[ chapter 03. flames ]

DAWN

'Hey! Greenie!' Someone called out and it took me a moment to realize they meant me. Coming to a halt I turned around, noticing a little kid with curly hair running towards me. He stopped when he was near me, bending over to catch his breath.

'Hey?' I said, a little uncertain as I stared at him. He was definitely the youngest Glader I'd seen so far.

'Name's Chuck,' he said between gaps. 'Alby told me to get you.'

I raised my eyebrows at him. 'Why?'

He took a deep breath, standing up straight again. 'Boss wanted me to show you your room. He didn't want you and Lisa to sleep out here surrounded by boys, you know?'

'Why doesn't he just tell me himself?' I mumbled, more frustrated with the leader of the Glade than I liked to admit.

Chuck shrugged. 'I'm a Slopper, it's kind of what I do.'

I raised my eyebrows at him. 'Running around and doing another one's dirty work?'

'It's not as bad as it sounds,' he muttered, but he clearly didn't believe it himself. Then he cleared his throat to try and break the sudden tension. 'Anyway, you comin'?'

Nodding, I turned to follow him towards the wooden building Alby had called the Homestead. During our walk across the meadow I noticed the boy's eyes drifting to me before looking away quickly, almost as if looking at me would somehow burn him. Finally I sighed and stopped, making him stop as well. 'Why do you keep on staring at me?' I asked the Slobber.

His cheeks turned bright red as his gaze went to the ground, shuffling uncomfortably with his feet. 'It's just, I just,' he took a deep breath before finally looking at me. 'I can't even remember ever seeing a girl. It's...' he seemed to doubt his words before finally saying, 'weird.'

I couldn't help but smile even though it felt weird to do considering the circumstances but at the same time it felt like a relief. 'I get it, it's fine.'

'Really?'

Nodding, I started walking again. 'I mean, I can't remember ever meeting a boy before. So, in a way, I get it.'

Chuck smiled at me, seeming relieved that I wasn't mad.

As we crossed the Glade I noticed how big this place truly was. It was insane if you stopped to think about it. How was it possible someone could ever build something like this? And what was the reason? It seemed insane for someone to just decide to build a maze and drop a few teens in it.

We reached the Homestead and Leon led me up a flight of stairs, down a hallway and finally through a door on our right. He opened it to show me a small room with one bed against the left wall and a window that had a view on the Glade. A small wardrobe stood against the right wall. The room smelled like wood but that was something I could live with.

Offering Chuck a grateful smile I stepped inside. 'Thanks,' I said.

He nodded at me and pointed at a door on the other side of the hall. 'Lisa's room is over there, just so you know.' Then he turned around and left.

I closed the door behind him, leaned against the wood and let out a shaky breath. Walking over to the bed a lump appeared in my throat and I desperately tried to swallow it but to no avail. Sitting down on the thin mattress I put my head in my hands. I didn't want to cry but my stomach was aching by now from trying to keep my tears at bay. A sob left my lips and my eyes started burning from the many tears that had gathered there and finally I let go. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I curled into a little ball on the bed, hugging myself as I cried. My entire body shook as I closed my eyes, painful hiccups plagued my chest while the tears kept on coming.

My thoughts didn't seem able to calm down. Endless images of the Glade and the Maze flashed before my eyes. The most horrible fragments of my imagination of Grievers and dark corridors plaguing me.

I felt so incredibly empty without any memories to hold on to. My entire brain felt like a black hole with nothing to draw from to keep me going. It felt like a part of me was missing and I desperately wanted it to end.

I was startled out of my thoughts by a loud rumbling that echoed through the Glade. Jumping up from my bed I walked towards the window, staring outside I watched with wide eyes how the doors in the walls started to close. They seemed to do it all on their own, no mechanism was visible that could've set them in motion. The sound of stone scraping against stone was horrible and covering my ears didn't help one bit. Finally it stopped as the doors closed completely, making the walls seem impenetrable.

A shaky breath left my lips and I turned around to take a seat back down on the bed. I tried to stop my hands from shaking, my mind from thinking, but this place just seemed hell bent on making me think. My thoughts kept on spinning endlessly and there was nothing I could do to change it. Curling up on my side again, I lay back down on my bed, staring at the wall, wishing for everything to just stop.

It had already turned dark outside when I finally forced myself to stand up. Through the window I could see boys carrying woods to an already small pile. The party Alby had been talking about apparently involved a bonfire. Sighing deeply I turned around and walked towards the door, knowing I couldn't stay here and not show up. The party was meant for Lisa and I, plus my stomach was aching for food. And since I found food more important than trying to feel happy at a party, I decided to find something to eat first before joining the Gladers.

The wood cracked beneath my feet as I made my way down the stairs, hoping that I would find someone quickly because my stomach was protesting by now. When I was halfway down I bumped into something, or rather, someone. A startled yell escaped my mouth and I took a step backwards.

'Could you be any bloody louder!' A familiar voice, with a thick accent, groaned.

'Seriously? Not even a "sorry didn't see you coming"?' I mumbled and rubbed my nose.

The person grinned. 'Sorry, how's the lady doing?'

I looked up and saw Newt standing before me with a small smirk on his face. 'The lady will be fine once she has something to eat,' I finally replied.

A spark of amusement flashed through his eyes at my words. 'Well, let's get some food for the lady then,' he said and walked down the stairs.

Shaking my head I followed him, trying my hardest not to smile.

Newt took me out of the Homestead and towards a small building beside it. Inside were several tables, surrounded by many chairs. On the right wall was a counter with a huge kitchen behind it.

'Sit down,' Newt said and I chose a table next to the window. He disappeared through a door in the corner.

I sighed and studied my nails, they were dirty, making me feel dirty and suddenly I wondered if they even had showers here. Turning to look out of the window I could see the flames of the bonfire lighting up the darkness of the Glade. Every part of me resented the idea of going there and pretending to be happy. Footsteps made me look away from the window. I looked up and saw Newt standing before me. He handed me the plate, which I gladly took. I took a bite from the roll. It was still warm and quickly I took a few more bites.

'So, how are you feeling 'bout all of this?' He questioned while sitting down on the other side of the table.

I raised my eyebrows at him, annoyance getting the best of me. Quickly I swallowed my food before answering: 'I'm in some strange place filled with boys. I arrived in some dark elevator with a girl in a coma and another girl who, like me, doesn't have any memories. I have no idea what I look like, what my name is, or where I came from. And you are asking me how I'm feeling about all of this?'

Newt crossed his arms over his chest, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as if he was trying to hold back a smile. 'Okay, let me rephrase that then. How are you currently feelin'.'

Repressing the urge to roll my eyes at his tone, I took the last bite of my roll. After chewing for a while I knew there was no reason not to answer his question other than to be petty. I definitely didn't want to be known as petty so that didn't leave me with any other option than to answer. 'Confused,' I muttered. 'Tired and I guess-' I cut myself off, my heart hammering against my ribcage with sudden nerves.

He frowned at me and I took a deep breath before I continued. 'Can I-' I sighed, feeling stupid for even asking. He didn't blink, just patiently waited for me to sort out my words. 'Can I trust you?' I finally asked.

Unlike I had expected him to, he didn't laugh or make some stupid joke. He just looked me in the eye, suddenly very serious. 'Yes, you can trust me,' he said and I could tell he meant it.

Nodding I tried to get rid of the discomfort that was still crawling through my stomach. I desperately wanted to talk to someone and he was seated right in front of me, so why not.

'I'm scared,' I whispered, my voice barely audible but he heard it, or maybe he'd just known what I would say.

He nodded slowly and seemed to think carefully about his answer. 'We all were when we first came here.' He avoided my gaze as he said so. 'It gets easier after a while. This place isn't all bad.'

A sigh escaped my mouth and I put my head in my hands. 'Yeah, but at least you all know your name,' I whispered. Feeling suddenly angry at everyone here, including myself.

Newt was silent for a couple of seconds and I used the silence to think. To search every corner of my mind to find something useful. But it was like there were only facts in my head. No faces, memories or feelings. All of it was gone.

'Newt?' I whispered. His name felt so familiar. It was like I had said it a thousand times before, and yet...I never did. It was too strange to explain. 'What do I look like?'

'Well...' he started slowly, and I lifted my head to look at him, the corner of his mouth twisted as he tried to fight a smile once again. 'You have long wavy brown reddish hair. Your eyes are a bright green. Think you're sixteen, maybe seventeen. And your skin is really pale.' He talked very theatrical like a host, presenting a participant at a beauty pageant, even moving his hands to point at me as he talked.

I felt myself smiling at his dramatic play and slowly nodded, trying to make a picture of it in my head, capture it and force it to awaken a memory, but my mind stayed blank.

He smirked. 'Do I need to draw ya a bloody picture?'

A smile appeared on my lips and for a couple of seconds we just stared at each other like that. The both of us with huge, ridiculous smiles on our faces. Until we both looked away.

Newt cleared his throat. 'What are we still doing here? There's a bonfire going and you're the guest of honor.' He stood up from his seat.

Shivering with dread I followed his lead. 'Do I have to?' I asked him, sounding like a whiny kid not wanting to go to school but after the conversation we just had, I hardly cared to act like I was alright anymore around him.

Newt nodded, not seeming to care much about my tone. 'Yes, now let's go.' He turned to me and added with a teasing smile: 'My lady.'

I rolled my eyes and followed him outside.

We walked towards the glowing flames in the distance. The cheers of the boys echoed loudly through the Glade and I winced at how loud they were being. Looking away from the bright flames I stared at the grass, at Newt his feet beside me. I frowned when I noticed he was limping. He was hiding it very well as though he had it for a while. I looked back at him but I didn't dare to ask him about it and so I kept my mouth shut

We reached the bonfire and I looked around, searching for familiar faces. I could see Lisa sitting not too far away, chatting with a few other guys I hadn't met yet. Thomas was sitting a bit away from it all, Chuck was seated beside him.

'There she is!' A voice called out and I turned on my heels to see Minho walking towards me and Newt. He wore a bright smile on his face and was holding two jars with some sort of brown drink in it.

'Hey there Minho,' Newt greeted him, 'I see you met our lady here already?'

'Lady huh,' Minho grinned as he took a sip of the stuff in the jar.

I glared at Newt, which he happily ignored as he reached for the second jar in Minho's hand and took a sip. Then he turned to me, holding out the jar for me to take. A small smile appeared on Minho's face as he watched me stare at it.

'What's that?' I asked, slowly reaching out to take a hold of the jar.

'Drink and find out,' Minho cheered, showing how it was done as he poured more of the stuff into his mouth.

I grimaced at him in disgust, slowly bringing the jar up to my nose to smell the brown liquid inside. The sour smell made me almost choke and I quickly removed the jar from under my nose, coughing to get rid of the smell somehow.

'It tastes way better than it smells,' Newt promised me, watching me with a small smirk lingering on his lips.

'I find that hard to believe,' I mumbled, staring at the brown stuff. Then I shrugged, deciding I didn't really have anything to lose and brought the jar up to my mouth, taking a sip. The liquid burned in my throat as it made its way to my stomach. I coughed, trying to get rid of the burning sensation while Newt and Minho laughed at me. 'Assholes,' I mumbled, handing the jar back to Newt, but I felt a smile growing on my face despite my words.

'No, no,' Minho said, shaking his head, 'around here you say Slinthead or Shuck-face.'

'I'm not listening to anything you say to me anymore,' I told him as I watched him swallow more of the brown drink.

'Come on! This party is for you, don't be such a heap of klunk!' He cheered and I couldn't help myself as I burst out into laughter.

'I don't know what that stuff does to you but it can't be good,' I said, watching as he stumbled on his feet.

'Better take that,' Newt said, reaching for the jar Minho held in his other hand and taking it away from him.

'Hey!' The Runner called out, offended but before he could attack Newt to retrieve his drink a Glader called out his name, making him turn around. 'This isn't over,' he told Newt before walking to the other side of the fire where the Glader had been waving at him.

I felt myself smiling as I watched the boy walk away and I heard Newt laugh beside me.

'See, I told you Greenie,' he said, 'this place isn't all bad.'

I wanted desperately to believe him.

| 𝙰𝚄𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚁'𝚂 𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙴 |

So, for this story I will be following the plot of the books, but since I loved the bonfire scene so much I decided to add that. The movie may not be perfect but this scene certainly was. I loved watching our Glader babies be happy, because they don't get to be very often.

Also, what did you think of the moment between Dawn and Newt? I am so excited to write the dynamic between these two! And this scene sets it up perfectly, I think!

Please leave a comment or a vote! It would mean a lot to me.

xx nelly