Breaking The Code (Part one)

The Bonfire

The Glade seemed to come alive as the sun dipped below the towering walls. By the time twilight settled, a bonfire roared in the center of the clearing, casting long, flickering shadows over the gathered Gladers.

The scent of charred wood mixed with something richer—food. She wasn't sure what it was, but the aroma made her stomach rumble. After the day's whirlwind tour and the endless questions buzzing in her head, the warmth of the fire was strangely comforting.

Newt stood beside her, smiling as he watched the boys joke and jostle one another. "Don't let this lot fool you," he said with a chuckle. "They can be idiots, but they mean well. Most of the time."

She managed a small smile, still feeling the weight of so many stares. Despite Newt's reassurances, she could feel their eyes lingering on her.

"Alright, you shanks!" Alby's voice boomed over the chatter. The leader of the Glade stood near the fire, his arms crossed as he scanned the group. "Settle down! We're here to welcome the Greenie properly, so quit gawking and act like you've got some manners!"

A ripple of laughter swept through the crowd, but the tension eased, and the boys began to focus on the food and each other instead of her.

"Thanks," she murmured to Newt.

"Don't mention it," he said. "Now go grab some grub. You've earned it."

She made her way toward the food table, where a group of boys was laughing over plates of roasted vegetables and something that vaguely resembled meat. She was about to reach for a plate when a voice cut through the noise.

"Well, well, look who's gracing us with her presence."

She turned to see a tall boy with a chiseled jawline and a cocky smirk. His piercing eyes locked onto hers, and the air around him practically crackled with arrogance.

"Gally," he said, introducing himself as if she should already know who he was. "Welcome to the Glade, sweetheart."

The way he said it made her skin crawl. "Thanks," she replied curtly, turning back to the food.

"Oh, don't be shy," Gally continued, stepping closer. "You're the talk of the night. Everyone wants to know who the mysterious girl is."

"I'm just... like everyone else here," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Gally laughed, low and sharp. "Oh, no, you're not. You show up, and suddenly half the Gladers can't focus on their jobs. You've got them all acting like love-struck idiots."

She stiffened, unsure if he was teasing her or accusing her of something. "That's not my fault."

Gally leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a mock-conspiratorial tone. "Maybe not. But it's only fair to warn you—things here aren't as nice as they seem. You'd better figure out where you stand, and fast."

Before she could respond, Newt appeared, his expression tight. "Gally, leave her alone."

Gally raised his hands, feigning innocence. "What? Just being friendly."

"Yeah, well, try being friendly somewhere else," Newt said, stepping between them.

Gally smirked, but there was something dangerous in his eyes. "Alright, Newt. Don't get your knickers in a twist." He glanced at her one last time. "See you around, Greenie."

As Gally sauntered off, Newt turned to her, his face softening. "You alright?"

She nodded, though her hands trembled slightly. "Who does he think he is?"

"Gally's always been like that," Newt said with a sigh. "Thinks he knows better than everyone else. Just don't let him get to you."

"I won't," she said, though the encounter had left her rattled.

The night continued, and the tension from earlier slowly melted away. The boys told jokes, sang songs, and passed around stories about life in the Glade. A few even tried to include her, their attempts to make her laugh surprisingly genuine.

But her thoughts kept drifting back to Gally's words and the strange tension in the way he'd spoken to her.

Across the fire, she noticed Thomas sitting alone, poking at the dirt with a stick. He glanced up and caught her eye, his expression unreadable. For a moment, she thought about going over to him, but something held her back.

She stayed where she was, quietly watching the flames as the night deepened.