Variant | Newt

1 | the first

I ignored his shock and pushed myself up, using the table to get my balance. "Alby, she survived a griever."

His head snapped towards the girl and she looked at Alby sheepishly. "I mean," she spoke nervously, "I didn't do it on purpose. I probably got lucky-"

"Stop talking," Alby muttered, sitting on the nearby stool. "Just... start at the beginning."

She sighed, eyeing me. I sent her an encouraging smile, and she began to explain.

"I— I woke up, out there - the Maze. I can't tell you much, I just woke up out there, laying on the ground. It was nighttime, I know that— cause I had to start running when the... the griever started chasing me. I must of ran for hours until I saw the sunrise. I ran into this, uh, this little rock wall. It kinda knocked the wind out of me, and that's when the griever thing jumped on top of me. It's leg did that," she nodded towards her thigh, "but I rolled out from under it before it could bite my face off." She let out a tiny laugh, somehow finding humor in the traumatic experience she was retelling. "I lost it when the corridor I was running down started...like, shrinking. The walls closed in on itself and I think the griever was crushed. Then...I just started walking. I made it to the opening— to this place, somebody caught me when I passed out and then I woke up here." She looked Alby in the eyes as she continued coldly, "that's all I remember. I swear."

He nodded grimly, not showing her whether or not he believed her. But I knew Alby better than probably anyone in the Glade, so I could read him when no one else could. Alby was wary of the girl herself, but believed the story. I could tell her presence did nothing but stress him out, but he wasn't scared of her personally.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her, his voice slightly laced with sympathy. "The Med-jacks mentioned you might have broken some ribs, too."

The girl met Alby's gaze, her tone sterner than before. "I'm fine," she quickly breezed past his question, "I just want some information. You asked about me and I was honest. So I deserve the same courtesy."

I raised my eyebrows at her bluntness. But she was right, she was forward with us, Alby owes her some answers too. Clearly, she was more than a scared girl - she had some fight in her.

"I'm Alby," he finally introduced himself, "and I'm the leader here. We call this place the Glade. It's..." he sighed before continuing, "This is a lot to take in, so I'll start small. The Glade's in the middle of the Maze, and we've been trying to escape ever since we've arrived."

"We?" questioned the girl.

Alby nodded. "There's around 20 of us now. There's a box, in the middle of the Glade. That's where we get our supplies, and once a month; a new member. That's why the boys are so on edge about ya; no one's ever come out of the Maze, let alone a girl."

"Excuse me?" She seemed offended.

Alby quickly shut down any misogynistic assumptions the girl was most likely thinking. "No, no, it's not like that - it's just that there's never been a girl in the Glade. You're the first."

The color seemed to drain from the girl's face. "You mean... what are you going to do to me?"

This time, Alby's face softened completely. The fear on the girl's face showed she was scared of something, something a girl trapped with a bunch of boys would be completely justified in fearing.

Alby quickly comforted her with his words, trying to get her to relax. "We're not going to do that, I promise. The boys won't touch you— and if they do - if they even attempt it, I'll have 'em banished. We'll keep ya safe."

Letting out a shaky breath, she shook at the restraints on her wrists. "Can you let me out of these then, please? I'd— I'd feel better if I wasn't tied up."

Alby pursed his lips and sent me a look. "I'm sorry, but those have to stay on. Just until I can convince the others you're not a threat."

"Alby—" I started, about to argue with him. No wonder he had sent me a look from before, he knew I wouldn't like the idea.

"Newt. Come on, man. You know how it works around here," he scolded. He turned back to the girl. "We're having a meetin' tonight to discuss your arrival. We just gotta calm some folks nerves down about you. Truth be told, some of the guys are a bit freaked by your sudden arrival. Kinda dramatic; covered in blood coming from the Maze and all." The slightest hint of a smile pulled at Alby's lips. The girl let out a small chuckle.

I decided to speak up again, hoping to encourage her. "It's only a day. I'm sure the boys'll have your back, right Alby?" I directed that last bit towards my leader, hoping he'd get the message. Clearly, she was just as lost as any other greenie. There wasn't any point keeping her locked up.

"Yeah, I'm betting on it," Alby replied. "For that reason, try to get some rest. I'm sure I'll be able to give you the grand tour tomorrow, and it's a lot to take in, ya know?"

The girl nodded happily, visibly much more relaxed than she was before.

Alby stood up, putting the stool back neatly in its place before stepping closer to me, where I sat upright on my cot. Lowering his voice, he spoke to me so she couldn't hear. "It goes without saying, but thanks for keeping watch on her."

I shrugged. "Of course."

Alby smiled at me, clasping a hand on my shoulder. "Right. Just...." he sighed. "You seemed more like yourself today. It's good to see that."

As he walked out, he said a short goodbye to the girl before leaving us alone again.

More like myself? I suppose he was right. I hadn't spoken this much in weeks, or cared enough to get up and out of bed for any other reason before.

This girl....she's good for me, I think.

Damn this was a long one.
I know the reference photo of the med-room is probably more bougee than what it would realistically be, but I've always imagined the homestead like a farmhouse. Y'all can imagine tents, or whatever you like. That's just what I picture in my head.