Thomas

Everything is stable in the Glade, everything is going as usual. You work as a cook with Frypan, overseeing the kitchen, and usually don't care what's going on around you. But this time, everything has changed.

The smell of food wafts through the kitchen. You hear the familiar sounds of cooking and Frypan's voice. Suddenly, a shout from outside: "We have a newcomer! The elevator has arrived!"

Frypan turns around: "Go see who's there." You shake your head—new ones come every month. But after a few minutes, the noise intensifies; something's wrong. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you run to the elevator.

Pushing through the crowd, you freeze. It's not a teenager in the elevator, but a disheveled, frightened boy, younger than everyone else, with dirty hands and scraped knees. His gaze falls on Thomas.

The boy jumps up, hugs Thomas by the legs, pressing tightly, and begins to cry loudly: “I... I’m scared... don’t...”

Thomas froze in confusion. The Gladers whispered: "Does he know him? What's going on?" The boy didn't let go of Thomas, clinging to him.

You hear his stomach rumble. You squat down. "Come on, honey," you say softly, holding out your hand. The boy hesitates, but reaches out to you. You smile and lead him into the kitchen.

—————————— A month has passed. The boy lives among the Gladers. You take care of him: feed him, put him to bed, bandage his knees. He reaches out to you, but sometimes he goes to Thomas to play or just sit next to him.

The Gladers whisper to each other: "He looks so much like her... And he looks like him..." Too many coincidences.

That evening by the fire, Thomas stares at the boy for a long moment, then turns his gaze to you. Awkwardness hangs between you.

"Listen..." Thomas begins quietly. "Don't you think this is strange? We need to talk about it. You noticed these coincidences too, didn't you?"