When breakfast finally ended, Abigail felt mentally exhausted. She hadn't wanted to make any enemies or trouble for herself and Lizzie had hated her instantly. In all of her time in Louxe she had never actually been hated: it was forbidden. But here? Here it seemed like you could form any opinion you wanted of someone and then act accordingly. It was certainly a jarring experience and realization.

"Don't let her bother you," Bethany consoled her, wrapping her arm around Abigail's shoulder as they walked out of the cafeteria. "Lizzie's had that stick up her backside ever since Alex broke up with her."

"Wait," Abigail really didn't like the feeling that was rising up her shoulders, "Alex used to date her?"
Suddenly the comment he had made back in the bunker made her even more uncomfortable. "It's nothing I haven't seen before." The memory echoed around in her mind bouncing around and causing trouble all along the way. As realization hit harder and harder that she was whom he had been referring to, she felt herself growing that terrible feeling of hate towards the girl, despite it being against her very nature. Worse even, she could feel a tinge of jealousy in her motives as well: a feeling she was starting to become too familiar with.

Bethany seemed to notice the reaction Abigail was having and was stopped in her tracks to look at her. "Oh Abby," she tsked, "don't tell me you are falling for him?"

Abigail was sheepish in her response, trying to turn her head to avoid having to give a response.

"I mean, I enjoy being around him," she tried to explain, "does that mean I actually like him in a deeper way?"

"I don't know, girl," Bethany grabbed her hand, "but tell me this: how many other boys have you been around this much?" Realizing her point, Abigail turned to head back to her room, but Bethany stayed with her.

"I don't mean to pry," she continued, "but I have heard stories about how life is in Louxe. I just imagine that being around a boy for the first extended time can have an affect on you."

"I get what you are saying," Abigail admonished, "and you are probably right. But, it feels like more than that to me." Abigail shook her head and continued on walking. "I just can't focus on something like this right now. Alex is my friend." At that moment, Alex caught up to them and pried himself between the two.

"You giving the girl the grand tour, Beth?" he questioned. "I'm sure there's a lot more insight you could give her."

"What do you mean?" Abigail questioned, "Why would she know more about this place than you?"

"I have to go to work," he explained, "so let Beth here take you up to get a job assignment and we will meet again at lunch, if we go at the same time, and if not I will see you at dinner." With that he ran off to the stairwell and made his ascent upwards.

"Is he going above ground?" Abigail questioned.
"What sort of job is there up there?"

"Oh we have jobs that take us all over this facility," Beth began to lead her down the stairwell to a hallway a few flights further down. "I am on laundry duty," she continued as the two of them walked together, "which isn't nearly as bad as the boys like to make it out to be."

It didn't take long for the two of them to make it to the their destination. Abigail found herself standing before a large wooden door that looked like it had been meticulously carved for someone extremely important. She would never tell but it actually reminded her o the doors on the government buildings back in Louxe.

"This is the office for the Director of Human Affairs," Bethany explained. "She will get your information and background and then give you a work assignment."

Abigail gave a slight nod of her head to signal she understood, but she could feel her nerves begin to rise as thoughts of meeting such an authoritative figure went through her mind. Bethany was oblivious to this, however.

"Okay," she turned to begin walking away from her, "I will be in the laundry service. I really hope you get a work assignment to work with me! Oh and if you get a choice, try to avoid the store room: that's where Lizzie works!" Then she walked away, leaving Abigail standing alone before the massive authoritative door, counting her breaths to calm her nerves before she could even consider knocking.

"Breathe in... breathe out..." she whispered to herself, calming her nerves. Slowly, she lifted a shaky hand up to the elaborately decorated door and knocked three succinct times. The sound echoed not only into the room beyond the door, but down the hallway where she stood, as well. The seconds dragged by as she heard footsteps get up from their place across the hidden room, and get louder and louder with their approach. With a creak, the door swung open to reveal a tall woman who had to be in her forties. She had bright lipstick and reading glasses that made her remind Abigail of the librarian back at her old high school. Her light brown hair was pulled into an elaborate bun at the back of her head, and she was dressed in her business best: making Abigail feel underdressed in her blue jeans and t-shirt.

"And who are you?" the woman asked, though Abigail didn't feel like she meant it rudely.

"I'm..." she gulped, she truly did feel nervous talking to such important people, "I'm Abigail, ma'am."

"Ah," the woman began, "you must be the new girl from Louxe. I could tell by your use of the word 'ma'am.' We don't say that here very much," she seemed to smile at that last sentence, almost as if she was recalling something humorous.

"Yes ma'am," she answered, causing the woman to look at her again with a curiosity. "I was told to come here for a work assignment."

"I see," the woman curtly answered, "well come along then," she motioned for Abigail to follow her as she turned back into her office.

As she shut the door behind her, she got a subtle feeling like she was in the principal's office. But, the woman here seemed nice enough – though Abigail had to admit she was shocked to learn that this entire facility was run by a woman. She had never seen a woman in charge back at Louxe.

The woman motioned for Abigail to sit in a chair in front of her oversized desk, and then she went around to her side and had a seat, as well.

"My name is Margaret," she began, "but you can call me Maggie." Abigail was starting to warm up to her.
"So tell me girl," Maggie continued, "what is your full name? And what brings you here?"

"Abigail Newman," she began, "and I came here after witnessing one too many deaths as punishments."

"And whose death was it that pushed you too far, hmmm? A friend? A relative?"

"No, ma'am," she took a deep breath in, "one of your people, I am afraid. Daniel Wells."

The look of shock and hurt was immediate. Abigail had gotten the impression that Daniel had goals of moving up in the ranks of the facility, but she hadn't realized that he held such important. Though, he had spoken so eloquently and with such authority back in Louxe: a skill that was ultimately his downfall.

Margaret took a moment to settle her face, and Abigail watched as she took some deep breaths, almost as if to keep herself from getting too emotional.

"That is a shame," Maggie commented, "I truly liked the boy along with his family. We will have to be sure to hold a memorial service for him."

"That would be nice," Abigail mused, "I have only met his parents once, but they seem like such nice people."

"Yes, well," Maggie turned back to the matter at hand, "we need to get you a work assignment if you intend on staying."

"With all due respect," Abigail felt herself becoming braver around this woman, "I have no intentions of going back. I can't. If I go back after they have discovered I left on my own – I believe I will be resigning myself to the same fate as Daniel."

"Very well then," Maggie responded, "we have a few openings here that could use some help. The store room desperately needs a second set of hands."

Abigail remembered what Bethany had said about Lizzie working the store room, and knew she had to decline. "Are there any other positions open?"

Maggie laughed, "I see you have met Lizzie." Abigail nodded her head yes.

"Well," Maggie went on, "I believe Bethany has requested some help in the laundry service. Is this something more to your interest?"

"Oh yes, that sounds great."

"I have one more position that has recently become open, though," Maggie continued, "that is, if you would be interesting in something... different."

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I seem to be in need of a new assistant here in my office. Danny was my last one and with your knowledge of Louxe I believe you would be a true asset to me."

Abigail looked around the room more closely this time, taking in all of the books and paperwork and pictures that seemed to cover the walls. It truly would be an interesting task, she reasoned.

"I really don't know anything about running a facility, ma'am."

"That's okay," Maggie looked at her and winked, "I didn't know that much to start with, either."

"Really? Then how did you become the Director?"

"Well, I am the first woman to hold such a position," she began explaining, "and that was no easy feat to achieve."

"I can imagine," Abigail mused a little too loudly.

Looking up, she could see the curiosity in her eyes, "I just mean that I've never seen a woman in charge back in Louxe before."

"No, I'm certain you wouldn't have seen such a thing. Men tend to find women too emotional, I suppose. But I wont begin to brag about the fact that Elysium has thrived under my leadership," she winked at her again, this time in a manner of bragging about her accomplishments.

Abigail smiled up at her, genuinely interested in learning more about Elysium and this woman who held so much interest to her. Perhaps she would enjoy this position and the opportunity to learn from Maggie.

"I think," Abigail began, "that I would love to work with you."

Maggie seemed very excited about her response. She had a great knowing smile that seemed to reach from ear to ear.

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, "I will see you here right after breakfast tomorrow, then!" And with that, she stood and ushered Abigail back towards the door.