She was trapped in some kind of tube like container. There was liquide all around her, it filled the container. She was suspended in the fluid, it was too thick to be water and too thin to be a jelly. She just sort of floated. She just sort of existed.

She wasn't scared, but confused. She had no idea what was going on. Her eyes fluttered open and closed lazily. Outside her container was the blurred outline of a human. Behind the human form was a wall of lights some flashed, some blinked some stayed on the whole time.

Her head moved slightly in the thick liquid. It was slow and sluggish, like she was half asleep still. She had some kind of mask over her face allowing her to breath. She saw wires and tubes connected to her. Different coloured liquide was being pumped into her system. And there was a sharp pinch at the base of her skull.

The pinch sent a wave of awareness threw her body. Only now did her body twitch in panic. Her eyes flew wide open. Her hands tried grabbing at the wires and tubes. Her hand slammed into the container wall a few times. While her arms flailed she smacked the mask off her face. Her lungs felt like they were filling with the thick liquid. Her other hand reached behind her where the sharp pinch was, there was a thick tube almost like a hose stuck into the base of her skull. Like she was plugged into something. Panicking more she ripped it out. The pain that caused through her body almost made her pass out. Her back arched as the spasm of pain hit.

She screamed, but that only made her take in another lung full of the thick Liquide that she was suspended in. A wild red light was flashing and an alarm was blaring. She slammed a fist into the clear container wall.

The glass shattered and she came spilling out onto cold white tiled flooring. She gasped for air-

Victoria sat up with a gasp. Her arms flailing. It took her a minute to realize she was tangled in the sleeping bag and there were no wires or tubes no liquid jelly. Her burning lungs took another wild gasp of air. Her throat was on fire. Reaching a shaking hand up she gingerly touched the fresh bruises left by Ralph.

Bark lifted his head and whined. He crawled over and laid in her lap. She ran a hand over his soft head.

What was that? A dream? That couldn't have been a memory! Weird nightmare.

She figured it had something to do with the fact she was choaked and couldn't breath, so now her mind was making up sinaeiors of chocking. She shook her head, her curls bouncing all over the place. Raking a hand through her hair her hand came to rest on the spot where the huge tub plugged into her skull. Frowning she felt a bump. Running her finger along it, it felt old like. Raised scar.

Was it a memory? Why was I in a container of goop?

Shaking her head again she slid out of her sleeping bag. In her backpack she pulled out the extra set of clothes. She slid the overalls on and pulled the t shirt off and a tank top on. Pulling her hair into a loose low pony she tip toed passed George who was sprawled out on his tummy sound asleep. She headed down the stairs and then pulled her boots on.

"Come on Bark. Chores to do. Then breakfast." She whispered.

First stop was getting Daisy and Bessie out of their stalls and into the pasture. Bark helped herd the sheep and goats into the pasture as well. She had finished feeding the chickens and had just grabbed a basket for eggs when Winston showed up.

"Mornin'. How's Tori today?" He asked with a yawn.

She shrugged. Talking hurt a lot today. She held up her basket and pointed to the chickens. He nodded.

"Did ya feed the pigs?"

She shook her head.

"I'll do that one and by the looks of it, most of the morning chores are done..we can head to breakfast."

She was almost done collecting eggs when George came stumbling out of the barn still mostly asleep. She shook her head and chuckled.

She scooped up Oreo who was trying to get her way into the chicken coup.

"Na uhay. You naughty little kitty. Cats aren't allowed into the coup."

She tucked the tinny kitten into her pocket. The fuzzy little yellow chick she scooped up yesterday kept following her. She sighed and scooped that one up too and tucked it into the front chest pocket of her overalls.

On her way over to the kitchen she picked some of the wild flowers, tucking those into her pocket as well. Her arms full and feeling more relaxed after her weird dream she headed to Fry's.

"G'mornin" Lil Missy! Ahhh eggs! Perfect!"

"We'll have some ham and bacon in a day or two." Victoria croaked.

Fry frowned at her. "That throat sounds in rough shape. I'll traid ya, eggs and I'll make ya some honey tea."

She smiled at him and watched as he bustled around his kitchen. Tea was done and he passed it to her with a big smile.

"Looks like you have a following." He pointed a whisk behind her. She turned confused. One of the lambs had got free and was on its way over. She smiled and shook her head.

"Mary had a little lamb." Fry chucked.

"She also has a kitty, chick and a dog."

Fry raised his eyebrows. She smiled at him, showing him the other animals. He threw his head back and laughed. She thanked him for the tea and scooped the lamp up. She has her mug of tea in one hand the bleeting lamp in another, Bark followed at her heels a chick peeking it's fuzzy yellow head out from the wild flowers she picked and stuck in her pocket and Oreo the kitten in her pocket.

Fry watched her go and shook his head with a smile. She was half way across the Glade when she heard her name. She stopped and turned. Gally was striding across the grass. It looked like he had just had a shower, his damp hair fell into his eyes. Running a hand through it to shove it out of his eyes. He had a plaid shirt over a tight white shirt, jeans and his boots. Victoria couldn't help but smile, she felt a heat in her cheeks. She tried to wave but her hands were full.

Gally fell into step beside her. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

"You got your hands full this morning."

"We have an escape artist. I'll have to fix the fence this morning."

They got to the gate and Victoria shoved the lamp into Gally's arms without a word. He sputtered for a moment. "Hold him please. And this-" she handed him her half empty tea mug. He huffed and rolled his eyes. Victoria jimmied the fence gate open. And took the lamb and placed him back into the pen. Closing and locking the gate she took her mug back.

"Thanks."

"So, how'd ya sleep?"

She shrugged. "I was exhausted. Slept fine until I had a weird dream."

"Oh?"

"My hypothesis is it's a trauma response.t brain is now making up sinaeiors of being chocked."

Gally frowned, "what was it about?" He rubbed his neck and glanced at her. She scrunched her freckles face for a second thinking.

She explained her dream as best she could. His frown deepened and eyebrows free closer together.

"I have no idea what it means, or how my imagination came up with that, so...illogic that it's not possible. But yet..." She trailed off. She was tugging at a curl.

Gally turned his body to face her. "And yet?"

"I have a scar, I think in the same spot as that tube in my dream. At least I think it's a scar."

His eyes widened in surprise. She turned her back, "here. I can't see it, but it's right here."

She felt Gally step closer and gently sweep her hair from her neck. He ran his fingers gently along the base of her neck and skull feeling for the scar.

"Right there."

He stopped and moved her hair. She heard him humm. And then his hand was gone, shoved back into his pocket.

"So I was right? It's a scar?"

"Looks like it. It's a thin line, a white raised jagged scar."

She rubbed a curl again thinking.

"Don't stress too much. Nune of us have memories. I have a huge scar on the inside of my arm. No idea where it's from. May e you wacked your head as a child."

"Hmm. It's a logical explanation. Mixing a forgotten trauma experience with a new one. Very smart Gally."

"Don't sound so surprised." He rolled his eyes. "Come on Freckles. Let's go have breakfast. Then we'll get started on that bedroom for you."

•×•

Over the next few weeks Gally and George made progress on her bedroom. Once they installed a door with a lock, George moved out and back to his room with Gally. Most of the Keepers shared a room with their seconds. These rest of the guys had hammocks or sleeping bags. Two weeks after Victoria came up, the same day and time more supplies showed up and this time ten more boys along with the supplies. Two more weeks after that was just aupplies. Victoria was disappointed there wasn't a girl. And two weeks after that more supplies and only five more boys. All the boys described their the same, and it matches with what Victoria had said.

"Is this how we're being sent now! Boys coming up through the box? It's ridiculous!" Alby muttered as he stormed back to the table after giving them a tour. A few of the guys sat around the table during break.

"Every two weeks new supplies and every month a bunch of shanks. I'm starting to think there won't be a girl." She said said sadly.

"We'll need to expand the sleeping area. 30ish shanks and our Girly." Alby groaned.

"How are they doing though? I saw the one kid freak out. Where did he go?"

"Uhh...he umm ran."

"Ran where?" Gally asked suspiciously.

"Kid was fast. He ran into the maze." Alby said weirly.

Victoria felt her stomach drop, and her face pale. She knew two kids ran into the maze before she showed up. And then this kid. So 3 disappeared into the maze never to be seen again and one was beaten to death. Another one took his own life. She shivered at the thought.

"Hey Alby!"

"What now?" He groaned running a hand down his face. Victoria turned her head and saw Fry coming over carrying a big creat. He slammed it onto the table.

"Looky here!" He cried, a huge smile on his face.

"What?" Alby asked, leaning over the box.

"Looks like the start of some kind of distillery!"

"You mean we were sent a box to start making moonshine?" Victoria asked standing up to rummage through the box.

"Sure am Lil Missy!"

"Nice!" George poed his fist and high fived Gally. They had matching mischievous looks. "We totally call dibs! We're gonna make us some moonshine!"

"There's a whole other crate with ready to go alcohol too!"

"Well...let's have a party!" George cried, a huge smile on his face.

"Wouldn't be a bad idea. It's been a tough month. Let the shanks blow off some steam." Gally shrugged.

"Winston and I have bacon meat ready..."

Alby threw his hands up, "why the hell not. Bone fire for supper."

The guys whooped. Gally and George took the crate and disappeared for the remainder of the afternoon. Alby had come to find her, there was a crate of stuff for her. She thanked him and went to her room above the barn and opened it up. Same as usual. Bathroom accessories, some more clean clothes some laundry soap, fresh supply of birth control and supplies. Grabbing some clean clothes she headed to her bathroom.

Making sure the locks were done, Gally and George had went slightly over board with the locks. But she appreciated it. She took her time, she had done all her chores and it went faster now that there were a few more helping hands. The guys were quiet, and respectful, they left her alone and only when they needed they came to ask how to do something. Winston and her were sort of cokeepers of the barn.

He was Keeper of the Slicers and the butcher shop which they officially named The Bloodhouse. They had chuckled about it after. They came up with the name one time when Winston came out to meet the new Greenies and he was covered in pig blood from butchering. Two kids turned and puked. Victoria and Winston laughed at the kids.

She had also taken on helping harvest the garden when she wasn't busy with the animals. She enjoyed the work. Zart, one of the guys who came up after her took over as Keeper of the Gardens. He knew what he was doing, despite his slow and sleepy approach to life.

Victoria had come up with a water system that would bring water from the pump to the gardens without having to haul pickets back and forth. She had sat down with Zart, Gally, George and Alby.

"The garden needs an irrigation system."

"A what?" Zart yawned.

Victoria sighed, and straightened up, she crossed her arms and sighed again.

"An irrigation system is the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprays. It's usually used when natural water sources and rain are not sufficient. This way your guys won't waist half the day walking back and forth with water buckets spilling half as they go."

"Well Shuck, Tori. That brilliant!" George grinned. "How do you suggest we do it?"

She leaned over the paper tugging at a curl she studied the paper, it was a layout of the Glade, where the garden was and the proximity of the water pumps.

"Okay...here's how..."

She explained with drawings and specifications on how to do it. The boys crowdes around. Gally had for up and came to stand beside her as she explained. She glanced a few times up at him she she talked. He was chewing the inside of his cheek and his eyebrows pulled together listening and nodding.

"Wait...what if we added this here instead." He took her pencil and drew some more diagrams.

She cocked her head. "Ya know...that might just be better. The physics of it makes it work better!" She smiled looking at the paper.

"Don't sound so surprised Freckles." He huffed, folding his huge muscles arms.

"Ya ya Gal, you're a genius." She waved a hand absentmindedly.

"Okay, well, that settles it. We'll start tomorrow."

Now three weeks later, the irrigation system was up and running and the plants were doing better.

Victoria turned off the water and slowly dried off. Looking in the mirror again, her warm brown eyes flicked over her body. She has grown muscle in the months of being here. Her skin was now sunkissed, bringing more freckles out. Now her shoulders had them, and a few down her arms. The guys all adopted the name Tori, because Victoria was longer to say apparently. Alby still called her Girly, Gally called her Freckles and Fry called her Lil Missy.

She wasn't exactly happy, but life had been smoother. Pradictable. The same recurring nightmare of drowning in that container of goopy fluid with cords and wires and tubes coming out of her was constant. Every guy got the same lecture as they came out of the box, about order and rules, no slackers, stay inside the walls and leave the girl alone.

She was positive George and Gally threatened the lives of the new kids, (which they decided to call Greenies until they had a name) and they left her alone. She had a few friends, but she kept to herself mostly, and the animals. People tensed to get offended by her blunt answers and her scientific and more logical approach to things. So she has learned to stay quiet pretty quickly. She listened a lot, she watched a lot, but didn't really participate in conversation.

Sighing heavily she gathered her things to head back to her room. She opened the door and a boy was standing in front of the door. He was one of the newer ones. She remembered seeing him, he worked with Gally and George. She couldn't remember his name.

"Oh. Can I help you?"

"Yes. Yes you can." His eyes slowly roamed over her body as he licked his lips.

•×•

× Wiz Kid for the win! ×