Memory Games - Newt TMR

When I woke up again, this time on unmoving ground, I felt a momentary relief at the lack of noise. Then I remembered how I'd ended up there and my eyes shot open, my lungs gasping for breath as I took in my new surroundings. I seemed to be in some kind of dirty pit in the ground, with a bamboo cage built over the top of it.

Through the gaps I could see a boy - younger looking than any of the ones I'd seen yet - eying me with a nervous smile.

"Hey you don't need to freak out! It's okay!" He quickly said, clearly spotting my panic. "No one is going to hurt you. We're civilised here... sorta."

"Why am I in this thing then? Whatever this is." I hissed, starting to catch my breath. The kid didn't look to have malicious intent, but I wasn't certain.

"This is the slammer. It's just until you calm down. I-I've got to go get the others." He answered with a stutter before running off.

I looked around the small space for a rock or anything to defend myself with, but there was nothing. I had to just try to believe that he wasn't lying - that no one was going to hurt me.

Moments later, two of the boys appeared at the bars of the exit - one of them muscular and dark skinned, and the other tall and pale. I realised it was the blonde one that had been there earlier - the one telling Gally to stop. Newt was his name, I wasn't sure if I'd heard someone say it earlier, but I instantly knew as I looked at him, and for some reason I felt relieved that he was there.

"I'm sorry if we scared you earlier. Are you going to be calm now if we let you out?" The muscular one spoke, his voice firm, and I silently nodded.

He unlocked the door and swung it open, bending down and holding out a hand for me, though I instinctively flinched away and he quickly retracted it.

"My name is Alby. Do you remember yours? It's okay if you don't - it can take a few days sometimes." His voice was slightly softer now, and although I wanted to trust his friendly demeanour, my heart still thumped hard in my chest.

"No." I quietly answered. "I know his though- it's Newt."

The two boys looked at each other with a dumbfounded expression on their faces before Newt spoke, his voice registering to me as the kinder one I'd heard earlier.

"You mean, you heard someone say it? Or you know this somehow already?"

He seemed to be very concerned by this, which was confusing to me.

"I don't know... I remember it, I think. Some things here.. I think I've seen before." I said, uncertain of my words. Should I be telling them this? It doesn't seem like they think this is good. "Is that not normal? Like the names... mine will just come back?"

They exchanged another look, though this one was quick and I couldn't tell what it meant.

"Yeah. It's fine." Newt answered with a casual shrug. "Anyway, forget all of that. Welcome to The Glade."

Alby then leant back into the pit with a half smile, holding out his hand again. This time I didn't flinch.

"Newt will get you settled in and give you the tour tomorrow." He said, and there was a stress to his tone that made me realise his smile was false.

Still, I hesitantly took his hand and let him pull me from the pit. The quick movement was disorienting and I stumbled for a few seconds before regaining my balance, peering around curiously at my new environment. With less adrenaline coursing through my bloodstream, it didn't seem as terrifying as it was earlier, though it was still intimidating. The sun had gone down and the sky was a dark mix of red and blue, leaving the 'Glade' in a low glow. Makeshift fires illuminated small spots where I could see groups of boys congregating - there was one particularly big fire towards the middle of the field with a large crowd around it, which I realised were making quite a bit of noise. I turned to the two boys to ask them what they were doing, but was surprised when Alby wasn't there, walking off in the opposite direction with a determined pace.