She watched as the runners, her brother among them, left the confinements and entered the maze. She didn't like the idea of him being out there all day, but there wasn't much she could do about it. Everyone around here seemed to be doing something, yet she wasn't sure what part she was supposed to play.
"Hi." Someone said from beside her, causing her to jump a little. "I'm Chuck." The boy said. His curly hair falling over his eyes, he looked about twelve maybe thirteen.
"Hello." She greeted. "I would tell you my name, but I don't remember it." Chuck nodded, staring out into the distance.
"That's okay. I don't remember much either. Except what I learnt in the glade of course." She smiled at his level of innocence. "Do you think we had families? Or do you think the world outside the glade is just... just nothing?" Chuck asked, causing her to look at him confused.
"I think we do have families outside of the glade. I'm just lucky I have family inside too."
"Who?"
"When I came out of that weird lift thing, I had a photograph of myself and Thomas in my pocket. I have a feeling that he's my brother, look." She shows him the photo and his eyes grow considerable wider.
"Wow." He breathes. "So you and him are brother and sister?" She nods. "Hey, you know everyone's talking about you." He says suddenly and she grew concerned.
"Really?" She asks, slightly disheartened. "What are they saying?"
"How weird it is to have a girl in the glade. Gally is really excited about you being here though. I think he likes you."
"Yeah, he made that really clear over breakfast."
"The council don't think you should try out all the jobs. You're yet to be put into one, but Newt thinks some of them will be too dangerous for you."
"Like what?"
"Like, the runners. I agree with him, you shouldn't go into the maze. You could get hurt." Chuck says sincerely. She furrowed her eyebrows, curious as to why everyone seemed to be so worried about her. "Hey, look." Chuck said, taking her arm. "You have 'Thomas' tattooed on your wrist." She looked at the dull ink that rested on her wrist.
"Hey, maybe he has my name on his wrist and then I'll know." She replied excitedly.
-----
"Just tell me what you want me to do." She begged, following behind Gally, who was ignoring her.
"Leave me alone." Gally sang.
"Please, Thomas wasn't serious. I just want us to get along."
"No."
"Please." She repeated, grabbing his arm. Evidently, Gally didn't like this much, as she pushed her back a bit. "Can you at least tell me what I did?"
"Just stay away from me, okay!" He demanded, storming off. She didn't follow him, but sat down on the spot, burying her face into her knees as she tucked them up to her chest. After releasing a breath, she laid out, her back pressed against the grass as she stared up the clear sky. Suddenly, a shadow was looming over her.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked, yet she couldn't see who was speaking due to the sun. She used her hand to shelter her eyes.
"Oh, hi, Newt. I was just laying on the ground because people hate me for no reason." She groaned. "Did you need something?"
"Nothing in specific." He replied before deciding to lay beside her. "Why do you think we hate you?"
"Not all of you. Gally hates me. He wont even talk to me."
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you. Gally's a difficult guy. He doesn't like being made fun of. Just give him a little time, he'll get over it. Plus, he and Thomas don't really get along anyways."
"Why don't you think I could be a runner?" She asks, recalling what Chuck had said to her earlier. Newt sighed, trying to figure out what to say without giving himself away.
"It's dangerous. Even for those that are runners. They don't always make it back and there's nothing we can do about it." He says.
"That doesn't mean I wont." She excuses.
"Still. It's a risk I'm not willing to take."
-----
That evening, the runners were due back any minute, and she found herself eager to find out what her name could possibly be. That was until Chuck came running up to her with a horrified look on his face.
"Thomas! Thomas is still in the maze!" He panics.
"What? But the walls are about to close."
"I don't know what to do! He could die in there!" Whispers come from around them, as a risky idea pops into her head. She looks around, locking eyes with Newt who shakes his head, knowing what she's thinking. She gives him an apologetic look before darting towards the maze opening. There were pleads for her to stop as she advanced towards the quickly closing walls. She'd slipped through the gap just in time before they had shut completely. The other Gladers had gathered around after desperately trying to stop her.
"What's going on?" They turned, looking at a very confused Thomas as he entered the crowd.
"How are you here?" Whinston asked, totally mortified.
"What kind of question is that?" Thomas replied. "What happened? Someone tell me who's going on."
"Chuck told her you were still in the maze and she ran in to find you." Newt said, causing Thomas' heart to clench tightly in his chest.
"Are you crazy!" He snapped, turning towards the boy. "She's not a runner, Chuck, she'll die!"
"I'm sorry! It was supposed to be a joke! I didn't think she'd go out there!" Chuck says regretfully.
"Thomas! Thomas!" Her voice called from the other side of the wall.
"Ava! Ava, I'm in here!"
"Wait, Ava?"
"That's her name, look." Thomas holds out his wrist, and the word 'Ava' is scrawled across it, causing Chuck to smile slightly, yet not making him feel any less worse about what he'd just done.
