Katerina's POV

I don't know how long I've been out. My eyelids seemed to be glued shut. A deep moan of pain escapes my lips.

What is this...

I've heard of it before, and every now and then have felt it in minor cases. It's called pain. I've only felt it once or twice before, but never in such large amounts. I then realize how perfect my life was inside the Walls. A painless life was the norm there. There was rarely sickness, and I've only seen a minor cold before. But why wasn't I happy? Would I go back if I had the chance?

These thoughts reach my mind vaguely, but the intense agony in my head, muscles, and pretty much everywhere in my body screams. I try to get up, but my screeching head protests by becoming ten times as loud.

I hear someone come in. There's footsteps, but I can't see who it is. I can't do anything. Are they going to torture me? Beat me to death? Or even worse, send me back?

I force my eyes open and attempt to scoot away as much as possible, ignoring the complaints from my body.

"You're really jacked up, aren't you?" Someone says, a voice I'd recognize anywhere.

"Hi Jason," I groan.

"You've been asleep for three days. I was starting to think you were dead."

"Well there's this thing called a heart. If it's not thumping inside my chest, then I'm probably dead," I retort sarcastically.

He rolls his eyes. I stare steadily back at him, which makes him avert his gaze for an unknown reason. He scratches the back of his head, which I've inferred as a nervous habit of his.

"I- I can bring you food I guess," he stammers, then quickly adds, "and water."

"My head hurts," I mumble.

"Dehydration. I'll be back."

"Whatever."

I watch him rush out of the roomy tent I was placed in. It's empty. I guess there's no one else sick or injured. I find myself smiling a little despite the pain. It's a completely common sensation out here. Not exactly the most pleasant one, but it's something new.

He comes back shortly, bringing a hot bowl of soup and some water. He sits a few feet away as I eat.

"How's your cheek? That guy cut pretty deep," he says.

I shrug. There's a long silence, and Jason shuffles his feet awkwardly. Does he want me to say something? Why is he here? I don't know how to handle myself in these situations. Clearly, he doesn't know how to either.

"After the drugs wear off completely, I think I should leave," I murmur.

His eyes widen with dismay to such a large extent it surprises me a little. "Don't be stupid. This is your new home now. It's everything that you wanted when you ran away. Going out there alone is basically committing suicide for you."

I grit my teeth. "I didn't realize I'd put other people's lives in jeopardy while staying here. Besides, it's not what I want. You guys keep me here against my freewill. That's exactly what I ran away from!"

Jason's icy eyes flash with anger. This time I hold his gaze, my fiery one burning into his. His stare seems to melt.

He just shakes his head, and exasperated sigh escaping his thin lips. "Sometimes I've wanted to run away too. We're not the only camp out there. There's more dotted along these mountains, and who knows in the rest of the world. I guess I'm too chicken to actually do it."

His eyes gaze at the floor. He opens his mouth to say something else, but seems to rethink it. It takes a couple of seconds for it to actually come out.

"But ever since you came here, this has been the better place," Jason says.