➊ 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 - 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐨, ᵗᵐʳ

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟗: 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞

Every Glader stood around the box, waiting for the Greenie. I stood next to Alby and Newt ahead of the others. The privilege of being in charge was having the first look, even if it had been barely a minute since I could officially call myself that.

"Yeah! Bring us another girl!" One of them shouted, but I was too worried about the arrival to care about his comment.

What if it were truly a girl? What if she suffered the same way I did? I could not let it happen to her, ever.

Hawk, John, and everyone who stared at me with these thoughts in mind could never happen again. I would not let it happen again. My heart beat against my ribs, and my eyes barely blinked. I was scared I'd miss any details.

When the door finally opened, all my hopes crashed down. It was a boy. Not a girl or a child. Someone else with whom I had to take my guard.

He had dark brown hair that stuck to his face and wore a gray shirt covered in sweat. I couldn't see his eyes since he covered his iris from the burning sun.

A few boys shared glances and laughed. He wasn't in his best attire for sure. The boy confusedly looked around as they opened the fence.

"Okay, go get him," I said, to which Gally made himself the pleasure of jumping inside the box. The boy crawled to the corner, afraid of us.

"Day one, Greenie. Rise and shine." He pulled him by the collar and threw him on the grass. Once he was closer to the ground, I stared at him. Really looked. It was almost like I'd seen him before. Like he always belonged in my life.

The Gladers took turns laughing, but I couldn't get the smile to form on my lips. I stayed upon withdrawal, watching the interaction and hoping his face would ring a bell.

"Kid looks like a Slopper to me." Winston chuckled.

"I could use some help in the kitchen," Frypan added.

But as everyone circled him, his breathing fastened, and he got up from his feet and started sprinting away.

Handfuls of sounds of surprise and whistling came along his run. I looked at Next next to me, and he crossed his arms, but I could see the smile forming on his lips.

"We got a Runner!" Zart screamed.

Only a few seconds later, he tripped on his feet and rolled to the ground. Only then did a small chuckle leave my mouth.

He rose again, not minding the comments from the others. He looked around, staring at the walls like a lost puppy. I remember my first day when I stared at him, just as confused as he was.

"Alright, put him down in the slammer," Alby ordered.

I watched as the boy wriggled in the firm grip of two builders, but at some point, he stopped moving and allowed himself to be dragged away. He had barely been up here for more than a minute and he was already giving up hope.

Either he would be thinking of a way out or would just jump to the conclusion that he woke up in a mess bigger than himself. That feeling of nothingness, it scared me for my first days and so will it for him.

"Everyone, get back to work!" I yelled, knowing that there would probably be some opposing voices. To my surprise, no one said a word and walked back where they belonged. Only, Minho passed a comment.

"Third in command looks good on you." He murmured, passing a hand through his hair.

My cheeks turned pink and before I could stop it the butterflies were back. I let out a nervous laugh. "Ah! Hm, you too!"

What is wrong with me?!

I always had responses for everything he said, so why would I now look like a complete idiot? He stared at me, a flicker of confusion and amusement in his eyes.