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Twenty-Seven | Group A

Chapter twenty-seven, in which everyone is stupid enough to forget that there's a new Glader on the way, and he isn't too happy about his position.

The monthly bell rang. The five had not counted on there being a new Greenie, especially at such a critical point in their operation. Then again, they really should have been counting on things like this, so it was their fault alone that Minho and Newt would be burdened with showing the Greenie around.

By the time Percy arrived at the metal elevator, Newt was already pulling the door open and helping the new kid out.

"What's your name?" Newt asked kindly, holding his hand out so that he could help himself up.

Much like Percy had done a while back, he scrambled back from the British boy as much as possible. From his perspective, it looked like he banged his head on some supply bin. The boy winced but put on a strong face nonetheless. 

There was a small silence as the entire Glade waited for the boy to respond. "N-Nico. What's it to you?"

There was a stunned silence. Nico, huh? Percy had a sinking feeling that the mop-haired boy was a lot more involved in his past life than he had originally thought—this would complicate things even more, especially when he couldn't help but see a bunch of unfamiliar memories come to mind. It was as if he was watching a movie of someone else's life, and he blindly shoved through the crowd. 

He jumped into the Box after Newt, sending a rattle that shook the rusty elevator. Percy pushed his growing bangs out of his eyes, peering at the boy carefully. "Hello Nico," he said cooly. 

"Percy," he replied in almost a dream-like state. It came as a shock to all of them, and whispers were already starting to break out. Percy was even more confused than when he arrived in the Box himself. 

"How do you know me," he demanded. 

Newt nodded in agreement. "So Greenie, how do you know Perc here?"

"Look, I don't take orders from anyone, you know," he snarled in response. "Where in Hades am I?"

The British boy was taken slightly aback by Nico's outburst. No one messed with momma Newt. He scowled angrily. "Look, I'm the bloody leader here, you know," Newt said, mocking his tone sternly. 

"Then answer my questions then!" he said. 

"Okay, listen here Greenie. This ain't rainbows and your average fluffy unicorns. So you better fix your bloody attitude before a certain someone gets hurt," he snapped. "Percy, you talk to him. I'm done with this kid. Don't take it personally, shuck face." 

And with that, Newt shoved his way past the peering Gladers and stormed off somewhere. Everyone murmured in amusement. He was so easy to piss off these days, and a new Greenie never helped an angry Newt. That left Percy to deal with the kid, which he wasn't exactly looking forward to—Nico had the same hostility Teresa had.

He helped Nico up out of the Box, not saying anything yet. The boy brushed himself off, his dark pants powdered in dust. Percy watched him for a while. He noticed prominent dark circles under the boy's eyes. 

"What is this place, Percy?" He finally spoke after a very pregnant silence.

Percy didn't really know how to explain all this Glader stuff to him. "It's called the Glade," he said simply. "Well at least, we call it that."

"Where are we? Why are we here? Why can't I remember anything?" Nico continued to bombard him with countless questions, so much that it overwhelmed Percy. They were the same ones he asked when he had popped out of the Box.