Silence

Chapter 7

I don't know how long I slept during the night. I don't even know if I slept at all, everything had mixed together. When the sun started to rise, I rose from my hammock. I quietly walked over to the containers and changed my sweater. Since Gally had carried me yesterday, I hadn't removed my shirt from before. I decided to put on an orange tank top and put a thin grey sweater over it. When that was done, I walked over to the doors.

As I reached the doors, I sat down. From here, I could see my backpack, one strap hanging in front of the closed walls. Minutes passed and I could hear the others waking up. Voices echoed through the Glade, they rose higher and higher. "Em!" I could hear Gally and Minho calling my name. I sighed, it wasn't like I could call back at them. Then the doors rumbled and began to open.

I rose to my feet and moved closer. The guys must have seen me, because I heard shouts coming closer. I reached out my hand and collected my bag before it hit the ground. Then I stood watching as the doors came to a stop.

I looked at the bag in my hands. Completely flat, still wet from the water bottle that had been inside. My gaze shifted to the maze, the long and cold stone corridors. Suddenly, hands were placed on my shoulders and spun me around.

"Planning to go out again?" Alby's voice was hard, his grip tightening around me. I tried to shake loose, which only resulted in Alby's grip getting even stronger. "Do you have a death wish?" He shouted. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the others had reached us. Alby's eyes locked themselves in mine. "You do as I say girl", his voice filled with anger. That comment made me lose it.

I wrenched myself free from Alby and pushed him away. Before the others could react I flung my bag at Alby, making him stumble back as it hit his chest. I couldn't say anything but I made sure that my eyes said it all. With that, I turned towards the gardens. "Em" Minho said, moving to stand in front of me. I ignored him, pushing him out of my way. No one would tell me what to do.

*******

About a week passed and every day was the same. I would wake up before the others and have my breakfast. By the time they woke up, I was tending to the gardens. I would work until the others had started doing their stuff, then collect food and eat in the shadow of the trees. When the guys ate, I would be back to the plants or the animals. Minho and Gally would come over to talk to me and I did my best to ignore them.

It didn't work that well and they would help me with everything. Or at least Minho would, Gally was still building things with Alby. Alby still hadn't talked to me, he would just not meet my gaze. I figured that I would leave him to it. He was too proud to apologize but I would let him be until he came to his senses and talked to me.

Newt was a different story. Since the night he had, I believe, tried to kiss me, he had been distant. He would look at me but when I met his gaze he would look away. Sometimes he would walk over to where Minho and I worked but turn again. He seemed scared and I wish he wouldn't.

By now, a month had passed since Minho, Gally and Newt had been sent up through the Box. Minho and I had just finished collecting the weed growing by the roses as the familiar sharp signal sounded throughout the Glade. We rose and walked over to the Box. Gally and Alby stood on the opposite side of us, Newt standing on the side between us.

After a while the Box opened, revealing new faces. I counted them, even more than last time. Seven faces looked up towards us, seven scared people with no memory and no names. The guys inside the Box seemed just as confused as we did. Seven people at once? Then chaos started.

The people inside the Box hurried to climb out and scattered away. Three of them tried to wrestle past Gally and Alby as another one stumbled over Newt. Two hurried away for the maze and one ran to the kitchen. Minho and I looked at each other before he headed to the maze and I went to the kitchen.

As I stood by the benches a small voice appeared. "Don't come any closer" it said. I stood still and waited for the boy to show himself. A head poked up from a countertop and looked at me. "No tricks" He said as he rose into a standing position. He held a frying pan in front of him as a weapon.

I reached for my chalkboard and wrote the word hi. The boy seemed confused and lowered his weapon. "Hi?" He said, making it sound like a question. Do you remember your name? I wrote. "No" He answered, "Where am I? Who are you?" He raised the frypan again. I erased my board and wrote again. I'm Emily. Follow me, answers will be given by Alby. The board was a bit small so I couldn't fit everything I wanted to tell him. "You can't talk?" The boy asked me, hesitantly taking a step towards me. I shook my head and held out a hand. The boy looked at it for a while before taking it in his. I gently tugged it and we headed back to the Box.

The other guys had gotten control over the situation. The four guys that had tried to pass Gally, Newt and Alby sat tied up on the ground. Two of them shouted in anger, Gally answering just as angry. Minho and Newt each held one of the runners Minho had chased down, probably to make sure they didn't run off again. Minho looked up from his conversation with Newt and spotted me. "Em got him" He said, making nine heads turn to my direction.

The boy from the kitchen seemed stressed and tried to turn back. My grip around his hand tightened and I shook my head. His struggle faded and he followed me to the others. Alby headed in my direction with ropes but I shook my head to him. We didn't need to scare this kid any more. Alby turned around and faced the new people. He cleared his throat, making Gally fall silent. The guys bickering with Gally however, continued.

"Cut us loose, let's see if you're tough" one of them said. Gally seemed angered by the comment and I started to make my way over there. "Come on big guy, or you gonna go cry to your friends?". At this comment Gally turned around to the boys and walked towards them. I quickly ran up to him and placed my hand on his shoulder. I could feel the tension releasing as he turned to me. He nodded and walked over to the guy who had hid in the kitchens.

Just as I was to follow, the guy from before spoke again. "Saved by a little girl" He said smirking. Next thing I know, my fist collided with his nose. The boy shouted out in surprise as I wiped the blood of my hand on my pants and walked over where Gally stoos. Hands folded over his chest, he nodded at me.

"Slim it!" Alby shouted making all heads look over at him. "Greenie" His eyes looked at the new boy with a bleeding nose. "No mocking in the Glade, you hear me?". The boy muttered a low "yes" as he tried to wipe the blood of his face. "Em" Alby said, waving me over. As I stopped in front of him, he lowered his voice. "As second in command, you need to be a good example". I nodded at Alby, not looking him in the eyes. "Look at me" Alby's voice was firm and calm. "I know I overreacted before and I'm sorry". I nodded at Alby again, this time looking into his eyes and smiled. "Let's do this" He said as I moved to stand beside him.