What If | tmr, newt ✓

Chapter 14

When the box came back up that day, something that Alby had told me during the tour replayed in my mind. The box comes up once a month with a new greenie, and once a week with provisions and requests.

This startled me back to reality. I must have missed it coming up last week, but - I had only been here two weeks? And that means I had only known my own name for that time? That seemed impossible. I felt I had been here for years: this was my home.

I was even more surprised to find that, once I started helping the gladers to unload and unpack boxes, there was one square box, around a foot in all diameters, and on the top was scribbled in slanted hand: "Adalyn".

Of course I was curious. Who wouldn't be? But I took it up into the glade and threw it aside, trying to displace it from my mind as we brought the rest of the containers out and the box closed, slowly descending. I shivered at the thought of my journey up in that thing.

I turned to find Newt, my named box in hand, giving me a quizzical look. I shrugged as if to say 'I know as much as you do' and took it from his hands.

"Hey, hey, Adalyn... don't you think someone else should open that first?" I hear Alby say behind me, and turn to find him with his hand out, asking for it.

Newt crosses his arms. "Give the girl some privacy, won't you?"

"Newt, you don't have to defend her just because she's 'your girl' now," he responds, and Newt turns bright red. "What if it's a trap, or they've given her a weapon or something?"

I snort. Because that's really likely. "Trust me, if it's what I think is in here, you'd be more scared than me if you knew. I can't wait to see the embarrassed look on your faces." And without waiting for his response, I rip off the lid of the box, knowing I had given myself the space I wanted.

I take out spare clothes, such as trousers, shirts, sports bras and the like, as well as elastic ties for my hair, first. They took up the majority of the box. Under that, there was a sealed, transparent packet, and even though my memories have failed me on basic knowledge such as my last name, I can tell immediately they're protection - as well as painkillers - for my monthly cycles. I groan. If the creators of this place could make thousands of mass of stone move, surely they could have stopped a simple thing like my period.

And then, as if answering my own questions, I remove a small, plastic square from the bottom of the box. Dead in the centre is one microscopic pill, and there are words printed on the back: "It's an optional, temporary contraceptive toxin that will prevent you menstruating as well as any chances of you conceiving."

I want to laugh out loud. What were they implying? I notice Newt glance over my shoulder, reading, and immediately he takes a step back and scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

Glancing back at the box to check I had taken everything out, I notice one final thing; there's a note, and on it written "do not read now". There must be something on the back as well. In that second I make my decision, pretend the box is empty and pack everything back in. The note is small enough that the gladers all believe me.

"Alright, Christmas is over, back to work ya slintheads!" Alby shouts.

I sidle over to Newt and wrap my arms around his middle. "Don't be embarrassed. It's a precaution, just in case."

He pulls me closer around my waist. "It doesn't have to be just a precaution," he whispers, smirking.

I move a step back, taking a shocked but slightly amused intake of breath. I'm about to tell him off when Alby interrupts us. "Hey, lovebirds! That includes you! Don't make me demote you, Newt!"

I would kiss him goodbye but I know if I did I wouldn't be able to stop. So, I smile goodbye, picking up my box of possessions, dumping it by my hammock and finally jogging over to the homestead.

***

I sit with my back to one of the poles that my hammock is suspended on, waiting. I curl my legs up into myself and take a few steady breaths before sliding the note out of my pocket, where I put it earlier today.

As far as I can tell, all the Gladers are fast asleep. Hours ago, I said I wanted to get proper rest before tomorrow, since I would be running again, but really I just closed my eyes and waited with a heavy sense of foreboding in my chest. I couldn't take the note off my mind - okay, so I might be being paranoid. It could literally just be a reminder to tie up my laces tighter before running. But the whole 'wait until nobody else can see you' implied something more.

I unfold it slowly and finally bring myself to read the handwritten words. The further I read into it, the closer I come to tears.

Adalyn,

One week ago, you arrived in the Glade just as the rest of your friends did, mind almost completely blank, and panicked. This, you already know. What you have not been informed of is that when this did take place, it was in fact - regrettably - a mistake.

You are not meant to be inside those walls at this very moment, and it is in our best interest to get you out.

We hope that you receive this note as was intended; in secrecy. We assume that, knowing this, your intentions are the same as ours in removing you from the maze and ensuring your safety. If this is indeed the case, we will need you to help by isolating yourself in a desolate location - such as the Maze itself - at the fall of night, as soon as convenient.

The World Catastrophe: Killzone Department.

It seemed like there was more written in this letter than was held in the depth of my memories. Who on earth were these people? Was this just a test to see if I would confide in my friends? Was I really a mistake? My head was spinning.

Leaning my head against the post, I let the tears start rolling for real. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realised; I was more scared to leave than I was to stay.