Working with the slicers wasn't as bad as everyone seems to treat it. It sure as heck wasn't the best job ever but it definitely wasn't the worst one either. When I accidentally hit a vein in the piece of rabbit that I was cutting wasn't great for sure. My arms are stained up to the elbow with blood and my light green shirt had a small spray of it across the front. Winston, the Keeper of the Slicers, said that most Greenies didn't make as large of a mess as I did when working with him. Then again, most didn't make it as far as I did. Besides, an accomplishment is an accomplishment whether it's a large or impressive one. So when he said that, a small feeling of pride swelled up in my chest. I started to rinse off the knives with the water spout outside when I saw Winston's dirt covered sneakers by my side. I stood up and faced him,

"Yes?"

"You should probably wash off and ask for a new shirt before lunch. Someone's gonna' get sick looking at you. A lot of the shanks here have such a shucking weak stomach."

I shrug my shoulders,

"I can rinse off with this spout but I have no way of knowing if there's any extra clothes for me right now. Besides I don't want to be a bother. What's a little blood going to do?"

"I guess you're right." Winston says.

I squat down and scrub my arms under the cold water until the blood is gone for the most part. I heard a loud clanging noise from over by the kitchen and when I look up to see what it is. Frypan was banging two pots together and shouting something. What is the point of yelling when no one can hear you over the sound of the pots banging together? I shake my head in disbelief at the silliness of some people. I head over to the kitchens, assuming that the reason why Frypan was making all that noise was to let everyone know that lunch was ready. Keeping an eye out for Newt, I grabbed a paper plate with a sandwich and apple from one of the many on the tables and headed over to the large tree with platforms and a rickety rope ladder to eat my lunch. I bit the edge of my plate with my teeth so that I could use both hands for climbing because that ladder did not look in the least bit safe. When I got up past the first rung, the apple slid forward and hit me in the nose.

"Ow!" I exclaimed through my clenched teeth.

In a thickly accented voice I heard from behind me, " You sure there isn't an easier way to do that?"

Instead of responding, I just smiled and kept on climbing. Once I got to the top, with quite a bit of difficulty of course, I placed my set my plate down and turned around to look at Newt.

"I'm sure there's many easier ways to do that but I was going with the first idea that I came up with."

I laid down flat on my stomach and stretched out over the ledge, reaching to grab his plate from him.

"Be careful Greenie." He said with a grin but just the slightest bit of worry flitting across his a grunt, I leaned over just a bit further and took his plate.

"There." I said while sitting up. "Now you can climb up without all that hassle."

I moved over to the trunk of the tree that was in the middle of the platform and leaned up against it, food in hand. Newt plopped down next to me with a lopsided grin,

"How was working with the Slicers? Gross and terrifying?"

"It was actually ok. I got a crap ton of blood all over myself but other than that, it was pretty chill. I definitely do not want it as my job though."

"Well for the rest of today you're going to be with the Sloppers so prepare yourself."

"You're seriously giving me what seems to be the worst jobs in the entire Glade on the same day? Wow, you guys don't play around."

"It'll be slightly better tomorrow. You get to work with the builders and with me in the gardens!" Newt exclaimed.

"Sure." I responded and took another bite of my sandwich.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I remained unfocused during the entire time that I was working with the Sloppers. Mainly because I was too busy thinking about everything that happened today. I guess it took awhile for me to finally realize that I was stuck here. Or at least until we got out or died, both of which would most likely take a while. Why would anyone want to put a bunch of teenagers in a giant maze with no way out? Wouldn't it be illegal? And if it was, wouldn't someone be looking for thirty or more kids who most likely just disappeared into thin air? There just doesn't seem to be any possible explanation for it all. Plus, it's so frustrating not being able to remember anything about myself. Everyone seems to, at the very least, remember their names. Why can't I remember mine? My thoughts plagued my mind for the rest of the afternoon until dinner time. I suppose that isn't such a bad thing considering the job that I had. When I heard the loud clanging of pots from the kitchen, I dropped the brush that I was using to clean the dirty shower floors in the bath house, and hurried over to the kitchens before anyone could tell me to do anything else. This time I decided to eat at the wooden picnic tables just outside the kitchen. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth when I heard Newts already familiar voice by my side,

"So how was working with the Slicers, Greenie?"

"Eh." I shrugged my shoulders and continued to eat my rice and beans.

"That's all? Thought you would complain more." Newt chuckled.

"I'm too hungry to bother. Otherwise I would."

"Fair enough."

We ate in silence for a couple minutes until Newt broke it by saying,

"Tonight we're gonna' have a bonfire for you. We have one after every Greenies first full day here but you were being sleeping beauty for a week, so we had to put it off for a while."

"Cool." I responded.

"You aren't saying much. Are you alright Greenie?"

"I'm fine, Newt. I just am kinda of worn out from my first full day working after being "sleeping beauty for a week," as you put it." I snapped

"Stop being a buggin' grouch Greenie. Don't you think we're tired too?"

I got up and dropped my empty bowl into the sinks that were full of bubbly water in the back of the kitchen. I guess Newt was right. I have no reason to be complaining because I'm stuck here just like everyone else. I have to work all day just like everyone else as well. I should apologize at the bonfire later. It looked like I was the first one done and seeing as work was over, I decided to try and explore a bit more. Maybe I would even find the hollowed out tree trunk where I hid last night. I could feel the other Gladers eyes on my back while I walked toward the woods. I can understand why they'd be cautious of me. I am the first girl here and the first one they've seen in awhile. I'm sure they're still worried that I might try to run off again. That's not what I had in mind for this time though. All I wanted to do is wander.

"Where do you think you're going Greenie? I hear from behind me.

I look behind me and I see that Gally and two other builders were standing behind me. Gally had this mean smirk on his face that made him look like he wanted to hurt someone. His hands were on his hips and the other two boys seemed to mimic his attitude with their poses as well.

"Walk" I responded in a monotone voice.

"Walk to where?"

"Woods."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Stop giving me short one word answers Greenie!. You're always yapping Newt's head off so I know you can talk just fine."

"Eh."

Gally groaned and pinched his nose. "You know what Greenie, you can't go on a walk by yourself, Ok? After you ran away the first time, Nick asked us to keep a close eye on you to make sure you don't do it again."

"Nope" I could feel a large smile starting to spread across my face so I bite my bottom lip because I don't want to ruin my stubbornness with laughter.

"Fine! Go run off! Go into the Maze and get eaten by a shukin' Griever for all I care!" Gally yelled, his face turning red from frustration.

I ran into the woods and burst out laughing once I stop to rest against a tree. I sat on the damp ground, staring up at the sky while I caught my breath. I wonder what the bonfire will be like.

.