HOME | DD

Description
"We'll start the tour with the box," Alby says to you, beginning the tour. You stand tall, both confidence and anxiety flowing through your body. You want to know who and where you are, but you also worry you might not like the answers. You wished you had some form of reality to hold onto. Just a name would be nice, but you'd get that back according to Newt. You just had to hold out until then.
"Where's that?" You ask. Alby turns around and points at the crate you were just in moments ago. You pale, really hoping he wasn't going to ask you to get back in there.
"The Sloppers will be over here soon to unload all of the supplies," he says, referencing the crates still in the box. "Every month, the box comes up with a new Greenie. Every week, it comes up with new supplies. Everything we need to survive, the box brings us,"
You nod, trying to wrap your brain around everything.
"So I'm the new Greenie?" You ask, the name sounding foreign on your tongue.
"Yep," he replies simply. Alby seemed to be a bit of a colder person, clearly not very sympathetic towards you. It was almost as if your not knowing how the Glade works annoys him. Suddenly, you kind of wish Newt was giving you the tour.
"And I'm the first girl to come up in the box?" You decide you're still going to ask him questions. Just because he doesn't want to give you answers doesn't mean you don't deserve them.
"One and only," he mutters, ready to move on. Then he adds. "The box comes up every month, exact same day every time, bringing up a new boy. Don't know why you're different, but you are. You're gonna stir up some talk around here, that's for sure. Change makes people nervous, and some of these guys won't trust you right away. Knowing Gally, he'll probably want you thrown off the Cliff. And mouthing off to him didn't help,"
You start to regret what you said to Gally, but push that thought away immediately. He was being an ass, and you technically didn't do anything. You just said you weren't scared of him. And what did Alby mean when he said people wouldn't trust you?
"Still," he cuts you off before you even speak. "We're not going to just abandon you. I'll keep an eye on you for two reasons. 1) to keep you safe, and 2) to see if you try anything."
You're offended. You don't remember anything about your life, there is no way you're just going to randomly betray them, so where's the problem?
"You don't trust me?" You ask, wanting him to explain himself. You see a sudden burst of anger wash over his face, differently than when you made Gally mad, but just as terrifying.
"Let's get one thing straight," he barks, grabbing your upper arm harshly. "Don't think you can just randomly show up here and be treated like nothing's different. All I can remember is this. This place, these people; they're my life, and I will fight for them. I don't know if you're a trick, or a trap, or if you're just a girl, but until I find out, I'll be keeping a close eye on you,"
You go completely pale, and you can practically hear your heart pounding in your chest. And yet, what he said makes sense. If you were in his place, you know you wouldn't trust the new girl either. As if realizing how harsh he was being, Alby's face softens and he releases your arm.
"Look, I'm not going to hurt you or anything. I'm just looking out for my boys," he defends himself, rubbing the back of him neck. You nod in understanding, deciding right then and there not to get on this guy's bad side. He looks around the Glade, his eyes resting on someone before turning back to you.
"Look, I've actually got a lot of work to do today, and I'm kind of in a rush. I think I'm gonna have Newt give you the tour,"
You smile inwardly, hoping Newt would be nicer and more willing to answer some questions. You nod. "That's fine with me,"
"NEWT!" Alby demands in his booming voice.
The blond immediately looks up from where he's crouched in what looks like a garden. Alby calls him over with his arm this time. Without hesitation, the boy hops up and runs towards you. You notice that he has a limp, but you decide against asking him about it until later.
"Everything alright, Alby?" he asks, breathing a little heavily from his sprint across the field.
"Greenbean, meet Newt," You can't really tell if Alby's joking or not, but he doesn't give you the chance to find out, immediately giving Newt instructions.
"I've got a lot of preparations to do for the bonfire," he says matter-of-factly. "Give Greenie here the tour will you?"
Newts face twists into complete shock, as if Alby had just said he was an alien or something.
"Are you sure, Alby?" Newt asks, almost like he's making sure it's the real Alby speaking to him. "You always give the Newbies the tour,"
Alby shoots you a very obvious look, his burning eyes meeting yours as he speaks.
"Seems like there's a lot changing today." He then walks off towards a large wooden building in one corner of the Glade. Newt turns to looks at you.
"Looks like I'm giving you the tour today, Greenie," he says, seeming to have gotten over Alby's supposedly strange actions only moments ago. "Now, I've never done this, so don't go mad if I'm rubbish at it,"
"As long as you can answer my questions, I'm good," you say, trying to lighten the mood. You just want some of the confusion to end. He smiles at you, a true, bright smile. You have to admit, Newt is handsome. He is very handsome. The perfect hair, perfect, eyes, perfect smile. His body is obviously fit, but he isn't bulky. You suddenly feel a bit nervous being around him, but for a whole new reason.
"That I can manage. Come along, love," something about the way he says 'love' sends shivers down your spine. You aren't sure what to call how you felt towards Newt. Crush feels way too rushed, but you can't deny the feeling that something was there. You decide quickly on 'mild attraction' and follow him as he leads you to the garden he was just working at.
The garden was actually multiple gardens - more like a small field really - with all kinds of plants being grown like corn, lettuce, tomatoes, peas, probably more. There were also a couple fruit trees scattered around the gardens. Several boys are working in the gardens, but they all stop and stare as they see you and Newt walking over.
"Hey, Greenie," one of them greets you. You simply smile in response, wanting to hear what Newt has to say.
"This is the Gardens. Clever name, I know. This is where we grow all of our crops. Track-Hoes work here, planting, harvesting, weeding. This is where I spend most of my time too,"
"Even though he doesn't work here," a boy says, walking over to the two of you. He's tall and strong looking with pale skin, short blond hair, and bright blue eyes, but still seems timid.
"Greenie," Newt says, reminding you once again that you still don't know your name. "Meet Zart, Keeper of the Track-Hoes,"
Zart smiles at Newt and then at you before sticking his arm out towards you. You shake his hand, a new determination to be accepted and gain Alby's trust rushing through you.
"Tomorrow we'll start trying to find you a job," Newt tells you. "Each day for two weeks, you'll work with a different Keeper. After you've worked each job, we'll hold a Gathering and assign you a job personally,"
"Course most people have more than one job anyway," Zart adds shyly. You nod, not surprised. It seems like there's a lot of work to be done in the Glade.
"That's right," Newt says, nodding towards Zart like he's trying to get him to take a hint. "So we have to see all of them before the bonfire tonight,"
"Bonfire?" You ask, not able to stop your curiosity. Newt presses his lips into a thin line, suddenly acting a bit impatient.
"Yeah, whenever a new Greenie comes up, we throw them a big 'old party as a way to get to know them. That's where you'll get to meet everyone you'll be living with. And believe me, I think they all want to meet you." He smirks knowingly at you, as a way to say 'if you know what I mean'. "But, we have to finish the tour before that! So, uh... Goodbye, Zart,"
Zart looks between the two of you for a few seconds. "Oh, right," he finally says, retreating back to the fields.
"I'll see you later, Zart," You call before Newt drags you away from the gardens, ready to show you the rest of the Glade.