This Conspiracy

Chapter 22

Author stuff: I love this girl. I had completely forgotten. She's great. She's fabulous. Y'all, you're going to like her.

Chapter 22

In Which No One Knows What To Make Of The New Greenie

Somehow, Nick had forced Gally away from Flossy – sent him on some task or another, a feat in and of itself – and allowed Archie to watch over the Greenie and the Girlie. In his mind, he couldn't think of the Greenie as a Girlie, although that was what she was. She just didn't seem like a Girlie, like Flossy did. It didn't suit her.

He wasn't sure what to make of the Greenie. She was a strange one, that was for certain.

She and Flossy walked out of the showers chatting amicably. It was a rather odd turnaround from their initial introduction. From somewhere, Flossy had pulled out a hair tie and given it to the Greenie. Maybe that had caused them to bond.

"...very well," Flossy said as they reached him.

"Yeah, well," the Greenie said, stuffing her hands in her pockets. She scuffed her toes on the ground. The only thing they hadn't been able to get her was a pair of new shoes, so she was forced to wear the pair of blood-stained ones that had been sent up with her. It did look, however, that an attempt to wipe away the blood had been made.

He noted, with her hair pulled back, that there was a silver chain around her neck. Whatever was on the heavy end was tucked under her borrowed shirt. From what he could tell, it was circular and hard.

"Archie, what do you think?"

"Uh," he said. "I, uh, I didn't hear the beginning of the conversation."

"Do you think Nick will let her sleep in my room?" Flossy said. "I mean, it'd make sense, having the two Girlies together, wouldn't it?"

"He might think I'm a bad influence on you," the Greenie said, flashing a spectacular smirk.

"We should go find him and ask."

The two headed off, and he was forced to follow. He took that time to observe the Greenie.

Her eyes were too big for her face, but they were pretty to look at. She had a dark complexion, which made her freckles all the stranger. He didn't think anyone that dark could have freckles. Everything about her frame and face screamed delicate and fragile, but the way she carried herself contradicted that. And she was tall – taller than him or Alby or many of the other Gladers. Newt's trousers fit her fine in length, but Flossy had had to procure a belt for her to wear. She didn't mention who she'd stolen it from. He wasn't sure whose shirt they got for her, but it made her appear more boyish and lanky than before.

She looked like she could be a Runner, although he didn't voice that out loud.

They found Nick taking inventory with the Keepers near the Box. They waited until the group dispersed to approach him. Just like he knew he would, Gally hung back with Nick. They both gave the Greenie a once over, taking in everything he already thought about her.

"Well," Nick said, "glad to see you actually look like a human and you're not some shucking Griever."

The Greenie arched her brow upwards, but she didn't question 'shuck' or 'Griever'. That was odd. Every Greenie since they had come up – well, just Harry and Ben – had questioned the weird words. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Good to know that I meet the lowest of your expectations of me," she said, clasping her hands in front of her as she squared her shoulders. "Flossy has been telling me a bit about the Glade. I must say that I'm impressed by how you have managed so far."