Reshuffled || Maze Runner Fanfiction

Greenies

The bell rings fierce and hard, louder than I thought possible. Nearly as loud as the doors of the Glade closing- and much more annoying. They ring for a whole minute, and by the end I half expect my eardrums are bleeding.

The Gladers are quick to answer the call. A new greenie. A new Glader. Another girl? Or the normal boy? I'm hesitant, but I force myself to trail the crowd.

Today is unusually cold. Colder than it should be. colder than it's ever been in the Glade, Newt told me yesterday. I slip through the throng of people, making my way to Newt. He's at the head of the crowd, standing next to the Box. Next to Newt, Alby towers over the crowd. I see Minho nearby, as well as other group keepers. I see the keeper of the gardens, Zart, and hidden in the crowd I spot Robert nearby. The rest are faces and names I've been unable to memorize. Sam, gangly and spiteful. To the front of the crowd, I see Micheal- a tall and handsome boy, if acne didn't mar his appearance. I talk to him every once and a while, and he seems friendly if a bit quiet.

Everyone's talking, making it hard to think. The ring of chatter almost as loud as the incessant bell. But then I hear the slide of metal, then a hitching, then a click as it stops. Finally, the bells stop.

A new greenie has arrived.

Newt starts forward immediately. The crowd surges, but Alby shouts profanities and they reluctantly step back. I hear my name.

"Tera, get over here in case it's a girl," and I scramble after Newt as he lingers by the box. Then he pulls it open.

The shadows obscure the figures in the box. I see the normal supplies, but also-

-two girls. Two girls and a boy. Sitting opposite of each other, in different corners, shivering and scared out of their minds. The boy glares up, his eyes screwed against the sun, and I swallow hard. This isn't normal.

Robert's words ring in my ear. The rules of the Glade are changing. The rules are changing.

Images flash in my mind. I see a wave of people against a building, broken glass, shattered rocks. I see blood. So much blood. It pools beneath white-coated scientists.

I blink, and it's gone. I turn my attention back to the box.

Newt gestures for me to jump in. I oblige, and he follows after me.

Two girls. One is blonde with even features and a feminine jaw. The other is dark-skinned with wide eyes and a defiant gaze. Tension buzzes in the air around them.

"Hey," I force my voice not to tremble. I hear murmuring in the air beyond the box, like the constant buzz of bugs, "I'm Tera." I offer a hand out to the defiant girl. She seems less afraid. Her grip is strong as she pulls herself up, and in her glare I see fear. She hides it well, though, her arms stiff at her side. She helps the blonde girl up.

Newt's helping the boy out of the box. I do the same for the two girls, uncertainty resting like a pit in my stomach. Everything is wrong. When I help the two girls up, murmurs ripple throughout the Gladers. Three greenies. Most of them are swearing.

Newt takes in the girls, his eyebrows knitted. I purse my lips. The new boy is stout but strong, his muscles defined, his veins clear on his skin. He looks angry. I look away when he catches my gaze.

"What is this place?" The defiant girl turns to me for answers. My chest constricts. I got here a month ago, now I have to take care of the girl greenies? I swallow hard, trying to gather my composure.

"This is the Glade," I talk loud enough for the rest of the Gladers to know to shut up. As I explain the situation, the defiant girl looks more and more uncertain, and the blonde is trembling. I bite my lip as I end, reminding myself that I was the same way when I came into the maze.