How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Five

- The tour -

"Hey, Y/n?"

I turned at the sound of my name to see Alby striding toward me. I was kneeling in the garden with Newt, helping him and Zart pull weeds and tend to the crops. The late-morning sun cast a golden hue over the Glade, and the earthy smell of fresh soil filled the air.

"What's up?" I asked, standing up and brushing the dirt off my black cargo pants.

"Ya ready for your tour?" Alby asked, stopping in front of me with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, I was wondering when you were gonna ask," I replied, a slight grin tugging at my lips.

I dusted my hands off and turned to call out to Newt, who was working a little farther away. "Hey, Newt!"

He popped up from behind a row of bushes, his blonde hair sticking out in every direction. "Yeah!?"

"I'm heading off with Alby! I'll be back later to finish up here!" I shouted back.

Newt gave me a thumbs-up before disappearing back into the bushes. Satisfied, I turned and followed Alby as he led me away from the garden.

---

The tour began with Alby pointing out landmarks I had already seen, but his explanations gave them new context.

"So, you've seen the sleeping area, the kitchen, the gardens," Alby began, gesturing to each as we passed. "And those big doors over there? Hard to miss."

I glanced over at the massive walls and nodded. They loomed over the Glade like silent sentinels, both ominous and intriguing.

"But," Alby continued, his tone shifting slightly, "can you tell me anything about yourself? Who you are? Where you came from? Anything at all."

His question hit me harder than I expected, and my mind spiraled.

Can I trust them? If I can, should I tell them that I remember things? Not much, but enough to know about the world outside—what it's like, what it used to be...

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice the silence stretching between us until Alby called my name.

"Y/n?" he repeated, his voice pulling me back.

"Huh? Oh, yeah... uh, no. I don't remember anything other than waking up in that box," I lied, hoping my voice didn't betray me.

Alby studied me for a moment but then gave a reassuring smile. "That's all they let us keep anyway," he said, his tone casual.

We walked on, and Alby pointed out more of the Glade's features. He explained how they grew their own food, built their own shelters, and relied on the Box for supplies.

"Whatever we need, the Box provides," he said as we stopped near the massive metal structure. "The rest is up to us."

I looked at the Box, its closed lid giving no hint of the life-changing journey it brought each month. "This month being you, Shebean," Alby added with a grin.

I couldn't help but smile back as we moved on.

---

Our next stop was the lookout tower, a tall wooden structure that seemed to scrape the sky.

"I hope you're not afraid of heights," Alby teased as he started climbing the ladder.

"Just a bit..." I admitted, hesitating before grabbing the rungs.

"Don't worry, you won't fall," he said with a chuckle.

"I sure hope not," I muttered under my breath, carefully making my way up.

When we reached the top, the view took my breath away. The Glade stretched out in all its green, sunlit glory, bordered by the towering walls that seemed to guard it from the unknown.

"It's beautiful from up here," I said softly, more to myself than to Alby.

"Yeah, it is," he replied, leaning against the railing. "We've worked hard for it."

I leaned beside him, the wind tugging gently at my hair. For a moment, it was easy to forget the questions and fears swirling in my mind.

"If you respect this place," Alby said, his voice steady, "you and I will get along just fine." I smiled at him, and he returned it, but his expression turned serious as he added, "We have three rules here. First, do your part. No freeloaders."

I nodded, listening intently.

"Second, never harm another Glader. None of this works if we don't trust each other," he continued, his gaze fixed on the Glade below.

His words lingered in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted such a rule. Had someone broken it before?

"And most importantly," Alby said, turning to face me, "never go beyond those walls." I nodded again, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"If... if you don't mind me asking," I began hesitantly, "what's behind the walls?"

"We call them Grievers," Alby said, his voice low.

"Grievers?" I echoed, confused.

"We don't know exactly what they look like," he admitted. "No one who's seen one has lived to tell about it."

A chill ran down my spine, but Alby clapped his hands on the railing, breaking the tension.

"Well, we better get going," he said, flashing a smile. "Don't want to be late for lunch."

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur of small tasks and lighthearted teasing among the boys.

"OH! Y/n?"

I jumped, startled out of my thoughts by a voice. I looked up to see Gally standing in front of me, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah?" I asked softly, feeling a dozen pairs of eyes on me.

"I finished your hut," Gally said, his voice awkward. "Figured you'd want some privacy... you know, since you're..."

The realization hit me like a brick. "The only girl here," I finished for him.

"Yeah," Gally muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

"Thanks, Gally," I said sincerely, offering him a smile.

He nodded and quickly walked off as the boys resumed their banter. This time, I joined in, trying to fit in with this strange, new family. Despite everything, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope—maybe, just maybe, I could make a place for myself here.