Maze Runner: The Subject Experiment

3 ❀ Rise and Shine Greenie

The girl's eyes fluttered open as she regained consciousness.

"She's awake!"

"Quiet Jeff, you'll startle her."

She sat up to discover she was facing two boys. One had a mop of curly dark hair, the other was tall with dark skin and short jet-black hair. She looked around the wooden hut with only one thing on her mind - answers.

"Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?" She glared at the anxious figures in front of her as they searched for a response.

Her voice was different from the others, it had a broad accent with a lilt.

"You're in the Glade." She hadn't noticed that Newt was sitting next to her. He gave her a friendly smile, "Take it easy by the way, you were hurt pretty bad when you came up."

"Came up? From where?" Her voice was firm and demanding.

"Alby said to bring her to see him as soon as she woke up," warned the short boy.

"Just give her a minute alright, Clint?" Newt commanded sternly.

The girl raised her voice, "I want answers. Now!" Only Newt heard the slight fearful tremble that shook her words.

"Well, looks like we've got ourselves a feisty shank here!" chuckled Jeff.

"Slim it slinthead. She doesn't look like she's in the mood for jokes," stated a concerned Clint.

Newt sighed. "Well, I'm not sure you remember, but formal introductions and all that." He put out his hand, "I'm Newt."

She warily took his hand and shook it, gaining a wide grin from him in return.

"And these two lovely people are Clint and Jeff. You should thank them, they bandaged you up bugging quickly and it's bloody good that they did or you'd not be awake to thank them."

She let go of Newt's hand to feel her bandaged side, "Urm...thanks."

Jeff lifted an eyebrow, "Your gratitude is overwhelming."

Newt continued, "You're in the med-jack hut, where these guys are obligated to fix up any wounds or injuries. As for why you're here, you can ask the bloody bastards who put us all in this klunk-hole."

The girl slowly took the information in, "So none of you know how you got here?"

The three boys shook their heads. Newt leaned towards her, "If you can get up and walk, we'll take you to Alby. He's in charge of everything around here. He wants to speak with you and we kinda have to do what he says. So if you don't mind?"

Newt steadied her as she slowly turned and put her feet on the floor before pushing herself up to stand. "Thanks you two. I can take it from here," Newt nodded towards the two med-jacks.

Newt led the way across the Glade to a wooden tower. As they walked together the Gladers stopped to watch. The girl could feel their eyes following her, making her cringe. Luckily, Newt noticed her discomfort, "Alright shuckfaces, stop gawking and get on with your work!" Begrudgingly they returned to the tasks at hand. "Don't worry about them lot greenie. I'll keep 'em in line," he said with a wink. For the first time since she'd arrived here, the newbie smiled.

"What's a 'greenie'?" She asked.

"Oh it's what we call new arrivals, like you."

They reached the tower. It was comprised of platforms made from wooden planks evenly spread along the height of a tall tree trunk.

"Okay greenie, this is where we part paths. Alby wants to talk to you alone." Newt rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

"What? I have to go up there? Alone?"

"You'll be fine, honestly. Alby's a nice guy, just..." He paused to look her in the eye.

"Just what?"

He put his hand on her shoulder, his eyes holding her gaze. "Just...try and make a good impression alright?" Then, with an encouraging nod, he turned and walked towards the other boys.

She stared up at what she was about to climb and shivered at the thought of who she might meet at the top. She silently hoped that this 'Alby', this leader, wasn't as terrifying as she was imagining. "Here goes nothing."

She didn't know that when Newt reached the other Gladers, he looked back at her

and smiled.