Alby told me that in his whole two years of living here on the Glade there had never been a single girl ever sent up from the box. Being the first one, explained the stares and whispers from all those around me. Now that I know, I'm not sure how to act around these guys... Before I could dwell, Alby introduced me to Zart.

When he first saw me, his mouth almost hit the floor," H-Hey Alby," his voice just above a whisper.

"Hey Zart, this is the new Greenie."

Zart eyes never left me," Uhm... hello?," he started to reach his hand out but stopped and dropped his arm to his side. "What can I do you for, Alby?," he finally tore his gaze.

"Well, I need someone to show Greenie around and I thought you would be perfect."

"Me?!," Zart exclaimed loudly

"Yeah, you'll do great," Alby said confidently. "I'll see you two later."

Alby left us both standing facing each other, Zart took an exaggerated breath and shuffled his feet. Zart eyes looked sad, but I had feeling it wasn't me that made them look that way, that he always had sad eyes. He towered over me and was at least twice my size, but he looked so innocent, like he would rather be chasing butterflies then be here stuck with me.

"So, I take it you've never met a girl before," I break the silence. "Alby said I'm the first."

Zart's droopy eyes widened slightly," Uhm... well, I-... I bet I have. I just don't remember."

I felt a smile tug the corners of my lips," Well, can you show me around this place, Zart?"

Zart nodded," Yeah, come with me."

Zart showed me most of the Glade, the garden where everyone slept, the livestock pens, the med hut, a small portion of the wooded area, and the kitchen. He explained the various jobs around the Glade: Slicer, Med-Jack, Track-hoes, Builders, Cooks, and Runners. Zart told me he was the Keeper of the Track-hoes, basically making him the boss, he seemed proud to have his title. Zart and I were finally making our way back to where I first met him, by the garden.

"Most likely, you'll become a track hoe and work in the field."

"Most likely? Don't I get to chose?"

Zart paused," Not usually. You'll train with all the Keepwrs and then we place the Greenie where the most help in needed or where they seem to thrive the best. At this time of year, it's almost harvest season, so I need all the hands I can get."

"What if I want to be a Med-Jack or a Runner?"

Zart chuckled," You'll have to show promise to those Keepers. But being Track-hoe isn't bad, I like it a lot."

I don't understand this place at all.

I saw some boys jog past me, both taking a second glance as they did. They then met up with more boys, all going the same direction, toward a building in the corner of he Glade.

I pointed to it," What's that?"

"That's where the Gathering happens, when the Keepers have meetings about the Glade. If a meeting has been called, I should be there. Let me see what it's about," Zart said before taking off towards the structure.

I didn't follow him, I watched him disappear into the hut before I turned to look out at the Glade. This place... Why can't we leave? Why are we all here? Why am I here, I'm not a boy. I watched as all the boys kept working, not even thinking about where they were or what they were doing. Just moving. Does no one want to leave? Are they happy here?... Will I be happy here?

"So they aren't lying," a voice draws my attention. I turn to see a boy, not a big surprise there. He is slightly taller than me, but very muscular with brown hair and brown eyes. "A girl."

"Is everyone going to be this weird? Is it really that big of a deal that I'm a girl?," I cross my arms

The boy raised both his hands in surrender," Hey, I'm not being weird. Just a little surprised... maybe slightly intrigued."

"Intrigued?," I raised an eyebrow.

The boy smiled and approached me. "The name is Jackson."

"Well, I don't have name..."

"Don't worry, happens to all of us, you'll get it back soon." I nodded, this is the second person to say that... maybe I will get my name back. But nothing else? "You are causing quite a stir on the Glade."

I scoffed," Yeah, I noticed," gesturing towards the Homestead.

Jackson nodded," Makes sense, that's about you. We've never had a girl before."

"Something I also noticed."

Jackson laughed, sitting in the grass facing the Homestead, tucking his knees under his elbows. He looked comfortable and I was tired of standing, so I sat next to him.

"What is this place?"

"This is the Glade."

I rolled my eyes," That's not a real answer. It's a fake want-to-be answer you tell yourself so you don't have to really think about it," I crossed my legs and pulled a blade of grass.

"Thinking about it will make you go crazy. Plenty of kids have," Jackson said, turning towards the gray wall.

"Kids went crazy here?"

"Kids have died here," Jackson turned back to me.

"Wait...," I dropped the blade of grass. "You've killed people!"

"What?," Jackson faced scrunched up," No! I've never killed anyone! Nobody here has!"

"So how did kids just die then?"

"A lot of reasons... they get sick or once we had a kid get attacked by one of the pigs, he lost too much blood," Jackson paused again before continuing," Some kill themselves because they can't take being here, but most casualties are caused by the maze."

"The maze?"

"Yeah, beyond these wall," Jackson gestured to a small opening. "There is a maze, with walls just as high at these that keep us locked in here. So far we haven't found a way out, but Alby believes that we're really close."

"So there is a way out?"

"Not yet."

"Why stay here? Why not just go into the maze and find a way out, all together," I shift so face Jackson.

"It's not that simple, Greenie. There are monsters out there, they kill without thought, that's how most of the boys die. Or they come back infected and we can't save them."

"Why don;t you just mark a trail! It would only take a day or two."

Jackson shakes his head," That's a good plan, except for every night the maze changes, so it's impossible to track."

"But wait, what stops the monsters from coming in here?!," I ask while staring at the open space between the walls.

"The doors close at night, that's when the monster's come."

"Why does anyone go out there? Why not just stay here, where it's safe. Who even goes out there?!"

"Runners. They run the maze, trying to find a way out. If they didn't go, we would just be accepting our fate to live here forever. There would be no hope."

"You guys have hope?"

Jackson shifts to face me," Of course. We wouldn't be here without the hope of one day leaving. We would be crazy, insane savages, eating bug and killing each other."

This guy is a little... odd?

"Uhm... I guess that's true?"

"Don't you worry Greenie, I won't let the Grievers get you."

"Grievers?"

"The monsters in the maze, they are called Grievers."

Grievers? Seems appropriate.

"Are you a Runner?"

Jackson laughs," God no. I'm a Bagger."

"What's a Bagger?"

"Wait, look. They are coming out."

I turned as saw Zart, Alby and some others exit the hut together. And for some reason, I was afraid of what they had said. What if they decide I'm of no use to them?! What if they just kill me! Jackson says they don't just kill, but I'm a new problem... what did that note say: challenge? What if they just kill me so they don't have to deal with me? It would be easier... I glance towards the opening, I could just make a run for it, Take my chances in the maze. If there really is a maze. Just run, don't stop. I could do it, I feel energized.

I slowly stand up, not taking my eyes off the door. If I plan it right, the doors might shut behind me, Jackson said they close at night. The sun is falling, dusk is here, so it could be any moment. I made the mistake of looking over at Zart and Alby, they see me now and begin walking towards me. They look so strong and fierce, like Zart could snap my neck in one second without a thought.

"Greenie, you okay?," Jackson asks, but I ignore him.

Just go. Don't hesitate, just go!

With that thought, my legs started running and all I saw was my way out. I heard shouting behind me, but I didn't look. Run. RUN! I could feel they were close, ready to pounce and make me stay her for the rest of my life, which could be short lived if they chose to kill me. I feel something brush my back, whatever it was made me more determined to get to the door. I ran faster, I was almost there, but now I cold see people in my peripheral vision, surrounding me. NO! NO! You're almost there! GO!

I hear them yelling for me to stop, but I can't. I won't. I reach the opening, round the corner into the maze and the nothing. My vision goes black and I know they've won, I'm dead.