Chapter 3
Charlie's POV
I opened my eyes to see the same ceiling above me and groaned. Why did I have to stay here? It had been almost a month now and I was only allowed out of this room for bathroom breaks. My leg barely hurt unless I hit it on something. I sat up and saw the morning's breakfast on the table next to me. Grouchily I took the plate and ate the eggs and bacon in silence. I was almost done when a knock sounded on the door.
"Come in."
My voice was still raspy from unuse. I didn't get visitors often and when I did it was normally Clint, Jeff or Alby asking more questions which I never had any answers to. The door swung open and Newt walked in with his own partially finished breakfast. He limped over to the bench.
"Care if I join you?"
I shrugged. We continued to eat in silence. When he finished his plate he set it aside and gave me a smile. I raised my eyebrow.
"I got some good news greenie."
I rolled my eyes.
"The only good news I'm interested in hearing is that I can finally get out of this shucking hut."
I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall starring at the blonde. He smirked.
"Well then. Are you coming?"
My brow furrowed.
"Seriously? I can leave? No more sitting around all day or being poked at or asked the same shucking questions over again?"
Newt chuckled and nodded.
I cheered and hastily left the bed. My limp was more prominent than Newt's but I was sure after awhile it would get at least a little better. We grabbed out plates and I followed him out into the warm sunny glade.
"So Alby is busy at the moment and I have been tasked with giving you the tour."
I nodded and we dropped off our dishes at the kitchen. He spread his arms out.
"This is the kitchen. Which is in the homestead. The hut you were just in is the med-jacks where they fix gladers up."
We go outside and he points to the farm in one corner.
"That is where the slicer's work. They take care of all the animals and then butcher some for frypans cooking. Over there is the deadheads and in the back is the graveyard. And that is the gardens where the track hoes work."
It was a lot to take in but I was glad things were being explained. I had heard some of these terms while I was laying around and was getting the explanations at long last.
"Those openings in the wall lead into the maze. We have a group of runners who leave every morning to map it out. If they don't make it back before nightfall and the doors close they are bloody shucked. No one has survived a night. Before you."
He turned to me and I looked down.
"All I did was lay in a bunch of ivy. Wasn't anything cool."
He nodded and point at a concrete building.
"That there is the map room, where all the runners go and discuss what they have seen for that day."
I nod.
"How big is the maze then if they still haven't found a way out?"
He shook his head.
"Not that simple greenie. The doors here move every night. Out there, the maze does as well. New one each day. We have found some repeated here and there but as of yet no pattern to find. Very frustrating honestly."
"You sound like you're speaking from experience."
"Well I used to be a runner. That is till I shucked up my leg."
He then walked over to the gardens. On the way he pointed out the group of builders adding to the homestead, the Badgers dragging the corpse of a recently killed pig, the sloppers and how I wouldn't want that job, then the bricknicks who made the finer things like picnic tables and other stuff. I nodded along and followed him as we grew closer to the gardens.
"Now we have three rules. Number one, always do your part. We have no time for lazying around. Number two, never harm another glader. We run on trust and order if that's broken we lose all this. And number three, never enter the maze unless you're a runner."
He stared at me as if making sure I had learned the rules by heart. I nodded and we continued on our way.
"So now it is time to go through the training weeks. Each day you get a new job and we see if you're any good at it. If you have multiple by the end you can pick and that's what you will be doing from then on. Got it?"
"Loud and clear. So starting with track hoes?"
We had reached the gardens by this time and he nodded.
"Hey Zart! Greenie has arrived."
A rather big guy came walking over. He looked me up and down then gestured for me to follow him. He showed me how to pull the weeds and plant the different types of seeds. Then he left me alone. I sighed and started with the weeds on the farthest garden. Soon I lost myself in the monotonous work. Pull, throw, step back, pull, throw, step back. On and on. When I looked up I saw I had finished the whole plot and then went to retrieve the seeds. My leg wasn't too much of a bother though it didn't like how much weight I leaned on it as I was crouching most of the time. When I finished planting the seeds in the fourth row someone tapped me on the shoulder. I looked up to see Newt with a smirk on his face.
"You like being a track hoe that much? Zart said dinner about five minuets ago."
I wiped the sweat from my brow and gave a small chuckle.
"Just lost in thought I guess, didn't hear him."
He helped me up and we went toward the homestead. Waiting in the line was painful. My leg was starting to complain after all the use it has had, and after smelling the chili my stomach decided to tell me how skipping lunch was the worst mistake I've ever made. When I got to the front I smiled at Frypan as Newt introduced me and got a bowl of the chili and a slice of bread with it. I then turned to the tables and stopped. It was like school all over again. The tables and being the new kid, no where to sit. I wondered for a moment at the almost memory but pushed it aside as my stomach growled again. I sighed. I scanned the tables as I walked and remarkably I found an empty one. I hurried over and inhaled my food as fast as I could. When I finished I took my bowl and spoon to the pile. I then wandered around and watched as many of the boys grabbed sleeping bags and lay them around on the ground. My eyes felt heavy as I made my way to a tree at the edge of the deadheads. I leaned against it and watched as more and more of the boys went to sleep. I felt grimy from the sweat and dirt after working in the gardens, but my eyes refused to stay open. Eventually I fell asleep.
The bright sun woke me and I looked around to see everyone was already working. I sighed and started to stretch. I was sore from the position I had fallen asleep in. As I stretched a thin blanket fell off of me and I looked around. Someone had placed it on me last night. Now came the problem of where do I put it. I folded it up and hung it on the lowest branch in plain site then made my way to the kitchen. I saw Frypan and he gave me a smile.
"Slept in a little late there greenie."
"Sorry Frypan. Anything left from this morning?"
I asked hopefully and he pulled out a plate of toast with eggs. I smiled.
"Thanks."
I found a table and devoured the food before bringing the plate back. I looked at Frypan and he nodded.
"Your on the second day right?"
I nodded.
"Well might as well spend it here."
He led me to the sink and told me to start on the dishes. When I had finished those he took me over to the counter and showed me how to make today's sandwiches. I followed his lead and eventually lost myself in the pattern. He grabbed my hand before I reached for another loaf of bread. I looked at him in confusion and he shook his head.
"No more greenie."
He gave a small chuckle and had me follow him to the back and we got the stuff for dinner. We cooked the chicken and I watched as the other cooks made the fried vegetables among others. I was sent back to work on the dishes from lunch after I ate mine and once that was done we served dinner to the hungry gladers. I got my own plate and found a spot away from everyone and ate quickly. I went to the back and washed my plate off and started on the large pile before I was pulled away by Frypan.
"You can go now greenie, enjoy the night and get some sleep. We got this."
I just nodded and left the building. I looked around and saw most of the boys in their sleeping bags. I went to the showers and was relieved to see no one there. I took off my clothes and quickly cleaned my body then scrubbed my clothes in the washing sinks. I wrung them out as best I could then replaced them and went back out. I headed back to my tree and found the blanket still there. I lay on the ground and watched the stars through the branches and leaves before I slipped into sleep.
Dream
I woke up to see three boys staring at me. They wore creepy grins and two of them grabbed my arms hoisting me up from the ground roughly. They dragged me along as I struggled in their grips till we reached the open maze doors. The leader of the three pulled out a log rope and bound my hands then my feet as I tried to fight them off. Their hands covering my mouth so I could scream. I bit down hard till I tasted blood but they refused to let go. The rumbling started and the spiked wall started to close. They pushed me forward but kept me in the center of the wall. My eyes widened. They were going to impale me on the walls spike. I struggled and screamed but couldn't make more than a small whimper of sound past the hand. When the wall was close enough they pulled away and I felt the stabbing pain as the giant spike pierced my chest. The pain was so great I couldn't even scream. It was silent and the agony grew as the spike pushed its way farther and farther into my body. Blood poured from my wound and I felt lightheaded but was unable to go into the blissfulness of death. Then the crushing came. Every part of my body that wasn't pierced by the spike was being slowly crushed flat by the wall. Finally the darkness engulfed my vision and the pain dissipated.
I woke to a hand on my shoulder and a voice calling my name.
"Charlie. Charlie, wake up!"
I opened my eyes to see Newt shaking me. His eyes were filled with concern which started to grow relieved. I sat up and furrowed my brow when I still tasted blood. I spit it out and pain lanced through my tongue. I had bit it rather hard last night during my dream.
"Are you alright?"
I turned to face Newt and nodded forcing a smile through the pain in my mouth.
"Rriigghht, okay then. Well if you're sure you're okay we should get some food and you ought to head off to your next job."
I only nodded. Then stood up to follow him to the kitchens. We grabbed the food for the morning and quickly ate before heading over to the slicer's area. Newt led the way and introduced me to the keeper, Winston. He had dark hair and acne all over his face. With introductions aside Newt left and Winston showed me around. We started off slow with the care of the many animals. They had chickens to cows, pigs and even bunnies. When we had finished caring for them all Winston grabbed a chicken and brought it into the blood house. He showed me how to hold the bird and where to chop off the head. I followed his lead and then was set the task of plucking all the feathers from it. When I had finished we had to pull the guys from the thing and that's where it started to get to me. Blood I could handle, killing the chicken no problem, ripping it's guts out was rather nasty. When it was finally over I carried the corpse to the kitchens and gave it to Frypan. He looked surprised but took it gladly. I returned after eating a quick sandwich and brought one for Winston. While he ate I was instructed to pick out one of the pigs and show him with the chalk where I thought we should carve it. I drew the dashed lines on the large animal in relation to how it's muscles were shaped. When I finished, Winston nodded but pointed out a few flaws. I paid careful attention as he went through the explanations. He patted my back and it was time for dinner. I limped over to the line and patiently waited for the food. I knew things were going too smoothly recently, especially after that gathering. I felt a pair of arms grip my shoulders and then hurl me out of the line. I tried to catch my footing but only managed to twinge my left leg and bit my lip not to cry out in pain. I hit the ground and felt a few scrapes on my elbows and knees but ignored them. I painfully stood up and limped to the end of the line away from the large boy who shoved me. Standing there I tried my best to keep as much pressure off my leg as I could. When I actually got my food I had barely passed the first table when someone at the second stuck out there foot and kicked my injured leg. Needless to say I fell and the food went flying. I scowled and picked myself back up then limped away from the dinning area and over to the med-jacks hut. I found Clint inside finishing up his meal and I sat on the bed.
"Is your leg bothering you?"
I nodded. He stood up and undid the gauze. I heard the sharp intake of breath and I grabbed one of the sticks on the wall and laid down on the bed.
"One moment. I'll be right back."
I only nodded and laid there thinking of the boys who had caused this. So much for not harming another glader I thought darkly. I glared at the ceiling and barely noticed the door open. Both the med-jacks entered followed by Alby. He held my shoulders and I put the stick in my mouth and waited as they once again reset my leg. After wrapping it in another splint and a lot of gauze I took the stick out and sat up. They didn't leave. I raised my eyebrow and waited.
"I saw a rather large bruise on the side of your leg. How did this happen."
I narrowed my eyes. Then showed them the scrapes on my arms and legs.
"Standing in line someone shoved me out and on the ground. Then latter as I walked by the tables someone kicked my leg. I don't know who it was either times so I guess that's the end of it."
I stood up and limped to the door grabbed a long stick and left the hut. I made my way over to the tree I had been sleeping at and sat there glaring at the sky. I hated this place. I hated the gladers who bullied me and I hated the creators who put me here. I hate my shuck leg and I hated the grievers who could have killed me but didn't even do that. I was stuck here with a group of boys who at the least disliked me because I was different, and at the most hated my guts. I wanted to leave but since I wasn't a runner it was forbidden. There is no way in hell I would get to be a runner with everyone attacking my leg. I sighed and closed my eyes.