Ben and I sat for a while, until he said he was hungry and stood up. I told him to go ahead, I wasn't in the mood to eat, but he insisted and basically dragged me to the kitchen. Siggy made some green leafy mush, with a side of carrots. I played with it for a minute before trying it, I didn't like it- not at all, but I knew I shouldn't waste. Ben sat across from me, eating his mush happily, so I played along and took a few more bites and downed some water. I was really thirsty from all the running we had done.

Once Ben finished eating he kept looking at me in short spurts, like I wouldn't notice.

"What, Ben?"

He was slightly stunned that I had seen him, since he believed he was being so sneaky. "Well... I just... I-I-I..." he cleared his throat and then coughed. "What do you want to be called?... If not Greenie?"

I put down my fork and thought about it. I want to be called by my name, but I don't know what it is. "I don't know..." I finally answered. I just want my name. The one thing that should still belong to me.

"You could make up a name for us to call you until you get your real one," Ben suggested.

"Eh, that seems a lot of work. And what if my true name comes and people think I'm lying?"

"Fair point. What about something you like, like Frypan's real name isn't Frypan."

"Yeah, I know, it's Siggy. I don't know, I haven't really found out what I like yet..."

Ben bit his lip," Okay... What about, instead of saying 'Hey greenie, how's it going', I'll say something like 'Hey, its me Ben! How's it going.' "

I laughed," That's not half bad, I could do that."

"Okay, it's settled. Whenever I want to talk to you, I'll address myself," Ben laughed. I could tell Ben cares about others, he doesn't want me to feel uncomfortable, so he's willing to change a normal greeting. He'll be a good friend to have. "So, any other big plans for the day?"

"Uhm, yeah," I say sarcastically," I'm training to become a Runner. It kind of takes all day."

Ben tries not to smile, but can't resist," But seriously?"

"Uhm.. no plans. But yesterday Gully said he thought I was training with the Builders today, but instead here I am with a Runner."

"Ah yes, Gully did mention that he wanted to train you today... If you want, I'll let you go, so you can train with the Builders."

"No, no! I like training to be a Runner, it's... soothing."

Ben smiled, "Until you get out there" he nodded towards the maze," then it's a battle of life and death. Making the right turn so you can make it back in time, racing against the sun."

"Well, it sounds like it's never dull," I smiled.

Right as Ben opened his mouth, we heard screaming coming from the maze, it was distant, but very real. My eyes darted towards the door and it seemed everyone in the Glade had gone still. The scream came again, closer this time, it made my hair stand on edge. Ben stood and without a second glance ran towards the door, other's were doing the same. I quickly got out of the bench and followed him, everyone was gathered around the door now. A third scream came, echoing through the chambers of the maze, but to me it sounded like it was right in front of us.

"Who is it?," everyone around me murmured.

"Is it Nick?"

"Sounds like Hank."

A fourth loud scream blasted towards us, followed by the sounds of grunting and struggling. Around the corner came the three Runners, but they weren't running. Two of them were hoisting the third up, dragging him along. It was Mihno and Hank, they were dragging Nick towards the door. I saw a blur pass my vision and it was Ben, running to them! Nick arched his head back and let out another piercing scream, I almost had to plug my ears.

"Ben! No come back!," the boys shouted.

Ben helped support Nick and the three of them made it past the door swiftly. Once in the Glade everyone surrounded the Runners.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

"Where's Clint and Jeff?"

I pushed past some of them to see, Nick was laying on the ground groaning in pain, the other Runners were trying to catch their breath. Nick face was scrunched, it was then I noticed he didn't have legs. His lower limbs were completely torn off and I could see his organs. It was horrifying; the blood was starting to pool around him, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his moans of discomfort. Even though it was the worst thing I had ever seen, I couldn't tear m eyes away.

"How is he still alive," I heard myself whisper.

Clint and Jeff pushed through, lifted Nick on a gurney and ran him back to the Med hut. I was so shocked at what I had seen I could barely breath, let alone move.

"Mihno, what happened?," a Glader asked. Mihno was visibly shaking and Hank looked like he was having a mental breakdown. "Hank, tell us?" It was Ben who stood up and told everyone to back off, give them some space, so one by one, people quietly made their way back to their tasks. Their minds obviously still heavy from what they had seen. I was the last one there, but I had no where else to go, the Med hut would be busy and everyone else was doing their jobs.

Ben kneeled down next to Hank," Hank? It's okay. You're safe now," he turned to Mihno," Mihno, man, what happened?"

Hank opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Seconds ticked by and it seemed like hours, it Mihno who spoke first. "It just happened."

"What? what just happened?," Ben asked him. I saw Alby and Newt running towards us, but didn't interrupt.

"It was the Blades..."

Ben leaned back, as if he understood it all now. He needed no further explanation as Newt and Alby formed a new semi circle around the group.

"Mihno? Hank? Are you alright?," Alby asked. Hank managed a small nod and Mihno said yes.

"What a bloody mess," Newt whispered. "Whose blood is this?," he asked while looking at the blood track created from dragging Nick's body in.

"It's Nick's," Ben replied, standing up, but not yet facing any of us.

"Nick...," Alby said under his breath.

"He's in the Med hut then, yes?," Newt asked. Ben merely nodded, all Alby and Newt could do was just stand in awe. "I'm going to check on him, see if they need extra hands," Newt said before running off towards the Med tent.

It was Alby now who crouched down to where Hank and Mihno sat," What happened to Nick?"

"The blades...," Hank whispered. "It was the blades."

Ben finally turned around and saw me, his yes locked on mine. His sweet, pale, green eyes were dark and serious, but a flash of something ran across them when he saw me. It was gone before I could analyze it, he then turned to help stand Hank and Mihno up. "Help me out, Alby. They need to go lie down." Alby helped stand up Hank and together they all walked away towards the Homestead. I was left there, standing alone in grass smeared with blood, the best thing I could think to do was to wash it away, but I couldn't. I was frozen, the red grass and the blood stained dirt held me captive. My mind was blank, I couldn't think, I couldn't move, all I could do was stare.

Another scream broke the silence of the Glade, it was Nick. My trance was broken and I backed away from the mess horrified, turned and ran away. My side protested, but I pushed through the pain, running from all the stares I was getting but I had no destination. I stopped once I hit the wall, nowhere else to go. Trapped. My breathing was heavy, I turned back towards the Glade, I was somewhere behind the Homestead, but no one else was here. I sat in the grass and it all hit in a second wave of horror.

Nick doesn't have legs! I saw his blood! his blood is on these shoes! He won't survive! He is going to die! Did a Griever do that?! What are Blades! Does a Griever have blades? What are they going to do? What will happen? What happens when he dies?! I began rocking back and forth against the wall, trying to breath but it was so hard. It was all too much. I just washed his blood from the grass. HIS BLOOD! Mihno and Hank carried him back here, but he won't survive. There is no way. There was so much blood! Too much blood!

I inhaled sharply, but the air never seemed to reach my lungs. Brushing the hair from my face, I left my head in my hands, trying to find reason in all of this. There was none, I couldn't make sense of any of it. This is my life now...