Tonight was the night. Jinny checked her hidden bag one more time, making sure she had everything she could think of. All the rations she could get her hands on, one fairly sharp meat knife she'd stolen, the little bit of clothing she had, and a very worn picture of her mother and father, from... before. They looked happy, on the day of their wedding. Someone had found her mother a white dress, and her father was wearing his best clothes. They were holding hands, tight, and smiling broadly into the camera. A pang of pain welled up in her chest. She missed her father desperately, his voice and his warm hugs, and most of all his strength. He'd want her to be strong. He'd want her to live. That's what she kept telling herself.

She knew she could easily die, going out into the wastes the way she planned to. But she would rather die on her own then live, constantly hungry and hated and useless. No one liked the orphans. They were extra mouths to feed without anything to contribute, or at least that's what she'd overheard. That's why she was glad no one would care if she left. The people who loved her were gone, and she had to go on, by herself. 

Jinny rose up from the corner of the bedroom that she shared with the other orphan girls. All of the others were at their small recreation area, some playing games, the older ones talking to boys. She'd slipped out, unnoticed. It helped that she was small for her age. She was ten, and a lot of people thought she was eight. It was sometimes really annoying, but the other times it was good. She set the bag on her slim shoulders, and made sure it was secure before she moved to the window.

She'd figured out how to pick the lock well over a month ago. It had been easier to pick the lock than to find the tools to do it with. The window slid down easily, and she hoisted herself up and over, one leg at a time. Once she was out, she pushed it back up to close it. Then she headed toward the East Gate, not even looking back.