Into the Maze

Chapter 6

Alby lead us to a building as all the boys were waking up and going over too. A delicious smell wafted from the room as we neared.

Alby pressed open the doors, as my eyes took in the sight. In the room were about 50-60 chairs spread out through 10 tables. There was a kitchen area with a counter, lined with trays. Each tray was covered in a ration of food, and a black boy was passing out trays as boys walked past us to eat.

"Where was this yesterday?" I joked and Alby laughed as my mouth watered up from the sweet smell of what I could only describe as food.

"You arrived after lunch, and we let you stay out for dinner." Alby explained as I nodded, and Thomas licked his lips. "Well, what are you waiting for?" He laughed as I smiled at him, then looked to Thomas.

Thomas nodded his head to the line which was made of hungry boys, all wanting to get something to eat, some of them with messy hair from sleeping.

We started walking and found a place in line, and soon enough we had reached the counter. I smiled at the boy who had passed out the drinks last night, who was fixing up a few more trays. He smiled back, and I looked down at one of the trays.

There was some sort of stew in a little bowl on the end of the tray, and a small cup of water in the other corner. In the middle was a cluster of green beans with a quarter of a slice of bread to the side. A metal fork and spoon were on the edge of the tray, beside the stew. It was very organized, and looked delicious.

I picked up a tray and walked behind Thomas, who had found an empty table. I sat down across from him, and picked up the spoon, before quickly taking mouthfuls of the stew.

It was salty and really good, and I could tell Thomas thought the same, because he didn't stop inhaling his until it was gone.

I left a little bit of the stew, and then picked up my fork, eating some of the beans. I looked up and watched Thomas gulp down his water, a little sliding down his chin. I giggled at his hasty actions, and was about to say something, when two others sat down beside Thomas and I.

"Hey greenies." The boy I knew as Minho spoke, he had sat down beside Thomas and diagonal from me. I looked at him, he was a runner, so he'd probably be leaving very soon to run the maze.

"It's better if you dip it in the stew." Newt smiled, he had sat down beside me, and pointed to the bread on my plate. I looked down at my plate, then at the little stew I had left, before grabbing the small bit of bread I had. "Like this."

He took his bread and broke off a small piece, before dunking it in his stew. He popped the soaked bread in his mouth and grinned.

"Try it." He nodded and turned to me as I shook my head, smiling. I broke the bread in my hand like he had, then dunked a small piece into the remains of my stew. I put it in my mouth and chewed, it did taste good. "See." He noted my expression before turning to Thomas.

"I don't know if Alby told you, but this is Minho." Newt introduced, as Minho looked at Thomas, a straight stare studying him. An awkward silence fell over our table as Minho just watched Thomas, who was glaring back. I cleared my throat, getting their attention.

"I'm Parker." I smiled and stuck out my hand, which Minho looked at. I held it out for a minute before he took it, shaking my hand with a firm grip.

"Thomas." Thomas stated, following my lead, and shaking Minho's hand as well. I smiled, watching Thomas look slightly uncomfortable as I took a sip of my water, then finished off my stew and bread.

"So, Minho, Newt said you're a runner." I started, looking from Minho, to Newt, then back to Minho. "What's it like in the uh.... the maze." I hesitantly spoke the last part, wondering if that was actually an appropriate question. Minho just watched me for a second, before opening his mouth.

"Quiet." He nodded and took a few spoonfuls of food, then looked back at me. "Dark. Lonely. Dangerous. You shouldn't even think about what it's like or be curious about it. It's not a fun place to hangout in." He finished, as the silence came back. I sighed, and nodded, not wanting to argue with him or even mention about how I had the urge to go in it.

I looked down at my tray, pulling my legs closer to my seat, then poking at my green beans. I had the feeling they would all get a little upset if I didn't eat all my food, so I finished up my plate and downed my water.

"Usually the newbies help the Sloppers out and clean up after the first breakfast they're here." Gally had come over and stuck his hand on my shoulder as I leaned a little bit from his strength. What was a slopper? Did they just clean up after everyone? "What'd you say shanks?" I looked up and glared at him, then sighed.

"Okay," I swiped his hand off of me quickly, like he was a crumb or a bug. "Got it. I'll stay after and clean up." I think Gally expected me to argue back because of the surprised look on his face and the way he took a moment to speak.

"That means everything. Clean the bowls, scrub the silverware, wash the trays, and gather the trash bags from the cans." He ordered again, trying to find another way to be annoying.

"Got it, thanks." I stood up and grabbed my tray with one hand, then patted him on the back with the other. I shot him a fake smile and started to walk towards one of the trash bins.

I looked back and caught a glimpse of Newt, who was smirking and looking away from Gally, his hand half in front of his face, his thumb tracing his lip.

I put the bowl, cup, and silverware up top before placing the tray in a separate pile. I walked back to my table and noticed Gally had left already.

"Some nerve you got there, Parker." Minho commented as I sat down. I shot him a small smile and a shrug, as his face broke into a small smirk. The first I've seen him smile.

"One thing I've learned about Parker is that she's full of nerve." Newt grinned as I nodded thanks. I liked that they thought I was full of nerve, that I was bold. It gave me a characteristic that I could add to myself, along with my name.

"Do you think all girls are like that?" Thomas asked, looking at all of us. Man, I really didn't know how to answer that.

"I dunno, mate." Newt frowned an expression that equaled a shrug, as Minho didn't answer but merely glanced over.

"Maybe whoever sent us, sent me, will send up another girl. Then we can all know if that's true, and I could have another girl to talk to." I thought out loud, trying to be positive. Thomas nodded, but Minho and Newt exchanged a look. What did that mean? Did they not think another girl would come up.

"Alright, well, maybe. It's been great sitting here and eating, but we ought to go now. Minho's got a maze to run." Newt stood up along with Minho, and as if on cue, the door to the maze started to shift open, a loud, screeching process.

I watched them clear their trays, then walk out of the room. I sat there for a moment, waiting for all the boys to clear their trays and leave, then stood up.

"Where should we start?" I asked Thomas as he sighed, ran his hand in his hair, and looked around.

"Washing off the trays." He decided, and I nodded, then went over and collected the trays and bowls, as he got the silverware and cups.