The Girl in the Maze

Ch 6

Right now you're leaping from tree to tree, going to see the box come up to greet the new greenie.
---------------------time skip------------------------
It's a little boy. Around 10 years old.
You step into the box.
"Hey, greenie." You say. You hold out your hand towards him.
"Hi." He says in a small voice. "I'm Chuck."

---------------------time skip------------------------

"There is NO way in hell we are going to put him to work." I argue.
"Well, he has to do his share." Gally says, the shuck-faced shank he is.
The other keepers are sitting by the sides, watching.
It has turned from a simple discussion to be a full blown argument.
"I can do his share, and more." I say.
"I already am."
"I agree with her." Newt says.
"Thank you!" I say.
Then I turn to Gally. "See?" I say, raising my eyebrows and crossing my arms.
"Look, I do alot. I finish off buildings and drop off medicine herbs, get fertilizer and weed the gardens. I find berries and harvest crops, I go into the shucking maze at night!
"All I ask for is some hot food and this kid to not do work. So come on! Please?" I say, addressing all the keepers now.
"All in favor?" Alby says.
Everyone except Gally puts their hands up.
"Fine." He spits out.

---------------------time skip------------------------

"What happened?" Asks Chuck, the innocent little shank he is.
"Not much." I reply. "But we're not gonna make you work. We're gonna protect you 'cause you're the youngest here. Mm'k?"
"Okay!" He says, then bounds off.

---------------------time skip cuz I can---------
4 weeks later...

Chuck has fit into the glade very well, but he seems to have made a special connected with you. When you visit every two weeks, he's always excited. Such a sweet, innocent thing.
He doesn't deserve this life.
It's sad and the creators are shucking shanks to do that to a little kid.
But oh well.
One day, on one of your visits, you and Chuck are sitting in your hammocks in the homestead talking.
When suddenly he says, "The other gladers say you can sing really well."
You chuckle and say, "I think I'm the oly one who can sing, that's all."
He says, "But can you please sing for me anyways?" And gives you those puppy eyes.
You sigh, take a deep breath, and close your eyes.

"The fire used to burn, all the words used to hurt
But you're not like us, you are different
I couldn't see that that was a compliment
'Cause the last thing I want now is to be you
And the flames don't feel as hot as they use to

"Burn, burn, burn
They used to yell
You thought I was coal
My friend, I'm gold
Can't you tell?

"Burn, burn, burn
They used to yell
You thought I was coal
My friend, I'm gold
Can't you tell?

" 'Cause I'm not weak, I'm not broken I am bold
And the fire you put me through turned me into gold
I'm not done, I'm no loser
Watch me take on my bright future
Tonight I'm no bronze I'm no silver
You'll be thinking, damn I knew her
But you didn't
Don't get it twisted

"Out of the ashes you buried me in
I, I am golden
I, I am golden

"You tried so hard to break me down Like a fire-breathing dragon, but I guess I took your crown You pushed for me to change for you But I'm so glad that I stayed true to who I am

"Burn, burn, burn
They used to yell
You thought I was coal
My friend, I'm gold
Can't you tell?

"Burn, burn, burn
They used to yell
You thought I was coal
My friend, I'm gold
Can't you tell?

" 'Cause I'm not weak, I'm not broken, I am bold
And the fire you put me through turned me into gold
I'm not done, I'm no loser
Watch me take on my bright future
Tonight I'm no bronze I'm no silver
You'll be thinking, damn I knew her
But you didn't
Don't get it twisted

"The fire that you tried to burn me with, it made me who I am
All the things that you said I couldn't do
Guess what, yes I can

"The fire that you tried to burn me with, it made me who I am
All the things that you said I couldn't do
Guess what, Yes I can

" 'Cause I'm not weak, I'm not broken I am bold
And the fire you put me through turned me into gold
I'm not done, I'm no loser
Watch me take on my bright future
Tonight I'm no bronze I'm no silver
You'll be thinking damn I knew her
But you didn't
Don't get it twisted

"Out of the ashes you buried me in
I, I am golden
I, I am golden, golden, gold
I, I am golden, golden, golden..."

And then you hear clapping. You open your eyes to see the whole glade watching you, clapping with enthusiasm.
"Did I really sing that bloody loud?" You say to Chuck.
A random glader answers.
"No, just loud enough for us to hear."
"Well, I think you sounded great." Chuck says smiling.