He was still disoriented, and staggered a bit after he stood. He walked on shaky legs and leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. He caught his breath a moment looking around. The kids all stared at him with wide eyes, some snickering to one another others almost biting their fingers with anticipation. As Derek stood, slowly rotating in a circle he began to take in his surroundings and it astonished him at what he saw. There had to be at least fifty kids between the ages of twelve and sixteen, of all races, shapes and sizes. Every single one was covered in mud and dirt as if they had all been hard at work before his arrival. His eyes flickered between the sea of swarming faces and the new surroundings he found himself in. He looked at the boy who had steadied him and noted he looked incredibly familiar. He had soft features but he was thin, strong built, with short cut hair and dark brown eyes. Next to him, almost connected at the waste, was a chubby boy with a mop of curly brown hair and eyes wide with curiosity. He wasn't sure why, but he already liked the bug eyed little guy. He had a face of complete innocence. However the taller thin boy seemed more concerned than anything. He was the one who had welcomed Derek. He knew he must have looked out of it, he felt like he had been heavily drugged and his eye lids felt like heavy shutters even t hough his heart hammered in his chest.
"Check out the size of him!" Someone called as his eyes began to focus more clearly as he blinked away the tired.
"Bet he could even beat Alby in a fight," Someone else chuckled.
Another boy, with a sharp jaw and blonde hair stared at him a few yards back his face void of expression but his eyes were on fire with a fury Derek wasn't sure was warranted.
"Where am I?" he asked as he stood fully on his own, still scanning his surroundings in an attempt to take all of this information in. His voice sounded strange, it was much deeper then the ones that chattered endlessly around him, and he reached up rubbing his face realizing for the first time he had facial hair. He was definitely older than these kids.
"Worst place to be," The brunette said quietly. He seemed worried before taking a breath and looking at Derek.
"This is the Glade, though where here is, is a bit of a mystery," He said offering his hand to shake.
"I'm Thomas, this is Chuck," He said motioning to the fluffy haired kid behind him. Derek stretched his arm out and shook his hand firmly as his heart began to calm with the contact of something that didn't seem like a threat.
"Don't go getting to friendly with that shank, something ain't right 'bout him Greenie!" The blonde one yelled from several feet back. The boy named Thomas shot him an irritated look before rolling his eyes and turning back to Derek.
"Sorry bout him, here comes Alby." Thomas said motioning with his head behind Derek. Derek followed his line of sight following it to an older boy, with a dark complexion jogging over to him looking concerned.
"Whats going on here chuck?" He asked ignoring everything else that was happening.
"New Greenie, hes older for sure, his name is Derek." The young boy called. Derek turned as Alby came to a stop, and seemingly sized the older man up.
"Wonder what Keeper is gonna get that shank,"
"Ain't gonna be no Slopper that's for sure, think Winston will get him?"
"That shank? No way! Gonna be a builder for sure, he's huge!"
He stared at them as his eyes gained their focus completely before looking back to the dark skinned boy.
"Welcome to the Glade, Derek," Alby said with an overly assuring smile as he outstretched his hand offering a shake. Derek slowly took it and firmly shook it before looking back to the boy named Thomas and his young companion.
Alby seemed to have noticed his disorientation and discomfort because he yelled at the kids to scatter, to get back to work, and they scattered like leaves in the wind, practically running to continue their duties, whatever those were. He quickly realized that this boy was their leader, and he was happy to have the attention drawn away from him. He looked around noting the large cracked stones, old and broken with long grass and weeds growing through most of them. He noted a strange decayed and dilapidated wooden building near one of the square, a contrast of wood against stone. A few trees surrounded it, reaching around its base like fingers digging through the ground in search of food. As he looked around he could see in separate areas, gardens filled with corn, tomatoes, fruit trees, across the way he could see pens with pigs and cows and chickens and clear across, he noted a large section, covered in trees, the closest ones looked blighted and close to dying, though the leaves were numerous and lush. He looked up and noted the cloudless blue sky and it unsettled him how clear it was, not a cloud in sight, but no matter how he turned he couldn't tell where the sun was coming from. He took a deep breath through his nose and it gave him a head ache. He was bombarded with such a foul mixture of aromas that he burned his nose. A mixture of dirt, decaying trees, manure, and a sickly sweet smell of something more foul decaying. As he looked around he paused when the sharp eyes of a boy who held absolute hatred stared back at him. He returned the stare and the boy averted his eyes.
Derek noted what Alby was wearing, a white shirt, dark jeans, a watch, his hair was cropped short, almost shaved. He thought for a moment how strange the attire was here, he thought for a moment everyone should be dressed in uniforms, like inmates in a prison. He shook the thought from his mind as Chuck and Thomas wandered off, chuck explaining everything about everywhere in the glade as they went. So this Thomas guy was as new as he was.
"Look I know everything is a bit overwhelming now. Go ahead with Thomas and Chuck, or just explore for now. I'll give you the tour tomorrow morning." Alby said as he moved away, heading off in the direction of the kids that had scattered at his word. Derek looked around and decided to try and get his barrings alone for a while. He watched people go about their lives for some time, until the sun had begun to fade into late evening and the air began to cool. He felt sick from the smells and sounds, which pounded in his head like an ocean roar. He moved into the shelter of the trees, noting he couldn't hear any birds, or even bugs. He moved into the thick darkness under the canopy and it was like a cradle. He was familiar with woods, trees, and darkness, he realized with a worried thought. He hunkered down in the roots of a large tree and curled up, his arms crossed over his torso and his knees pulled up, he felt like the world was spinning, like he was drunk. He didn't realize however, he was not alone. A small silver insect was watching him intently, and it was the sound of its wings that caught his intention. He looked toward the buzzing and squinted. He wasn't really sure what he was looking at until he noted the warped and decayed white cross. It was a grave marker. The hair on the back of his neck rose, as he stood, unable to tear his eyes away from the grave. As he rounded the tree he realized in horror, there were numerous graves. He backed away, feeling he was intruding, and went further into the woods, unwilling to stay where he was but unwilling to venture into the clearing again. He walked until he saw a wall of trees, their roots spreading in every direction. He sat down, trying to calm his thoughts and told himself he would understand everything tomorrow. He was exhausted, and terrified, and he felt that was a feeling he did not often experience. He huddled down watching the faint scattered lights of torch flames as they moved around the Glade randomly, and he was surprised how well sound carried even in this thickly wooded section. He could hear murmurs and people talking about him and Thomas and how they were worried why there were so many 'Greenies' coming up through the box. He would have to talk to Thomas in the morning. If they were both new perhaps he could find a friend in this strange world. Before he even realized it we was waking up, and was surprised to find a blanket had been placed over him. He looked up and realized something was very wrong. He could hear panic filled yells and shouting. He stood and began walking hesitantly toward the clearing. Something was wrong, and he could see it in the faces of the people around him as he joined Thomas and Chuck. Thomas looked as confused as he felt, and the worry stricken Chucks expression didn't assure him this was just some sort of over reaction. Something was horribly wrong.