The first thing you heard was the screaming of metal.
The sound clawed its way into your skull before you even opened your eyes. Grinding gears. The groaning of ancient machinery. Something huge moving.
Then the box stopped.
Silence.
Your heart pounded as consciousness slowly crawled back to you. Your body felt heavy, like you'd been asleep for a year.
You forced your eyes open.
Darkness surrounded you except for a faint square of light high above. Wooden walls. Crates stacked everywhere. Dust floating in thin rays of sunlight.
You pushed yourself up.
"Hello?" you croaked.
Your voice echoed weakly in the box.
No answer.
Panic prickled your skin. You staggered to your feet, steadying yourself against a crate. Your head spun. Memories were gone — wiped clean like a chalkboard in rain.
Your name.
You tried to remember your name.
It came slowly.
*(Y/N).*
That was all.
Everything else was blank.
Then suddenly the ceiling doors burst open with a metallic bang.
Bright sunlight poured into the box.
Shadows leaned over the edge above you.
"Bloody hell," a voice said. "It's a girl."
A rope ladder dropped.
"Alright, love," another voice called down. "Climb up. Nice and slow."
You hesitated only a moment before grabbing the ladder and climbing.
Every rung brought more light, more warmth — and more fear.
When you reached the top, hands grabbed your arms and pulled you onto solid ground.
You collapsed onto grass.
Grass.
You lay there breathing, feeling the sun on your face. It felt real. Comforting.
Then you looked up.
And saw them.
At least thirty boys stood around you in a rough circle.
All staring.
Some confused.
Some amazed.
Some whispering.
"Shuck me…" one muttered.
Your heart skipped.
"Where am I?" you asked.
No one answered right away.
Then a tall blond boy stepped forward.
He walked with a slight limp, but his posture was calm — steady, like someone used to taking control when things got chaotic.
His hair was messy, sun-bleached. His brown eyes studied you carefully.
Not suspicious.
Concerned.
"Well," he said softly, offering a hand, "welcome to the Glade."
You stared at his hand for a moment before taking it.
He pulled you gently to your feet.
"I'm Newt."