I continue following the girl with the blue eyes deeper into the forest, my lungs burning and my blood boiling. Suddenly, she whips around, sticks her arms out and pushes me to the ground. I hit the spongy forest floor, and she steps on my arm, kneeling down next to me, holding a previously hidden knife to my throat.

“What were you doing in the forest? Why weren’t you wearing a mask?â€?

“I was just,â€? I say, trying to catch my breath. “I was just—â€?

“You were just what?â€? She hisses, pressing the knife to my neck with more force.

“I just wanted to take it off once.â€?

I can see her eyes studying me, darting back and forth across my mask. She loosens her grip on me and stands. With one swift motion she reaches behind her head and undoes her mask, catching the expensive and prized piece before it fell past her knee.

“I will kill you if you tell so much as a mouse about this. Do you understand me?â€?

I nod my head and she sheaths her weapon.

“You’re an upper,â€? I say. “What were you doing in our group? How did you even know it was me you saw?â€?

“I know you broke your mask. It wasn’t hard to spot the only central with a replacement on. The men that are there to separate us don’t pay much attention either.â€?

“So why are we here? What do you want with me?â€?

“What’s the deepest you’ve ever gone into the forest?â€? She asks. I think for a moment.

“Not very far, I’d say. Only deep enough to stay hidden.â€?

She sits down on the forest floor, looking out into the dense foliage.

“Have you ever wondered what else is out there?â€?

“Out into the forest?â€?

“No, past it.â€?

I hadn’t.

“Only road outside of the community is controlled by the congressmen. We get our supplies and no one asks any questions. Why hasn’t anyone left yet?â€? She continues.

“I guess I hadn’t really thought of it. We have everything we need here, just about.â€?

She turns her head to look at me.

“You really think so?â€?

“I guess I’ve never seen anything else to say otherwise.â€?

She turns back around, surveying the deep dark.

“I don’t know about you,â€? She sighs. “But I’m not going to be stuck here forever. I’m leaving. I’m running.â€?

“Why? You’re an upper… You don’t have a thing to worry about. Why would you want to?â€?

“Your momma ever tell you to be thankful with all we have at the community?â€?

“I guess so, but what—â€?

“Mine too,â€? She cuts me off. “And I don’t have no reason to be ungrateful, I reckon. I’m lucky. I’m one of the lucky ones. I have a lot to be thankful for, just look at my mask.â€?

“So why do you want to leave?â€?

She turns back around, looking into me with her piercing eyes.

“That isn’t enough for me.â€?

We sit in silence for a while.

“When are you leaving?â€? I nervously ask.

“Tonight.â€?