Secrets | TMR | One

2:2

Later that evening, every Glader is huddled together in the middle of the field, some of them holding bowls of fruit, others nursing cups of Gally's famous drink, while the keepers have their hands curved around long wooden spears.

Nick stands at the front of the crowd, clutching onto a spear of his own. "We're doing this tonight for two reasons. First one is to welcome our new Glader" he says, using his free hand to motion towards the boy, a tiny smile growing on his face as he watches the boys surrounding the Greenie start shaking him and messing up his hair. "Who does not yet know his name, but I'm sure he'll soon remember, right guys?"

The crowd begins to cheer, but none of them as loud as Alby or Adeline. She puts her hands on either sides of the mouth as she screams out, while Alby 'whoops', balling his right hand into a fist, raising it into the air and twirling it in circles.

Both of them stop after a moment, turning to face the newbie and excitedly sticking their thumbs up at him.

Nick lets out a chuckle at the silliness of his two friends, but the smile quickly fades as he moves on. "The second reason for this Bonfire... is to say goodbye to someone. Kenny. A fellow Glader, a friend. He was a quiet boy, but he was loved by everyone, and I'm sure you can all agree when I say that he will be truly missed."

Adeline takes a step forward, shuffling past Gally and grabbing the cup from his hands on her way. "To Kenny!" she shouts, raising the cup into the air and looking to boys around her.

"To Kenny!" they all shout back, raising their cups, spears and hands into the air as they bid a final goodbye to the boy.

"The past few days, we have mourned, but tonight" Nick starts, raising extending his spear out so that Alby can light it, "let's celebrate his life and his time in the Glade!"

Every Glader begins cheering once again. Each keepers mimicks their leaders movements, extending their wooden poles out so that Alby can light them and standing in a circle around the bonfire.

Once all the spears have been lit, Alby pushes himself in between Nick and Gally.

The keeper of the builders then shuffles to the side, allowing Adeline some space to tuck herself in the middle. He moves his hand forward, curving it around the spear while Adeline clutches onto the end of it.

Gally makes sure to put his hand in front of hers, not wanting to run the risk of her possibly burning herself on the flames.

She looks up to him, and the pair share a small smile before turning to Alby and nodding their heads.

The second-in-command returns the nod with one of his own and turns his face towards the planks of wood on the grass. "LIGHT HER UP!"

The large wooden structure in the Glade ignites as all the keepers lob their spears towards the planks of wood at the bottom. Every one of them cheers as the wood is engulfed by fire. Some dance around the flames, while others stand in small groups and catch up on the latest Glade gossip - which just so happens to be where Alby is.

A few boys play on some drums that the builders made, and a small crowd surrounds the circle. Gally, of course, is in the circle, fighting off every boy who enters within the space of a few minutes.

Adeline walks around aimlessly, not sure of what to do with herself. If she were to be honest, she does not want to be here. She would much rather be tucked up in her bed, feeling sorry for herself.

But this night is not about her.

It is about Kenny, and so, she stays, stood in the middle of the grass with a pair of leggings on that have had the legs cut off just above the knees, and Gally's shirt, which hangs half way down her thighs. Her feet are tightly pressed together, her hands brought up to the middle of her stomach as she twiddles her fingers together.