The Glade

1. The Box

Obviously, this isn't my work. It belongs to James Dashner. A fair warning before you proceed. This is a pre-Thomas take early Glade. It's a blend of the books and the movies. If you're not into a glade not led by Alby then turn back now. I love Alby as a character but I wanted to try something different. 

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(Y/N) POV

My eyes are already open. I'm not sure how long, but they're dry and painful. I feel cold and naked. Why can't I move? It's so bright it hurts my eyes. Why can't I shut my eyes? Everything looks white sterile. A vague reason why I am here hangs just out of reach. Why can't I remember?

"Have you started the extraction?" A young male voice asks, barely beyond my sight. A young female steps into view. Her long dark hair framed her face. Wait, what's wrong with her face?! Her face is blank, non-existent, like a memory I forgot.

"Yes, I started 10 minutes ago. Can you help me with him?" There must have been another person somewhere, perhaps on a table. Was I on a table? I hear what must have been the male shuffling somewhere close by.

"How much longer?" He's quiet, almost sombre. The clinking of metal on metal fills the room as he works. I can't distinguish what he is doing. Why can't I see what he is doing? I can't move my head or talk. I try focusing on her face, but the room begins to darken at the corners in my sight.

"Still a little while longer. I've only just started with the earlier memories and a few present ones. It's a delicate procedure." Procedure? Memories? What is happening? The girl continues, "Subject B37 will be ready, and you can move her to the-"

"Subject A37, you mean." He cuts her off.

"No, she is B37. He is A37." She laughs like it's a joke.

He walks over to look at me. I can see him now. Dark hair, light skin, but no face, just like the girl. "No, SHE is subject A37, and Aris has been designated to B37."

"But, why?" There is confusion and distress in her voice.

"Doctor Paige wants to observe how the group's fare with the opposite sex. She re-designated them this morning. ________ will be going into the Glade with Group A. And Aris will be going up into the Spring with Group B." He says this with no emotion. Like it was a fact he read out of a textbook.

"The chaos that will bring for the girls? And the BOYS. She can't go in there with the boys. How will she survive?" I can hear the panic in her voice as she says this. Should I panic?

"That's the point. It's just another test, like all the tests we've given them before. It's not that different from anything else we've done to them. Besides, the Glade is more hospitable than the Spring."

"But you don't understand, Thomas, this is different." She sounds frustrated.

He steps closer to her side, placing a hand on hers. "She is strong, she would have been an excellent Icer, and she can be a strong Glader." He paused, looking at me. I could only assume, as he had no face. He then turned back to the girl. "They're our friends, and I trust even without their memories, they will treat her well. How much longer?"

She wipes what must have been a tear from her eye, "Just a few more minutes." He walks away, maybe to check on the boy called Aris. I watch as she leans down close to my ear. I can feel her breath as she whispers something in my ear. "Don't worry, I won't take everything. This isn't reasonable for you. I will leave as many of your skills as possible to help you survive."