How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter One

- Going up. Fast. -

Dark. Darker. Darkest.All she could see was pitch-black nothingness, an endless void pressing in from all sides. The last thing she remembered was the rough shove of an armed man, his grim face hidden in shadow, forcing her into what felt like a cage. She recalled the sound of the lock clicking, the sharp clang of metal against metal. Her body trembled as the memory played over and over in her mind, but that wasn't the worst of it.

Her lungs burned as she gasped for air, coughing and sputtering as if she'd just been submerged underwater. The taste of stale, dusty air invaded her senses, sharp and oppressive. She pushed herself up, legs shaky, trying to get a grasp of her surroundings, but the darkness was all-consuming. Every surface she touched was cold, unyielding metal.

A screech pierced the silence, jarring and relentless. She clasped her hands over her ears as the sound of the cage grinding against the walls rattled through her skull. Gathering her resolve, she took a tentative step forward, her bare feet sliding on the smooth floor. But before she could steady herself, the entire cage lurched violently, and she was thrown to the ground. The impact sent pain shooting through her body as the cold metal bit into her skin.

Groaning, she tried to pull herself back up, only to be slammed down again by another sudden jolt. This time, the force knocked the air from her lungs, leaving her wheezing, clutching her chest. She lay there for what felt like an eternity, her breaths shallow and rapid, her heart pounding against her ribs. Her body trembled uncontrollably, not from the cold but from the 

sheer terror of it all.

The cage shifted again, jerking upward with a violent force. She felt herself lift off the ground briefly before slamming back down with a sickening thud. The rattling of chains echoed above her, mingling with the rhythmic clangs of pulleys. The sound reminded her of an old, decrepit factory, a place long abandoned yet somehow still alive. The acrid smell of burnt oil filled the air, making her stomach churn.

Desperate for stability, she crawled towards a stack of boxes in the corner, gripping the edges for support as she pulled herself up. Her knees wobbled, her arms shook, but she managed to stay upright, leaning heavily against the makeshift support.

Then, a name surfaced in her mind, unbidden.

Y/N.

It echoed, soft and distant, as if someone had whispered it into her ear. It felt familiar, yet foreign, like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit. Was it hers? She repeated it silently, trying to make sense of it, but it brought no comfort, only confusion.

Memories flooded her mind in disjointed flashes: snow-covered trees, running through sunlit fields, laughter ringing out like music. But they felt distant, intangible, like scenes from someone else's life. She tried to grasp onto them, to piece together her identity, but the harder she tried, the more they slipped away. Faces appeared in her mind—blurry, indistinct, like smeared paint on a canvas. Friends? Family? She couldn't tell.

Time dragged on as the cage continued its relentless ascent. She lost track of how long she had been there, the minutes blending into what felt like hours. Her body swayed with the motion, her grip tightening on the box with every jolt.

Finally, with a deafening groan, the cage came to a sudden halt. The force threw her backward, her body hitting the metal floor with a bone-rattling crash. Pain shot through her chest as she gasped for air, her lungs struggling to draw in even the smallest breath. Tears stung her eyes as she lay there, trying to will her body to move.

Silence fell, heavy and suffocating. Only the sound of her ragged breathing filled the void. A minute passed. Then another.

Panic clawed at her chest as she forced herself to sit up, her hands searching the walls for any sign of escape. The metal was smooth and cold beneath her fingertips, offering no clue, no hope. She sank to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest as despair set in.

"Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Someone... anyone... help me." The words barely escaped her lips, carried away by the oppressive silence.

Then, a sharp clank echoed above her, and her head shot up in alarm. A line of red light appeared across the ceiling, glowing faintly at first before splitting open into a blinding beam of green light. The sudden brightness stabbed at her eyes, forcing her to shield them with her hands.

Voices.

"What is it?"

"It's a girl."

"A girl?"

The words floated down to her, strange and echoing. Her heart pounded as she tried to make sense of them, but the tone of their voices sent a wave of unease washing over her.

"Is she hot?"

"How old is she?"

"Dibs!"

The panic surged anew as her eyes adjusted to the light. She could make out shapes now—figures looming above her, peering into the cage. Shadows twisted into faces, leering and curious. They weren't men but boys, their expressions a mix of intrigue and something more unsettling.

"Hey," a voice called out, softer but no less startling. One of the boys jumped down into the cage, his movement quick but deliberate.

She scrambled back against the wall, her body trembling.

"Hey, hey, I'm not gonna hurt ya," he said, his voice tinged with a thick British accent. He held out a hand, his expression surprisingly gentle.

Her instincts screamed at her to stay away, but something in his eyes made her hesitate. Slowly, she reached out, her hand trembling as it met his. He pulled her up with surprising ease, guiding her out of the cage and into the harsh light.

The moment her feet touched solid ground, she was surrounded. Dozens of boys swarmed around her, their eyes wide with curiosity, their questions overlapping in a cacophony of sound.

"HEY! BACK OFF!" the British boy shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. The others fell silent, grumbling as they dispersed.

"Sorry 'bout that, love," he said, turning back to her with an apologetic smile.

"Love?" she murmured, her voice hoarse.

"Yeah," he replied, shrugging. "Feels more fitting than Greenie."

"Greenie?" she repeated, confused.

"Name's Newt," he said, extending his hand again.

"Y/N," she whispered, the name still feeling foreign on her tongue.

"Well, Y/N," Newt said, his smile widening, "welcome to the Glade."

He gestured behind him, revealing a vast expanse surrounded by towering walls. And for the first time, she realized she wasn't in a cage anymore—but she wasn't free either.