25Nightingale
Disclaimer: I do not own The Maze Runner. The only thing I own is the plot that you might not recognise, any OC's you will be introduced to through this story, and on occasion Newt and Thomas because they're just so hot! ;)
Enjoy the first installment of "The Nightingale".
UNKNOWN P.O.V:
The sound of a sharp screeching of metal against a concrete wall was enough to make my head hurt and my ears ring. I brought my hands up to cover my ears, and I scrunched my eyes together in pain. Where was I? Who was I?
The screeching soon stopped, so I took this as my chance to explore where I was. My hands ran over the calloused floor, which felt cool to the touch, and grated. I reached the part of the floor which met with the wall, so I brought my hand up the wall, which felt the same as the floor. I looked up slightly to see there was a roof as well, so there was only one evaluation. I was in a box type elevator.
The box started to speed up again, and then hit a blockage of some sort. I lost my balance, and stumbled to the side, hitting my head in the process. I looked up as I heard a loud creaking, but immediately regretted it as light poured in to the tiny dark space. I squinted my eyes, and brought my hand up to cover them. I couldn't see properly, considering the light shone around them, only outlining their silhouettes. One of them jumped down into the box, and I instinctively crawled back into the corner of the elevator.
"Oh my shuck," I heard a voice whisper, the one that was in the box with me.
"What is it Alby?" I heard a different, deeper voice ask.
"You won't believe it, even if I told you," the first boy, Alby replied, his voice rang loud and clear.
"Try me, ya shank!" The second voice laughed, and I heard other people laugh as well.
"It's a girl!" Alby cried up, as I heard gasps of disbelief and astonishment.
"I call dibs!" I heard a voice cry out. My jaw dropped open in shock.
"You can't have dibs! I call dibs!" Another voice cried out in outrage. I don't even know if it was possible for my jaw to drop even further, but I might as well shut them all up.
"Excuse me?! No-one is 'calling' ownership. Grow up!" I cried. I heard almost all of the arguing grow silent, as the boy in the elevator with me, put a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Is she hot?" I heard another voice cry out. Nick looked me over, and I shot him a look of disbelief, disgust and outrage all mixed into one.
"She's smokin'" Alby called up, and I had this sudden urge to smack him across the face.
"Will all you shanks shuck up!?" The deep voice cried out in a commanding voice. I saw Alby tense slightly, so there was only one thing about this voice that I could pin. This man or boy was one that required respect, as his voice rang with authority. Maybe he was their leader?
The boy, who I knew as Alby, grinned up at them and then looked down to my shuddering form. I looked at him, his warm brown eyes, meeting my cold hazel ones. I glared daggers at him, which made him chuckle and shake his head. Oh, how I wanted to hurt him.
He knelt down in front of me, his gaze never once leaving my eyes.
"What's your name greenie?" He asked, as he slowly and cautiously held a hand out in front of me. My brain rattled for my name, but I couldn't remember it for the life of me.
"I-I don't remember." I stuttered as I looked to the ground of the elevator, then back up to Alby's eyes. I was starting to get scared. I didn't know who I was, surrounded by people I didn't even know, and I had no idea where I was? I could be in the middle of a desert for all I know!
"Don't worry, you'll remember in a few days. It was the same for all of us. You can trust us Greenie," he smiled, as he spoke calming yet understanding words.
I took Alby's outstretched hand, and gave him a small smile as he helped me up the rope. A boy with dark skin, grabbed my hand, and helped me up, only letting go to help Nick out of the boxed elevator. I took this as my advantage, and crept up silently behind a boy that looked to be around sixteen, and was at least a head taller than me. I unsheathed the blade that he had in his belt, and held it up defensively in front of me.
All the boys around me, took sharp intakes of breath, and looked to me in a calm yet scared manner.
"Who the hell are you, and what the hell am I doing here? Where the hell is here? Who the hell am I?!" I cried, as I could feel myself bordering on hysterics.
Alby slowly made his way toward me, and held out his hands in a defensive manner, yet in a way that was telling a part of me that he meant no harm, that he wasn't going to hurt me.
"Easy," he began, as he slowly and cautiously made his way toward me. I held the knife up threateningly in front of me. "I don't think I introduced myself. My name is Alby," he whispered, as he stepped closer to me.
"I said stay away!" I yelled, as I slashed carelessly through the air. I heard a groan somewhere to my right, and I dropped the knife in horror, as I saw a red liquid type substance run down a tan limb. I turned away quickly, and ran like my whole life depended on it, which it probably did. I heard calls behind me telling me to come back, and stay away from the maze, whatever that meant.
I stopped briefly, looking around the clearing, and saw two very tall walls, with a gap in between. Finally, an escape. I took off in a sprint, and made it across the clearing in what I assumed was record time, and burst through the concrete walls. I heard screams of protest and what I thought was fear echo through and bounce off the walls. After I turned left and right numerous times, I knew for a fact that I was screwed. My feet pounded on the hard ground, as I turned left and came to an instant stop. Standing in front of me was a dead end, which could only mean one thing. I was in a maze.
I gulped in breath after breath of oxygen, doubled over and placed my hands on my knees. After resting for a few minutes I looked up and finally noticed the intricate design of the maze that I was standing in. Concrete walls towered above me, all covered in a thick vine, that wound its way up the walls, but not fully reaching the top, and little concrete ledges here and there. I spun around in a complete circle, then looked back to the vine littered ground.
"Oh, I am so screwed." I whispered, as I tried to get more oxygen into my lungs.
I turned around and started running again, trying to find a way out, or even back to the clearing with all the teenage boys, but nothing, not one thing looked familiar. But hey, nothing ever looks familiar in a maze right? At least, I don't think so.
I rounded a corner only to run right into a wall, and fell onto the ground. I heard a loud thump, followed by a grunt as the supposed 'wall' hit the ground. I opened my eyes to see a boy on the ground with shaggy honey blonde hair, chocolate brown eyes, a light tan, and dressed in a dark orange singlet, baggy pants, running shoes, and a water pouch that was strapped to his back.
He groaned in pain, but went silent as soon as his eyes landed on me. Cliché, I know, but he was probably very confused. I scrambled backwards on my hands and feet, but stopped short when I hit a wall. The boy looked at me in pure shock, confusion and sympathy, and slowly stood up from the rock hard floor.
He made his way toward me slowly, and it took all of my restraint not to charge at him, and act like a crazy girl. I could feel my heart as it pounded away in my chest, making me feel restricted, like I couldn't escape. A small whimper escaped my lips, followed by a slight movement of moving myself even further into the wall, which was supposed to be impossible.
"Hey, easy there," the boy whispered, in a slight indistinguishable accent. "My name's Newt. What are you doing all the way out here?" Newt asked, as he made his way slowly and cautiously toward me.
"I don't know, I was scared so I bolted. I thought this was an escape, but I'm lost and I don't know how to get back, and I'm petrified. Please, help me." I whispered, as his eyes looked down to me in a comforting gesture. He knelt down onto the ground in front of him, and he looked deep into my eyes.
"Don't worry. I'm a Runner. I'm going to help you, I promise," I looked into his warm, brown eyes and could only see truth in them. I could trust him, I knew I could, but what would happen when I got back to that clearing? "What's your name?" He asked, as his hands reached out slowly to my elbows, and enclosed around my arms, effectively lifting me up off the damp ground, and to stand straight with him.
"I don't remember. Why don't I remember?" I asked him, my voice cracking halfway through. I was on the edge of hysterics, and I was beyond petrified. I didn't know who I was, where I was, why I was here, what day it was, or who any of those people were, so I wouldn't be surprised if I scared out of my wits.
"Don't worry, it happened to all of us. I'm going to take you back to where you came from, ok? Don't you worry about a thing. You're safe with me," he promised, as we started walking around twists and turns, making sharp lefts and sharp rights. How did he know where he was going?
For the first time since I got to this place, I felt safe, like I could rely on this person walking in front of me, but then again, I didn't actually know who he was.
After turning one last corner, I could see the clearing from where I bolted out of, and boys surrounded the entrance to this maze. They all perked up when they saw Newt and I walking toward them, but one of them looked practically infuriated.
"Greenie!" He yelled. I supposed that was me, by the way everybody was looking at me, so I turned to him, with the most innocent look that I could muster.
"I'm sorry?" I phrased it as a question, as I was completely clueless to what Greenie meant.
"You just ran into the maze. You just broke our main rule. You'll have three nights in the slammer, with only one piece of bread. Do you understand me?" The man practically growled at me. I could feel tears stinging the backs of my eyes, but I wasn't going to back down without a fight, but before I could get up all in his face, Newt stepped in front of me, and placed a protective arm out in front of me.
"Come on Nick. From what I've seen, she's as scared as we all were at one point, and if she came up only today, then she wouldn't know about the rules nor the maze. She was looking for an escape, somewhere to get out of here. How would you feel being a female, and waking up in an unknown compartment, only to find yourself surrounded by hormonal teenage boys as soon as you get out? A human's first instinct when scared is to run, and that's exactly what she did. Don't take it out on her," Newt defended me, and to be honest I wasn't expecting it. He didn't even know me, and he was going up against the man that looked to be in charge of the entire clearing.
"She broke our rules Newt," he yelled.
"Did you even tell them to her?" Newt grinned back cheekily.
"No," Nick admitted reluctantly.
"Then I see no reason why she doesn't go free." Newt smiled, as he clasped a hand on Nick's shoulder. Nick took a deep breath, sighed, and ran a hand through his short brown hair. He then turned to look at me with a stare that could quite possibly, make me curl up in a corner and cry.
"Next time Greenie, you won't be so lucky. Newt won't always be here to save the day." Nick then turned away from me and toward the crowd that had gathered during Newt's speech. "Get back to work, ya shanks!" He cried, as every person in the clearing jumped to attention and wandered away from the double concrete walls.
"Newt," I whispered, as I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around to look at me, and bent his head to look me in the eyes.
"Yeah Greenie?" He asked, as he smiled a cheeky smile.
"Thank you." I thanked him, as I watched his whole body twitch with some sort of anticipation, like he was waiting for something, or someone. I turned around to look back into the intricate twists and turns of the maze, and watched with amazement, as more boys came around the corners. They greeted each other with smiles, and clasps of the hands without breaking their stride, and continued their way out into the clearing.
"Newt, we were looking for you! What happened?" A boy asked. He had brown eyes, tan skin, and dark brown or blackish hair. He looked to be fit, but that was probably needed for what he was doing.
"Sorry Minho, I was running my part of the maze, when the new Greenie jumped out at me. She ran into the maze looking for an escape, she was scared, so I brought her back here. Minho, meet the new Greenie," Newt explained, as he turned toward me, the boy I now knew as Minho turned as well and looked me up and down.
"Got a set of legs on ya, I'll give ya that She-Bean," Minho practically drooled at the sight of my poorly covered legs.
"Thank you?" I replied hesitantly, as I wasn't sure if I was supposed to take that as a compliment, or a very weirdly structured statement.
"Do you remember your name Greenie?" He asked me, as he looked into my hazel eyes.
"No, I really wished I did though, because 'Greenie' is really starting to annoy me," I replied back sarcastically, and I found it amusing when Newt covered his mouth to stifle a grin.
"Newbie's got a mouth. The Glade just got interesting." Minho smiled, as he jogged off with the other boys, to a weird looking shack at the corner of a set of woods.
"Hey, I'll take you to the Homestead, let you meet up with Jeff, and then I'll leave you in his capable hands, because I still have work to do. Come on Greenie!" He cried, as his hand enclosed around my wrist and dragged me to a two story building that looked like it was going to fall over. The walls were made out of boarded wood, but the ground around the outside was littered with sleeping bags and hammocks. They were stairs that led up to the top of the building, which then split into eight different rooms. I wonder what they're for?
"Jeff!" A boy that looked to be a few years older than I was, came over to greet Newt.
"Hey Newt, how was the Maze?" He asked, as he did a little elaborate handshake with Newt.
"Same old, before this little shank came around the corner and practically barrelled into me," Newt replied, with a slight teasing tone to his voice.
"Sorry?" I laughed, as I stuck my hand out to shake Jeff's. "Hi, I'd tell you my name, but I don't remember. It's nice to meet you though!" I said politely, as I could feel Newt's eyes on the back of my head.
"You'll be right with her Jeff?" Newt asked, as he paced from side to side on his feet.
"Yeah shank, I'll be fine! Get back to work!" Jeff laughed, as Newt smiled and walked out of the homestead, and then practically ran across the clearing to the shack where I saw the other boys go into.
"Have you had your tour yet?" Jeff asked me, as he tidied up a few sleeping bags.
"Ah, no not yet," I replied, as I helped him straighten out some of the used sleeping bags, that looked like a bomb had hit them or something.
"Don't worry, you'll be taken on the tour by either Nick or Alby tomorrow morning," he reassured, as he continued to straighten out the mountain of sleeping bags.
"What about Newt?" I asked subtly, as I straightened up some of the boxes in the corner of the room.
"Nah, Newt's a runner. They leave at dawn to run the maze. Don't tell Nick that I just told you that," he looked at me, and helped me pick up the box that was in the walkway.
"I won't." I promised. Passing the time was hard here, so Jeff and I just continued to clean up around the Homestead. I almost got the shock of my life, when the door opened and teenage boys filled the small room. I was now beyond petrified. I didn't recognise anyone. I couldn't see the person who pulled me out of the elevator, the one that wanted to throw me in the slammer, whatever that was, and I didn't see Newt.
I felt a small pressure on the small of my back, and I almost had a heart-attack. I spun around and kneed whoever touched me in the groin, but regretted it instantly when I saw that it was Newt. Newt lie on the ground, his legs scrunched up close to his chest, his hands around his stomach, with a look of pure pain etched on his face.
"Oh my god! Newt! I'm so sorry!" I cried, as I helped him stand up off the dirty ground. He grimaced slightly, before smiling reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it," he whispered, as he shuffled uncomfortably on his feet.
"Newt!" A voice called out over the mass of noise from the group of boys. Newt turned to a random direction, only to come face to face with the person who wanted to put me in the Slammer. "Did you show her to her room yet, or is she comfortable sleeping outside with the rest of the boys?" He asked, as he leaned closer to us both to be heard better.
"I was gonna tell her, but she turned around and kneed me in the shucking balls!" Newt cried, as he looked at me with an accusatory glance.
"I did say I was sorry." I whispered, as I avoided Newt's and the other boy's glances and smirks.
"It's alright love," Newt reassured as he placed his hand on the opposite side of my waist, and pulled me into his side. I blushed a deep, scarlet red, and resorted to looking at my feet, pushing little dirt clumps around on the ground.
"Do you remember your name yet?" The man asked me.
"No, I don't." I whispered, as I kept my gaze on the ground, as Newt rubbed soothing circles on my hip.
"Hopefully tomorrow, hey? I'm Nick by the way. I'm the leader of these shanks, and the Glade. Since you're the first girl that we've ever had here…" The man I now knew as Nick, explained to me, but I interrupted him when I found out the most important part of my new life.
"Hang on, what? I'm the only girl?" I asked in complete shock. Nick looked a little bit shocked that I had interrupted him, but recovered quite quickly.
"Well yes, but we expect more are coming up throughout the years," Nick explained, as he looked at me with a look of sympathy. Newt pulled me even tighter into the side of his body, which I didn't even know was possible, before continuing to rub circles on my hip. "But since you're a girl, we're going to have one of our medical rooms as a place for you to sleep, until Gally gets around to building you a hut for yourself. Newt will take you up to the room, while myself and the other Keepers talk at the Council Gathering. Be ready to get up early tomorrow for the tour. Night Greenie," Nick winked at me, and I swear I could hear Newt growl, but when I looked at him he looked calm and peaceful.
Newt pulled away from my side, and I practically shivered as the cool air rushed to the warmth of my body.
"Come on, I'll show you to the medical room," he smiled a brief yet glowing smile, entwined his hand with mine and practically dragged me away to where the stairs were. I dropped Newt's hand and ascended the staircase on my own. I stood at the very top for a few minutes, taking in my surroundings when I felt someone brush up against me.
My balance was lacking, I was never a stealthy person, at least I thought I wasn't, so when I went tumbling backwards and down the stairs, I didn't think it was a big shock to me, although it was to everyone else.
"Greenie!" I heard Newt yell, as he raced down the stairs to check on me. He sat me up off the dirty ground, and peered into my hazel eyes. "You ok?" He asked, as his eyes scanned my body for any broken bones.
"I'm fine, and don't call me Greenie," I reassured and practically ordered, as I looked into his dark brown eyes.
"Well, until you remember your name," Newt began, but I cut him off.
"I do. I do remember." I whispered.
Newt looked shocked and confused, but I knew he was awaiting for an answer to the mystery that surrounded me.
"Casydi. My name is Casydi."