Song of a Glader

Chapter Four

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I quickly flicked it away. I realized it was Newt, hovered over where I lie down.

"Oh, sorry, Newt." I apologized.

"You weren't kidding about making them regret it." He rubbed his wrist that I had slapped, wearing a teasing smile on his face.

I sat up, pulling the sleeping bag off of me. The sun wasn't even up yet and all the boys were still asleep.

"Really? Why did you wake me up so early? Sleep is like my favorite thing ever." I teased. Newt chuckled.

"Alby has called a Gathering." Newt said, straight faced now.

"A what now?" I asked.

"A Gathering, a meeting where all the Keepers come together and discuss important matters."

"What important matter are you discussing?"

"You." Newt didn't seem happy at all. In fact, he seemed rather disturbed.

"What's the matter, uh, shank?" I tried out the Glader slang, trying to cheer him up. It didn't work.

"There has never been a girl sent to the Maze before, as you can see. The keepers are suspicious of you." Newt explained.

"Fair enough." I replied. "You guys are so organized and orderly. I like it." It made perfect sense that they had to hold a meeting.

Newt smiled at me. "You're starting to grow on me, you know that?"

I shrug. "I tend to have that effect on people." I smirk, teasingly. Newt laughed.

The boy led me to one of the stick structures that I had never been told what it was for, I only guessed.

Probably the leader's headquarters or something like that.

Newt opened the door and I followed him in, closing the door behind us.

I looked all around the room, taking in the sights. The keepers sat in chairs in a circle, all staring at me when I entered.

Newt had instructed me not to talk and I obeyed him by silently taking a seat in the chair I was motioned to. Newt took his seat beside Alby. Gally had a keeper seat too and I became scared.

Oh crap. He's gonna bad talk me. Great.

I twirled the ring on my finger as I anxiously waited to hear my fate.

"Thank you all for gathering today before the wake-up. As you know, we have a new Greenie." Alby spoke. "As you all know, the creators have never sent a girl in before. We are here to discuss the matter. Frypan, you're up."

The cook stood up to voice his opinion. I continued to play with my ring nervously.

"I don't know if you heard her Alby, but this shanky girl has the voice of an angel. I think the creators want to test us or somethin'." Frypan stated.

"What d'you mean?" Newt asked. He placed his chin on his hand, curious.

"I mean," the boy started again, "maybe the creators want to see how we react to a girl. Don't really know what they want with us, but I doubt it's the girl's fault."

"Not her fault!? Shank have you seen her? She's a shuck spy. She needs to be punished! The creators sent her to watch us and slowly kill us off!" Gally yelled, standing up abruptly.

Oh, here we go. I slunk deep into my seat wishing I could just vanish, go home.

"Gally, shut your hole!" Newt yelled. "Zart, go."

A tall boy with curly blonde hair stood up. "I have no clue what the creators are doing to all of us, but this girl should not be punished. Some of my workers got up with me to start tending the fields early, and ya know what? They were humming that song she sang last night to them. They were all cheery and working hard because she inspired them." Zart pointed at me and then quickly sat back down.

"Are you all shucking kidding me!?" Gally spoke up.

"That's enough, Gally! Or I'll throw you in the Slammer." Alby shouted.

"You should throw her in the Slammer! She's seducing you all with her girly charm!" Yelled an angry Gally.

I mouthed a "wow" to myself as my eyes went big.

"Gally!" Newt yelled, standing up. "Shut. Your. Hole, shuck-face, or I'll throw you in the bloody Slammer myself!"

Gally angrily slunk back into his seat, like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"Now, everybody vote. Should we punish the poor girl or should we train her in like every other Greenie we've ever had?" Alby asked.

I held my breath as all the keepers turned to one another to discuss the matter. I couldn't breath as they whispered among each other, I twirled my ring faster. Finally, Frypan whispered something to Alby and he spoke up.

"The votes have been made. The majority of the room voted we train her in like any other shank." He said.

Everyone, except Gally, nodded and said "Good that". Gally couldn't take it anymore.

"Fine! But don't say I didn't warn you. Don't come crying to me when that shuck girl kills all of you in your sleep!" He stood up and stomped outside the room.

Okay. That child is mentally disturbed.

The rest of the keepers slowly stood up and left the room, one after the other until just me, Alby and Newt occupied the building.

"Can I speak now?" I whispered to Newt, causing Alby to chuckle slightly. Newt nodded, smiling.

"So, I don't know what the 'Slammer' is, but I'm mighty grateful to everyone who voted to keep me outta that thing." I said, a relieved expression on my face.

"I'm sorry Gally was such a piece of klunk. Bloody fickle, that one." Newt said to me.

"Thanks. I feel partly to blame. I didn't exactly make the best impression on him." I winced as if I could suddenly feel Gally's pain.

"He shouldn't have touched you." Alby said with a smile. I smiled back, grateful to be on the leader's good side.