The Slicers

I wake up quite early, the sun only just starting to rise outside. It's very quiet, which means I must be one of the first people up.

Atleast Newt doesn't have to try and wake me. I slowly get out of bed and get dressed for the day.

Today is the start of my trials for each job in the glade. I would like to say I'm excited to try them all but their  jobs and work isn't fun.

Since I'm awake and dressed early, I decide to go to the bathroom area now to clean my teeth before the others wake up. I grab my toothbrush from my box of things and slowly exit the Homestead, hoping I don't make too much noise and wake anyone up.

I exit the Homestead and look towards the Maze entrance to see it hasn't opened yet. I also can just make out Minho and Ben standing there, waiting to be let in.

I'm glad I don't have to go in there as part of my trial. I hate the thought of running, especially early in the morning. Plus a loud screech woke me up in the middle of the night, coming from the maze and I definitely don't wanna know what that was.

I make it to the bathroom and clean my teeth. Since Newt said he's going to come and wake me up, I walk back to my room, put my toothbrush away and sit and go through my things to pass the time.

As I'm looking through the box, I find a notepad and a couple of pencils. Maybe I like to draw but can't remember because the creators are bastards and decided to wipe my memory.

Because I'm bored and still have time to kill, I sit on the bed, open my sketchbook and start to draw whatever comes to mind.

I end up sketching the tower I spent most of the day on yesterday and not to float my own boat but it's pretty amazing, I'm an excellent sketcher.

Just as I finish the details I hear a knock on my door.

"Time to get up Shebean, breakfast starts in five", Newt says.

I put the notepad and pen back into my box and open the door.

"Morning Newt"

"Morning, I see you're already dressed. Did you sleep ok?", he asks, seeming a little concerned.

"Yeah I did, I ended up waking up early so decided to get dressed and enjoy the quiet", I reply as we leave the Homestead.

"That makes sense, you did go to bed earlier than the rest of us", he gives me a smile which I reciprocate as we join the little queue already forming for breakfast.

"I saw Minho and Ben waiting for the maze walls to open this morning. I'm happy to know I don't have to try out running. I hate the thought of it that early on the morning", I say as the line moves along.

"Not curious enough about the maze then?", he asks intrigued.

"I am a little curious, but not enough to have to run in it everyday from the crack of dawn"

"Fair enough greenie", he says with a chuckle.

We get to the front of the line and Frypan gives us a tray each.

"Thank you Frypan, this looks delicious", I say smiling at him.

"Thanks for the compliment greenie", Frypan beams at the compliment and looks to Newt. "I love this girl, she has manners. I don't get enough compliments from the rest of these shanks".

Newt laughs, thanks him for the food and we head over to an empty table, sitting across from each other.

"Well you've just made Frypan's day. He's probably gonna give you the best quality of food for the rest of your life", Newt says as he tucks into his meal.

"You gotta compliment the chef. It puts them in a good mood, which makes them enjoy cooking more because they're being appreciated, which naturally makes the food better", I explain. I'm so damn smart, plus Frypan really can cook so he deserves an ego boost.

"That's a smart way of thinking. Ready for your first day of work?", he asks.

"As ready as one can be. What job am I trying out today?", I ask before eating some bacon.

"Today you're with the Slicers. We give everyone that job to try first because not everyone can stomach it, so hopefully they forget the horrors they see by the end of the week", Newt explains.

We talk more as we finish our breakfast and I really enjoy Newt's company. He's a nice guy and he's funny. I try to ignore the stares I'm getting from the other boys, especially the glare I'm getting from that Gally guy.

We finish our food and thank Fry, handing our trays back. Newt walks me to the slicer's area wishing me luck, then swiftly departing.

A boy with dark hair that goes by the name Winston greets me and beckons me inside.

"So greenie, our job is to basically feed, care for and then kill the animals and deliver the meat to the kitchens for them to cook. Not a lot of people can stomach it since it's gruesome, so hopefully you don't throw up", he explains.

"That sounds disgusting but let's do it", I really hope I don't throw up in front of him, that would make me die inside.

"Here's a machete. I'm gonna show you how to cut them up properly and if you can stomach it, you can try for yourself, sound good?"

"That sounds do able", I reply. I might be lying but it's fine.

Winston nods and grabs a pig, preparing to slaughter it. I'm not looking forward to it and I'm honestly a bit weirded out by how excited he seems to slit a pigs throat. That guy definitely has a blood kink and the potential to become a serial killer.

He slits the pigs throat and the sight is definitely hard to stomach, but I don't throw up so I call it a win.

He explains the process as he skins and chips the pig up. Somehow I manage to watch it all but totally understand how most people throw up.

He cleans up and gets another pig for me to try and slaughter. I take a deep breath as I wait to prepare myself. He comes back with the pig and I'm quick to slice its neck because the longer I look at it alive, the more attached I feel to it and the worse I feel about it.

I manage to carve and chop it up without vomiting which impressed Winston, but I definitely don't wanna do this everyday and luckily my skills aren't that good so hopefully I won't get picked.

I kill two more animals and luckily I spend the rest of the day feeding the animals, and cleaning their pen. By the end of the day Winston asks me to deliver the meet to Frypan and then I'm free to go.

He promised me he'd put in a good word for me at the meeting at the end of the week and asked me if I'd want to be a slicer, I said thanks but I definitely couldn't handle being a slicer.

I make my way to Frypan with the meat. I receive many looks which make me feel very uncomfortable and a glare from Gally which makes me feel so special. Not.

"Hey Fry, I got a special delivery for you", I say, placing the basket of meat on the counter.

"Thanks, how was your day as a slicer?", he asks whit cutting up vegetables.

"Oh it was just dandy, I loved slitting pigs throats and cleaning up shit", I reply sarcastically.

"Yeah you're so lucky", he teases.

"I'm finished for the day thank god for that. Do you need any help in the kitchen?"

He looks at me gratefully. "Yeah if you don't mind. This can be a warm up since your working in the kitchens with me tomorrow"

"Perfect what do you want me to do chef?". I wash my hands and stand next to him.

He hands me the knife he was previously using. "You can finish cutting the vegetables so I can start cooking the meat".

"Yes chef!", I say and salute making him chuckle.

We talk and laugh the whole time as we prepare and cook dinner. Fry is great company and really sweet. Once we're done he hands me a tray and sends me off, assuring me he's fine to finish up and serve.

I eat with Newt, Minho and Ben and we all talk about our day. I find myself really looking forward to tomorrow, I have a feeling the kitchen is the best job I'm gonna get this week.

Author's Note:

Heyyyy :) I had an interview today so I was up ridiculously early which meant I was able to write another chapter and it's only 11:30am. My goal for today is to write atleast another 2 chapters since I have no other plans, I've never felt so productive in my life, I even tidied my room lmao.