The Rogue Variable

//Jan 2015-December 2017//

After some polite congratulations, Adam saluted us off, having to return to work. I followed his figure as he jogged into a stout building.

I turned to newt. "What's his job?"

"He's a runner," he replied, Squinting in the sun.  "Runner?"

"Just wait till alby gives the tour,"

He turned to a commotion by the box. Boys seemed to be fighting over something, but all of them had a look of glee on their face. "bloody... Come with me," he sighed, exasperated. A quick jog and we reached the commotion. "What's going on?" He asked.

A boy walked up, a smile plastered on his face, "we were rummaging through the supplies that came with Joannah, like we do every time until someone noticed-"

"Get on with it!" Newt interrupted.

"We found a mirror," he said. Newts face was blank, "they answered our note?" He whispered and the boy scoffed in disbelief. "I know man! What, we've sent a note asking for a mirror at least ... twice a month!" The boy rambled excitedly. Newt pursed his lips, not sharing the same excitement. "Why'd they answer now?"

The boy shrugged, "To be honest I don't give a flying klunk. Lets take what we can take, dude,"

A group crowded around a small mirror no bigger than the palm of my hand. It was double sided, like a book. The back was a slightly aged silver. I noticed a small engraving, but couldn't make it out in between the reaching hands.

Newt reached over the scrambling kids, yanking it from a scowling teen. He shut it quickly, frowning at the small contraption. "Listen shanks, I'm gonna be taking this over to Alby-"

Shouts of disagreement came from the boys, waving their fists and shaking their heads. "Hey hey! Slim it! You'll all have a chance to stare at your ugly mugs later!" He shouted, ending with a firm tone.

Happy with the Gladers' reluctant nods, Newt turned towards a rickety building. "Yah coming Greenie?" He called, not even looking back. I looked around to see who he was talking to. Oh yeah. Me. I was... whatever the hell they were calling me.

The building we approached was at least a couple stories high, and looked like a hodge podge of anything the boys were able to put together-Mismatched wood, nails sticking out- it felt like a giant safety hazard that you could walk inside of.

He held the closed mirror towards me, beckoning me to grab it. "Well then, take a look at it. Anything familiar about it?" He asked, feeling the cool metal against my fingers. It was completely silver, a perfect square. Minor tarnishes on its edges, but otherwise untouched. It was no bigger than my palm; no bigger than my pocket. This was it! The small square that came with me through that box. I had barely given it a thought since the chaos had ensued. On the flip side, were two letters engraved.

J.J

A lump tried to rise from my stomach, like someone was trying to yank it out with a rope. "Anything?" He held an outstretched hand. "Uh," I have it back to him, forcing down the urge to open it and take a look. "No, sorry"

I wasn't sure telling him that the mirror came with me personally was a great idea.

With a hand on the small of my back, Newt led me up the uneven stairs. The few Gladers that were inside cast us a glance, eyeing me suspiciously, before returning to whatever they had been doing.

Alby was hunched over a small table, scribbling something down when we inched inside his room. "Yeah?" He asked, turning his chair around. His gaze hardened at the sight of me, and he shot Newt a raised eyebrow. If Newt understood what it meant, he didn't show it. "Thought I should bring this to you before one of those shanks broke the bloody thing," he held out the mirror to Alby, still closed.

He took it, eyes lingering over the engraving before opening it. He flinched at his reflection, probably not expecting the surprise. As if it hadn't happened, he turned to me. "What's she doing here?"

Newt pulled up the second chair, "didn't think it a good idea to dump her with the other shanks yet,"

Alby grunted his approval, gesturing at the mirror. "Seen inside it yet?"

"I know it's a mirror,"

"You know what I mean, Newt" Alby rolled his eyes, shaking the mirror at him again. Newt swiped it as I took a seat on the bed. If there'd been any surprise he didn't seem to show it. "Like what you see?" Alby asked, a hint of a smirk on his face. Newt simply shrugged, "could be worse,"

He held it out to me again, as if it were a drink being passed around. Without hesitation, I held the small mirror up towards my face. Green eyes peered back at my, slightly specked with gold and gray flakes. Soft freckles dotted my petite nose. I moved up to my defined eyebrows, and then the brown hair that framed my light toned face. Grabbing my locks, I pulled them down, measuring them up to my waist.

I exhaled the breath I had been unconsciously holding in. It snapped shut at the click of my fingers, and I tossed it at Alby. "Could be worse," I echoed Newt, earning the first genuine smile I've seen from him.

"Any plans on how I'm gonna let these shanks get their turn?" Alby sighed, turning the mirror between his thumbs. "Nope, sorry buddy" Newt stood up, nodding his head at me. "Have fun figuring out that bloody mess," he quipped at the boy, but smiled at him as he turned his back.

Alby chuckled shaking his head, tucking his chair in as the three of us left the room.