The Defective Soldier || Newt

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟗

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥'𝕤 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣

✃✃✃✃✃✃✃✃✃

A feast waiting for them was all it took to make Group A forget about their previous desire to get the guards to open the door. A boy — dark skin, a buzz cut, and food-stained clothing — cried out while rushing to the table with the rest.

"Dibs on the rice!"

The four from Group S stayed by the door, eyeing it suspiciously. They couldn't deny that the feast, as appetising as it seemed, was suspicious, to say the least. More so with the knowledge they had about the Sanctuary and the person in charge.

"This is better than Frypan's slop," a different boy declared, causing some others to laugh.

George pulled on William's and Rowan's sleeves, bringing them closer to him and Leen. They tried to be discreet, talking about how the mission was taking an unknown turn, without having the A's listen to their whispers.

However, other plans were imposed on them.

"You're not eating?" Newt asked from his seat, prompting the four to face the large group.

They exchanged dubious glances, trying to decide who, out of the four of them, would be the one to speak for the group. Mae's and Flor's absences were greatly missed at the moment.

"It's probably better if we stay behind," said William, seeing as no one else would step up to take the job. "We almost killed some of you, remember?"

Teresa stopped eating to scoff at them. "You saved Chuck."

What seemed like the newfound leader of Group A, the pep talker, backed up Teresa and added to her statement with orders. "Get your butts over here and eat with us, shanks."

Not letting them argue, Teresa smiled at them and offered each one an empty plate. The four doubted, but finally gave up, taking the plates and filling them with food. To sit down at the table, they got divided in two. William and Rowan sat down next to Chuck at the edge of the table, while George and Leen sat beside Newt, right across from them.

"What happened to you guys?" Thomas asked, receiving a disapproving look from Newt. "You said that some people took you away. What happened?"

"We were in a building with the rest of our group . . . we weren't many. Just eight." William glanced at the rest, making sure they were fine with how he was explaining their situation so far. "Then some people dressed like aliens took us away . . . I can't remember much after that. It all feels like a dream."

"A buggin' bad one at that," said Newt, his eyes softening as they landed on William's.

"Do you remember anything before you woke up in that building?" Chuck asked, hopeful.

"No, I'm sorry." No doubt was present in Rowan's voice as she answered for William, patting the little boy's back, almost apologetically. Her eyes rose to meet her group, who were already looking back at her with the same sadness in their eyes. "None of us can remember a thing about ourselves. Only our names."

"That's how it worked for us, too," the pep talker pointed out, signalling to everyone around the table with a fork.

Out of the corner of his eye, William saw Thomas give a knowing look to Newt, who shook his head lightly. The blond boy mouthed something, but William couldn't make out exactly what the message was. Something along the lines, "not yet."

"Why would they do that?" Leen wondered out loud, her eyes glancing from one person to another. "What do they want?"

"No idea," Thomas answered rapidly, not letting anyone else say anything. "We guess it was just to play with us, like lab rats."