Chapter 5
Taylor shifted around in her seat under many of the boy's gazes. Not all of them were looking at her. Newt and Minho were talking, so was Gally and some other boy someone had called Zart. Alby walked up to the front of the room.
"We have gathered to talk about the new greenie. Taylor." He paused for effect. "And yes, that's a girl name, as you have probably already found out. We need to agree on what to do about her." What to do about me? Taylor echoed in her head.
"She's a girl. Useless and weak. Just another mouth to feed." Someone in the crowd piped up.
"He's right." Another agreed. Taylor's jaw tightened. I'm not useless. She thought angrily, and would've said other wise had Minho not given her a warning glance.
"She could be a spy from the creators. She probably has some secret plot to murder us all." Taylor's blood ran cold at that comment, at how close that statement was to the truth. No. No. I'm not going to kill any one here. I'm not a murder. She argued back to herself.
"I say we banish her." Some one declared. She froze. Excuse me?
"What?" Minho stood up. "Gally, you slinthead, why would you even say that?"
" She's a girl. She's weak or she could be a spy. She could be trained to kill on of us." Gally also stood up. Taylor couldn't take having everyone talking about her like she wasn't there and stood up in a flurry.
"She is right here. So maybe you should fu-"
"Greenie, sit down." Ably demanded. Taylor turned on him, and was about to say something rather rude when Newt interrupted,
"Taylor, sit down." Taylor gave him a long hard look before she sat down. Just because he used my actual name. She thought bitterly.
"And easily angered." Gally added. And the argument was back on.
"We can't just throw her into the maze because she's a girl." Minho argued.
"Yeah, Shuck face, we kinda' can."
"We don't just throw innocent people into the maze!"
"How do you know she's innocent?"
"Why would you shucking say that she's not?"
"She's a girl," Gally stated. Taylor rolled her eyes angrily. No shit Sherlock. She paused for a moment, surprised at her own phrasing. Sherlock? But dismissed it as the argument raged on."And the only one that the creators have sent here."
"Her being a spy is just as likely as one of us being a spy."
"He's right." Newt agreed. "She didn't ask to be here, and neither did any of you. Just banishing her would be cruel."
"Sit down, shut up, and we'll take a vote." Alby interrupted. "Zart, what do you say?"
"I say we give her a chance to prove herself worthy." He said.
"And how do we do that?" Ably inquired. Zart looked at Taylor thoughtfully.
"Make her a runner. Tomorrow she'll start-" Newt stood up, and Minho, who sat beside him, looked enraged at the idea. A runner? Taylor echoed in her head.
"No greenie starts their work the next day they come." Newt interrupted.
"She's been here for about a week, Newt."
"With a concussion, unconscious." Jeff piped in. "Making her run the maze directly won't be good for her health."
"Let the shank finish." Alby barked. "Zart?"
"Make her run tomorrow and the days after. If she can keep up, then she can prove herself worthy and get a new job. If she doesn't kill Minho, then she's probably not a spy. If she can't, then she's out." This is ridiculous. Taylor thought. Newt, Minho, and Jeff looked like they were sharing the same thoughts.
"Any other ideas?" No one said a word. "Then raise your hand if you agree with Zart." Alby continued. Taylor's heart sank as she saw how many hands went up, even Alby's. She felt utterly betrayed. Was all that Alby had said in her defense before just to make her trust him?
"This is stupid. She's a girl." Minho was having trouble finding words.
"So?" Gally smirked, knowing that he had won.
"Taylor will run with Minho through the Maze tomorrow. If she can't keep up, then, Minho, leave her. If you don't then… just leave her if she can't keep up." Minho just glared at Alby who continued, "The new rules regarding the girl will be: you can't touch her without permission, except the maybe the Med Jacks. And no going into the bathroom when she's in there. Okay?" Murmurs of agreement filled the room. Taylor felt her face get hot from anger and slight embarrassment. "This gathering is dismissed." Everyone stood up to leave besides Minho and Newt, both looking extremely cross. "Greenie, can you stay for a moment? I need to discuss something." Alby asked casually, like he hadn't just sent her to some uncertain death. Taylor's tolerance shattered.
"Oh? You sure?" She snapped back at him, "Cus' I'm just a girl."
"Taylo-" She stormed out of the room before whomever had been about to speak spoke, with every boy's gaze stinging her back.