Scout dragged her hand along the carvings in the wall. She couldn't read or write but she had traced her name so many times along this wall that she knew its shape. Her eyes darted to the name beside hers, Alex. He had arrived just after she had, a little over a year ago. He was much older then her and they had only spoken a hand full of times but he was funny and nice and gave her a wink when they crossed paths. His name had a long, thin line over it now. Gally had done that this morning, when he didn't come back. Scout kicked the wall hard with her right foot, for no particular reason other than she wanted to kick something. As she was going for her fourth kick a voice stilled her movement.

"How many times do I got to tell you that you ain't supposed to be over here?" Scout whipped her head around and stared at the speaker. Her eyes narrowed and she spread her legs wide apart as she glared.

"I'm not nowhere near the maze," she said defiantly, "Nothin's gonna get me over this dumb, old wall" she turned around and gave it another kick. Alby walked over and grabbed her arm, pulling her away. He crouched down and looked at her straight in the eyes for a few moments before sighing and wiping at his face.

"You don't know that for sure. You don't know much of anything about this place to be clear and when you…" Alby was cut off when the little girl squirmed out of his grasp.

"I've been here a whole year! And I sure as hell know more than those dumb boys who got their names crossed of the wall!" She yelled. Not waiting for Alby's response she lifted her legs of the ground and ran as fast as she could into the village. Not looking back to she his shock, or around to see if others had heard.

She had been running since she first got to the Glade. That was the first day that she remembered. Not even her name came back to her until the fourth day she had been there. It was Abigail, but the nickname Scout was given to her on her first day and she could bear to part from it. It made her feel like she was apart of something. Even though it seemed as though it was a long time ago, she remembered it as though it was yesterday. Being pulled up in a metal cage until she was sure she would smash through the ceiling. Then light. Blinding light that made her unable to see what was right ahead of her. She heard voices; none deep enough to be adults, then low, concerned whispers. They had never had a girl before, made out she was about six. She started to cry and back away when someone jumped into the cage and dragged her upward, squirming away when they reached the ground and running as fast as she could. She headed for the opening in what she would soon learn was the maze, but didn't make it very far before she felt a pair of hands lifting her up. She struggled in the grasp, but was met with harsh words that she couldn't make out over her sobbing. She thought she was dead for sure when they put her in the pit but was calmed when she met the other boys. Alby was so kind and gentle, told her he could be his helper, which made her smile. Newt would let her steal sugar snap peas from the garden and reassured her when she was scared. Chuck had become a fast friend and let her play with him when he wasn't helping Newt. Gally was slow to warm up to her and was kind unless she was in trouble, which seemed like most of the time.

She wasn't so fast then but she had gotten faster. Learning to weave between Gally's structures and Newt's gardens. Crossing into the forest and alone the wall. She knew every inch of this place. That was good, she thought, because she had forgotten everything else. Her curiosity had gotten her in trouble more than a few times. She had been made to sit in the pit for a timeout, given extra chores, and more then she would have liked to admit, felt a swift hand on her backside. The worst time was when…

Scout felt her arm brush something solid and it made her yelp in pain. She whipped her head around, holding her abused arm and saw Chuck looking at her questioningly. Chuck was the best friend that she had ever known, which might not be saying much but they got along ok. He was a lot older than she was but since he was the second youngest in the whole glade they didn't have much choice than to be friends.

Chuck continued to stare at her.

"Well?" he asked, "What'd you do". Scout looked at him and then rubbed her foot in the dirt a little, watching the dust float up into the sky.

"I didn't do any fucking thing!" She exclaimed pushing the dirt around aggressively. She saw Chuck bit his lip then kick her foot to knock it off the ground.

You're not supposed to say that" He reminded her weakly. Scout didn't care. She had been trapped in this place for over a year and had lost interest in following the rules, much to the annoyance of her fellow Gladers. Gally had threatened to feeder her to a Greaver more than once.

"Yeah I know" Chuck smiled then grabbing her arm and pointing in the direction of the tower.

"I found some rotten cabbage in the composed, wanna see if we can throw it over the wall?" Chuck always had crazy ideas of games and adventures for then to try, it suited her ok though. Chuck's smile faded when he looked up.

"No she doesn't." Scout looked over her shoulder to find Alby. He was staring down at them, arms crossed. "She's going to go over with me to the garden and sit in a time out where I can watch her while I work." Scout stomped her foot, unhappy about this preposition.

"I didn't do anything," she muttered under her breath. Alby chuckled and raised his eyebrows.

"Is that right? How about all the rules you broke huh? Don't go near the wall, don't lie to me, and don't ever run away from me when I'm talking to you".

"I'm practicing cause I'm gonna be a runner" Scout stated looking up at him. Alby sighed again and looked more annoyed then before.

"No you are not" he said forcefully, "You are going to go take a timeout and then you are going to do your chores," Scout went to open her mouth then quickly shut it again when she saw the look on the older boys face. She huffed in responce, lowering her head over her crossed arms in defeat. She began to march after Alby as he led the way.

"See ya Chuck" Scout called over her shoulder. He offered a small wave in return as she set off to serve her time.