W.I.C.K.E.D's Girl [Book One]

Chapter Two

Cold and dampness is all I feel, a putrid smell fills my nostrils and a buzzing rings in my ears. Then it hits me, my body aches like hell and my head is splitting. I chose not to open my eyes and I grumble and groan as I try to move. Slowly I open my eyes to dull light and stone walls with a crude wooden jail door. I groan again when I realise that they've caught me but panic when another thought hits me what are they going to do with me? I try to calm myself as I hear footsteps getting closer to my cell. A silhouette stands before me, a dark skinned young man. He crouches by the door and I sit up against the wall. "Well she-bean care to tell me your name?" She-bean? I don't respond but a look of realisation crept onto my face. Joan. My name is Joan! "I guess you can't remember yet but don't worry it'll come to you sooner or later. By the way, the name's Alby. Now judging by your expression you've got a million and one questions filling your head. I'll answer them, but not yet, wait till after the tour." Alby spoke as though I was thick or something but I nod to show I understand. "Not much of a talker are you?" He said with some amusement. I shrug, to be honest I'm not sure. Alby chuckles at this and opens the door. What's he doing? He offers me his hand and I hesitantly take it. The bright light then blinds me as I walk out of the cell. Alby starts to walk ahead without checking to see if I follow, maybe now's my chance-"Don't even think about it she-bean!" What so is he a mind reader? I jog to catch up with him. "Joan." Alby turns and looks at me. "Joan, my name is Joan not she-bean" I say whilst imitating him on the she-bean. "Well then Joan, welcome to the Glade!" Alby beams.

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"And this here is the final part of the tour." I sluggishly walk up to a wall trying to memorize everything that Alby has been explaining. Everyone has to do their part, pull their weight as there are no slackers in the Glade. I have to try out for different jobs with the Keepers who are the heads of that job. There's the Track Hoes, the Slicers, Sloppers but what mostly caught my attention was the Runners. Suddenly I'm pulled out of my thoughts "Hey Jo have you been listening to me?" Alby asks whilst waving a hand in front of my face. "Um sorry! Just processing it all." I sheepishly reply "Don't worry about it, it's a lot to take in! I know that." Alby smiles at me reassuringly. I then realise what he was trying to get me to look at. The wall before us is covered in crude carvings of names, many names, some even crossed out. "Hey why are some of the names crossed out?" I ask. "Well here is where everyone that has ever been here has carved their name into the wall, it is a tradition that we've had for the past two years that we have been here. The names that are crossed out, well think, how many gladers are here now?" He asks me "Um, about thirty?" "And how many names do you see here?" I look at the wall again, running my fingers over the concrete. They died. I look back over at Alby, his eyes are watery but no tears spill. He notices me and fumbles in his pocket, pulling out a pocket knife. "Here. Time to make your mark. You're a Glader now Joan." He hands me the knife and I take it. Staring at the wall I look for a place to carve my name. Just within my reach I see a name close to Alby's, NEWT . Seeing a space below I dig the knife into the wall and start to carve a J I look at my craftsmanship and before long I finish. There forever engraved on that wall is JO.

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Alby and I have been walking round for a while now, he's introducing me to some of the Gladers. Alby told me that I'm the first girl to ever enter the Glade and I guess that's why I keep on getting odd looks from the boys. It's kind of creepy. "Hey Alby!" a voice breaks us from our conversation "Jeff! What's up shank?" shank? I've heard this before "I need you to follow me to the hut. It's..." Jeff looks at me and then back to Alby "It's what Jeff?" Alby asks implying for him to continue. "It's Paul." He says bluntly. "Right well Joan, if you're alright by yourself for a bit, I'll catch you later." And with that Alby and Jeff walk off leaving me in the middle of the Glade. On my own. Great! I sigh and turn around, looking in all directions. I draw my attention over towards the forest. For some reason I'm drawn to it, even though Alby told me that's the Dead Heads. I wonder over towards the skirts of the forest, trying to ignore the side glances and hushed whispers of the Gladers that I pass. "What? Never seen a girl before?" I snap at one of the boys and continue to walk to the trees. Out of the blue I start to climb the nearest tree and perch on a branch. My back against the trunk and my left leg dangling off the side of the branch swinging back and forth. Picking at my nails I can see that it's quite peaceful here. "You do like to climb don't you!" I jump and place my hand over my heart trying to control it's unsteady rhythm. "Bloody hell!" I exclaim as the intruder chuckles. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I mean if I remember right the last time I spoke to you, you were shucking launching yourself off the homestead roof and onto the look out! Now that's a reason to have a heart attack!" Sure enough I look to see the boy with the dirty blond hair looking up at me with a lopsided smile. Changing my position on the tree to crouching I push myself off and land on my feet. "In my defence I had no clue what I was doing! It was just like-" "-an impulse?" He finishes my sentence for me, still smiling like a complete idiot. "Yeah? Can everyone in this place read my mind or something?" I joke. "Well remember, we've all been through the same thing as you, well not exactly the same but we've got some idea." He laughs in response. I laugh as well and start to relax, this guy isn't that bad. He extends his hand out and says "Name's Newt." I take his hand and shake it firmly "Joan, but I like Jo better."

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Clutching my side and laughing I playfully punch Newt's arm. We've really hit it off and I would say are becoming fast friends. Heading towards the homestead Newt and I continue to joke around until my stomach rumbles "Good job Fry's serving dinner" Newt says as I mutter to myself. "Right so just wait in line and get yourself a helping of whatever Frypan's cooked and I'll find you in a bit." Newt says and starts to walk off but I reach out and grab his arm forcing him to turn back around. "You're not coming to eat as well?" I ask slightly disappointed about being left alone again. He sighs and rubs the back of his neck "Sorry Jo but I've got to meet with the runners when they get back which shouldn't be too long from now." "Ok, I understand." I guess it's his job so I can't exactly stop him from doing that. "It shouldn't take too long. Just get yourself something and I'll find you after I'm done-Hey Zart!" Newt suddenly shouts making me jump out of my skin again. A tall boy with short strawberry blond hair turns on his heels and walks up to us. "Newt! 'sup shank what can I do for ya?" He asks clapping his hand on the back of Newt's shoulder. "Could you keep Jo company whilst I-" "Ah the she-bean! Of course don't worry about it, come along... Jo?" Zart hesitates with my name. "See you Newt!" I turn to him as he waves and jogs over to the opening which is the maze door. Turning on my heel I look at Zart and he smiles at me. Giving me a little shove we walk forwards and to the back of the line. "So Jo, how you finding the Glade and all the shanks that live here?" I ponder for a moment, how do I answer that? "Alright I guess. It's still taking some getting used to and well I haven't really spoken to anyone other than Alby, Newt and yourself." I reply. He looks at me with a slight smirk forming on his face "Don't worry about it. You'll soon find your shucking feet, though from the display that you did when you got out that shuck box I don't think finding your feet is a problem!" He howls with laughter, unsure I let out a slight laugh. He's quite jovial. The laughter dies down and leaves us with an awkward silence. I cough slightly before asking "So what do you do around the-uh-Glade?" "I'm the keeper of the Track Hoes so I spend my days working in the gardens and making sure that the other Track Hoes keep in line and do their part." Zart smiles at me again before resting a hand on my shoulder "You're trying out with different keepers tomorrow aren't ya?" I'm about to reply when a loud booming and screeching echoes through the Glade. I clap my hands around my ears trying to protect them. The ground shakes and I panic yet again, looking at Zart who seems calm about the whole thing. He mouths something at me but I can't make out what he's saying. Soon it all stops and I realise what has happened "The maze doors." I practically whisper but Zart hears me. "Yeah they close at night and open again in the morning. If a runner doesn't get back in time then they're stuck for the night and well... no one survives the night in the maze." He looks solemn at this point so I rest my hand on his arm. Maybe that's why some didn't make it, they got stuck in the maze. Another awkward silence follows as we move forward in the line. "You're not much of a talker are ya shank?" Zart breaks the silence, sounding like the last comment wasn't said. "Yeah, still trying to work all of this out I guess. Hey what does shank mean?" It never occurred to me before to ask so why not now? "Well you know, like uh- hey how you doin' shank- or-this shank's getting on my nerves- I don't really know how to explain, we just kinda pick it up." He replies and shrugs. "Right... you shank!" dragging out the 'ight' part I try to sound more like a Glader. Zart just laughs at me. "You know you sound just like Newt! With the whole accent , ya know?" For some odd reason I haven't noticed this, Newt and I are the odd ones out, me being so in more ways than one. Funny how my mind works! Before I know it Zart and I are at the front of the line. "'sup Fry! What we got?" As Zart and Frypan make idle chit chat I can't help but notice most of the boys are setting up a massive fire in the middle of the Glade with logs set out in a circle nearby. What are they doing? "Yo! She-bean!" Once again I'm interrupted, "Sorry." I meekly apologise and grab a wooden bowl of what appears to be stew. I wonder over to a log and sit against it. It doesn't smell too bad... I cautiously take a spoonful and place it into my mouth. Ok so it tastes better than it looks.