"What?" Alby sputtered turning around.

"I said the shank is dead." Jack repeated, turning on his knees to look at Alby
"He's gone. Kaput. Seised to exist. Unalive. Zero heart beat-"

"We buggen' get it!"

Victoria felt a wave of relief. She had been absolutely terrified. Zhe wasn't sure what he would have done to her if the guys hadn't found her.

"Good." George said with a snarl.

"Okay, Jack, you gotta check Victoria and then we need to gather everyone."

Jack nodded and stood up and waved her over. She didn't move. Shrinking back into George's arms. Trying to become smaller.

"It's okay, Freckles, George and I will come with, if you want."

Her scared eyes flicked to Gally and she slowly nodded.

"Great. Some find me when you're done and I'll gather the Gladers." Alby stated.

Victoria stood up and swayed. Reaching out she grabbed onto whatever was beside her to keep from falling. Gally threw a hand out to catch her, the other one behind her back. She took a second and stood up straight. Wrapping her arms around herself she turned her head, Gally slid in her way.

"Don't look. You don't need to see that." He said quietly.

"Wait. Gally! What about Bark?" Her voice was just about none existant.

"I'll look after him. He'll make a full recovery." Winston promised.

She nodded and she could feel her body sag again in relief. Gally's hand, still on her back, steered her away from the dead body of her attacker and after their medic, Jack.

•×•

S

he sat on the bed, Jack sat on a stool in front of her with a flash light checking her neck, throat and eyes. He clicked it off and sighed. George and Gally leaned against the wall, arms folded and their eyes intense and angry. Victoria could feel the angry tension from them, she could see the muscles in their shoulders neck and jaw all tense.

"Well, difficulty gonna be bruised and it's gonna be sore. Inside is swollen. Try not to talk too much. That lip is swollen, and bruised. But it'll heal."

She nodded her head.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?" Jack asked.

Victoria shook her head.

"Victoria! He had his hand up your shucken shirt!" Gally growled.

"He didn't hurt me there..." She whispered, "just touched." She shivered remembering his hand on her waist.

"Dude was sick." Jack shivered. He got up, and tucked the stool away. "Rest for a day. But, you'll physically make a full recovery."

"What does that mean?" George asked, "what are you implying?"

"He's implying I'll probably have trauma after this." Victoria whispered sadly. She knew it was true. Something like that just doesn't go away.

"What?"

"Trauma...a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, and many who experience traumatic events also may experience panic disorder, depression, substance use, or suicidal thoughts...in my case... He caused emotional or psychological trauma, which is an experience that makes you feel unsafe or helpless. And the trauma response night includes persistent fatigue, sleep disorders, nightmares, fear of recurrence, anxiety focused on flashbacks, depression, and avoidance of emotions, sensations, or activities that are associated with the trauma, even remotely."

"Dammit Tori!" George pushed off the wall and threw his hands in the air. "Literally your first day here!"

"I'm your only girl. With a bunch of guys, it was bound to happen." She said bitterly.

"Not an excuse." Gally growled. George nodded in agreement. She looked away and blinked a few times keeping the tears in check. Gally came over and knelt down infront of her.

"Hey, look at me." He demanded. His voice was quiet, but demanding. Her scared brown eyes flicked to his. His intense blue eyes looked at her, she saw them soften.

"We won't let this happen again. Okay? What he did was unacceptable. And we won't let that ever happen again."

"How can you logically promise that? What are you going to do? Follow me around?"

"Would that be a problem?" George asked from his spot on the wall.

"G and I will think of something. You can trust us."

She just nodded, "I probably trust you two the most, plus Alby and Winston." She said quietly.

"Hey! That hurts!" Jack gasped, holding a hand to his heart.

A small smile flicked across her lips.

"Okay. And Jack." She added quietly. Her throat was burning.

"Thank you. You're...not really my type anyways."

Her heart had slowed down and now that the adrenaline had disappeared her body was crashing.

"We still got a gathering, come on Freckles." Gally sighed.

He patted her knee and stood up. He offered her a hand which she took and he pulled her up. Gally led her through the homestead and out the door to the kitchen area. Alby was pacing up and down in front of a few picnic tables that were full of guys. Eyes followed the group. Gally and George stood on each side of Victoria. Alby waved them to the front and made them sit, facing the group.

She could feel the unease and anxiety creeping in. All the eyes stared at her. She lowered her head and twisted her fingers. There was a tiny meow by her feet. Oreo had somehow found her on the other side of the Glad. She smiled and reached for rge kitten. Placing it her lap, he rolled onto his back and purred, trying to swat at her fingers.

"Why are we here Alby?" Someone yelled

"Alright. Let's get this over with." He grumbled running a hand down his face. He looked out amongst the guys. His jaw set and his eyes narrowed. "There ain't any nice way to say this. So I'll just say it. Ralph tried some nasty clunk on Victoria. He's dead now."

There was a stunned silence for a second and then everyone errupted at once. Some asking questions, some demanding an explanation. Alby waved an arm.

"Shut your mouths! All of you!" Alby roared over the noise. "Sit the shuck down and slim it. Ya'll put me in charge so shut up and listen."

The guys slowly settled.

"Alright. We got three witnesses. And concrete evidence of what took place-"

"We wanna here these witnesses!"

George jumped to his feet. Glaring at everyone. He was almost as big and broad as Gally, not quite as tall, but with every muscle tense and jaw clamped, murder in his eyes a few of the guys leaned away. She shivered and leaned slightly into Gally's arm, like he could protect her from the staring eyes.

"He was a nasty shank right from the start and you know it. Gally and I came round the barn to ask Winston something and see how her first day on the job was-"

"Why?" Someone yelled.

"'Cause I'm her shucken brother that's why!" He roared. He growled for a second and ran a hand through his hair and took a breath. "Winston said she was round back. As we got closer we all heard a struggle. We got there and the shucken slint head was chocking her out with his...with his hand up her shirt!"

"Why's he dead?"

Gally stood up so fast she lost her balance for a second. "Because no one should touch a girl like that! Ever! Doesn't matter if she's hot and your turned on, or she's the first girl you remember. Don't matter at all! I don't care what your shucken excuse is! Don't be a jack ass and we won't kill you!" The two guys stood shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed glaring at the guys. Daring them to say something.

Alby cut in, "we warned him last night. A s he did it again. He got his consiquens. And let that be a shucken lesson to all of y'all nasty ass shanks! She's off limits, and any other girl that might show up. Keep your hands to yourselves and keep it in your pants!" He snarled. He continued in his same angry voice. "Touch her again and we'll send out out those walls to live by your self!"

"But you've heard those noises coming from behind the walls at night."

"Ya. And I'll still do it. So keep your hands to yourself!" Alby yelled, narrowing his eyes at the boy.

"Why are we bloody debating this? Shank was a perv!" Newt scrunched his nose in disgust. "I'd do the same if I had a sister and found some nasty buggen' shank on her!"

"And now everyone knows the rule, which should be a shucken given. Touch her you die. One way or another. End of the shucken story. Gathering dismissed." Minho cried throwing his hands into the air.

"I agree, Minho. But apparently we need to drill it into the thick skulls of the idiots here!" Gally fumed. Victoria could see his hands opening and closing into fists.

Alby turned back to the guys and folded his arms. "Do you understand the consequences of touching her without her uter and complete permission?"

There were a few murmers.

"Am I understood?" Alby roared

"Yes!" Came the consensus.

"Good. Now the Keepers are all watching. And if they see or hear anything. You're as good as banished! Your dismissed." He shook them away.

They all got up, muttering and talking under their breath. A few threw glanced at Victoria, who hadn't said a word through the whole thing. She had sat trying to make her self smaller, ignoring the staring eyes and gently ran her fingers over the purring kitten.

The guys turned around. George sat down beside her. Gally remained standing his arms folded.

"We gotta figure out some proper sleeping arrangements." He finally said.

Victor picked her head up. His feet blue eyes were watching her.

"I don't want to sleep with anyone."

"No one is making you sleep with anyone!" Gally said, defensively, "but you can't sleep in the pasture again."

"That was you and the blanket?" She asked.

Gally ran a hand through his blond waves and ran his hand down to his neck and rubbed it.

"Ya. But didn't think picking you up and moving you was... appropriate."

She smiled, "thank you. That was very sweet." She whispered. Her throat was sore.

"But...what do we do?"

Victoria scooped the kitten and stood up. She turned and started towards the barn. The guys glanced at each other and followed.

"Tori! Wait! Where are you going?" George grumbled.

She just motioned for them to follow. They all flowed slightly confused. She led them to the barn and inside. She pointed to the lift of the barn.

"It's not being used." She whispered, "right Winston?"

"Right. There's a few tools and such. But ya, it's empty."

Gally went up the stairs. He slowly looked around, frowning.

"Needs some work. But ya, I think it'll do!" He called down, leaning over the rail. He came back down the stairs.

"Like what?" Alby asked.

"Well for starters, better railings, taller ones.  Don't think we'd be able to make full walls, but half walls, a door, add a window or two. A bed. But ya. It'll work for a bedroom."

Victoria smiled at Gally.

"Won't be tonight, but George and I will start first thing tomorrow." He turned to look at Victoria. "That alright?"

She nodded in thanks. "Yes. Thank you."

He shrugged, "but what about tonight?"

"If you don't want to sleep in the homestead, I could crash with you on the floor up there." George suggested.

Victoria thought it over and then nodded. "The most logical solution. Thank you George."

"Alright. I'll grab some bedding. And stuff." He turned and walked away.

"Great! All settled." Ably sighed. He laid his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to go through this, Girly. Sorry I wasn't more aware."

"It's not your fault Alby. Don't blame yourself. The blame is on hi. And him alone." Victoria said firmly. "I don't blame you in anyway. You have shown me nothing but kindness."

He nodded again gave her shoulder a squeeze and then walked away. Winston had wonder away all that was left was Gally.

"Are you okay?" She asked him.

"Me?" He looked up shocked, "why are you asking me if I'm okay? You were the one almost... Almost..." He looked away, his jaw clenching and his hands forming fists.

"You took a life. I can't imagine how that feels. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah I'm fine Freckles. He was guilty of physical and sexual assault. I ain't sorry." His voice took a sharp edge. His eyes held anger. "And I'd do it again."

"Gally?" She whispered, her voice was quiet and raspy. He blinked a few times, the anger washing away, his eyes softened when he looked at her. "Thank you." She has reached out and squeezed his arm as she said it.

He cleared his throat. And ran a hand through his hair. "Ya well... guys shouldn't ever put hands on a girl. Ever."

They were quiet for a second, he was looking far away his eyes staring at the back wall, lost in his thoughts. She watched him for a second. She knew she was safe with him. He was big and scary, kind of angey, but she felt completely safe with him. Same with George and Alby and Winston. She knew these boys would keep her safe. She smiled to herself. She was glad they found her and got her out of the box and not someone else. She wasn't sure how she felt about Minho and Newt, they weren't around during the day, and Minho had made some jokes at breakfast, but he had stood up for her at the gathering. She would just have to wait and see. She tried to run a hand through her hair, but it was so tangled and messy. She wrinkled her nose.

"Are their showers?"

"What?" He blinked, shacking his head, bringing himself out of his thoughts and back to the present.

"Showers. Ya know a place to wash and clean ones self?"

"Oh! Oh yeah. Come on Freckles, I'll show ya. I guess you'll need some clean clothes and such."

She hummed. Gally led her back to the homestead to a closet in the back where he started to rummage around.

"Hey, didn't I come up with a backpack?" She asked.

"Oh! Yeah! Shuck! It's with the extra supplies, ya hang on and we'll grab it once I find ya...ah! Here."

He pulled out a box of toileteies. Setting it down he rummaged through and handed her a bottle of shampoo and conditioner, a comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, towels. He put it back and then pulled out a box of extra clothes. She grabbed a t shirt and a pair of sweats.

"It'll do."

He put it back and led her round back to the big supply room outside the homestead. Opening the door he turned the light on, which was just a bare light bulb.

"Ever wonder where the electricity comes from?" She asked, staring at the light.

"Uhh no. I never did actually."

"Seems odd. There's running water and electricity. But no power lines..no water tower. Where does it come from? Has to come from somewhere!"

"Ya. I guess so." He had walked to the back and grabbed a backpack. She took it with a nod of thanks.

"To the showers, and quick. You smell like a Glader!"

She gasped and smacked his arm, or tried to, her hands were full. He chuckled at her as she pouted. He led her to sit flew stall showers. He stopped and frowned.

"What?"

"I'll also add a lock to one of them and it'll be yours. Keep your stuff in there...guys are nasty. We'll keep the end ones the girls bathroom."

"Gally, that's really sweet. Thank you."

"I'll add it to my to do list. I'll stand out front, keep the idiots away. Go shower." He opened the door for her and waved her in.

Her backpack contained a water bottle, a spare set of clothes, some clean underwear and socks and a bra, a notebook and pencil. A pack of little pills supplies for that wonderful time of moth and a few femanin bathroom supplies, razor and replacement blades, hair ties, brush ext.

She showered quickly the water wasn't hot but it felt nice after a long hot day. She stood in front of the small mirror and finally got a look at herself.

She had cinnamon brown coloured hair, that fell down her back in tight curls. Her eyes were a hazel nut brown framed in long thick lashes. Gally was right, she had a lot of freckles across her cheeks and nose. And she was, as the guys kept saying tinny. She had no visible scares or anything to give a hint at her past. She had a nasty cut and bruise in her lip, and a hand print on her neck.

Sighing she turned away, got dressed and left. Gally was leaning against the wall arms folded and a broody look in his face.

"Took a long enough!" He rolled his eyes.

"Thank you for wanting."

"Ya ya, your welcome. Now come on. Time for bed. George has your bedding."

They headed across the Glade towards the barn.

"So what was in the backpack!"

"Girl stuff."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Hair ties, underwear, bras, Tampons, pads, birth control-"

"Okay okay! Sheesh!" He yelped.

"You asked." She shrugged.

It was his turn to roll his eyes. They came to the door and he stopped.

"Well good night Freckles."

"Good night Gally." She smiled up at him. "Thank you for everything today."

He shrugged. She watched him turn and walk away, back to the homestead. She climbed the stairs and was happy to see Bark had made it up and was waiting for her. Oreo was also snuggled up. George was laying in his sleeping bag reading a book. She slid into her sleeping bag. George closed his book and turned the little lamp off.

"Night Sis."

"Good night George."

She closed her eyes and finaltlet her body relax. It had been a long first day.