THE ERROR (Newt Fanfiction)

Thomas: Chapter 15

The boy looks up at her with worried, intimidated eyes.

"Don't worry. I don't bite."

He half smiles and takes her hand. Kayla pulls him up and he almost slams into her chest.

"Sorry." He mutters.

"No, it's okay."

Kayla looks up at him and realizes he is about and inch taller than her.

"Hey! If you two shanks are done making out, can the new Greenie get up here!"

Gally.

Kayla scowls and turns.

"Be patient you piece of klunk!"

She turns back to the Greenie.

"Sorry about that. That's Gally and he's a real shuck-face!"

She raises her voice at the last part, intentionally making Gally angry.

The Greenie laughs lightly and looks up at all of the boys.

"Hey, are you the only girl?"

"Yep."

"Why?"

"We never found out. I was the Greenie before you, a new one comes every month."

"Whats a Greenie?"

"Newbie."

She grabs his forearm.

"Now, come on. Questions later, introductions first."

Kayla lets go and turns around, gripping her hands onto the holes of the Box.

She pulls herself out and the Greenie follows.

All of the Gladers step back once they are out and Newt helps Kayla to her feet.

She looks at the Greenie.

"Can you remember your name?"

"Uh...I-I think so I mean....I think I'm Thomas."

Kayla smiles and hits him on the right bicep.

"Welcome to the Glade, Thomas."

He flinches slightly and nods.

Alby steps forward, holding out a hand.

"Hey, don't go doin' my job. Thomas, I'm Alby. I'm the Keeper of the Glade."

Thomas shakes his hand.

"Keeper?"

"Leader."

Alby lets his hand drop and puts a hand on Newt's shoulder.

"This here's Newt. He's second in command; if you need anything, go to him first."

Newt eyes him suspiciously, his gaze flickering towards Kayla, then smiles.

"Nice to meet ya' Greenie."

"Thomas."

Newt's smile half fades.

"Right. Thomas."

He folds his arms across his chest.

"I'm gonna go back to work. Kk, you comin'?"

Kayla looks to him, then back to Thomas.

"I'm gonna show the Greenie around, is that okay?"

Newt clears his throat and then nods, his gaze low.

"Yeah."

He turns around and limps back to the fields, dagger in hand.

Alby looks to her.

"I'm givin' him a tour, Kayla, but you can show him around a bit first."

She nods.

Alby and all the other Gladers walk off, leaving the two there.

"So." Kayla looks up to him.

"Uh, where....am I."

She smiles and takes his wrist.

"Come here."

Kayla walks across the Glade and pulls him up the Lookout  to the highest platform. She turns to him.

"This is the Glade. Before you go asking questions, One: we don't know who put us here. Two: everything you suggest, we've tried it. Three: out there is the Maze. Four: it's our only way out. Five: there are things called Grievers that sting you and you go through the Changing. Six: the Changing gives you some memories back, but also makes you go insane. Seven: there are jobs here and you will be 'auditioning' for some later in the week. Eight: one job is a runner and the Runner's run the Maze and look for a way out. Nine: We've never found one. Ten: the oldest boys here have been here for three years." 

Thomas's mouth had dropped and he is staring at her.

"O...Okay....?"

"Also, I'm a runner."

She laughs and turns to look at the open Glade walls.

A moment of silence hangs through the air, broken only by the shuffle of Thomas's hands against the rough wood as he looks out across the Glade.

"You know...the grievers don't just sting you."

He looks to her, confusion streaked across his features.

"What do you mean?"

She lifts up the baggy, tan, hooded shirt she is wearing, which used to be Newt's, to where her rib cage starts and points to the ragged scar that slices across her lower stomach.

"A shuckin' griever sliced me on my first day in the Maze."

Thomas's eyes widen and he looks at it.

"Jeez..."

She lets her shirt fall back down. 

"Yeah."

Thomas sighs.

"Should we go back down?"

"Sure."

Kayla let's go of the railing and walks past him, lifting open the hatch to the lower levels. 

She pushes it to the side and climbs down, Thomas following.

When they reach the bottom, a smiling boy is there to greet them.

"Hey, Chuck."

"Hey."

"Chuck, this is Thomas. The new Greenie."

Thomas waves and Chuck smiles wider.

"Alby told me to set up your hammock and for you," He points to Kayla. "To go back to work with Newt."

She smiles.

"K."

Kayla gives Thomas one last wave and turns away from them, jogging towards the fields.