(A/N): TRIGGER WARNING FOR SELF HARM

Ky's POV:

I wake up in the morning feeling defeated. My arm burns and my privates throb.

I hate Gally so much. One day, that shank will pay.

I look over at the sleeping Newt beside me and feel a calm blossom within me, soothing the hurt.

He's so handsome and adorable and sweet. Man, I love him so much.

I smile as his big chocolate eyes open, meeting my green ones.

"Morning, hot stuff", I whisper to Newt.

Newt grins.

"Morning, ya bloody cutie", he whispers back.

I yawn and stretch, then get up and put my boots on. I watch as Newt rubs his eyes and sits up, also yawning.

"Better head to work", we both say at the same time.

We look at each other, then burst into raucous laughter, waking Thomas who sleeps beside us.

Thomas jumps to his feet, looking around for the source of the loud noise.

"YOU!" he shouts angrily.

He points at us, stomping over.

"You woke me up!" he cries in frustration.

"Yeah. Well, it was time for you to get up anyways, ya lazy shank", Newt says teasingly.

Thomas squints his eyes, then storms away indignantly.

Newt and I look at each other, chuckling. Then, what Gally said pops into my mind.

"I...I gotta get to work", I say, rubbing my neck.

"Okay", Newt says. "Me too."

We walk away awkwardly, heading our separate ways.

I see Newt staring after me as I jog into the looming Maze.

-------------——------------------

I get back from running the Maze, skipping dinner once again.

I head into the deadheads and climb clumsily into my special tree. With my blade in hand, I draw on my legs. The stinging physical pain distracts me from the mental pain I'm feeling. The blood is nice and warm as it trickles down my thin, pale leg.

My pants are soaked with blood by the time I'm done.

I sneak to the Homestead and go into the dresser, grabbing a brown pair of pants, clean underwear and socks, and a cream colored shirt. With my load tucked under my arm, I hurry to the bathhouse.

I lock the door, strip down, and step into the cold shower, letting the water shock me back into reality. The water washes away the dirt, shame, and blood caked on my worn, ugly body.

I shiver, not because of the cold water, but because I am remembering the feeling of Gally-

Stop, Ky. Stop it. Stop thinking about that.

I shudder once more. Then, cleaned, I shut off the water and put my clean clothes on.

As I step out of the bathroom, I see Minho standing there.

Shit.

My heart beats extremely fast.

"Hi, Minho! Bye, Minho!" I dart past him and sprint away to my hammock, ignoring the confused look on his face.

I stuff my dirty clothes and shoes under my pillow, then take a walk around the Glade, barefoot. It's getting kind of late, but I don't want to go to bed. I am enjoying the feeling of the cold grass beneath my bare feet and the moonlight on my pale skin. With no one bothering me, no sunlight blinding me, and no Grievers to run from, I feel almost calm.

"Hey, Ky!" Clint, the Medjack, motions me over from the Med hut.

I jog over. When I reach him he opens the door and beckons me inside. "I figured you'd like that sling off?"

"Shuck yeah I would," I confirm, following him inside.

"So, how has it been feeling?" He asks, patting the table. I sit where he motioned.

"It's been feeling much better. Minimal pain. It really only hurts if I hit it on something."

"Sounds good," he smiles. "I'll take that sling off then."

He reaches up and gently lifts it over my head and slowly pulls it until my arm is released.

"Now, can you bend it? Do it slow. It might be sore."

He walks me through a range of motions for me to do and when I'm able to do them all with minimal wincing and pain, he tells me I'm free to go. I thank him and leave, padding over to the middle of the Glade where the moon is high in the clear sky.

I sit in the grass and close my eyes, trying to imagine what my life was like before....this...

I strain my mind, searching for something. Anything. My mind stays almost painfully blank. I groan in frustration and lay back, using my arms as a pillow.

I stare up at the stars, shining brightly in the darkness. I am reminded of the night Minho and Thomas comforted me in the grass. A sigh of contentment leaves my mouth.

I lay there for a few more minutes letting my mind wander then I glance at my watch.

12:15 AM.

Reluctantly, I stand up and walk to my hammock to sleep.

Word count: 833