A Battle With Hope (Newtmas)

Chapter 4

As the boys ran out of the gardens and approached the rest of their group, they began to hear the screeching of an alarm. They kept running, but exchanged confused glances. Both of the boys recognised the alarm, the same alarm that sounded every time there was a new boy coming up in the elevator-like box in the middle of the clearing... but the box wasn't scheduled to arrive until tomorrow. In all Newt's time in the Glade, never once had the box arrived on a day it wasn't supposed to... and never at night time. Newt and Minho skidded to a halt, stopping just next to Winston, keeper of the Slicers, standing at the back of the crowd.
'Newt! Minho! Alby is going out of his mind looking for you two shanks!' Winston exclaimed. 'He's up front, you better get up there before the box arrives'.

The two Gladers pushed their way to the front, finding Alby doing his best to calm the crowd.
'Alby, what's going on?' Newt called to his friend.
Alby fixed furious eyes on Newt and Minho.
'Where the shuck were you two!? This alarm's been going off for twenty minutes and here I am working my bloody ass off to calm everyone down!' He shouted, momentarily capturing the crowd's attention.
Minho glared back at their leader.
'Alright, well we're here now. Keep your knickers on you slinthead! What's going on?'
Now it was Alby's turn to glare at Minho. 'Watch yourself Minho, be careful who you speak to like that.' Newt glanced from Glader to Glader, stepping in between them.
'Alright shanks, buggin' calm down. Alby, will you just explain what's happening?' Newt asks, hoping to keep the peace between his two friends.
Alby responded, finally regaining his composure and keeping his temper at bay. 'I've got no bloody idea. One second we're all sitting down to dinner around the fire, and the next thing we know, the Greenie alarm's going off.'
'Yeah! We must be getting our Greenie early!' yelled a young, curly haired boy of about thirteen, standing right at the front of the crowd.
'Oh shut it Chuck, don't spectate. If you'd just be patient, I guess we'll find out in a minute.' Newt said to the boy, noticing that the alarm had stopped ringing and a grinding sound came from the hole in the ground, signaling that the box was coming to a halt near the top.

The boys filed around the box, forming a circle, all looking down, waiting for someone to open it. Newt and a tall, dark-haired Glader by the name of Gally, each took up a position on one of the doors. Newt gave a nod and simultaneously the boys pulled open the doors on the lid of the box. Newt leaned closer, peering into the darkness, trying to catch a glimpse of what was inside. The rest of the Gladers watched in anticipation, as Newt smiled and turned to them. 'It's a new Greenie!' He shouted. Whispers and chatter instantly began to whip around the crowd. 

Newt and Gally both reached in an arm, to help the new boy out of the box. As soon as they had him on solid ground, Newt stumbled backwards, having been shoved away by the boy as he backed away from the crowd, clearly panicked with his hands in front of his body, as if trying to shield himself from the group.

'What's happening?! Who are you all?! Who am I? What's happening?' He shouted, clearly frightened.
Newt observed the boys stance, like a dog backed into a corner. He noted his large, dark, round eyes and the panic etched across his face.
He approached slowly, 'Hey, Greenie! Calm down, don't have a buggin' heart attack. We'll explain everything. You just need to trust us, okay?' The boy stared at him, as if studying to see whether Newt was being sincere. After a moment, he nodded unconvincingly, but didn't step any closer.
He lowered his shaking hands, and spoke. 'Start explaining.'
Newt laughed, and Alby began to walk towards the boy.
'All in good time Greenie, first, let's grab some food'. Alby pointed to the other side of the box, where the fire was burning and the other Gladers had started to return to eat their dinner.
The new boy began to follow Alby- Minho, Newt and the rest of the Gladers in tow. The boy, Greenie, as the boys called him, turned to Newt with a worried look. 'Why can't I remember my name? And please tell me where I am.' He pleaded.
Newt gave him a small smile. He felt sorry for the boy, but he knew it was best to leave the explaining up to Alby. He was their leader for a reason.
'Don't worry Greenie, all in good time. Your name will come back to you in a day or two, it was like this for all of us.' Newt clapped him on the shoulder, 'names Newt by the way.'
The new boy didn't look comforted, shook off Newt's hand and began to walk faster after Alby.
Newt grinned to himself. He didn't know what it was about their new, broad shouldered, dark-haired arrival... But there was something about him.