In the end, I let Gally win to keep his dignity. Hunger screams through my body. I catch Alby's gaze and mouth one word, 'Blood.' He nods, understanding, and walks away. I have to walk away from the crowd of boys or in my hungry state, a vampire's buffet. Alby hands me a blood bag and I tear it open and drink it's contents. The feeling of euphoria radiating through me. "Thanks Alby. I was really hungry, I had to walk away because those boys started looking pretty good. It was driving me nuts, whenever someone spoke to me, I didn't hear their words. All I heard was the sound of their heart pumping blood through their veins," I release my hunger-stress.

"Just try not to kill any of them...I was wondering," Alby sits beside me, " I was utterly surprised that Gally got that punch in. What happened?"

I take a deep breath. "It didn't click at first but, I knew Gally before...it...happened. I...took care of him. I've known him since he was born, I helped raise him, I saw him transform from a little boy into a young man. He's one of the only people in this world that I would die for..." I trail off and look at the Maze walls. The crackle of the fire present in my ears.

"Well, it sounds to me that you have feelings for the shank," Alby sounds like a wise old man. I chuckle softly and the corners of my mouth turn up slightly.

"Maybe I do...I don't know...I mean I was there when he was born," I confide in Alby.

"Well, tomorrow at the meeting, I'll be setting a rule that no Glader can touch you or have relations with you unless you've cleared with me first that you've given the shank permission," He assures me.

I laugh, "You make it sound like I can't take care of myself!"

"Well, to these slintheads, you're just a normal girl. Not a girl that could kill them in two seconds flat. I understand that you can protect yourself, but I'm just trying to help, Elizabeth,"

"Please, call me Liz, Lizzie, Eliza, or even Beth. But not Elizabeth.....that was what my big brother always called me," I feel my eyes tear up.

"You got it, Liz," Alby ends the conversation and leaves me alone.