The Priceless Variable

First Day as a Glader

That made Mallory's heart leap up into her throat. She remembered what the letter said and she doesn't know if she can trust anyone yet.

"That's my business." Mallory said, then looked down at her breakfast plate.

"Okay, sorry." Teresa said.

She looked off to her left and saw Thomas.

"Umm. I'm going to talk to someone. I'll be right back." she said, then excused herself.

'Finally. I'm alone.' Mallory thought to herself.

She pushed her plate away and rested her head on her fists. She closed her eyes to blink, but when she did, it was like a flashback sparked in that split second. Mallory closed her eyes again. It was like a vision. There's another echo and there's two men. They looked like colonists.

(it's 0:00-1:38 in the video above)

How did we get here?
We're castaway on a lonely shore
I can see in your eyes, dear
It's hard to take for a moment more
We've got to

Burn the ships, cut the ties
Send a flare into the night
Say a prayer, turn the tide
Dry your tears and wave goodbye

Step into a new day
We can rise up from the dust and walk away
We can dance upon our heartache, yeah
So light a match, leave the past, burn the ships
And don't you look back

"Mallory? Mallory?" a voice said.

It was Newt. She opened her eyes.

"What?" she said.

"I talked to Clint and Jeff. They said that you can work with them as med-jack." Newt said.

"Really? Cool." Mallory said.

"You're not hungry?" he asked as he sat down across from her.

"Yeah. Honestly, it doesn't look very appetizing." she admitted.

"I know, but you have to eat in order to get through the day." Newt said.

Mallory groaned like a little kid. She picked up her spoon and started to eat. After a few bites, it wasn't too bad. When she was done, Mallory went over to the med-hut to start her first day of work. Clint and Jeff gave her a few things to do, such as organize the cabinets and clean the medical supplies.

Alby came in a few minutes later.

"Hey, Mallory." he said to get her attention.

"Hi." she said.

"I need you to come with me." he said, motioning for her to come.

Mallory gulped with the thought of something could happen. Alby guides her to the Maze doors, but he brought her to the names wall. There was about thirty names carved on it, but quite a few were crossed out.

Alby places his knife in Mallory's hand.

"What happened to them?" she asked, referring to the crossed out names.

"Dark days." Alby answered.

Mallory stepped closer to the wall and carves her name between Chuck and Newt.

While on the way back to the med-hut, she heard her name being shouted. Mallory looked in that direction. She saw Newt and some other boys in the gardens.

"Hey." she said as she walked closer.

"I see that you're officially a Glader now." Newt said.

She assumed it was because of her carving her name on the wall.

"I guess so. Well, I gotta get back." Mallory said.

"Alright." Newt said.

Mallory turned away from the gardens and walked towards the med-hut. A small smile came on Newt's face as he watched her walk away.

"You like her, don't you?" Zart teased.

"Mind your own bloody business." Newt sharply said, then moved to the other end of the row of plants.