The Hawk / Maze Runner/ Harriet

𝒮𝓉𝑜𝓁𝑒𝓃 𝒢𝑜𝑜𝒹𝓈

I yawn as I hope out of my hammock. The sun illuminates the Glade nicely, giving the entire place a calming atmosphere. I lace up my boots tightly, my fingers hurting by how tight I pulled. I reach for my satchel that usually hangs on a tree branch next to my hammock. I feel around for a second, my hand not being able to find it. I eventually give in and glance towards where it should be, but oddly enough it's not there. Maybe I left it somewhere. I'll keep an eye out.

I walk towards the forest after grabbing a quick bite to eat. I didn't see my satchel lying around anywhere, and I'm starting to get suspicious, but I try my hardest to push those thoughts away. I listen for Adam as I walk, we are meant to be working together today, but somehow he always wakes up way earlier than I do.

I hear a noise to my left, and I move towards it. It must be Adam.

As I get closer I realize it's not Adam, but a group of four younger boys all huddled around looking at something.

"Do you guys know where Adam is?" I ask as I creep out from the foliage.

The boys turn around and stare at me, as if they're a deer in headlights.

"N..no." The tallest one stutters out.

I walk closer. "What are you guys looking at?" I ask curiously.

"Nothing." Another blurts out.

I skeptically move closer, and I see two boys hide things behind their backs..

They try to block my view at whatever they're looking at, but I'm still able to recognize what's on the ground.

There on the mossy floor, my satchel is sprawled open, it's contents scattered around.

I look up at the boys in bewilderment, I never expected to have someone steal my things.

The group meets my gaze before quickly running off. As one of them runs I see him drop something urgently.

I slowly stuff my things back into the bag, luckily most of it is still there.

I walk closer to the thing one of them had dropped, only to discover that it was my spare bra! How disgusting. I know who I'm talking to after this.

"What took you so long?" Adam asks as I approach.

"Some little twerps stole my bag and were snooping through it!" I say angrily. "They even tried to steal my bra!"
"Ohshit." Adam mutters.

I take a deep breath. "Do you mind if I leave you here alone and go talk to Alby?" I ask.

"Don't let me stop you." He says as he raises his hands up in surrender.

I smile graciously at the boy as I start to walk out of the woods, anger still hot in my chest.

—---

"Alby?" I ask from behind the boy.

He turns around to look at me, he motions for me to speak.

Something um...happened in the forest this morning and I was um...hoping you could do something about it." I say, suddenly becoming anxious in Alby's presence.

"What happened?" He asks.

"Some boys stole my satchel this morning and went through my things." I say. "They also um tried to steal my bra..." I say very quietly.

"What was that last part?" He asks.

I gulp. "They tried to take my bra." I say slightly louder.

He still looks confused.

"They tried to take my bra!" I say way louder than I should have.

"Oh." he says. "Oh!"

I nod sheepishly. "I understand it's not that much of a big deal anyways so if you don't have the time or-"
"Trust me Charlotte, I will handle this." He says sternly.

"Alright." I say, "I guess I'll go back to work..."

—----

I meet Adam for lunch by a log. He hands me a sandwich as I sit down.

"So, how'd it go?" He asks.

"Alby said he'd handle it."
"Good."
"Sorry for leaving you all by yourself."

"Ah don't worry about it, there really wasn't much to do anyways."

"I'm glad I didn't leave you swamped."
"I'm fine working alone, it's actually kind of nice." Adam admits.

"Well I'm glad you're not mad at me." I say.

"I don't know anyone who'd get angry over something like that Charlotte."

I look out at the Glade, and as I do I see Alby waving me over, four boys all around him.

Adam notices it too, "Go show those Shanks who they messed with."
"Oh I will." I say. "I'll catch you after your break."
"See ya' then."
I walk towards Alby, trying to keep my composure, while also wanting to beat the shit out of those boys.

None of the boys look my way as I stop next to Alby.

"Go on." Alby tells them.

"Sorry." They all say in unison.

"You better not do it again." I warn them.

"Do you have everything?" Alby asks.

"Let me check." I tell him, truthfully I never did check if everything was in there. As I mentally check off items from my list, I realize I'm missing something, a very important something.

I look up at ALby. "I don't have the journal." I mutter.

He looks at me for a second, as if processing what I had just said.

"Where is it?" Alby asks sternly.

None of the boys say anything.

"Where is it?" Alby repeats.

"Where sorry we read it." The tallest one says.

"Where is it?"
"...We gave it to Gally."
Albys takes a deep breath. "Why would you do that?"
"...We thought it was funny that Charlotte was writing about Gally that we thought that we would give it to him." A brunette admits.

"You should really teach these kids reading comprehension skills." I whisper to Alby.

"You guys, leave." alby says sternly.

I watch as the boys walk away, their tails tucked between their legs.

"If they do it again, tell me." Alby says. "You should go talk to Gally."
I nod, even though I don't want to.

I know this won't go well.