So I hate to be the barer of bad news but this chapter wont be posted for idk how long so Im sorry it took so long to get out to all of you. My internet has been taking random dumps and making me pretty pissed. So, Im going to go ahead and just write away while I give my interenet a break.
Chapter 15
I found Alby in the Council Hall when I stormed in "Alby we need to talk." I stomped down the small set of steps to get to the level floor. I stood in front him with a frown "Whats this about Minho running tomorrow? You know as well as I do that he cant yet." He drops his arms to his side and he sighs,
"Im sorry Peyton but we need him. Hes the best weve got and he'll get us our answers. The longest hes not running the longer we risk being stuck in here." I shook my head at him,
"You would risk his life because you couldnt wait a couple more days?! Really Alby? I thought you wanted to keep people alive! Not throw them at death! If something happens because you both didnt listen to me youre to have a lot more to deal with than a dead Keeper on your hands." With that I left, slamming the door behind me which cracked some of the surrounding sticks. I stomped my way to my hammock, ready for this day to be over and the stupidity to stop. I kicked off my boots and curled up in a tight ball before closing my eyes. I was a little reluctant to fall asleep right away, I wanted to dreamless night sleep tonight. Not one filled with nitemares. Luckily I feel asleep quickly, and got my wish.
I was up before everyone expect of course the Runners and Alby. I told myself that even though im mad at both Alby and Minho I will be there to see Minho leave, I dont know why im subjecting myself to this but it feels like the right thing to do, just like ill be there to see him come back. The Glade was still shrouded in darkness as the sky was slowly begining to lighten. The air was crisp and chilly. I pulled my sleeves down and over my fingers as I wrapped my arms around myself as I made my way down to the Doors. From my distance I would see 3 Runners, including Minho. Alby stepped up to meet them before me. I finally made it to them and they all looked at me before the remaining Runners went back to talk amongst themselves. Good. I didnt want to deal with them this early. I stopped in front the Runner I was here to see and he looked at me as he was throwing on his leather runners harness.
"If youre here to yell at me you can shove it. I dont want to hear it." Was all he said before I shook my head at him. I moved my hands up and down my arms a bit for some warmth as I answered him.
"Im just here to tell you to be safe. And that ill be here when you get back." He broke out in a grin as his eyes turned into little slits,
"Aw Red are you going soft on me now?" He joked and I scoffed and rolled my eyes,
"Shut up shuckface, im just making sure youre not going to do anything even more stupid than this." I focused my gaze on the closed door and as soon as the first ray of light touches the cold, grey surface she hears the mechanics crank to life in the stone walls as they slowly open up for them. She takes a deep breath as the breeze blows their clothes and hair before she looks back up at Minho
"Please be careful." I tell him and he gives me a simple nod before placing is leather clad hand softly on my head, he smoothes back my hair and the gesture is so kind I almost cant believe its coming from him. His brown eyes meet mine and I feel his hand linger a bit "Ill be okay. Im tough, stronger than any other shank here. Just gotta have a little faith." He smiles one last time before removing his hand and turning away from me with a jog and dissapearing into the Maze. I let out another sigh as I run my fingers through my hair. I turned around and by now the other Gladers are all waking up, which meant Frypan will have breakfast soon. With that thought my stomach growled and I clutched it, I just rememebered I had forgotten to eat last night. I was dealing with other things that eating wasnt one of them.
I walked into the kitchen and as I expected, Frypan was whipping together a Glade sized breakfast, I smiled at the cook as he quikly looked up from flipping pancakes.
"Need me to bring these things out to the table?" I ask and he nods, "Thanks Peyton." I give him a thumbs up and grab some bowls and plates as I set up the table outside the kitchen. By the time I was almost finished a line started to form, I grabbed a plate and Frypan finally brought out the pancakes, he looked at me and nodded towards the food
"Help youself Peyton, you helped." I thanked him and grabbed two pancakes, a couple pieces of bacon and some eggs before sitting myself down at a table. I stuffed food in my mouth as Winston, Clint, Jeff, and Newt all sat themselves around me like usual.
"Morning boys." I wiggled my unoccupied fingers at them and Clint lookes at me.
"Youre up early today.." I nod and look back at my plate,
"Couldnt sleep anymore. I wasnt tired so I watched the Runners leave." I continued to eat as they all shrugged it off. As soon as I was finished I got up and went into the kitchen and washed my plate. I jumped when I heard a blaring alarm echo through out the Glade. I ran outside quickly as the boys all stood up
"Ive heard this before..whats going on?" I caught up with Newt as they all headed towards the Box in the middle of the Glade,
"Thats the Greenie alarm." He looks at me with a soft smile "Which means you arnt the greenbean anymore Peyton." I raised an eyebrow, has it really been a month already that Ive been here? I lost track of time and its a bit disorinating. We all gathered around the Box as Alby lifted the large metal grate doors and peered into the Box I rememeber coming up in like it was yesterday, I was praying it was another girl so I didnt feel like such the odd one out in this place. I could use another girl to have girl talk with and understand me better than these shanks. I watched as they pulled a chubby, curly hair young boy out who looked like he was two seconds away from klunking his pants. The boys crowded around him and Alby pulled him aside and asked for the boys name who didnt utter a word, his eyes wide as he looked around, he looked at me for a second then looked away. I began to push my way through the crowd and when I got to the boy and Alby I looked at Alby,
"Mind if I show him around? Im sure you boys are intimidating him." I placed my hands on my hips and I heard someone from the back shout at me
"Are you its not you whos intimidating him?" I turned around to glare in the direction of the voice before looking back at the boy. My look softened as I held out my hand to him,
"Hello. Im Peyton, I was the Greenie before you so I know what youre feeling. Lets get away from all these rude boys and Ill show you around. You dont have to say anything if youre not comfortable but It will be easier once you know where to go." He looked at me and he hesitated before nodding at me. I looked to Alby for confirmation and he shrugged "I dont see why not. Just dont scare him." I gave him a warning look. I still havent forgiven him for letting Minho run and I was more than willing to keep hitting him with my words.
"Ill make sure I dont." I patted the kid on the shoulder and we headed off towards the Homestead away from the other boys. I watch as he looks around then up at me,
"What is this place?" He asks me with wide brown eyes, I look around at where ive been living for the past month,
"This is the Glade. Weve all been put here by people we dont know for reasons we also dont know. But were a family here and you will be taken care of." I try my best to reassure him and he gives me a shy smile,
"My names Chuck by the way." He opens up to me rather quickly that it shocks me. I smile down at him, "Well its nice to meet you Chuck, let me show you where youll be sleeping." I grab a hammock for him as well as a bunch of supplies and I hand it all to him, I set him up not too far from me seeing as Im probably going to be his only friend for a while.
"This here is the Homestead where we all sleep. Well except for the Keepers. They have their own space." I pointed to the small hut like building surrounding the Homestead. Then I point to behind the Homestead,
"Back their is the Slammer where we throw you if youve broken the rules." He looks confused when I mention the rules and I mentally slap myself, since thats what I should have started with.
"Listen here. These rules are really all that keep the peace around here. First, you do your part. Never get caught being lazy. Second, never harm or hurt another Glader, like I said were a family here. And Third.." I point out to the open doors to the Maze, "Never go past those walls. No one is allowd outside of the Glade, except for the Runners." Before he can ask me what a Runner is I speak again, "Youll meet them later." I set up his hammock and show him around the rest of the Glade "I know this is alot to take in right away but starting tomorrow youre going to be working on finding where you fit in around here." Chuck look ups at me again,
"What are you?" He asks and I shrug.
"Im a Med-jack. Nothing special I just patch up dumb shanks who hurt themselves." He chuckles before asking another question,
"Whats a shank?" I raise an eyebrow at his question and look down at him, I sit down on a small grassy hill in the middle of the Glade.
"Well its what we call eachother. Friends, it basically means or someone you know." I look at him as I watch him proccess all the information Ive given him. He tests the word out and I giggle at how goofy he sounds. He looks at me and he looks confused,
"I...I dont rememeber anything so..can you tell me what I look like?" My face softens as I feel a pang of sadness fill my chest. This poor kid, hes the youngest of us in here and I feel bad for him. Why would the Creators send a kid into a hell hole like this?
"Its okay Chuck, the only thing I really know about myself is my name, and partially what I look like. Its kind of hard to miss my hair." I crack a smile and touch my red locks. I look back at the boy and clear my throat.
"Well, your hair is brown and its pretty curly. You have brown eyes and I would say youre around 13." Chuck smiles at me and he searches my face as well. I sit back and look at him,
"What? Is there something on my face?" I touch it and he shakes his head,
"Oh not I was trying to guess your age. I would say youre 16." I cock my head to the side, 16, huh. Thats not what I was expecting but its better than not knowing at all.
"And youre pretty." He shrugs and I smile at him,
"Aw thanks Chuck youre so sweet." I hug him and he struggles against me, he pulls away and his little cheeks are pink and he has a pout, of right. I forgot, hes at that age where girls still have cooties. I laugh and ruffle his hair. I like this kid already. Before I realized it, it was time for lunch and both our stomachs were growling. I stood up and waited for the kid,
"Come on. Lets introduce you to our cook." I turn around and lead him towards the kitchen. I walk inside and on the counter is things to put together sandwiches and sitting around the kitchen were a handful of boys.
"Hey Fry. Meet our Greenie Chuck." I gently pushed Chuck towards the cook and he held out his hand to the boy,
"Hey there Chuck, you got yourself a fine guide here. Its nice to meet you." They shake hands and I grab two plates and hand one to Chuck who begins to put together his own sandwich, I walk over to Jeff and Winston at the counter table and I sit next to them with Chuck next to me.
"Have I missed anything Jeff?" I take a bite and look to my fellow Med-jack. He shrugs and swallows whats in his mouth before answering.
"Nah, just a few smashed fingers or slicer wounds. You know, the usual." I nod and feel better knowing I didnt miss anything they really needed me for. After we finish our meals I take Chuck to meet the Keepers. I start with Zart since hes closest. I approach the working curly headed blonde boy,
"Oi! Zart! You got a minute?" I step over some tools as I make my head towards him. I hear a thud and a few curses and look behind me to see that Chuck had fallen on a Track-hoe. I turn around help him up before walking him to the Keeper.
"Hey Zart, Im showing Chuck were around and I figured id introduce him to all the Keepers first." Zart leaned on his shovel and looked at the boy with a small smirk,
"Hey there Greenie. You ready to try out your hand in being a Track-hoe tomorrow?" Chuck looked a little lost but he nodded anyways, and I shook my head,
"Yeah hes not yet used to it here so be nice. He has to be up to meeting Minho." Zart lets out a low whistle.
"Thats if hes willing. You know how he is around Greenies." I hit Zart in the arm with a frown
"I said be nice Zart." I take Chuck away from him and I sigh,
"Dont listen to that stupid slinthead he's just trying to scare you." Chuck nods and looks to me,
"Its okay im tough." He crosses his arms and I chuckle.
We pass the time by relaxing, I was in the middle of making a flower crown when I noticed a crowd forming around the enterance to the Maze.
"Come on Chuck, youre gonna want to see this." I toss aside my flowers and stand up, the kid follows me as we head down the slope towards the Doors. I walked up to Newt and tapped him on the back,
"Whats going on?" Is it that time?" He nods and I stand back and wait. I keep my eyes constantly moving, searching for any movement. The longer I searched them more a bad feeling crept into my stomach to the point I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. My ears perked up when I felt the rumble under my feet then heard the click as the mechanics in the doors sprung to life. I gasped as the doors started to close,
"No..no no no no. Where is he?" I stepped closer to the Doors. I jumped when I heard a loud high pitched screech. It sounded close and It sent chills down my spine. My eyes widened when I saw two boys come around the corner, one was Ben who was holding someone up as they limped along side them as fast as they could. My heart dropped into my stomach when I saw that It was Minho.
"Come on!" I screamed out and the boys around me joined in and screamed at them to run faster and to hurry. They got closer and we all jumped back when a large creature came around the corner. I screamed out as It let out another shriek and charged at Ben and Minho. It ran at them with its metal like arms, like a spider and its equally mechanic tail swiniging around behind it. It opened its mouth and showed it rows of sharp fangs. We got closer to the doors as they kept getting closer and closer to closing. When the boys were within reach Ben threw Minho through the doors and I stumbled back as I caught him and we both fell to the ground and the other boys pulled Ben through the doors. They closed not too long after that and we all flinched when we heard the creature hit the walls and let out an angry shreik. I scrambled up and pulled Minho back and rolled him over. He was covered in sweat, dirt and cuts. I looked down and his pant leg was covered in blood. He pushed himself up into a sitting position with a wince. I called Clint and Jeff over and I reached into their satchels to grab things to stop the bleeding, I pulled his pant leg out of his boot and rolled it up carefully. I frowned when I saw that all of his stitches were ripped open. I pressed gauze to his wound and he tensed up.
"Shuck me!" He lets out a rough, uneven breath. I snapped my head up at him with a frown,
"I told you. I told you this would happen you stupid slinthead." I spit out and he looked me dead in the eyes before looking away. I was so enraged yet so happy he was still here I threw my arms around his neck and Clint took over my act of stopping the blood. I clearly threw him off gaurd but he caught me with and he wrapped his left arm around me to keep me from knocking him over.
"Dont ever do that again. You hear me?" I spoke clearly in his ear and he simply nodded at me. I pulled away and he looked at me again,
"I told you I would come back too shuckface. Im here arnt I?" He protests and I couldnt bring myself to get mad at him as I let out a chuckle. I stand up and I motion for someone to help him up. Two runners come over and lift their Keeper and the follow me to the sick room to patch him up. After all that, Minho almost getting caught in the Maze and seeing a Greiver for my first time. It took its toll on my and I was exhausted. I was just happy everyone was alright. I couldnt bare to lose one of my few friends here.
OMG I dont think ive written a chapter this long before. I just kinda got taken away with my imagination and I let it my fingers fly. Anyways, I really hope you liked it(: Please press that little button on the bottom that says Review. Thank you.