It had been brought to my attention by many that my last chapter was a repeat chapter.

I have now corrected the mistake and encourage you all to go back and read chapter 24, then the correct chapter 25, then come and read chapter 26, just to make sure there is no confusion about the plot. My apologies and thank you.

I'll take this time to thank everyone who has messaged me about this story and to all who have reviewed. I'm so pleased you like it so far. Thank you so much for your feedback, it means a lot.


Lee.

That's his name: Lee.

The new greenie got his name in less than 24 hours after arriving on the Glade. Lee. He doesn't even realize how lucky he is, how much he should treasure every letter. I didn't see him when he found out, but I could only imagine his happiness, the pure joy one would feel when they find a piece of themselves they had lost. I almost broke down when I heard... almost. I managed to brave a smile and pretend to be happy for the newbie, but it felt like he had cheated me. That was supposed to be my moment, my slice of bliss, but it was him. Lee. He had been here a week now, they made him a Slicer. He was now a Glader. Lee.

I sat beside my tree, the sun was shining through the leaves into the Deadhead, the rainy season was finally over. I turn and face the bark, it now had 37 notches, one for every day I had been in the Glade. 37 days... it feels like so much longer.

"How did I know I would find you here?," Ben asks from he far side of the small clearing.

"I guess you're lucky?"

"Must be," he came closer.

"No running today?," I cross my legs as Ben sits down in front of me.

"Not today, Mihno and Hank are going alone."

"Is it your leg? I thought it was better?"

"It is," Ben chuckled," My leg is all healed, just needed a break. Running through the maze can really wear you out, you know?"

"Thankfully, I don't," I laugh. "You deserve a break though, I literally never see you."

"I know. I know. It's been crazy, but I have feeling things will calm down."

Does that mean they didn't find a way out? Probably best to not ask...

"Good," I give a warm smile.

"I just wanted to catch up with you," he shrugs," Anything exciting happen?"

"Exciting? To me?," I laugh loudly," As if. I'm just here, going through the motions like everyone else."

Ben looks to the ground"... So, nothing new?"

I sigh," No... nothing new," I look in my lap.

"I'm really sorry..."

"It's not your fault."

"It's not your fault either...," Ben tries to comfort me. I'm not so sure about that... It feels like my fault. "...but there is a solution."

I glance up to him," I know, I think about it more than I should."

"How so? It's a good idea."

"But will it fix anything?," I brush my hair behind my ears.

"It might, which is better than nothing."

"You really want me to pick a name, huh?," I tease.

"Well it would make it easier to talk to you," he smiles. "Do you like any names yet?"

"I don't really have any... all the ones I think of are just... not right, you know?"

"I can understand that," Ben lays on his side. "If you ever need suggestions, I'm here. Tell me what you have.""

"The only one I have tolerated so far is Skyler."

Ben made an unimpressed face," Skyler? Really?"

"I don't love it, I don't even like it. I just like the sky, so ...Skyler. Stop looking at me like that," I push him." If mines so bad let me hear yours."

"Okay, okay!," he stopped and thought for a moment. "I like the name Alina."

"Alina?," I sit back against the tree.

"I mean, I like it but if you don't that's okay too. I mean, it would be your name, not mine."

Alina? a. ALINA. Alina. AAAAAAAALLLLLLIIINNNNNAAA. "Where did you come up with it?," I asked while I repeated the name in my head.

He shrugged," I don't know. It was just came to me, just now."

"Alina, huh?"

"You don't have to tease me, I thought of it on the spot!" he smiled.

"No, I'm being serious. I think I like it..."

"Really?," he perked an eyebrow.

"I mean... it's way better than Skyler," I laugh.

He shakes his head with a smile," You're right. You are so not a Skyler."

"But you think I'm a Alina?"

"I mean, you could be? I don't know."

"Any other names coming to you?," I rest my head against the trunk of the tree.

"Lola?"

I let out a sharp laugh," Lola? Seriously?"

"I don't know! I'm not a girl!"

We both laugh at his terrible suggestions, the list grows until I tell him to stop. "Those are terrible! Wrenneth? Is that even a name?," my side aches from laughing.

"It could be! That could be your name!," Ben plays with the leaves on the floor.

"God no!"

"So you didn't like any of them!?," he pretends to be insulted.

"They weren't all bad. I kind of liked Alina."

"Yeah... it kind of fits you," Ben eyes get intense and dark. "You could be an Alina," his lips tug to a small smile. His eyes go back to soft earthy green and he looks up to the sky. "Wow, it go late. I'm starving!"

"No surprise there," I mutter, but he hears me and laughs.

"Let's eat?"

"Sure, I could eat."

"After you, Alina," he gestures to the Glade.

"Do. not!," I laugh as we walk side by side back to through the Deadhead.

After dinner I showered and did a lap around the Glade, as I was done I looked to the tower. It should be Jackson's day to patrol, I'll go say hi. I climb the tower but no one is there. Must be taking the night off, the slacker. I walk to the edge and look over the Glade, it's late so most of the torches are out which makes the stars in the sky look even brighter. Is this sky only ours... or are other people seeing this too? I can't imag-... The tower creaked and I turned to the stairs, someone is coming up. A few moments passed until I saw Jackson's head peek into view. Once he was on the platform he saw me and for moment I could tell his wasn't expecting to see me.

"Hey," I smile and turn so my back is to the Glade.

"Well hello there," he grins.

"Where were you just now? Sleeping on the job?," I tease.

He purses his lips," Not this time. Just did rounds."

"Ahh, is that what they call it?"

"It was one time," he blurts. "I only feel asleep one time!" We both laugh as Jackson calms down. "What're you doing up so late? Should be in bed by now."

I shrug," It's not that late. Plus my room gets kind of creepy at night."

"Yeah, I can see that. Whenever I walk by on patrol I get a little shiver in my spine," he shakes his shoulder to demonstrate.

"Maybe it's haunted..."

"We just built it," he laughed and leans against the railing beside me.

"Yeah...maybe it's just lonely. At least in the Med hut I knew Clint and Jeff would come... but there it feels truly alone."

"You're right by the Homestead though?"

"I know...," I sigh.

Jackson look out at the Glade and I turn and tug on the ends of my hair. Is that why I came to see him? Because I feel alone in that room?

"Looks like it'll be a nice, quiet night," Jackson remarks.

"When is it not?"

He smirked," That's true. But some nights the Greivers get really close, it's like they are right up against the wall... ready to pounce on us."

I turn and look at Jackson as e watches the Glade," But they never do...?"

"No. They don't. I wouldn't even know what to do if they did. Never seen one before."

"Really?," I feel my jaw drop.

"Yeah, I mean no one has seen a Griever."

"Seriously? They could be cute little tiny fluffy nothings for all we know!"

Jackson turned to me, his eyes cold," No one has ever seen a Greiver... and lived."

"Oh..."

"Yeah, so I'm guessing so no tiny and cute."

"Yeah, you're probably right," I look to the giant gray wall to my right. It was a reminder of everything we didn't have. Memories, a family, a life outside the Glade... A name. "Oh, I guess I haven't told you yet..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm thinking about picking a name..."

Jackson's eyes widen," Really?!," he smiles excitedly. "That's amazing!"

I feel a blush stain my cheeks, "Not really." Why is he so embarrassing!

"Top five. Let me hear them," he slaps the railing. "Go."

I chuckle," Five? I barely have two I like."

"Okay, let me hear those two."

I take a deep breath," I like the name... Lea," I look to Jackson for conformation.

He nods slowly," Lea? I like it... The other one?"

"Uhmm... Ben actually told me this name, Alina."

"Alina? It's very... different. But I guess so is Lea. Really, any girl name would be new," he smiles. "Want to here what I like?"

"Of course," I giggle.

"I like Elyce. I don't know, I just like it. Elyce."

"Elyce? It's pretty."

"You think so," he smiles.

"Yeah, it is."

"So can I call you Elyce," he pokes me.

"Absolutely not. I have made no decisions."

He laughs," You've got some good choices so far."

"Yeah, I hope it comes easily."

Jackson and I sat on the tower for a long time, laughing about nothing in particular, until I felt my eyes get heavy. I told him I should leave so Billy doesn't get all weird again, he agreed and said he would watch from the tower to see that I get home safe. I feel asleep as soon as soon as I was in my hammock.