Newt x Reader || A13

01 | box

"Hey, greenie." He extends his arm further towards me down through the opening of the cage.

Subconsciously, as if on instinct, I cast my eyes over him, scanning for places he may be able to conceal-

Standing quickly, I grab his hand. His fingers wrap around my wrist as he pulls me up from the cage.

Once grass replaces the metal beneath my feet, I hear the group inhale. Some boys jump a little as I turn to stare at them.

"I'm Newt." The sandy-haired boy says, letting go of my wrist as I turn back towards him.

I hear a snicker from behind me, followed by a protest and a silencing.

"I'm.." I start, but the words do not surface. The syllables refuse to form. With horrifying realization, it becomes clear in my mind that the issue is not some speech defect; I cannot remember what it is I'm trying to say. I can't remember my name. I can't remember anything.

Panic begins to take hold as my fingers twitch, my hand beginning to tremble.

"I did give her forty seconds." The boy with the low voice declares, a snarky pride adamant in his voice.

"It's okay. You'll get it back eventually." The boy with sandy hair, Newt, says, tapping my arm and forcing me to look away from the boys and at him.

"Eventually?" I manage. He nods.

"It's the one thing they allow us to have." After he says this, everyone goes silent. My head is still throbbing from the ascension in the cage, and I find myself unable to form cohesive thoughts.

Wanting to concentrate on anything else, I force my gaze from Newt.

I look up from his face and around at my surroundings. The area strongly resembles a region in the country: a sprawling field of grass, a couple wooden shelters, and an evident cropland. Farther off in the distance is a darkened forest, and even farther is-

I almost choke.

Walls

Massive walls. Walls which stretch greedily skyward. Towering. Walls so high, they drink in the sky and leave little visible beyond.

And they're surrounding us- this. On all four sides. There is no way out.

My instinct is to run. Run, and leave this all behind. Run, and return to whatever life was before this, this place where things as simple as names are lost on me.

"Hey," I feel a hand on my shoulder, pulling me around to force my gaze from the walls. Instead, my vision focuses on Newt's face once more. He tries to smile at me, but the sad, knowing look with which his eyes betray him is far from reassuring. "You'll be okay." He says.

"Why can't I remember?" I choke out. The boy opens his mouth, his hand still warm on my shoulder, then closes it.

"We don't know." A man steps out of the crowd, his dark skin gleaming with sweat. "I'm Alby." He reaches out and opens the cage back up, before jumping in.

"What's he doing?" I ask the boy. He takes his hand off my shoulder.

"Getting the supplies. The box'll go back down and stay there until next month." I watch as Alby begins to toss up the crates. For a moment, I wonder which one hit me in the face.

None of this is making any sense to me at all. My head pounds.

"I'll show you the ropes, just not right now. It's late." He nods at the sun which is already setting over the top of the walls.

"I.." I start again, but again, I can't find the words. The boy looks at me again, brown eyes flickering over mine.

"You'll be fine. None of us are going to hurt you. You're a Glader now."

"A what?"

"A Glader. This," he gestures to our surroundings, "this is the glade. You're safe here." I try to find my voice.

"Okay." Is all I can manage. With that, the boys begin to disperse. Some go back to the field while others head to the shelters. The sandy haired boy, Newt, stays with me. After the others are gone, he smiles.

For the first time since coming to this strange new place, the knots in my stomach untighten a little bit.

"Welcome to the glade, Greenie."