Welcome to the Glade ~ TMR [1]

2 ~ Welcome to the Glade *Rewritten*

Content Warning: This chapter contains scenes of physical injury (dislocated elbow), mild medical treatment, brief references to blood and pain, and some intense emotional distress. It also includes mild language and descriptions of confinement and death. Reader discretion is advised.

⤷~⤸~⤵~⤴~⤶~⤷~⤸~⤵~⤴~⤶

The boys rushed over to the Box after hearing the girl scream, quickly gathering the Gladers around her. They found her crying softly in Newt’s arms. Newt gently rubbed her back, shushing her with quiet reassurances that everything would be okay. Meanwhile, Jeff held the girl’s left arm carefully, wrapping a piece of cloth around her elbow to create a makeshift sling that was tied around her neck for support.

“What the shuck did you just do?” The Asian boy snapped, stepping forward sharply.

“Nothing, Minho. Her elbow was dislocated, so -” Jeff started, but was interrupted.

“He had to pull her bone back into place,” one of the boys chimed in. The group collectively winced at the thought.

“Nick, this has gone on long enough. We need to get supplies out of the Box,” Gally said, addressing one of the boys standing nearby called Nick stepped forward. He looked to be around seventeen, tall and broad-shouldered, with an air of calm authority. His sandy brown hair was cut close on the sides but left a little longer on top, tousled from the humidity. A thin leather cord hung loosely around his neck, disappearing beneath the collar of his fitted, dark green shirt - its sleeves rolled high to his elbows, exposing strong, tanned arms. Dirt smudged the fabric, and his khaki work pants were dust-stained, tucked neatly into worn boots. His expression was level, thoughtful, and serious - someone used to manage people without needing to raise his voice.

“Shuckface, seriously?” The same boy who had spoken earlier muttered. Gally shot him a hard glare, and the boy quickly swallowed nervously.

“Jeff, is she okay to move?” Nick asked, his tone cautious.

“She will have to move, but she must rest afterwards,” Jeff replied, and Nick nodded thoughtfully.

“That’s fine,” Nick said, though Gally looked incredulous.

“Are you serious?” Gally asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

Newt looked up at Gally with a sharp glare, then carefully helped the girl to her feet once Jeff had finished patching her up. Jeff began stacking sturdy crates to form makeshift stairs, so the girl could climb out of the box on her own - no one but Newt and Jeff touching her, since she didn’t trust the others yet.

Jeff led the girl toward the Med-Jacks’ hut, with Newt, Nick, and the black guy following behind.

Once inside, the girl settled onto a cot, and Newt took a seat on her right side. Nick stepped forward and introduced himself.

“Hello, my name is Nick. I’m the leader of the Glade,” he said. “This is my second-in-command, Alby. When I’m not around, Alby takes over.”

Alby smiled softly at the girl. “Hello, Greenie. Welcome to the Glade.”

Nick looked back at the girl. “I want you to rest for as long as you need. After that, I’ll give you a tour.”

The girl nodded quietly.

⤷~⤸~⤵~⤴~|The Next Day|~⤸~⤵~⤴~⤶

The girl awoke to the sound of rustling canvas, the clatter of metal, and low voices murmuring outside. Pale morning light filtered through the cracks in the wooden hut walls. She blinked her eyes open slowly, her muscles stiff and sore from sleep - and pain. She tried to shift, but the dull throb in her arm reminded her of everything that had happened the day before.