Newt

The rules in the Glade were simple: don't hurt others, earn your keep, and never go beyond the walls of the Maze. But for Mia, it was as if laws didn't exist. She criticized Frypan's cooking, complained about the sun, and abandoned her work the moment she felt a hint of fatigue. In a place where everyone slaved away until they were drenched in sweat, her arrogance seemed like madness.

But what baffled the Gladers even more was Newt's behavior. The second-in-command, usually composed and fair, transformed whenever he was around Mia. He was the one who spoiled her with endless breaks.

"Mia, get into the shade, you're overheating," Newt would say calmly, handing her a water flask right in the middle of the harvest.

"The water is too warm," she would huff, dropping her hoe with the air of a queen.

"It's alright, just rest. I'll finish the rest myself," Newt would simply reply with a soft smile.

The Gladers whispered. No one understood why a spoiled girl was forgiven for absolutely everything. Gally had been watching this for weeks, and with each passing day, his anger grew.

Today, Gally's patience snapped. Mia was sitting on a crate near the construction site, declaring that the sound of hammers was interfering with her thoughts and that the logs had been brought in "at the wrong angle."

Gally slammed his heavy hammer down with a crash and stood over her:
"I've had enough! Who do you think you are?! You're in the Glade! No one here is obligated to bring you water on a silver platter and put up with your whims! You're a spoiled egoist, making others slave away in your place! Do you think just because Newt coddles you, you've become untouchable?!"

Mia frowned, but didn't have time to answer.

"You're nothing but a burden! If you don't pick up a shovel, I'll personally throw you out the Doors before they close!" Gally roared.

Expecting her to be frightened, he only noticed her defiant gaze shift behind his back, a triumphant smirk curling on her lips. A ringing silence fell over the area.

"Repeat... what did you just say, Gally?"