Chapter Text
When he woke up, there was no light to identify the space around him. He could smell iron and mold in the icy-cold air.
His head hurt and he couldn't remember how he got there, or even who he was. He felt panic taking him over as the councsiousness slowly came back in his empty mind. He couldn't remember anything !
With a grinding noise, the space started moving up, making him fall on the dirty metal floor. Blinded by the surrounding darkness, he tried desperately to grab something to hold on to, leaning against rough wooden shapes.
The room moved faster, making it impossible to move. Like a scared animal, he waited for whatever would come next. The time stretched in what seemed to be forever. He started to feel nauseous and dizzy.
Just when he began to wonder if this would ever end, the thing slowed down, then completely stopped and something locked on its walls.
He carefully reached into the darkness, trying to find anything helpfull, or even better : a way out. But he couldn't make any sense of shapes under his fingers.
Suddenly, something knocked hard on the metal above him and the ceiling opened with an explosion of blinding light, heat and loud voices.
His eyes hurt as he tried to look up, welcomed by the fresh air and laughter.
"Just look at that greenie !"
"How old is he ?"
"He looks like a piece of klunk !"
"Hey, what's that smell ?"
Children's voices ?
Slowly, his vision adjusted and he saw people trying to look inside his metal prison. One of them, a young man with black skin and stern look stepped closer and held a hand to help him out.
"Hope you enjoyed your ride, greenie, 'cause it's one way only. Welcome to the Glade !"
Shaking on his legs, the newcomer looked around. It was hot and sunny. He was surrounded by dozens of other boys, some of them were barely fifteen years old, others were only few years older. They were all covered in dust, their faces tanned and clothes worn out.
Besides the dark boy who welcomed him, his attention got caught by a tough guy with squared chin who stared at him in disdain, a small chubby kid who was bouncing cheerfully on his feet... But most of all, a slender young man with long blonde hair and smart black eyes.
A slight frown and an amused smile from the blonde boy made the newcomer realise that he was probably staring at him for a little too long.
Turning away, he looked behind the crowd. They were in the center of some sort of prairie, a perfect square of grass and trees. There was a small village of shaky wooden houses, surrounded by vegetable gardens. And defining that perfect square, there were four huge stone walls. Massive, cold and sinister despite the sunlight. Each of the walls had a narrow opening in the center.
"Where am I ?" He was surprised by the sound of his voice, discovering it for the first time.
"I the middle of nowhere." Replied the black-skinned boy, it looked like he was the leader here, since the others stayed in retreat. "It's a long story, greenie. Calm down first, and try not to break anything." He held a hand "I'm Alby by the way."
The newcomer felt the panic raise in him slowly again. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.
Not noticing Alby's hand, he leaned against the nearest tree, head spinning and breath ragged.
"I'm listening !"
"Look, it's normal to be scared and confused." Replied Alby with a sigh. "Otherwise, it would mean you're jacked."
"What's jacked ?"
The meaning of some words seemed escape him, he wasn't sure if it was a different language or just something he forgot along with the rest of his life.
"Great, you don't even get what I'm saying..." Alby clasped his hands in frustration. "Just relax, no one's gonna hurt you, okay ?"
The blonde boy stepped next to Alby. The newcomer noticed that he walked with a limp, but his movements were still smooth despite that.
"Let me try." His voice was as soft as his smile, tinged with a pleasant accent. "The poor greenie's completely lost and scared to death." He held his graceful hand to the newcomer. "I'm Newt. You should excuse Alby, he's not used to questions."
The Greenie, as good name as any, shook Newt's hand. Held on would be more accurate. He was still confused and scared, but slowly regaining his composure. And Newt had something soothing and comforting about him, almost familiar.
"This place is called the Glade. It's where we live, eat and sleep. And we're the Gladers. You're one of us now."
"Why are we here, who sent us here ?"
"No idea. But your previous life is over, a new one starts from now on." Newt was locking his dark eyes with him like a snake charmer. "I know you don't remember anything. It's okay. You'll remember your name later, it's all we're allowed to keep. Meanwhile, learn the rules, do your job, and everything would be fine, alright ?"
The Greenie nodded in silence. As the first shock slowly faded, he felt tired and depressed. He held back the tears that suddenly treatened to run down his face.
"It's your first day, Greenie." said Alby resolutely "It's almost the sunset, Runners will be back soon. We don't have time to show you around today. Newt, find him some place to sleep."
"Come on." Newt softly touched his shoulder, inviting him to follow. "We were all lost the first days. In few weeks from here, you'll be like home."
He followed his graceful guide, looking back one last time to the black square hole where he came from. The other boys were already taking out crates that came up with him.
Was it some kind of prison ? Was he a criminal then ? And what about the others ? If so, what was the sentence and how long would they stay here ? Is it even possible to get out ?
"We were all just like you." Newt continued to explain as they walked to the small village. "The bloody Box takes us here, one after another, with no memories except our name. And I won't lie to you, it's not going to get any better. But you look strong, I'm sure you'll be fine."
As he walked few steps behind, the newcomer found himself watching the sunset rays paint Newt in golden. In his numbness, the sight caught his attention and distracted him for a while from fear and headache.
That's when a horrible, barely human scream reverberated through the Glade.
When he realised that the scream came from one of the village houses, his blood turned to ice.
Newt stopped with a start, staring in that direction with a worry look.
"Shucking medics, can't take care of him for ten bloody minutes ?" He pushed the newcomer in the opposite direction "Go seek Chuck, he'll find you a place to rest."
Left alone, the Greenie watched Newt join few other boys outside the building where the screams were coming from. They all looked anxious, looking inside with caution, as if they expected to see a monster come out at any moment.
Chuck turned out to be the young chubby boy who bounced cheerfully when he came out of the box. He was the youngest of them all, no more than twelve years old. He had long, curly brown hair and his big blue eyes were the only noteworthy thing on his hearty face.
He eagerly guided the Greenie back to the village, in what seemed to be a four-story dormitory. The space was a chaos of wooden beams, windows, ivy, hammocks and ropes, the whole mess miraculously holding together.
"What's going on in there ?" asked the Greenie pointing to screams as they settled down.
"Ben's sick. They got him." Responded Chuck with a nervous smile. He obviously tryed to look braver than he was feeling.
"They who ? It sounds like someone's dying in there !" Another near-animal scream startled him.
"He'll make it. No one dies if the injection is made in time, but it hurts like hell."
"What got him ?"
The boy looked sheepishly on his feet. "A Griever stung him."
"What's a Griever ?"
Chuck shrugged. "I don't know, those who survived won't talk."
They stood there, looking on the ground and listening to the distant screams. The newcomer was considering everything he learned about the place. It wasn't just a prison then, there was a real deadly danger out there.
He tried to remember anything about himself, failing again.
"Hmmm... Chuck ? What do I look like ?"
Surprised, the young boy studied him for few seconds before answering "I'd tell you're sixteen. Brown hair, brown eyes, nothing special."
Sixteen ? Strange, he felt older.
"Don't worry, you'll be confused for a couple of days, but you'll got used." Chuck stood up, preparing to leave. "It's our home now, could be worse, I guess. I'll be there if you need me. You know, before you came I was the greenie. I'm here for one month already, I know the Glade like the back of my hand. You can count on me, okay ?"
"Uh... alright. Thanks, Chuck."
Left alone again, the Greenie lay down for a while before deciding to explore the place on his own.
He was too anxious to rest anyway, and despite the fear, he neded to learn more about the danger he could be facing in the future. Trying to look casual, he walked to the building where the screams were coming from. Few boys were hanging near the door, they looked much more relaxed then earlier. There was no trace of Newt, but he recognised the tough guy, who immediately looked in his direction with the same disdainful expression as before.
"What do you want, shuckface ?" The question was followed by the unpleasant laugh of his friends.
That smelled like trouble. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea.
He decided to give it a try anyway and stepped to the door, ignoring the band. But the tough guy blocked his way and shoved him bluntly.
"Where do you think you're going, klunk ? Greenies are forbidden from seeing those who got stung ! Newt's and Alby's orders !"
"What's your problem ?" the Greenie stepped back, trying not to think about what 'got stung' might mean. "I don't even know where I am, I'm just lost."
"Well shuckface, get lost elsewhere. I'm sure I already saw you before. There's something shifty about you, and I'll find what it is, trust me."
"We've already met ? Where ? If you remember anything..."
The brute knew something, but whatever it was, his smirk made it clear it wasn't the right time to ask questions.
"Well I remember you, shuckface." The boy took a proud posture. "We're not so many to survive the sting, but I did. I know what Ben's going through. And I saw you during the Changing. I bet Ben would see you too."
The Greenie was eager to find out what they could possibly have seen. Maybe he could get better luck with Ben ?
He tried another approach. "If Newt is inside, I want to speak to him."
"You know what ? You're right, I shouldn't be so mean to greenies" Replied the big guy with fake smile, stepping aside. "I'm so sorry, come in. I'm sure Newt and Alby would be happy to show you around."
That was an obvious trap, but all that matered for now was information, and it was inside that building. Newt was there too, hopefully as welcoming as before. He stepped closer to the door before turning one last time to the tough guy.
"What's your name ?"
"Gally," responded proudly the bully "And I'm the one in charge in here."
"Alright, Gally," The newcomer pushed the door. "It's nice to meet such an obliging person."
The comment sparked mocking laughs through the band. It could be wise to avoid Gally from now on...
Iside the house, Newt and Alby were standing by a camp bed, and what he saw tied on it sent shivers down his spine.
The boy was shirtless, his pale skin covered in black veins that swelled underneath like crooked roots. He was twisting in pain, screaming with inhuman voice. A deep, raw wound was crossing his chest. His blood-filled eyes were rolling in agony.
The image was already burned in newcomer's mind when Newt pushed him out.
"What the shuck are you doing here ?!" Roared Alby from the doorstep. "Get your ass back to the dormitory ! If I see you here again, I'll tear your head off myself !"
"It's alright !" Replied Newt, his hands on Greenie's shoulders, pushing him away from the infirmary. "Go back Alby, I got him !"
"I..." The newcomer tried to find an excuse, but there was none. "I'm sorry. I was just looking for answers."
He was scared by what he saw. He might have lost all of his memory, but he was pretty sure that whatever that thing was, it wasn't normal. He searched for Newt's dark eyes, hoping for support. But all he saw was dissaproval and pain.
Gally and his band were ecstatic, shouting and laughing.
"Shut up !" Newt's voice, cold and sharp, made them stop in an instant. He gripped tight newcomer's arm and dragged him away.
Chuck, who saw the whole thing came running to join them.
"Go fetch him some food, would you ?" Newt asked the boy while taking the newcomer under the trees, away from village and people.
"I'm not sure I could eat anything..." The horrifying vision was stuck before his eyes. He was shaking in shock when it suddenly hit him... "Thomas... My name is Thomas !"
Chuck pushed an entusiastic cheer and Newt's features softened, that gentle smile on his lips again.
"Welcome to the Glade, Thomas."
But Newt's eyes stayed dark and pained.
Something was terribly wrong with this place...