I don’t know long I had actually been sitting against the wall but my body began to hurt being in the same position for so long. I stood up stretching out as I moved around the room. I opened that Newt gave me searching in it for any other clothes but there was none. I notice the jacket that was in there grabbing it and putting it on.
The jacket was quite tight but it was stretchy and fit perfectly. I also grabbed the new knives that I got and hid them in the boots that I had.
There was a knock on the door and than I heard it open. I turned seeing Newt standing in the doorway. He was looking at me with a smile on his face his eyes gleaming with happiness.
“Are you ready to learn more about the glade, greenie?”
“I guess.”
“Lets go than. You learned most of everything yesterday but there is still a few things that you need to do or learn.”
I nodded at him and we left the building. He walked in front of me leading me out of the homestead an outside. When we were outside he started off to the wall. I didn’t understand why we were going to the wall but I followed with no questions, I’m sure he had a reason.
He stopped in front of one of the walls. I looked up at it and noticed there were names carved into it. I didn’t understand why there were so many names carved into it, but I found it really cool and pretty. I looked away from the wall and back to Newt who was once again smirking at me. What is up with this guy and his smirks?. I moved closer and stood in front of him, but not too close.
“What is this wall? Why are there so many names carved into it?”
“We carve our names into the wall so that we know who is here.”
“Why are some of them scratched out?”
“Just as we put our names into the wall when we get here, when thoses who are here don’t make it or get lost we cross their names out so that we know what has happened and who we can remember.“
I moved closer to the wall walking past Newt, standing right in front of the wall. I lifted my hand running it along the names. Even though I hadn’t been here for more than a day and didn’t know anyone here I felt a sense of sadness and guilt looking at all of the names.
As I stared at them I felt a hand on my shoulder looking back seeing New with his hand resting on my shoulder. He no longer had a smirk on his face it more like one of those faces that is when you are sad for something but are trying not to show it. I knew he felt bad for all those who had died or gotten hurt here. He let his hand drop falling to his sides as he looked at all the names as well.
“It’s your turn. You are one of us now so add your name up there and show that you are here to get out of this place.” I looked back at Newt, who now held a dagger in his hand offering it to me.
“But I don’t belong here. I’m not one of you.”
“Of course you are. You may not have woken up in here like the rest of us did, but you are still one of us and you still belong here.”
“But-”
“No, buts take the knife and carve your name into the wall.” I looked down at the dagger in his hand slowly reaching out for it. My hand wrapped around the handle as I lifted it out of his hand. I turned looking back at the wall steeping to a place that was blank. I lifted the dagger placing it on the stone. I let it rest there as I looked up at the wall wondering if I really did belong here. Was I really one of them are was he just saying that because he wants me to feel as if I belong here with the rest of them.
The knife ran across the wall leaving a thin and shallow line on the wall as I wrote my name. Once I had made the thin lines I went back and pushed harder down and with more force causing the knife to go in deeper leaving my name embedded into the wall for the rest of the time.
“Now you are truly one of us.” I looked back to him handing the knife back to him.
I felt a smile creep across my face and I stepped back looking at my name on the wall right along side of all the other names. It looked like it had always been there. I really did belong here.
Newt lead me off away from the wall and back down to the glade. As we walked he told me a little bit more about the glade and about the people who were here. He told me of Alby the one in charge, and Frypan the one who makes the food. I was glad to hear of all the people and what they did. I felt as if I was already getting more comfortable even though it had only been about one day since I have been here.
Newt stopped again while we were standing by the homestead and he turned to me.
“Okay before we do anything else there are two things which I must tell you. The first is that there are rules about being here. You must follow them and if you do not there are punishments for breaking them.” he looked at me his face serious and grim, “The first rule is that everyone does their part, there are no slackers. The second is that you can’t hurt another Glader, we all have to trust each other. The last rule is that you are not allowed outside the Glade, unless you are a runner.”
“Oh okay, wait did I already break the last one?”
“No that does not count to this because you woke up out there and you didn’t know the rules.”
“But what about when I woke up here and ran? I was in here already and I didn’t follow the rules.”
“No again you didn’t know of the rules yet and most of the greenies who come try to run. They don’t get very far though.”
“Okay than. What was the other thing that you wanted to say?”
“Oh that is right. I would like to know what job you wish to do. You can try all of them or you can pick one and we will see if you can do it.”
“I don’t know. Can I try some of them and see what I think.”
“Of course let's start at the Kitchen.”
We headed off to the dining hall and I learned how to make something from Frypan and than I tried. I was able to cook it and Newt said that it tasted almost as good as Frypans. He was really amazed at the fact that I was able to cook that well. After that he took me to the med jacks and I learned from them and than to the builders and so on.
Each job ending the same as the last one where I learned that I was able to do all of them. Newt had never seen anything like it before with how well I was able to do them and because of that he said that I was still able to pick what I wanted to do but on top of that I was able to choose if I wanted to help out and be one of those in command. I wouldn’t be anything like the first of the second in command but I would help them out with things that they needed done.
I happily accepted his offer and became his assistance. I was thrilled at the opportunity but even than he still wanted to know the main job that I wanted to do.
“I think that I want to be a runner.” The words came out so easily that it was hard to believe. All this time in the glade I felt as if I was missing something or there was something wrong. I just hope that asking him this wasn’t too much to ask.
“Really? After all that time in the maze you still wish to go into it.”
“Yes. I lived there for a long time and it almost feels like a home to me. Plus I have been everywhere in there and now it by the back of my hand.”
“I mean we will have to check with Alby but I have no problem letting you be a runner. Let me talk with Alby and I will let you know tomorrow. For now go to the dinning hall and get some food..” he turned to leave but I still needed to ask him something before he did for sure.
“Wait...Newt.” he stopped turning and looking at me. “I wanted to know if I could do both being a runner and being a cook. I really enjoyed doing that and wanted to know if it was possible to do both.”
He smiled at me as he opened his mouth to talk, “of course that one is something you can do for sure. Why don’t you start with that first thing in the morning and I will let you know what Abby thinks of letting you be a runner. Does that work?”
“Absolutely! Thank you Newt.” I turned and sprinted off to the dining hall.
Everyone had already grabbed food and was sitting in their tables eating. When I walked in everyone grew quiet and looked at me. I felt my face turn red as I grew embarrassed and shy. I made my way over to the counter where he handed me the food. I told him that I was going to get to work with him tomorrow. He seemed pretty excited but not as excited as I was. I grabbed my plate thanking him and leaving before I caused anyone to get mad at me for holding up the line.
I headed to the homestead to eat instead of the dining hall just because of how many people were there. I was still not very comfortable with all of the people. I knew that one day I would be though. It would just take a while.
I walked into the room and sitting down on the bed that I had. I slowly ate the food taking bite after bite savoring the taste. After so many days in the maze I had gotten used to barely any food and of course none of it tasted good so this was so much different than that which I had, had before.
Once my food was gone I stood up and placed the plate on a desk in the room. I didn’t know where else to put it so I hope that Minho wouldn’t get too upset.
After I finished I walked back over the bed that I made and throw my jacket onto the ground, then I laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. I wanted to wait for Minho to come back but I didn’t know when he was going to be done. Either way I was going to try.
I looked up at the ceiling counting all the little cracks in the roof. Slowly I felt my eyelids grow heavy and I felt sleep come to overtake me. I didn’t push it away instead I let it overcome me pulling me into the darkness of my mind.
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