Imprisoned ON HOLD

"Courage"

Is it just me or does Chuck always walk in on the worst moments?

Chuck stood there staring at us with his hands over his eyes and humming to himself so that he wouldn't have to hear anything his innocent ears wouldn't be able to handle.

Newt and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. As Newt sat up and walked off the picnic cloth, he went over to consult Chuck. While he was shaking Chuck to open his eyes, I was folding up the blanket and giggling to myself.

"Chuck! Stop acting like a stubborn curly-headed shank!"
Newt was shaking Chuck violently, but Chuck's hands were plastered to his face.

"That's because I am a curly-headed shank! ... and there is no way I'm opening my eyes, I'm not risking of losing my optical innocence!"

I started rolling on the grass clutching my stomach and laughing at this ridiculous Glader.

Chuck peeked out of his hands to see what all the commotion was about, and when he saw me, a grin took over his face. "Who knew I could be such a jokester," Chuck said proudly.

"Psh, in your dreams, klunk-head," Newt pushed Chuck's head back.

Chuck's grin faded when he realized he had forgotten why he came up here to tell us something,
"Oh, well the reason I came to find you guys is because... Alby. He's currently with Clint and the rest of the medjacks, but I wanted to get Newt."

Newt's face twisted into a frown. Then, without passing any sort of words or communication, Newt jogged away, leaving me to look at his limping body slowly disappearing.

All of a sudden, an idea hit me like a bolt of lightening meeting a blade of grass. The field of ideas in my mind caught on fire, and one questioned swirled in my head.
"Where's Brenda?" I asked Chuck.

"Er... I think I saw her by Deadwood." At his response, I took off running towards the thick group of trees.

At the edge of the miniature sat Brenda at the bottom of a giant tree trunk. she was humming to herself while braiding her hair.

"Brenda!" I called when I was about 50 meters away. She looked up from her spot, her loose hair falling onto her face.

"Where is the Grief Serum?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I stood pacing out of Alby's hospital room. I had given Clint the serum, and now I was waiting nervously.

I heard steps coming down the hall, and I looked up to see Minho walking down the hall.

"What are you doing here?" Minho asked once he saw me.

"I was... uh... I pointed to Alby's room." Minho mouthed an 'O.'

"Well, now that I see you, I can tell you that you begin running tomorrow," Minho said flatly.

"Uh, what?" I asked, surprised. "Well, I better get a good night's rest, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

Minho nodded and leaned against the back of the wall next to the door to Alby's room.

I walked outside the hospital and headed to my spot. I leaned up against my pole and fell into a deep slumber. In my sleep, I drifted off into a misty dream.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I was looking at myself laying down on a hospital bed. I sat there, and I saw myslef looked nervous. The younger me (about 12) frantically looked across, and Thomas was there. He held out his hand, and his lips spoke, "Courage."