The Lost Glader || A TMR Fanfiction

Chapter 12 || Greenie

The screeching metal came finally stopped as well as the alarm as the box finally came to the surface. Most of the boys were talking all at the same time wondering about this new greenie. Even with all that noise, I could hear the slightest sounds of sniffling, coming from inside the box. I sighed only imagining how scared this new kid probably was.

It made me think about when I first awoke in the Box. So much panic, fear, and also anger at whoever put me in that situation. It didn't help that the longer I was in there, the more angry I got which made me pretty irritable when I got out. Plus, the girls hadn't been there that long already, so they couldn't answer many of my questions, which in the end, made me have to find answers for myself.

I frowned, thinking about the whole thing. Even though I had gotten some answers in the time I had been there, but still, I felt so lost.

I felt someone nudge me and I looked at Newt. "You ok?" I quickly nodded, not feeling like explaining, as I turned back to the Box where Gally had thrown open he doors.

The soft crying ceased as our new arrival looked at us. A chubby kid, probably only 13, with curly hair looked absolutely terrified. His eyes, red from crying, darted around looking for answers, but of course nothing would make sense. Around me, I heard the snickers of other boys, and whispers between Gladers.

"Well this is a disappointment, considering who our last greenie was." I heard a boy whisper from behind me, and I turned to glare at him over my shoulder. I would have said something, but at that moment Gally pulled the new kid out of the box who awkwardly landed on his stomach, only causing more laughter from the Gladers.

I noticed Alby finally arriving and was pushing his way to the front of the crowd to greet the kid. I shook my head knowing very well, that Alby would be too rough on this kid, he was already on the verge of tears, he didn't need Alby or anybody to make him feel worse.

Before our leader had even made it to the front of the group, I dropped to my knees next to the boy and gave him a comforting smile. "Hey, I'm Nicole, and I know you probably have a ton of questions, but first, do you remember your name?" I asked placing a hand on his shoulder, hoping to reassure him that I was a friend.

He stared at me, wide eyed, for a long moment before he finally spoke in a cracked and shaky voice. "I...It's Chuck." I smiled wider. "It's great to meet you, Chuck. Welcome to the Glade."

"Nicole..." I heard Alby hiss my name and I looked back up at him, raising an eyebrow. "What do you think you're doing?" I let a sigh escape my lips as I stood up and reached down to help Chuck up as well. "Introducing myself. He's obviously really freaked out, and you give a much too harsh welcome. I'm just trying to help him." Alby narrowed his eyes but glanced at Chuck then back at me. "Fine, you can show him around, but give him back to me after lunch." I mockingly saluted him. "Yes, sir. Come on, Chuck. Let me give you the grand tour." I gestured him to follow me, and the crowd parted to let us through.

"What is this place?" He asked me turning all around as we walked. "This, is the Glade, or one of them. Everyone here, woke up in that box like you did, with no memories beside their name. For 2 years it's been the same thing. New kid every month, along with a bunch of supplies." Chuck turned to me, his eyes wide. "2 years?? And we can't get out?" I sighed and pointed towards the Maze. "The only way out, is through there. It's a Maze, and we're still figuring out the whole thing... It doesn't help that it changes every night..." Chuck gave me another confused look and I softly smiled. "I know. But we'll find a way out."

The rest of the morning, I showed Chuck around the Glade, and trying to answer as many of his questions that I could, yet, he was pretty quiet letting me explain things. I'm sure he still had plenty of questions, but so did I.

"Well, that's about it. I'm sure Alby will tell you more. But I wanted to get you first. Give you a warm welcome, not the cold kind." I said finally stopping in front of the Homestead. "Any questions, as we conclude our tour?" I asked spreading my arms wide to gesture to the whole Glade.

Chuck was silent for a long moment, and just as I had concluded that meant no more questions, he spoke. "Do you ever wonder about your family?" My lips parted slightly, taken aback by his question. The truth was, I thought about the family I hoped I has outside of these walls, all the time. It was one of the things that motivated me, that someone could be out there looking for me, that they missed me. It pushed me everyday to try harder.

I smiled at Chuck. "Yeah... I do. A lot actually. But right now, these guys are a family, and you're the newest member of that family." He began to nod but gave me an odd look tilting his head. "You're not going to include yourself?" I breathed a humorless laugh. "I guess, I still just don't feel part of this family. Like I'm still the outsider."