Count On Me ➵ Newt [1]

FIVE | banishment and greenie

▬The next morning, everyone was staring at me.

I knew why, of course. News of yesterday night's events had spread around like wildfire and soon enough, everyone in the Glade knew what had happened between Kris and me.

Minho, Alby and Newt were especially quiet during breakfast. Even Frypan wasn't as chatty as he usually was. When he trudged off to other tables, I finally gathered the courage to ask the question that had been bothering me.

"What are you guys going to do with Kris?" I asked.

Despite my quiet tone, Minho, Alby and Newt jumped in their seat.

"What?" Alby said.

"What are you going to do with Kris?" I repeated. "I haven't seen him at all since... since yesterday."

The three of them exchanged glances with each other, seemingly debating whether to tell me.

"He's in the Slammer right now as we're speaking," Minho said slowly.

"I knew that already," I said, "but is he going to get any punishment or something?"

Alby sighed. "Yes. Yes, he is."

I hung my head. I felt their pitiful stares drilling into me.

"It's all my fault," I whispered.

"No, it isn't, and you know that," Newt said firmly. "Kris deserves his punishment. Everyone agreed on it."

"What's his punishment?" I asked, looking up.

Newt looked pained. Alby was staring at his sandwich dejectedly and Minho just looked grumpy.

"He's going to be banished," Newt said finally.

"What's that mean?"

"It means, Kris is going to wish we killed him instead," Minho said calmly, and took a huge bite of his own sandwich.

I stared at him, an incredulous look plastered over my face.

"Good job scaring her," Alby snorted. His face softened as he turned to me. "What he means is that Kris will be forced to leave the Glade."

"Leave the Glade...?"

"Look, I know you have a lot of questions, but you'll find out what we mean tonight, alright?"

I frowned but said nothing.

I continued my job as a Med-jack after breakfast. Lunch came and I sat once again with Minho, Alby and Newt at their table. Then I returned back to my job again. When dinner came, I sat nervously at the table, anticipating Kris' banishment. Everyone else seemed to be in a sombre mood as well, which didn't help dissipate my worries.

"When do the doors open, Minho?" Alby asked. Minho glanced at his watch.

"In about ten minutes," he said. "You wanna do it now?"

Alby nodded grimly.

"Alright, let's go find Gally," Minho said. "He's the only shank here who has the keys to the Slammer."

"Newt, you tell the other Keepers to prepare," Alby ordered.

"Good that," Newt said. Alby and Minho jogged off to Gally's table. Newt sighed and stood up.

"C'mon, Rose," he said. "I'd rather keep an eye on you just in case."

I abandoned my untouched dinner and followed Newt as he went around the kitchen, informing the other Keepers 'to prepare', whatever that meant. They all nodded grimly and went off towards the shed, where the weapons were supposedly kept. I suddenly felt sick.