The First Glader

21

Then George lunged at her.

He lunged with a snarl — raw, animalistic, sharper than anything human. Nick yanked her back at the last second as George's teeth snapped shut only inches from her arm.

Gally swore loudly. Newt shouted in fear.

"GET HIM DOWN!" Nick yelled.

It took all four of them.
Gally pinned George's legs.
Alby forced his torso down.
Nick gripped his arms, muscles straining.
Newt helped tie rope around George's wrists, hands shaking badly.

George thrashed the entire time, veins bulging, eyes wild, growling and gasping like something was tearing through him from the inside.

Ada stumbled back, chest heaving, tears burning her vision. She'd never seen him look like this. She'd never seen anyone look like this.

"Don't tie him," she whispered. "He's just scared—he's confused—he needs me—"

Nick rounded on her, eyes fierce with fear. "Ada, he just tried to bite you."

Ada pressed a hand to her mouth, breath trembling. "I know. I know. But he didn't mean to. He didn't—"

"Ada," Alby said gently, "he's not thinking. He doesn't know who we are."

"Yes, he does," Ada insisted. "He—he said my name—he knew me—he—"

Her voice cracked on the last word.

George jerked against the ropes, twisting with such force the knots strained. Nick tied another loop around the cot frame, reinforcing it.

Newt backed away quickly. "Bloody hell... he's strong."

"No," Gally muttered, shaken, "that's not strong—that's wrong."

George's chest heaved. His head lolled back. Sweat streamed down his face. His eyes rolled unfocused, then snapped back to Ada.

He exhaled shakily. "...Ada."

She stepped forward again. The boys tensed as one.

George's lips trembled. "It hurts."

Ada knelt beside him, ignoring Nick's warning glare, ignoring the risk, ignoring everything except the boy she loved shaking under her hands.

She gripped his palm gently. "I'm here. I'm right here, George. I'm not leaving."

He relaxed — just barely. The wildness flickered, dimming for a heartbeat.

"Ada..." he whispered again.

She leaned in until their foreheads touched. "I've got you."

His breath shuddered—
and with sudden force, he jerked upward again.

The rope saved her.

His head whipped to the side. His teeth snapped shut right where her throat had been.

Ada froze.

Gally pulled her backward so fast she slid across the dirt. "Ada, get away! NOW!"

George twisted on the cot, snarling through his teeth, every muscle bulging as he strained against the restraints.

"Ada," Nick said firmly, gripping her shoulders, "you have to stay back. He's not in control."

She shook her head, tears streaking her cheeks. "He can hear me. I know he can."

"Yeah?" Gally snapped. "Then why does he keep trying to rip your face off?"

Ada didn't have an answer.