Not Your Average Glader (Completed)

Chapter 12: More Confusion

Somehow I come jogging into the Glade before the doors close. I catch my breath as I take in the excitement in the air. I walk further in and that is when I see what all the excitement is about.

A crowd is gathered around the fencing where the animals are kept and I catch the tail end of a conversation between two of the younger boys:

"Isn't this great?!"
"I've never seen one so close before!"
"How would you remember?"
"I'd remember this!"

Inside the fencing is a brown and white cow sitting in the grass.

"Ok everyone! We got to see a cow, let's get back to work!"

I look over and see Alby, giving out orders as usual. As the crowd reluctantly disperses I take the opportunity to tell Alby of my findings in the Maze.

"Alby, you won't believe what-"

Alby cuts off my sentence and says,

"Winston and Frypan got a cow out of the box while you were gone."

I frown and glance at the beast.

"I can see that."

"It's a shame you missed it."

"Well you missed out too. I found something in the maze. "

"Really?" Alby asks but he doesn't seem very intrested.

"So were you going to call a gathering or something?"

To my disappointment, Alby shakes his head. "I've got a better idea. Wait here."

I watch as he enters the near-finished Homestead. It's not long before he returns, carrying something small.

Before I can ask questions he hands over a small brown notebook.

"Write every discovery down and at the end of the week we will have a gathering."

He seems ready to finish the conversation but I'm not.

"A whole week? What if I find something important, like a way out?" I feel anger rising up inside me.

Alby doesn't hide his annoyance and rolls his eyes.

"Look, Graham. We can't stop work just for you to tell the keepers about some rocks you find out there. The Glade is a working machine. Too much slack and it will fail. Do you want to go back to those days?" He says the last part darkly.

"But-"

"End of discussion. Be glad you are getting this much. "

He storms off and I'm left holding a pathetic excuse for a gathering.

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In my frustration I also storm off, not caring where I go.

'The maze is more friendly than this place!'

For a split second I go back to my lonely lunch, I remember wishing I were back here, eatting with these people. I now understand what I was longing for. Companionship.

'If someone would go out there with me-'

I automatically brush off that thought. Alby already ruled out any one coming with me. I suppose he made a valid point, us being the only people here and all.

'Still, it'd be nice to not be alone out there.'

Without realizing it I have wandered over to the Slammer. That's when I remember Minho. I gaze through the bars of the Slammer. It's pitched black inside but I can almost-

"BOO!"

I jump back, almost losing my balance. While I'm steadying myself I hear laughing in the darkness.

"What did you do that for?!" I shout.

"You- you should have seen your face!" Minho shouts back between laughs.

"I'd like to see your face when I tell Alby you want more time in the Slammer, seeing as you're having so much fun."

Minho snorts. "Aww, Alby doesn't scare me."

"What about Newt?"

There is silence then he answers,

"I've got to have some fun while I'm stuck in here."

I sit down beside the bars and lay my bag beside me.

"How was your first day, Runner?"

I consider carefully before answering. Scary, lonely, confusing. None of those descriptions will do. It took a lot to become a runner. I don't want to blow it the first day.

"Sweaty."

Minho laughs again. "So that's what I smell."

"Haha," I reply dryly.

Before he can ask anymore about the Maze I change the topic.

"Did you see the new cow?"

I can't help but recognize anger in his voice. "You would think we had been given a way out instead of some dumb animal."

"It's a step closer to structure." I don't know who I'm defending or why but I am.

"No. It a step closer to forever." He says.

"What do you mean?"

"What do you think I mean? If they send us stuff like a big old cow, they plan on us staying here for a while."

I hadn't thought of that. Could it be true? Wait- this is Minho talking. He's probably just sore about being in the Slammer.

"Well, visitation hour is over," he says sarcastically.

"Says who?"

"Says me."

Without further arguing I stand and leave. I'm more than ready for this day to end but then it dawns on me. I have to get up and do it again tomorrow.

A/N
hello readers! I like this chapter. And I might do the little symbols that separate majors parts from now on. Vote and comment! I love feedback! :)

Ps- I'm not entirely sure if there was a cow in the books but I'm putting one in.