"I think she's dead."

XIII ~ Sonya

Disclaimer: all characters apart from Peyton and Alex belong to James Dashner.

It's already been a month? Sonya asked herself as she followed her brother out into the open Glade. As they made their way towards the middle, the rest of the Gladers were doing the same. The looks on their faces told the Icer that this was expected, like they knew the siren was going to go off.

It's the siren for this month's Greenie, Newt had said in an obvious tone.

Back in the Spring, a Newbie came up once a month like it does here, Sonya realised. So this must be what happened when someone arrived here.

A metal platform that she hadn't noticed before began rising as the Gladers crowded around it. Newt was somehow the first one there, although Sonya wasn't sure how he got there so fast with his limp. Now that she knew the real reason he had a limp, Sonya felt like she had to be more careful around her brother. But he acted like nothing ever happened, which slightly annoyed Sonya.

The metal platform that Sonya noticed was a Box opened at the top, and Alby and Newt went on each side of it. They each grabbed a handle that was on each side and opened it. Everyone stood around it, trying to peek into the Box at the new Greenie, as Newt called it. Sonya was too slow. She couldn't see past all the heads. Everyone began talking at once.

"Look at that shank."

"How old is he?"

"Looks like a klunk in a T-shirt."

"You're the klunk, shuck-face."

"Dude, it smells like feet down there!"

"Hope you enjoyed the one-way trip, Greenie."

"Ain't no ticker back, bro."

She didn't know who was speaking, she was too busy trying to see who was inside the Box. Someone - Gally, Sonya thought - lowered a rope into the Box. The Greenie hesitantly grabbed onto it and the rope was pulled up. A scared-looking teenage boy appeared from inside the Box. He looked around at the Gladers while some of them snickered. He almost looked sick - Sonya couldn't tell if he was sweating heavily or if he was somehow wet with water, and his eyes twitching as they got used to the bright light of the Glade.

Gally said something about the boy being a Greenbean and him breaking his neck while working. Someone told him to shut his hole.

The boy spoke. "Where am I?"

"Nowhere good," Alby said. Sonya rolled her eyes.

Wow, she thought. Now he's gonna feel so much more safe here.

The Gladers then proceeded to tease him about things that he obviously didn't know; what job he'd get, him being a klunk so he'd be a Slopper.

Alby shut them all up by yelling, "I said shut your holes! Keep yapping and next break'll be cut in half!" He approached the Greenie - No, Sonya said to herself. Don't say things like that. You don't wanna be like them - and introduced himself. He told him that the story of his arrival was a long story, he'd be given the tour tomorrow, then held out his hand to shake. The boy did not return the gesture. Instead, he turned and walked away towards a tree not too far away and slumped down with his back against it, like he'd been working hard all day and needed a break.

"Then tell me. Tell me the long story." When Alby didn't answer and instead looked at the Gladers, the boy kept talking. "Seriously. Where am I?"

Alby sat down next to him and the Gladers followed him, crowding around the two. Since most of them were craning their necks to try and see what was going on, Sonya realised she didn't care enough and walked off.

Thinking about what to do, she decided to go find Alex.

Not many people knew, but Sonya and Alex had formed a kind of... bond with each other since leaving the Spring. They weren't best friends like Sonya and Harriet, but Sonya was one of the only people Alex would talk to after Peyton's death.

She could only hope she'd be willing to talk to her now.

~~~this time skip is dedicated to Frypan's stew~~~

After going further and further into what the Gladers called the Deadheads, Sonya finally caught sight of some dark red hair hiding behind a tree. It didn't sound like she was crying, which relieved Sonya. While taking cautious steps towards her friend, Alex's head shot up and she turned around.

Her eyes were red and her face was splotchy, but Sonya could tell she hadn't been crying for some time.

"Hey Al," she said softly as she approached Alex. To her surprise, the Icer smirked.

"Just because I finally came out doesn't mean you have to talk to me like a baby, Son," she said with a short laugh as she turned back around. Sonya moved closer and sat down beside her friend.

"How're you doing?"

Alex exhaled. "Fine, as far as embarrassment in front of a million boys goes."

Sonya nodded and looked at the small stream of water in front of them. "A Greenie just came."

"That's what those sticks call Blondies, right?"

"Yeah."

"What's he look like?"

She shrugged. "Pretty basic, I guess. Kinda tall but not too tall, probably around sixteen or something, light brown hair, I think blue eyes... I didn't really get a good look at him."

"Hfm, sounds boring."

"Yeah."

"Where is he now? Being interrogated by all those dumb sticks?"

"No, Alby's talking to him and the Gladers are all staring at them."

Alex snorted. "Weirdos."

Sonya laughed. "Yeah, I guess."

Then there was silence. Sonya decided to take a risk.

"You wanna come back and eat dinner?"

Alex remained silent for a minute. "Sure, why not? Hopefully I'll see Gally and give him a piece of my mind." She cracked her knuckles and stood up. "Let's go."

Sonya stood up as well. "Race ya."

"First one there is the better Icer!"

Together they raced through the Deadheads, jumping over roots and logs and trying not to trip over anything. Alex was the first one to reach the open Glade.