The First Glader

21

She turned back toward George—
and saw something in his eyes.

Fear.
Desperation.
And behind it—something darker. Something rising. Something taking over piece by piece.

George's breathing quickened. His lips pulled back in a pained snarl. His hands curled into claws against the rope.

"Ada..." he groaned, voice slipping in and out of humanity. "Help... me..."

"I will," she promised. "I swear I will."

Gally stepped between them. "Ada, get back. I mean it."

She didn't move.

George's eyes fluttered. His body slumped, drained from exhaustion. The ropes dug into his wrists as his muscles finally stopped fighting.

For a moment, the only sound was his heavy, ragged breathing.

Ada approached slowly, cautiously this time, sitting just out of reach. George's eyes followed her, tracking her through pain and fever.

His voice cracked. "Don't... leave me."

Ada pressed a shaking hand to her heart. "I'm not going anywhere."

Nick exchanged a worried look with Alby. Newt hovered at a distance, pale and wide-eyed.

Gally stood like a guard between George and the world, jaw clenched, muscles tight, waiting for the next outbreak.

George's eyes softened—briefly.

Then rolled back.

He convulsed once, twice—

And went still.

Ada gasped and reached for him—

But Nick caught her arm. "Wait—"

George inhaled sharply, body tightening.

Every boy froze.

George's eyes snapped open again—

But this time, something in them was gone.

Something human.

Ada felt the loss like a blow.

The first phase of the Changing had begun.

And none of them had any idea what was coming next.

George didn't stay still for long.

Ada barely had time to drag in a shaky breath before his body jolted again, muscles tightening under the ropes, breath rasping as if he were suffocating from the inside out. His back arched, straining against the cots' wooden frame.

Newt took a step backward. "Bloody hell..."

Gally hovered protectively between Ada and the cot, jaw set tight, eyes flicking between her and the convulsing boy like he was deciding which danger to guard against first.

"Nick," Alby said, voice low, sharp, "this is getting worse."

"I know." Nick ran a hand through his hair, panic barely masked beneath forced calm. "Just—just give him space."

A harsh, animalistic sound tore from George's throat.

Ada flinched but didn't move away. She reached for the edge of the cot, her fingertips trailing along the wood as she fought to get closer.

"Ada," Nick warned, stepping in front of her. "No."

"He needs me!"

"No, he wants you," Gally snapped. "That's different. That's dangerous."