For the other Gladers, the Deadheads are a depressing place that holds a feeling of bad things to come, but to me, they are my escape from the prison that is my home. I go there to think, something hard to do when your the only girl in a civilization of hormonal teenage boys.

When I first came up out of the box, Alby asked me if it remembered anything besides my name, Ellie. I told him no, but that was a lie. I remembered music and songs. It wasn't important at the time, but singing became my escape. I come out into the deadheads and sing one of the many songs I know.

Some songs I know all the words, others just the chorus, sometimes not even that much.

One of my favorites are just the first few lines along with the chorus. This is the one I sing as I climb a tree that overlooks the whole Glade.

So keep on reaching, though the ground might shake.
Keep on climbing, though the limb might break.
We've come this far, don't you give up now.
'Cause you can learn to fly on the way down

I sing that over and over until I have climbed as high as I dare. I'm about thirty feet in the air, but I feel no fear.

I look out over the glade at everyone working. Ally only lets me work three days a week for some reason he won't say. It's not like I'm going to die being a cook, but no one spoke against it.

I lean against the trunk of the tree and close my eyes. Another song comes to mind and I let the words fill me up.

Newt followed Ellie into the Deadheads. He had seen her go in there often and wondered what she did in there.

He followed the worn path she had made that lead to the base of a tree. He was confused until he heard beautiful singing faintly coming from the tree tops. He leaned back and listened to her song.

Like a small boat on the ocean
Sending big waves into motion.
Like how a single word can make a heart open
I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.

And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain.
I will scream it loud tonight,
Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song,
Take back my life song,
Prove I'm alright song,
My power's turned on.
Starting right now, I'll be strong.
I'll play my fight song.
And I don't really care if nobody else believes.
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me.

Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep.
Everybody's worried about me.
I'm in too deep, yeah, I'm in too deep.
It's been two years, I miss my home.
There's a fire burning in my bones.
I still believe, yeah I still believe.

And all those things I didn't say,
Wrecking balls inside my brain.
I will scream it loud tonight.
Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song,
Take back my life song,
Prove I'm alright song.
My power's turned on.
Starting right now I'll be strong.
I'll play my fight song.
And I don't really care that nobody else believes,
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me.

Like a small boat on the ocean
Sending big waves into motion.
Like how a single word can make a heart open.
I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.

This is my fight song,
Take back my life song,
Prove I'm alright song.
My power's turned on.
Starting right now I'll be strong.
I'll play my fight song.
And I don't really care if nobody else believes,
'Cause I've still got a lot of flight left in me.
Oh, I've still got a lot of fight left in me.

He called up into the tree tops, "You should sing more often."

"How long have you been there?"

"Long enough. You know any more?"

"Maybe."

"Well, come down and sing them for me."

"Fine. Come back in an hour. I like my alone time."

*****

"Ellie? You here?"

"Newt?" The voice was barely over a whisper.

"Ellie!? Where are you?"

He walked around the tree and felt something brush his shoes. He looked down and dropped to his knees.

"Ellie, what happened?"

"The branch broke."

He looked to the side and saw the splintered tree limb.

"Where does it hurt?"

"Your face is really blurry."

"Hold on for a few minutes, I'll get the Med-Jacks."

Ellie lay on the ground in the awkward position. She was sure she wouldn't be able to walk away with a few scrapes and bruises. The beetle blade in front of her face swam in and out of focus as the edges of her vision went dark.

Ten minutes later she heard what she assumed to be Newt with a few Med-Jacks.

"Get out of here," Newt said and a foot appeared in her line of vision that kicked the beetle blade away.
The sounds around her became muffled as if her ears had been stuffed with cotton.

She felt someone gently transferring her to a large plank of wood and carrying her, presumably to the Homestead.

Everything blended together as her vision went dark.

Newt could only stare as the Med-Jacks did the best they could to help Ellie. She hadn't responded when Jeff was talking to her and her eyes had closed long ago.

They cleaned up the scratches on her face and arms and tried to figure out if she had broken anything, though she most likely definitely did.

He could only stare at her face and remember the song she had sung in the tree. Her voice was beautiful and the song went with her perfectly. She was a fighter, and he knew she would pull through.

Yeah, I know this is bad,  but I couldn't come up with anything else.