23 Michelle

The days are beginning to blur into the nights now that I am in a room alone. They sent over Leo to bandage me. She tried to speak to me but I wouldn't say a word. I couldn't. Not when she almost got me killed.

Sure, she tried to vote against my execution, but she didn't stop it. Her feet didn't move, and she didn't pounce up ready to fight. Words aren't weapons. They are simple things without power. People assign them the ability to have weight and strength, but they mean nothing. It's imaginary.

How could things have strength that aren't tangible?

She also tried to talk to me about the pipsqueak. Something about a spasms, or sleeping, I tried my best to ignore every word that exited her lips. I imagine everything that she says has to pass through a filter. Their leader really is the one with control. He only has it because she gives it to him, but she gives it none the less. I doubt anyone has heard a free thought come out of her mouth.

They said three days. I am on my first. The sun rose this morning, and when the sun rises after the next day, I will be free. Not that I will actually be free, since I will still be trapped in this thing after all. It's all something they made up to keep me obedient.

Sure, after this I'm not going to rip apart trees to shred, or attack any boys, but that's just because I want to keep being alive. I didn't really learn a lesson from all of this, except that their system is unjust. The way they live, the way they make me live, it's not fair. It's not based in reason or in fact, or any shape or sort of similar thing.

It's a pain being in here, because if I want to so much as take a klunk I have to call. No one ever comes. Last time it took me an hour to get a guards attention, and another hour before he actually took me to the bathroom. They're lucky I have some dignity, and didn't decide to make a mess for them to clean up.

The sun is already setting yet no one has brought me food since the sun rose. It's funny, because even if I am being provided no attention I still feel like I am being treated better in here then I am out there. At least in here there are no lingering eyes, no brutal hands, and no collapsing buildings.

No boys.

The latch on the door clangs, and I scramble back to the wall. At least I thought there were no boys.

A boy stumbles in out from the darkening glade. The door drags along the ground, the cement weighing it down. He spins on his heels before pulling the handle and latch shut.

I can tell who it is, but I am surprised. He is taller than me, and I never really payed much attention to his height before now. I don't think he is actually tall, it seems I am actually pretty short.

I only notice his height because he blocks out the sun that cracks through the small bars in the door. The dirty and bloody walls seem even grittier in the dark. The sun passes just past the lines in his face, sharpening his jaw and his nose.

He turns his head to face me. In the dim lighting, his face looks less red than usual. He seems much less angry, and he looks down on the ground.

I'm not going to speak first, but it seems he isn't either. I stare down the wall behind him. My bloody handprints drag down the sides of the concrete on both sides of the door. He stands perfectly between the two prints.

When he looks up at me he crosses his arms. He sighs before he speaks.

"I know David lied." As he says the words, they curl out of his mouth into a snarl.

I don't know who David is, so I stare at a wall and wait for him to continue. What he wants me to do is respond, but I cock my head to the side. I can feel my hair falling around my face as I peek through it at him.

"You stole the screwdriver, not him," he steps forward.

That's David. The one who stepped forward and changed Gally's mind. The one who moved me out of the way of the collapsing building. David's the boy who has been helping me.

I shrug, looking at Gally. "It doesn't matter."

"You stole from me." He answer as he steps closer to me. "It definitely does matter."

No it doesn't. David told a lie because somebody else told a lie. I did not attack the baggers. They made that up as part of a weird conspiracy against me. Everyone here hates my guts and wants to see me either locked up, or locked out. I am not a big fan of being either of those things.

"Is that the only reason you saved me?" I demand.

He stiffens at that. When he looks away I can feel that his answer is yes. Its fine, I saw it coming. Up until this point the only person I have been able to rely on completely is myself. Leo proved herself to be untrustworthy, that other chick doesn't get anything done, Alby and his men are against me, and so I can't say I am surprised that Gally hasn't changed.

After all, he is the first boy who locked me up. He didn't want me to be a Builder in the first place. At every turn he fought against me, and glared at me. Why exactly am I surprised that he didn't change his mind for any other reason?

"No," he sighs, wiping his face with his hands, "it's not."

It's my turn to tense up. I don't back up, and when he steps closer his voice gets quieter. As if he is worried someone is eavesdropping.

Or as if he doesn't want to even hear what he is saying.

"Alby is off the handle," Gally answers. "It's only a matter of time before someone tries to take the seat as first-in-command."

I almost laugh, but I can't find the ability to laugh at the boy in front of me. "You're gunning for first-in-command?"

He shakes his head, trying to explain. "No, I'd never get it. Newt, Minho, they are bigger contenders. Well respected, well liked. The both of them hate me, so if I want to keep my shucking spot as Keeper, I've got to stay on their good sides."

"Why are you here?" I ask, stepping closer to him. Unlike Gally, my voice gets louder the closer I get. I'm close enough to him that I could hit him and take a chunk out of his cheek. I'm also close enough that if he hit me I couldn't stop him.

I know he doesn't want to answer. What he wants to do is get close to me and then manipulate me into doing what he wants. That isn't really my style though. I'm in on the plan. I will not be tricked or deceived in any shape or form. Not by Alby, not by Leo, and certainly not by Gally.

"Listen, nobody likes us." He says it plainly.

As far as I know it's true. The builders, the council, and assumingly everybody else is always fighting against Gally. Nobody in any group is sticking their neck out for me either. He has my attention.

"Alby wasn't in charge until three weeks before you showed up. One of the first thing he does is ban the boys from touching any of you, so he isn't exactly in a good seat. When he flies off the handle, or banishes somebody for looking at you wrong, Newt will be in charge. I bet it'll Minho will step up to be his second in command."

"Who are they?"

He looks at me funny before rolling his eyes. "Blonde, accent, that's Newt. Keeper of the Runners, Asian guy, that's Minho."

They both were voting to keep me safe over Alby the other night. Why? As far as I know neither of them like or trust me. They are gunning for his seat.

"When they are in power, they'll stop fighting for you," he answers. "They're the ones who sent you to work with me. Have you exactly enjoyed your time with the Builders?"

"It's not as bad as out there." I say, gesturing outside.

He scoffs, shocked. "Seriously? Every single Builder is trying to slide into your hammock. I'm surprised I'm the first one to bribe my way into here. Locked in a room with the feisty ginger? It sounds just like any guy's shucking dream."

I hadn't realised. That's why David has been sticking up for me. He wants to get all up inside me. I shudder at the thought.

"Why are you helping me?" I demand.

"Because I'm the only person as universally hated as you." He says it like it is, and I furrow my brow when I realise I respect that.

That's the truth, but it's not the whole truth. When I cross my arms, Gally rolls his eyes and sighs. He scratches the back of his neck before looking up at me.

"Those two other girls are sneaking up on Minho and Newt." He eventually spits it out. "That brunette has already snuggled up all close to Alby, and I bet you she is going after Newt next. That blonde is worse. She spends all her time with Minho, Frypan, and any Glader who will give her the time of day. If Minho doesn't get the spot as second, it's gonna be Fry, no questions asked."

Are they really? Leo is always with the Medjacks, and I've never really payed attention to her. She does seem to talk to the leaders more than any of the rest of us though. I'd be blind to say I hadn't notice the blonde hanging off of every guy she talks to. I had only noticed her Keeper, but there have to be others.

That's why they didn't want me to confront Alby on his spying. It's because they want to be good and safe when he goes out the window. They'll throw me under the bus to get their safety.

"So what?" I ask.

He cracks his shoulders. "So, you and I team up. We don't cause any more trouble. Keep our heads down, and our necks out for each other. I'll keep you posted on news from the Keepers and the Builders, so long as you keep me in tabs on those girls. I don't care how you shucking do it, but get in on their business."

It takes me a second, but I nod.

Gally looks at me for a second, before sticking his hand out towards me.

I take it, and I shake it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I like perspective. Who is right, and who is telling the truth? Who do you trust? I mean, one way makes sense plot wise. The other is more tragic and horrid. Which one am I more likely to do?

Stay safe until Saturday.