"So, Winston actually let you claim one of the goats as yours?" Zart grinned as he planted tomato seeds into the newly developed section of the garden," Why exactly? They're kind of just there for milk. You know that right?"

Antoinette smiled, bandaging Todd's sliced hand. The wound wasn't deep, but he had managed to bleed all over the garden while cutting sticks to size with a knife. He had managed to make planting tomatoes a dangerous task. He smiled, winced, then continued smiling.

"How did you approach him about this?" he asked," Were you just like 'Hey, I want a pet goat?'"

"Pretty much," she replied, finishing with his bandage," He was happy to let me name it and say it can be my honorary goat as I helped birth it."

Blaise glanced up from planting.

"What did you name it?" he asked, curiously.

"I named him Bleat," she pronounced proudly.

While the boys all snickered, Newt leaned against the shovel he had been using.

"Seriously? You named the goat Bleat? You couldn't think of something creative? Like...I don't know, Willy?"

"Or Winny, after Winston," Zart added.

Antoinette gave them dirty looks.

"Okay, I didn't want to insult the guy giving me a pet goat—and how is Willy creative?"

The two boys just looked at each other with smirks. Zart stood up from where he was standing and glanced around.

"Hey, Todd, since you're pretty much useless for the tomatoes, you mind going and getting some fertilizer for us?"

The male heaved himself up from the ground, making a fist with his hand and finding it fine enough.

"Yeah, sure. Wait, can Annie come with me?"

Newt looked at him, annoyed.

"Hey, that's my name for him, you can't just pilfer it."

Todd just smirked mischievously at the boy as he grabbed the bucket for fertilizer. He grabbed Antoinette's wrist, pulling her with him into the woods. She glanced back at Newt, giving him an apologetic look, to which he only just shrugged and went back to working. Todd let go of her wrist once they were in the woods.

"How far exactly is the fertilizer and why is it in here?" she asked, wrinkling her nose.

Todd grinned.

"Not far. The leaves decompose as well, so it makes sense to have the fertilizer heap in here."

They continued walking for awhile with Todd rambling on about one thing or another that the Track-hoes had said or done that he found funny. He caught her off guard at a point where she had started only nodding in response.

"So, you and Gally are close. Are you two together?"

She had almost nodded before she comprehended the question. Upon recognizing his words, she turned to him in shock.

"N-NO! What? We're not...What?"

Todd chuckled lightly.

"I was wondering as he gets super protective of you. I mean, I wouldn't judge if you were or anything."

"We're not! Definitely not!"

Todd nodded, rubbing his chin. As they reached the fertilizer, he put down the bucket and turned to her.

"So, you're not with Newt or Minho then, right?"

Antoinette frowned at him.

"No, why would you ask-?"

"Good."

She jumped as she was suddenly pushed up against the tree beside her. Her shoulders hunched up as Todd leaned against her arm. His own arms trapped her against the tree, making her heart start racing. She laughed awkwardly.

"Todd, what are you doing? Are you trying to freak me out? Because it isn't going to work. You...you're not into guys."

Todd's face got terrifyingly close to her own.

"No, I'm not into guys. But I sure do have my eye on the only girl who has shown up in the Glade."

Antoinette's heart threatened to explode as fear gripped her. She turned away as Todd's nose brushed against her face.

"Don't worry. I'll keep your secret. I've known for a while now, but haven't told anyone."

His body began to press against hers harder.

"I was even going to talk to you about it that one night after hearing you talk with Minho. Newt ruined that chance by showing up. Now, I have you all to myself. How about I keep silent if you accept being only mine? I should be your first since you said you aren't with the others."

Looking up into his eyes, Antoinette was frozen in terror. This was not a side of Todd she knew. His eyes were malicious and hungry. There was no laughter or teasing. Her breathing picked up.

"Todd, stop. I don't want-"

"You want to keep it hidden."

She found the strength to push against him enough to duck under his arm, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She tripped over a tree root and fell onto the earthen floor. He laughed at her, no humor reaching his eyes.

"Oh, don't run. That isn't an option for you. You accept or you die. I'm not letting anyone else have you, sweetheart."

Antoinette's foot kicked out suddenly, making contact with the front of Todd's knee. He screamed in rage and pain, falling to the ground. The girl tried to scramble away to the Glade, but Todd grabbed her ankle, pulling her back toward him. He rapidly climbed over her, hissing in pain and slapped her on the cheek. She yelped from the pain, but made a fist and slammed into his injured hand, making him sit up. She took the moment to knee him in the groin. Rushing up to her feet, she took off. She did her best to try and remember the way back. She jumped over large roots and swung around some of the trees, trying to throw off the boy she could hear tramping after her. She cursed under her breath as he was getting closer and closer, his long legs working to his advantage. She screamed as she was tackled from behind. She was quickly turned onto her back.

"I'll kill you, bitch," Todd muttered.

She tried punching him in the jaw, but only managed to make her knuckles bleed and Todd to get angrier. He furiously ripped at her shirt, tearing from the collar and down her chest. She tried to kick him, but he was too high, straddling her waist. She was just starting to scream when his hand grabbed her throat.

"Why couldn't you just make this pleasurable for both of us?" he growled at her, pulling out his knife," Now you had to make this only fun for me."

He was about to use to the knife to tear the rest of her shirt when there was a loud THUNK and Todd fell onto his right side. The guy groaned as both looked up to see Newt holding a thick branch in his hands looking beyond pissed.

"Want more you, bloody shank?" Newt asked, angrily.

Todd, despite holding his ribcage, got up. Antoinette shouted as Todd lunged at Newt, tackling him to the ground and punching wildly. Newt fought back.

"Run, Annie. Find Alby!" he shouted to her.

She hesitated before taking off at full speed. She heard Todd curse behind her. Her heart sank as she heard footfalls behind her, meaning he had chosen to pursue her.

"HELP!" she screamed, as she broke through the trees and into the Glade," ALBY!"

The wind was knocked out of her as she was once again tackled to the ground. Todd was serious this time, his arms around her throat.

"You're mine. Mine, do you hear me?!" he screamed at her.

The lack of oxygen to her lungs began to take a toll as her eyesight began to dim. She was on the verge of letting herself go when Todd suddenly released her. Standing above was Newt, glaring down at the other boy, branch ready to strike again. She looked over to see that, this time, he had not been merciful with the hit he gave to the other boy. Todd was bleeding from the side of his head. The other boys in the Glade grabbed him and pulled him up while Newt knelt down beside her, checking her wounds. In his stupor, the violent male pulled against the arms of the Gladers as he watched the two of them on the ground.

"It's a shucking girl! Anthony is a girl. A GIRL!"

Newt ignored him, tugging her shirt closed and examining her injuries. Antoinette could hear him breathing hard, attempting to keep his rage in check. Gally's rage, on the other hand, was not. Todd's screaming shut off quickly as a hard punch to the jaw resounded with a crack.

"Todd, you ass," Gally growled, punching the guy wherever he could reach him.

The Gladers, who had been standing around in shock at Todd's announcement, surrounded Gally and pulled him back. They struggled to keep the bigger male away. Alby charged through the crowd and stood between them.

"Enough! Get him to the Pit," Alby instructed those holding Todd, which included Blaise, Clint, and Frankie. Frypan, Zart, and Winston restrained Gally.

"Gally, calm down," Winston hissed, struggling to hold back the massive male.

Antoinette began to shake from head to toe. Newt sat up a bit before tugging her into his arms. He stood up and faced Alby. He made sure her front was turned in toward him, keeping her ripped shirt closed to the others.

"I'm taking her to the Med-jack hut," he told Alby, who just nodded.

The boys around them stared as he briskly moved toward the hut. Antoinette leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," she whimpered, willing herself not to cry.

"This was not your fault so don't apologize," he told her.

He kicked the hut door with his foot, placing her on the cot. When she was sitting on it, her hand holding her shirt closed, he went back over to the hut and closed the door all the way. He went over to the shelves and started searching around. He came back to her with rags, water, and bandages. As he began cleaning her up, he kept glancing at the door.

"You probably won't be surprised to hear this, but Alby gave those of us who knew about your real gender a plan in case something like this happened."

"You mean if a guy found out and tried-"

"A general plan in case anyone found out and told the others. No one would have expected Todd to do something like that. He was always so cheerful and friendly. Not the first person I would have been suspicious of at all. I would have picked Blaise before him. Anyway, Alby said to keep you here. He is going to have a community meeting in the Homestead so everyone has a chance to voice their concerns. More than likely there will be a vote on whether Todd is banished. He can't stay."

Newt's face was incredibly serious. She hadn't witnessed a banishing in the time she had been there. Her chest ached at the idea.

"If I wasn't here-"

Newt tossed one of the rags heavily on the ground and stood up.

"I don't want to hear you talk about this right now. I'm sorry, but I don't want to hear it."

Leaning back over, he tugged at her hand that was clutching at her ripped shirt. She initially pulled away, but Newt's hand hovered over hers. His eyes met hers.

"His knife scratched you when I hit him the first time. I'm sorry. I'm not going to do anything, I swear."

She blinked at him before pulling away the shirt to see blood coating it. A slight stinging began as she spotted the bloody slice along a portion of her chest bone. It was small, but bleeding fiercely. She suddenly felt lightheaded. Exhaustion came over her. She leaned back on the bed and lowered where she held the shirt together. She gave enough visibility of her chest to let Newt clean at it. She closed her eyes, taking in the pain from the cut and its cleaning. With her eyes closed, she felt the pain on her knuckles and a twinge in her ankle from when she had tripped. Her head hurt in multiple places and her neck was tender.

"Maybe that's why they put me in here," she mumbled to Newt," And told me not to tell anyone."

"Hm?"

"Certain boys here would change knowing the truth. It's one thing to think you are surrounded by a bunch of guys. There is a feeling of camaraderie and shared struggles. Throw a girl in the mix and things change. Jealously, like Gally's. The desire to possess like Todd...Who knows what else. It proves that we don't really know each other as well as we might think, no matter how long we know someone. Put in a different situation, our best friends can turn into enemies."

Before Newt could say anything, the door of the hut opened after three knocks. Newt didn't bother turning around and finished placing a bandage on her chest. Alby and Minho came into view behind him as the blonde closed the shirt up again. Minho ran around the other side of the cot and sat on the edge.

"Are you alright?"

His arm reached out to her, but she shifted over. His hand stopped and retracted. He nodded.

"That answers my question..."

Alby put a hand on Newt's shoulder. The second-in-command turned to him.

"She's just a bit beat up and obviously somewhat traumatized. When are you having the meeting?"

"Tonight, once the other Runners are informed of what is going on. Maybe an hour."

Alby then turned to Antoinette. She looked back at him steadily.

"Some are talking about banishing you instead of Todd."

Minho and Newt stared at their leader. Newt looked away first, crossing his arms across his chest.

"I suppose in a way that makes sense. Technically it is one way to solve what they would consider a problem. Banish the girl and nothing like this will happen again."

Minho glared at him.

"That isn't an option. She is our friend."

Newt looked at him.

"I know that. I'm just seeing where they come from. Todd is technically our friend, too."

"He tried to rape her!"

Antoinette flinched as the eyes of all the males looked at her. Minho sighed and rubbed the side of his head in frustration.

"Newt's right, Minho," Alby said," We have to understand their feelings. Even worse, we have to take it into account. Majority rules, even if I don't want to do it. You understand that, right, Antoinette?'

She nodded and struggled to sit up again. Newt's hand reached out and she took it, letting him pull her up to sitting. Minho stared at their hands until they let go. He then turned away and looked at Alby.

"I get it," Antoinette said," I'm a complicated problem. That was probably why I was put in here. I was just telling Newt that I was probably placed in here to see how all of you would react to having a girl around."

Alby's eyebrows went up in recognition.

"Yeah...I've been thinking that myself, to be honest. Well, you should probably just stay here in case there is a riot. I'll knock on the door three times to let you know that the meeting is starting and I'll come back with the decision."

The hut fell quiet. Antoinette took a deep breath before looking around at them.

"Whatever the decision is thank you, all of you. I appreciate your help and your choice to be my friends instead of shunning me. Alby, please make sure to tell Gally that as well. Even though he came on too strong after finding out, he never considered doing what Todd tried to do. Tell everyone...I'm glad I met all of them. Tell them to take care of Bleat really well and that the Glade is such a great place, but I know you all will get out one day. Minho will make sure of it."

She gave him a sad smile. Minho stared at her before getting up.

"You're not going anywhere. Stop acting like you are."

The Keeper of the Runners stomped out of the tent. Newt called after him, but he didn't turn back. Antoinette bit her lip and swung her legs off the bed. Getting up, she looked over at Alby.

"You can go ahead and get ready for the meeting. I'll be here."

Alby sighed and nodded.

"Don't give up. We don't know the decision yet."

Newt looked over at her as she looked at him. She knew he was willing her not to run off on her own. She grinned at him.

"I know. But I'm ready for what needs to be done."

Alby snorted.

"If you stay, there are a lot of rules that need to be set in place. I've already thought of them."

Newt rolled his eyes.

"Our leader, always prepared."

Alby grabbed his arm and tugged him out of the hut. Once she was alone, Antoinette sighed and leaned against the partition. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her fists, feeling her injured knuckles press against the bandage on her hand.

"C'mon. Stay strong. Be brave, right?"

She sat down again and within twenty minutes she heard Alby knock three times on the door. Getting up, she went over to the door and waited for a minute. She slowly opened the door to see the torches all lit and the Glade deserted as all those in it were at the Homestead. She quickly slipped out of the hut and ran over to the storage hut. Rummaging around, she managed to find what she was looking for.

"Here goes nothing," she breathed, moving toward the bathhouse.