Trapped // Newt

04: Familiar

WE ALL SIT down on the nearest picnic table bench, our legs on the outside so we can all face each other without a table between us. I'm sitting beside Newt and the two of us are facing the rest of the group, almost like we're on trial. Wait, what if this is a trial?

Alby cuts through the silence by clearing his throat. "I think I'm not only speaking for myself when I say we're surprised that you're here, Remi."

I readjust myself on the bench and add, "Because I'm the only girl?"

"That's exactly why, Greenie. Who knows what this could mean, or what this will do to the Glade?" Gally cuts in.

I notice a few people roll their eyes before Alby orders, "Slim it, Gally."

"I think we should start with the smaller problems first," Newt declares. "Remi needs a place to sleep. I don't trust half the shanks here, so I was thinkin' we would giv'er a room in the Homestead." Newt explains, pointing up a case of weak looking stairs.

If the atmosphere weren't so tense, I would have laughed out loud at the look on Gally's face. He doesn't look pleased with this suggestion, in fact he looks both shocked and angry at the same time, his eyebrows are practically raised to his hairline. "Newt, the rooms in the Homestead are for Keepers only!"

"Good that, I see your point, Newt." Alby addresses him, completely ignoring Gally. "I'll have Chuckie clean up one of the storage rooms."

"Unbelieveable." Gally murmurs before crossing his arms.

"Another thing," Newt speaks up again, "you reckon we should build a separate toilet?"

I narrow my eyes, this isn't that big of a deal, I don't want everyone to do more work because of me. "Newt, it's fine."

"I'm just thinkin', what if the Creators are going to be sending girls from now on?" Newt questions. "Shouldn't we start preparing?"

Gally stands up from his seat and points a finger at Newt, "But prepared for what? The real question is why they sent up a girl in the first place!" Gally exlaims. "I think, maybe she's here as a signal from the creators. Or maybe the Creators think that we're going to be here awhile—"

"Shut your mouth before I punch your bloody teeth in." Newt cuts him off.

I sit in shock at the little turn this gathering has taken. I am forever thankful to Newt for stopping Gally's suggestion, but at the same time, I'm concerned some of the other boys may have had the same idea as Gally. There is no way in hell I'd let any of these boys touch me without my permission, they can taste the concrete if they try. The rest of the boys in the group turn to look at Gally with either a dude-shut-up look, or a you-are-human-shit look. I shift awkwardly in my seat.

"Moving on," Alby pronounciates while also shooting a look at Gally, "I'd also like to question you on a few things, as Gally apparently seems to recognize you."

Recognize me? How can he recognize me but I can't recognize him? Don't tell me I knew this douche in my previous life before the Glade. "What, how?"

"I've seen you, Greenie, I know it." Gally sneers. "I know you mean something bad."

I don't like this. His accusation sets a weird feeling of dread in my gut that I can't seem to shake off. I guess it's entirely possible that we met before, though I can't imagine when or where. Once again I'm straining myself for answers that my own mind doesn't seem to have.

"My first question is," Alby starts, "do you remember anything? Can you tell us anything about yourself?"

I think for a moment. I feel like I know myself enough to say something but I can't seem to scrape anything up. My home? My family? Favourite T.V. show? Nothing. Not even my last name.