𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐍 & 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘-𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮

TWO

"It's too late for a tour right now, but I will take you on one first thing in the morning." The dark skinned boy said as the night fell over us, everything being thrown into shadows. He turned to the boys. "Get everything ready."

They dispersed excited words being thrown back and forth. The boy who caught me gave me one last look and then followed the others. Now it was just the dark skinned boy and one with sandy blonde hair, brown eyes, and fair skin. Though it looked like he had been playing in dirt all day.

"Ready for what?" I asked unsteadily. It's not like he had given the command with a weird inflection in his voice, but sounded ominous.

He took in my apprehensive tone and smiled. "You don't have to worry, Greenie. We throw a party every time someone new comes up. My name's Alby." He stuck his hand out for me to shake. His palm felt rough and calloused in my hand.

"I don't know my name yet."

"That's okay, we'll stick to calling you Greenie for now." The blonde one said, smiling. He had an accent that I couldn't really point out. "I'm Newt."

I made a face. "As in salamander?"

"As in Newton."

"I bet you're careful around apples." I joked and after a beat Newt laughed.

"Ah, I get it"

"Alright, Newt, take her around and introduce her to people, I'm gonna make sure these shanks don't kill themselves. Or each other."

"Good that, Alby." With that Alby walked away and it was just Newt and I.

"Let's go then shall we?" I looked back at the walls, hearing a distant and hollow sound of stone grinding against stone. There were more moving walls out there. "What's the matter, Greenie?"

I pointed towards the walls. "What's out there? The boy who was holding me-"

"Gally." Newt supplied.

I nodded. "Gally. He said something about Grievers and if I went out there I would be food for them."

Newt sighed and stood right beside me, also looking at the walls. Or maybe beyond it. He had a far away look in his eyes. "Might as well get it over with now. But Alby will tell you again tomorrow. There's a Maze out there. A huge one that a group of us run everyday. Searching for a way out."

"How do you guys know that's the way out?"

"It has to be. The box is just a one way ticket up here."

"What's the box?"

He looked at me. "That's right, you were out." He turned and pointed to the right of where the boys were setting up for the party, towards the middle of the Glade. It was too dark to see now, but I was sure it was another thing that Alby will show me tomorrow. For now I just listened to Newt. "It's what brings up a new boy each month. As well as a new batch of supplies every week. Like food and tools and such. You can always put in a request for something and they'll send it up."

"Have you tried asking for a map to the Maze?" Newt looked at me with a funny smile. "What?"

He laughed. "That was the first thing we have ever requested. As well as a TV, but as you can imagine, they were ignored."

I frowned and turned back towards the Maze. "Okay, so what is a Griever?"

"Is this a million and one questions?" Newt teased.

I blushed and turned to him. "I'm just curious. And you seemed to have all the answers."

Newt's smile dropped, he sighed. "Not all of them. Listen, before Alby takes you on the tour tomorrow, I'll take you to see the Grievers."