How I survived in an all boys glade

Chapter Ten

- The Heart? -

"What'd you got there, Love?" Newt's voice breaks the comfortable silence as he notices the silver bracelet in my hands, the one I found in one of the small boxes that arrived with me.

I look down at it, tracing the cool metal with my fingers. "Found it in a small box that came up with me," I explain, still puzzled about its significance.

Newt gently takes my arm, his touch warm and reassuring as he leans closer, reading the engraving on the bracelet.

"Y/N

A17 – The Heart"

"The Heart?" Newt repeats, raising an eyebrow as he looks back up at me.

I shrug, just as confused. "Don't look at me, I don't know what it means either." I feel a flicker of curiosity, but it's buried under layers of uncertainty. Why would this be in a box that came with me?

"Maybe it's because I'm the only girl here?" I suggest playfully, giving him a teasing smirk. I try to lighten the moment, hoping it'll make him laugh.

Newt lets out a small chuckle but shakes his head. "Yeah, right," he answers sarcastically, nudging my shoulder lightly.

I giggle, the sound light and carefree. But before either of us can say anything more, there's a soft knock at the door.

"Come in!" I call out, smiling faintly as the door creaks open to reveal Minho standing in the doorway.

I hadn't really thought about it before, but Minho probably doesn't know what happened since he was in the maze earlier.

"Y/N..?" Minho's voice is softer than usual, his concern clear as he steps closer to the door, taking in the scene before him.

"Hey, Minho," I greet him warmly, offering a small smile despite the lingering exhaustion.

"What happened to you?" Minho asks, his brow furrowing in concern as his gaze flickers from me to Newt, sitting beside me on the bed.

Newt is quick to explain. "She had a little accident with a knife at the slicer's hut," he says, his voice light but with an edge of protectiveness as he gestures toward my wrapped hand.

"Oh damn," Minho winces, and I can see the sympathy in his eyes. "You okay though?" His voice softens, stepping closer now, genuinely worried.

I chuckle lightly, trying to ease his concern. "Yeah, I'll survive," I reply, offering a reassuring smile, even though my hand still throbs slightly.

Minho glances at Newt, and I catch the unspoken question in his eyes. Newt, ever the perceptive one, nods. "I'll be fine keeping an eye on her, don't worry." His tone is calm, and his words seem to reassure Minho.

"Alright, just take care, Y/N," Minho says, his concern still evident, but his shoulders visibly relax. He gives me a quick, understanding look before heading back to the door.

Once the door shuts behind him, Newt raises an eyebrow at me, a playful but concerned smile on his lips.

"So..." he starts, dragging out the word.

"So... what?" I respond innocently, trying my best to act clueless.

Newt rolls his eyes in mock frustration. "Shouldn't you be getting some rest, Love? Your hand's hurt," he says, his voice laced with concern.

I shake my head. "I'm fine, Newt. And anyway, I can't sleep," I admit, my voice quieter now. I try to avoid sleep, afraid of the nightmares that have been creeping in when I close my eyes—nightmares of a world I can barely remember but still feel the weight of.

Newt hesitates, his gaze softening. "Alright, but tell me if you need anything, yeah?" His voice is serious now, and I can tell he means it.

"I will, Newt," I promise him, giving him a small, appreciative smile. He nods once more, standing up from the bed. "I'll be at the council meeting, alright?" he says, his voice gentle but with an underlying sense of responsibility.

"Okay, I'll be here," I answer, my voice steady as I offer him another smile.

Newt gives me a final nod before he exits the hut, leaving me alone in the quiet room.

I sigh, looking around at the familiar space—the small touches of comfort I've gathered from the items I've brought with me. My eyes land on the silver bracelet again, and I can't help but wonder what the engraving means. "The Heart?" I repeat to myself. What could it possibly mean?

Curiosity pushes me to my feet, and I start to move around the room. I begin opening drawers and boxes, sifting through trinkets and items that came up with me. There's something calming about the process, like I'm uncovering parts of myself that I don't remember.

As I open one of the drawers in a small desk, I find something that catches my eye: a small, leather-bound journal. I pull it out, flipping through the blank pages with my fingers. It feels like a connection to something I've forgotten.

Sitting back on the bed, I pick up a pen and begin to sketch, my pencil moving across the paper with ease. I get lost in the simple lines and shapes, drawing the walls of the Glade, the familiar view around me. The scratch of my pencil fills the room, the only sound as I become completely absorbed in the artwork.

I don't notice the time passing, nor do I hear the footsteps approaching the door until it creaks open, and Newt steps inside.

"Hey, shebean," he greets me, his voice warm as he walks over to see what I've been working on.

I pause, my hand hesitating over the page, feeling a rush of self-consciousness. But after a beat, I shyly show him the sketch.

Newt's eyes widen as he takes in the rough drawing, his admiration clear. "You're really talented, Y/N," he says, his voice filled with genuine amazement.

A blush creeps up my cheeks at the compliment, and I murmur a quiet "Thanks, Newt." My gaze drops, a small smile tugging at my lips as I return to the drawing.

Newt sits beside me, and we settle into a comfortable silence, the space between us warm and easy. He asks me the occasional question about the sketch, but otherwise, we simply exist together in this moment.

After a while, Newt stands up with a playful glint in his eyes. "Come on, let's get you something to eat. You haven't had anything since this morning," he says, offering me his hand.

I smile up at him, feeling a sense of gratitude for the quiet moments we're sharing. I take his hand, letting him guide me out of the hut and toward the gathering area, where the rest of the Gladers are already sitting down for dinner.