RECKLESS [The Maze Runner || Newt || Book 1]

19 - Welcome to the glade

Alby and Clara walked around the glade, showing the greenie all the structures, and explaining what jobs they had, Alby explained that he would have to try each job until the keepers decided what job he'd get. Clara noticed how curious this greenie was, since he'd come out of the box all he'd done was ask questions. As they were walking past the homestead Newt came jogging up to them,

"Greenbean, meet Newt. When I'm not around, he's in charge."

"Well, it's a good thing you're always around then." Newt remarked, shaking the greenie's hand, "Listen that was some dash you made earlier. You know for a second there I thought you had the chops to be a runner. Till you faceplanted, that was great."

"Newt, really?" Clara asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

"A runner?" The boy asked, a curious look on his face. Clara looked at Alby as they realized they hadn't explained that job to him yet.

"Hey, you two, do me a favour and go find Chuck yeah?" Alby asked, looking between her and Newt. The pair nodded and went off to find the young boy.

When Chuck had arrived in the maze, Clara volunteered to look after him as she quickly realized how intimidating the other boys could be and he slowly became her favourite. His joy and lightheartedness bought something to the Glade that she hadn't felt in a long time, and she always loved the time she spent with the boy. The pair found him sitting at one of the tables with a bucket and sponge, carving a piece of wood.

"Hey, Chuck!" She called, jogging up to him and ruffling his hair as she sat down next to him, with Newt taking a seat on the opposite side of the table.

"What's that mate?" Newt asked, nodding down at the wooden piece he was holding. The boy lifted it up to show us, it was a small carving of the dog – Bark – they had in the glade. Clara took it out of his hands and looked at it closely, turning it over in her palm.

"Damn Chuck, this is really good." She remarked, admiring the piece of woodwork before handing it back to the boy, who responded with a small smile. "Hey, Alby wants to speak to you, it's probably about the new greenie, they were headed to the tower why don't you go find them." She said, patting him on the back. He looked up at her and nodded, a big smile on his face before he jumped up and walked over to the tower. 

Clara looked up, lifting her hand to shield her eyes from the sun and she spotted Alby and the greenie at the top of the tower, he was probably giving him the big 'This is a community we work together' talk that he gave all of them.

"So, what do you think of the new greenie?" Newt asked, pulling her attention away from the tower.

"He seems curious. Maybe too curious. I have a feeling he's gonna get himself into some trouble."

"Yeah, he reminds me of someone, can't put my finger on who though. Oh, wait, it's you. He reminds me of you."

"Oh, slim it, I was never this bad."

"Yeah, you were close though."

"Whatever."

"You coming to the bonfire?"

"Are you gonna fight Gally?"

"Absolutely not."

"Damn, would've made my week. I didn't sleep that well, so I'll see a little later."

"Still having nightmares about him?"

Clara didn't respond, instead looking down at her hands, fiddling with her fingers.

"HEY!" A loud voice suddenly shouted from behind Clara, she spun around just in time to see Gally shove the greenie a few meters back from the maze doors. She and Newt quickly looked at each other before standing up and running over to the doors, where a small crowd was already forming. Clara moved to the front of the boys and saw Gally standing over the boy,

"We gotta stop meeting like this greenie." He spoke before the other boy frantically stood up and backed away from him, looking around at her and the other Gladers.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" He asked,

"Just calm down alright," Newt said, moving closer to the greenie, who was getting angrier by the second,

"Why won't you tell me what's out there?"

"We're just trying to protect you. " Clara said, stepping forward but stopping as Newt put a hand out in front of her,

"It's for your own good."

"You guys can't just keep me here!"

"We can't let you leave." Alby spoke again, stepping towards the greenie,

"Why not?"

And as if the maze had heard him ask the question, a thunderous boom came from inside it and a gust of wind blew out, sending dust up into the group's eyes. The large doors started closing behind the greenie, the loud grinding of the gears and stone filling Clara's ears until the doors closed completely.

"Next time, I'm gonna let you leave." Gally remarked, before storming away from the crowd, something clearly bothering him. Clara walked up to the greenie who was still staring up at the doors and she gave him a quick pat on the back before she spoke,

"Welcome to the glade greenie."