries. Bright light. Threats. It was overwhelming.
A seemingly vivid memory came.
"I'll kill you! This is your fault!" A man sneered.
He slapped the little version of Madison or Monroe. Monroe couldn't tell right now. The twins in the dream seemed too alike.
"No!" One of them hit him, but he didn't flinch or indicated he was in pain.
"Stop! You're hurting me!" The slapped girl protested, her voice high and frightened, her right cheek red from the slap.
"Please! We're sorry." The other girl sniffled.
"You'll be forgiven where you're both dead." He spat.
Minho stirred from his sleep hearing Monroe mumble. Before he could say anything, Monroe had grabbed his arm and held it tight.
"Don't. Please!" She was thrashing now. In the faint light, some light had already shone through despite the darkness. Dawn was coming. Minho could see faint tear streaks on Monroe's face. Were his eyes playing with him?
Monroe opened her eyes. Then she noticed she was holding Minho's arm very tightly.
"Knew you couldn't resist me, greenie." He attempted to lighten up the mood.
"Please. Just pretend this never happened." She sighed, letting go of his arm. He said nothing. But she left and went outside.
And he didn't chase after her.
AN: So uh... sorry about Minho being OOC, don't hunt me down please! Please tell me if I made any mistakes regarding the characterizations of the original Gladers then I'll gladly try my best to not make that mistake again.
Replies:
AsgardianGrizzly: So, I hope this one met your expectations!
green angel01: Thank you for your honest review. I hope this isn't as confusing.
The real world is scary: Thank you. I like surprising my readers. Unfortunately, I revealed that this chapter was going to be in the Glade. And again, so sorry for that no-spoiler-warning mistake I made!
Randomreader: Keep reading! I'll keep writing! :) As I said before, there will definitely be more backstory and switching of POVs, in the WICKED facility and the Glade. Hope that made sense. :)
Minho fan: Well, read on for more Minho/OC! :) I hope I did his character justice. If not, please inform me! :) I am keen on continuing this! I wouldn't wanna let down the readers, based on the feedback I got.
Constructive Criticism is needed and appreciated! Thank you for the faves, follows, and the 800+ views this story has gotten. Thank you all for your support!