The glade is a lot more complicated than I thought.

Between the multiple jobs and multiple Keepers, from the Baggers to the Sloppers, to the builders, and so on. There was so much going on. So many more teenagers lived here, than I had realized. So much work and effort was put into their every day lives.

Alby said that I would work a day with each Keeper and that apparently by the end of the week, I would just know which job was right for me.

Nick on the other hand, still thought becoming a runner was my goal in life.

It wasn't.

"Well, that about ends our tour." Alby said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. He took a seat on the ground.

"Alby's memory seems to be a little rusty," Nick whispered.

"What are you saying, Nick?" Alby moaned, exhausted from our trip around the glade.

I had come to see that although the air was hot and the sky was bright blue, there wasn't a sun or even any clouds. The source of the sweltering heat and ultraviolet rays nowhere to be seen.

"I'm saying that both of you need to be put in your place." Nick said smugly, "Can't have everyone wantin' to lead this glade."

"Nobody's sayin' nothin' about leading, Nick. And I have a hunch that our Greenie, Brianne, over there doesn't actually wanna be a runner."

"Well, that's exactly what I'm talking about, then. Lying isn't something I tolerate."

"Can you please stop talking like I'm not here, because like it or not, I am here. Until I break out of this prison, it's just like you said Nick, 'I'm part of your shuck family now, so get used to me'."

"I'm just following through with the test that you wanted to take," Nick began walking towards the part of the glade called the 'Gardens', "I'll be right back. I need some friends to help me."

Nick walked over to a boy, A Keeper, I think. I was told his name, but at the moment I can't recall it.

Nick jogged back over to us, after a couple of minutes, "Slintheads can't ever be found anywhere." He kept running until he reached the kitchen, disappearing inside.

"Look, I don't know what Nick's doing, but let me just apologize in advance for whatever evil scheme, he's plottin'." Alby said, giving me a small smile, "He likes messin' with the Newbies."

"Yah, I can see that." I reached down and rolled my pant legs up a little.

"He won't actually feed you to the grievers."

"You sure?" I felt bad, because Alby was only trying to help me, but I couldn't stop my irritated words from coming out, "He seemed pretty serious."

"He's just trying to scare you out of breakin' all the rules. You'll understand soon."

I looked away from Alby, and saw Nick walking back to us, with two other people behind him.

Newt and Minho.

"You know it's a good thing y'all are off today, cause for the first time ever I need your help with something." Nick said excitedly.

"Nick, whatcha doing, man? Why ya' bringin' them into this?" Alby asked standing up.

"Into what? I think Brianne should get to meet the Keeper of the runners, if she wants to become one." Nick said laughing to himself.

"We've already met-" Minho started.

"I never said, that I wanted to be a runner. I just wanted to learn about them." I said, "I thought I had already made myself clear."

"Oh, well then think of this as a punishment for your sarcasm." I rolled my eyes, "Newt, tell her about your day to day job as Keeper of the Runners."

"Well, I run." Newt said, confidently, sharing a look with Minho, who smirked.

"No klunk, slinthead. Tell her about the process." Nick crossed his arms.

"I record maps and stuff."

"Seriously?" Nick asked giving the blonde boy an irritated look.

"Yah, I'm just talkin' bout my buggin' day. Isn't that what you bloody-"

"Moving on," Nick took a deep breath, "Minho, would you like to say anything intelligent?"

"We both run." Minho said, snickering, "We both record maps," Newt and Minho high fived, "And stuff."

"Was there a point to this, Nick?" Alby asked, speaking up for the first time in a while.

"Are you in charge, Alby?"

Alby's gaze shifted away from Nick, "No."

"Exactly. And to answer your question, Yes there is a reason for all of this," Nick looked at me, "Brianne, From what I've told you about the walls closing and the grievers and all, the maze isn't something to be messed with. So now that you've learned some things," Nick had an amused look on his face, "Still wanna be a runner?"

"No, I never-"

"Quitting? Already?"

"How can I quit if I never started?" I asked.

"I think you should try." Nick suggested.

"Try what?"

"Run." He said, almost like he was commanding me to do something.

"What?"

Has everybody here lost their mind?

"Did the creators take away your ability to run?"

"No, Who are the creators-?"

"Did you lose your hearing?"

"No, but I did lose my memory-" I said slowly.

"So you still heard me then. I want a full lap around the field portion of the glade." Nick said taking a step away from me.

"Are you crazy?"

"Run."

"No way. My leg is still hurt."

"Run or you'll be nothing but a slopper here."

"I don't care."

"Run."

I looked over at Alby, Minho, and Newt, who were all giving Nick the same look, I wanted to give him. Confused and annoyed.

"Nobody's gonna help me?" I asked them.

"Run, Greenie. Run or I'll take away your food privileges."

"Seriously?" This was ridiculous. He was tempting me with food.

"Come on, Princess, I don't wanna watch you stand there all afternoon."

"I don't wanna be a runner," I said angrily, putting extra emphasis on my words.

"A slopper, no food, and maybe even time in the slammer. Seems like a good way to kick off your life here." Nick laughed, finding some kind of humor in making me do something stupid.

"I hate all of you." I mumbled as I started walking.

"I said run not walk!" Nick shouted after me.

"Yah and I said I didn't wanna be a runner."

"Isn't this a little much?" Alby whispered to Nick behind me.

"Yah, she's hurt and you're forcin' her ta' run." This came from Newt.

"She'll be fine- Keep going, Newbie!" Nick shouted. I picked up my pace a little.

My leg started to hurt again. Which meant that I was probably going to have to see the medjacks for the zillionth time, since I had arrived.

I should just become a medjack since I'm practically already at the homestead 24/7.

I looked around the glade, realizing that people had stopped doing their work, to watch me run.

Talk about embarrassing.

"I told you, shuckface, you're doing fine, in fact, I think I'll add some more laps onto this test!"

That was the final straw.

Like I was going to make a fool out of myself.

I ran faster.

But I wasn't really sprinting to finish this lap.

I set my vision ahead of me, to the dark densely forested area of trees that the gladers call the Deadheads.

I didn't necessarily want to go in there alone, although the awkward alternative sent my feet running at an incredible speed right into the woods. The darkness hopefully concealing me from everyone's view.

~~~~~~~~

~~Authors Notes~~

Am I aloud to scream because 582 reads or is that weird??

I honestly can't believe it.

I just wanna say that I love you guys and that even though school is starting soon, I'm still going to write. I hate when people half finish things. *This sounds so random but* I'm prewriting some chapters so it's easier for me to balance school and updates and such.

I don't want this authors note to be long, so I hope y'all liked this chapter. I feel as though my story is finally starting to get semi interesting, anyway, Byee!!

Btw: I think the next chapter might have Newt and Brianne actually talking to eachother SOOO AJDKDKSL.