Chapter 10
"So, how's life as a Builder?"
You still sat with Newt at lunchtime, as he was one of your closest friends in the Glade. Chuck sat with you, too, and Alec sometimes. Even Wyck joined when Frypan let him off. It was nice for all of you to get away from the work for a little while and get different perspectives on day-to-day affairs. Besides, a lot of the gossip that was common among your jobs was unheard in the others, so you kept each other up to date. The boys insisted on asking you questions every single day, although you had yet to speak a word to anyone.
"Did you hear, it took two hours for them to get all the supplies out of the Box," Chuck joked.
"Yeah, but no more greenies thanks to the greenie here!" Alec nudged you playfully.
"Thank goodness they kept sending up the bloody supplies, I don't know what we'd do without them," Newt added, sitting down with his plate.
"Well, our greenie fights tonight with none other than their Keeper, Gally!"
You groaned. You had completely forgotten about the long-promised rematch between you and Gally. The month had practically flown by! Alec had been a wonderful help, teaching you the ins and outs of Builders. No one had forced you to talk yet; it seemed they had forgotten about the note from the Creators and just accepted your silence. You hadn't had any run-ins with Gally, either. You guessed he was saving all his anger for the rematch.
"He's going to destroy you. Did you see how hard he's been training lately?"
You nodded; you had noticed. He had been carrying large supply crates over his head, boxing with the trees in the Deadheads, and dragging heavy sacks of flour, sometimes with boys lying on them, across the Glade. Most of this he did without his shirt on, and you couldn't help but notice his shining muscles.
"Ooh, guys, the greenie is blushing! What're you thinking about, greenie?" Newt teased. You glared at him, then joined in the table's laughter. It was foolish, these thoughts about Gally. You had to focus on beating him tonight.
"So, do you have a plan, or are you just going to wing it?" Alec asked. You started to shrug then you heard Gally's voice behind you.
"They plan to lose miserably!" Gally scoffed, his friends hyping him up.
"Really? Because I thought you two were all buddy-buddy now. You haven't yelled at the greenie once, Gally. You got a soft spot for them? Hmm? Oh, I see. Gally has a crush on the greenie!" Alec taunted.
Gally's confident smirk froze then melted away as he let his fury consume him.
"Well, let's let the greenie tell us. Come on, greenie. Tell us! Do I have a soft spot for you? Do I have a crush on you? Why don't you tell us all? Oh, that's right. You're too scared to talk!"
You flushed red; you weren't afraid. Before you could stop yourself, you stood and faced Gally.
"Ooh, is the greenie angry? Did I make the greenie mad? Come on, what're you going to do, huh? What're you going to do?"
"Ah, leave them alone, Gally, I didn't mean anything by it." Alec stood too, trying to defend you.
"Woah look here! Decide to grow a backbone today, Alec? Well, that remarkable display of bravery will have you and the greenie working late tonight."
Alec groaned and Gally pounced on him, "Oh wow, yeah, you have such an awful Keeper, making you stay late. Just for that, the greenie's working with you! You hear me, Alec? You'll be missing the bonfire to build that shed in the dark. You'd better finish it, too! And right after I'm done pounding the ever-loving stuffing out of the greenie here, they'll be joining you. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." Alec sighed and sat back down, mouthing sorry at you. You nodded, accepting his apology.
"What about you, greenie? Do you understand?" Gally took a few steps forward, invading your personal space. You took a defensive step back, but he kept moving. "I asked you a question, greenie. Do you understand?"
You nodded, but he pushed your shoulder.
"I asked you a question. Did you hear me? Do you understand?"
That's when the voices came.
The door is open.
Run for it.
Come out here.
With us.
You looked over at the open doors, framed with green ivy, luring you to escape all of this and simply run.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Gally poked your shoulder hard, forcing you to take another step back. As you did, your eyes met Minho's. He had seen you staring at the doors. Did he hear the voices, too? You thought it was just you...
"Greenie! I know you can hear me! Say something!" This time Gally pushed you entirely over. You fell on your back, with Gally towering over you, his eyes dancing with rage.
"That's enough, Gally!" Newt tried to intervene, but Gally pushed him away.
"I just want to hear them speak. Just one shucking word." He demanded, taking another step so he was literally standing on top of you, his foot on your chest. You choked and struggled as he pushed his weight down on your chest, only then realizing how dangerous your situation was.
"Gally, stop! You're hurting them!"
"I'm not hurting them, I'm pressuring them. That's all they need, a little pressure. Come on, greenie. Just one word. Just say one word."
Come... run to us.
We'll protect you.
We'll give you your voice back.
You looked over at the walls desperately, as the last of your air hissed from your throat in a hoarse, wordless whisper.
"What was that, slinthead?"
"Gally THAT IS ENOUGH."
You gasped as you felt Gally being body-slammed off you, and you wiggled free. Standing, sputtering for air, you felt Alec's protective arms wrap around you. You leaned against him thankfully, watching Minho wrestling Gally on the ground in front of you.
Minho was on top, holding Gally down with his knees, trying to get a solid punch onto Gally's face. Gally, however, had both hands on Minho's shoulders, trying to push him off.
After a moment of struggling that seemed to last for hours, the Baggers jumped in to break up the fight. Alby showed up as well, instructing both Gally and Minho to be thrown in the slammer until further notice.
"The rest of you, get back to work."
You only caught the last part of Alby's speech because Alec grabbed your arm, pulling you away.
"Are you alright?" He whispered urgently. "I'm so sorry for what I said... I seem to get you in trouble a lot. I've only seen Gally like that a few times... he's punched a few guys here and there for sure, but he doesn't usually get that out of control..."
You tried to smile, but you felt like throwing up. You followed Alec blindly back to the shed, where you'd probably be for the foreseeable future. Gally was in the slammer, but his orders still stood. You and Alec had to work late and finish the shed.
"Alec!"
You both turned to where three Baggers were running up.
"We heard Alec may have started the fight with Gally?" One of them asked.
You shook your head, and Alec said, "No way! I mean, I said some stuff, but I didn't do anything. The greenie here did most of it by not saying anything!"
You glared at him, and he shrugged, saying, "Well, it's true!"
"Either way, you'll need to come with us. Alby wants to talk about what happened. And since the greenie here won't talk, it's up to you."
"But I had to-"
"You can finish any jobs tomorrow."
"But-"
"Come."
"Ok... sorry, greenie. I'll see you tomorrow?"
You watched Alec walk off escorted by three Baggers. Then, you turned to the shed. It was nearly done, it just needed the rest of the roof put on, the inside insulated, sanded, and painted... You sighed, rolling up your sleeves. If you were going to work alone all night, you might as well get started.