A Way Out

Welcome to the Glade

- 2 Years Ago -

My head was rushing as my eyes opened and I suddenly realized I was in a metal crate. It was propelling upwards at a very fast rate and I didn't know what to do. My voice was hoarse and I tried to scream for help but no sound came out. I heard screeching and jumped to the other side of the crate and realized there were wooden boxes. I turned to my left and saw vines. I was trying to collect my thoughts when the box came to a halt and I fell to the ground on impact. I groaned and held up an arm to cover my eyes from the sudden light that flooded inside. Suddenly the box shook and someone was in my face.

"Welcome to the Glade," The mysterious person said to me and reached out a hand. I grabbed it and he helped me up. He had short buzzed hair and a face of perplexion. He was tall and his shirt was messy and he smelled.

I groaned in pain and my eyes adjusted to the light. I turned and saw about 20 boys faces. It was a lot to take in as they all crowded around and I felt taken aback- one jumped in next to the boy who helped me up and said, "Is this real, your not really a girl-" He pulled on my brown hair and i winced, on reflex I slapped him in the face. I heard winces around and the boy rubbed his cheek, "Ow."

"You had it coming," A blonde boy who was in front of the crowd said. I looked up and he smiled, "Hi there, I'm Newt, welcome to the Glade," He reached out a hand and I looked at it weirdly. 

"The Glade? Why am I here? I- why can't I remember my name?" I asked in fear.

"It's all right, your name will come back in a day or two- as for why your here, I can't really answer that," Newt said, he grabbed my hand and helped me out of the crate.

"Let's go get you settled in," He said. 

I nodded and he led me to a hut. I looked around. I saw a stone wall that surrounded every single side of a big patch of green land and there were vines climbing up the wall, along with other huts and what looked like a garden.

"What is this place?" I asked. 

"This is the Glade," Newt answered, "And that over there is a maze, we have roles in this place. We have runners who run in and out of the maze trying to find a way out. The maze is well- a maze and we have been trying to find an exit. We have the cooks, they make our food. We have slicers, builders, and- this is Alby," Newt explained with a smile.

I turned to the boy he was motioning to, he had a darker complexion and had buzzed black hair. He smiled at me, "Thanks Newt, welcome Greenie," He reached out his hand to me and I shook it. "I'm hoping you will come to the bonfire, maybe even remember your name and find a job for you to do," Alby added. 

I nodded and said, "You bet." He nodded. "See you guys there," He said and left.

-

I sat with Newt against a log as he explained who everyone was. The boy who jumped in my crate was Gally and the boy I slapped was Zart. 

I laughed as Newt said something funny then I said, "Okay okay, so that's Minho- he is the keeper of the Runners and that next to him is Ben?"

"Yup." He said with a nod.

"So what do you do around here?" I asked, considering what Alby said and how I need to find my role here. 

"Well I am Alby's second in command. See- every month- someone new comes up in the box, this month was you. But someone had to be first- that was Alby. I was second. So I am his second in command. I help with everything but running around here." I nodded in understanding as he finished.

We sat in silence for a couple moments before I cleared my throat, "Being a runner- is it hard?" I asked. 

"Very- the runners are the strongest and fastest of us all and it's a good thing too because if they don't get out of the maze before those doors close-" he said pointing to the doors, "then they are stuck out there for the night." I nodded.

"And what if I- want to be a runner." I asked.

He looked at me dumbfounded, "No one wants to be a runner Greenie, your chosen by Minho or Alby." He explained. 

"How do I get chosen?" i asked. 

Newt sighed before a smirk pulled across his face- "Well- there is one way." He turned and looked over his shoulder and pointed, I followed his gaze and saw Gally throwing a kid to a floor. I looked at him and smirked before hopping up over the log.

I made my way over to Gally while Newt said, "Wait I was kidding Greenie- no-" I cut him off, "Hey Gally- lets see how strong you really are?" I crossed my arms and raised my brow.

Gally scoffed, "You greenie?"

I nodded, "Me."

He sighed and shrugged, "Just don't get mad at me for not taking it easy on you."

"Whatever you say Gally." I said.

he lifted up his fists in a fighting stance and I did the same like it was second nature. We moved in a circle for a couple seconds before he lunged at me. I moved and swept my legs under his laying him flat out on his back. He groaned and I heard a series of "oooos" in the crowd that was now formed around us.

He got back up and said, "Okay Greenbean, let's do this."

I smirked and lunged at him, he grabbed me by the arm and twisted it around and I wrapped around and grabbed him by the shoulder and flipped him around on his back.

"Holy shit-" I heard someone say.

I smiled down at Gally and he grabbed my leg and pulled me down. I stood back up went to sweep kick him and he grabbed my foot. I smirked and jumped up off my other leg and propelled it upwards and kicked him in the face and twisted and landed back on my foot.

He fell backwards and groaned, falling on the floor propped up by his elbows. I smiled and said, "Good game." 

He just looked at me in shock and said, "What the hell-"

"That was killer!" I heard someone say.

Suddenly, something clicked in my head. Kendra. Kendra. Kendra. It overtook my thought as the name screamed out at me. The name repeated over and over in my head again and again. "My name." I whispered.

I looked over and saw Newt and a huge smile spread across my face, "I remember my name! It's Kendra!" 

He smiled at me and Alby yelled, "Kendra!" everyone broke out in cheers and Newt hugged me. I smiled and Gally gave me a drink and I drank it. I smiled at him and then someone bumped into me.

I turned around and saw a boy with dark hair and tan skin, he was very tall and had a blue long sleeve button up on that was dirty. It was the boy Newt told me was Minho.

I looked up at him and he smiled, "I'm Minho." He said.

"Kendra." I said.

"Yeah I know- listen- I want you to be a runner. tomorrow morning- if you want to- I will come and get you and we can begin, but if not that's okay too-"

"Yes." I said. He smiled and said, "Great- tomorrow morning Kendra."

I smiled and we both stared at eachother for a couple seconds longer before he smirked and walkd away. 

I am going to find a way out of this place.