The Girl

Chapter Six

  The crowd dispersed quickly to get to their jobs, but no one needed medical attention, so I just hung out in my hammock.

I realize I don't even know what I look like. I pull out the knife that I had buried in my boot and use it as a mirror. I have long, straight, brown hair that gets lighter on the bottom and has blonde highlights. My eyes are hazel, but mostly green. I have thin lips, thick eyebrows, and an average sized nose with a slight bump in it. My skin is absurdly pale, but at least my teeth look pretty straight. I untie a black ribbon that had been tied to the zipper of my boot and use it to tie back the front of my hair. I look down at my clothes. I'm wearing a light blue tank top and dark blue pants that aren't entirely form fitting but also aren't baggy. On my feet are black combat boots with small zipper pockets. Those could be useful. I slide my knife back into my boot before swinging my legs over the side of my bed to stand up and walking to the medjack tent. I peek my head inside.

"Hello?" I whisper. I don't see or hear anyone so I walk inside. Not that I shouldn't be there, but I didn't want to disturb anyone. I circle around some of the tables with medical equipment scattered on top. I push around some tools. I pick up one of them, when something catches my eye. Underneath one of the tables there's a small vial with liquid in it. I walk over to it and crouch down to pick it up.

"What might you be?" I whisper as I hold up the vial to the light. It's some sort of brownish-red liquid. It looks kind of transparent, but I can't figure out what it is. I'm about to pour a drop out onto a stick of wood when I hear someone.

"Beth! Help!" Alby calls from the distance. I gently set the vial down onto the tray and rush out of the tent. I see a bunch of gladers crowded around something- or someone- in a circle. I take off running towards them. The crowd parts to let me through. I see a glader lying on the ground. I kneel next to him.

"What's his name?" I ask.

"It's Ben. He's a runner. He just... fell over. He said he felt strange but he fell over before he could explain," Alby tells me. I put my hand on his forehead.

"He's burning up," I say, mostly to myself. I put my ear on his chest.

"He's breathing... faintly, but breathing," I once again mutter to myself. I take his wrist and press my fingers into it to check his pulse.

"Normal pulse... can you guys help me carry him to the tent?" I ask.

"We've got it," Alby says as he and a couple other boys pick Ben up and start off towards the tent with me in front. I push open the flap on the front of the tent.

"Put him on the first cot, please," I instruct. They do so.

Should I put a cold rag on his head? No, no he's way closer to burning up then cooling down. I'll have him sweat out.

I begin pulling blankets over him.

"You just said he's burning up, what the shuck are you doing?" One of the boys who helped carry him in says.

"He won't cool down, he was too hot. But he can sweat it out and he'll recover more quickly," I say in the midst of covering Ben.

"Girls are smart," Clint says to the boy who questioned me.

"Would you guys mind leaving?" Alby asks them, though it sounds more like a demand. They file out quickly. I feel Ben's forehead once more before sitting on the chair next to the cot.

"So, Beth, I wanted to speak to you..." Alby trails off.

"I know. About last night," I finish for him, not shifting my gaze from Ben.

"Oh, how did you-"

"Minho told me this morning," I interrupt.

"Well, we didn't mean to discuss it without you but you had run off and then we didn't see you the rest of the night. The other gladers and I have decided Jonathan should be banished, but we wanted to get your input."

"Wait... what do you mean banished?" I ask, looking over at him and slowly rising from my seat.

"We're planning on pushing him into the maze at night. No one survives a night in the maze," Alby explains. I hold my breath and keep silent. Do I really want a punishment that harsh? I mean, I definitely didn't enjoy the experience, and it did take a devastating toll. But... who am I kidding. I didn't want it to ever happen again. Plus, if Jonathan was banished, it would send a message to the other gladers. I guess it's the best option.

"Okay..." I say quietly. Alby nods and exits.