Bewitching

6| Chuck

I wake up to a chubby face framed with brown curls. He has big brown eyes. He looks so cute and innocent. He squints at me. "Dude, why did you lock the door?"
I snorted and struggled to get up. this boy was about 12-13, he wouldn't hurt me. He gives me a hand, and soon I leaned panting against the wall. "Thanks man." He just nodded. "Does anybody else know you're awake yet?" I freeze. So he does know. "Nooooo..." I trail off, twiddling with my thumbs. He just smiles. "Ok." I like this kid. I limp over to one of the chairs in the room and flop down. My stomach grumbles. I look up. "Dude, I'm starving, do you have any shuck food around here. He smiles. I like his smile, all big and toothy. I want to pinch his cheeks. Oh no, I'm a grandmother. "Sure, I'll raid Frypan!"
He unlocks the door and leaves. I get up quickly and run to the door and lock it. So quickly in fact I slam my head against it.
I raise my hand up and feel a bump growing already. Nice.
I stagger back to my chair to wait for the boy.
I take this moment to take in my surroundings. I sit in a room with a half circle of chairs.
It's looks familiar. Oh! The room we had the gathering in! I look around to see if I can remember who's chair I'm sitting in. Gally's. GROSS.
I move one to the one next to it. Mihno's. Much better.
The door knob turns. A knock follows "Elizabeth, it's Chuck." Chuck. Nice name kid.
I unlock the door and let him in. My mouth waters as I look at the massive array of food he brought me. "Thanks Chuck!" He smiles. "Figured you ought'a be hungry. Didn't think you had eaten yet." I grab the nearest sandwich and stuff my mouth.

~*~*~

I burp, satisfied. "Thanks for the great food!" I rub my hand on my belly. "I'm stuffed!" He crinkled his nose. "Girls are gross."
"What makes you say that" I look at him, offended. "Have you seen yourself eat?"
I burst out laughing, which was a bad idea since I just ate. I clutched my stomach, keeling over onto the floor. I could hear Chuck laughing at me.
I slap his shins and pull myself off the floor.
I cock my ear to the side. Footsteps coming down the hall. I hush Chuck and put my ear to the door.
"We need to call a gathering." Alby. He sounds panicked. "I can't believe Clint lost her!" Their footsteps retreat. I pull away. "Chuck, you need to get me out of the Homestead, NOW." "Ok, ok chill." He peeks his head out of the door and looks both ways. "All clear."

~*~*~

I run through the Deadheads, hoping nobody saw my mad dash for the sickly trees. I stop and lean against a tree, panting. There is no sound of footsteps behind me. Good.
Ugh. I put my head in my hands. Bad idea to eat all of that food Chuck brought me.
I slowly walk towards the maze wall in front of me and sink to the ground. It's been a long day.
I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes.

~*~*~

I walk down a white hall, thinking about what Ava just said to me. "Now go out there an do what you have to do." But I didn't want to. I didn't want to lose my friends. One possibly more than a friend...
I shake the bought from my head. He would never look at a girl like me.
I stop and turn to a door on my left and knock softly. No response. I slowly open the door. Nobody was in. I reached over to the coat hangers and grabbed my lab coat, my fingers lingering on the words WICKED.
I step back out into the hall and start to walk. As I turn the corner I see the door I'm supposed to go in slam shut. I hurry over and throw it open. Two WICKED guards are struggling to pin subject A7 onto the bed. He locks eyes with me. Hatred pours from them. Great start.
A guard looks at me. "About time." He grumbles before stepping back to give me room. I step forward and kneel beside them. If I was one inch closer he would bite my nose off. That's just a guess though.
I grin at him. "Hello Minho." He stops struggling. "How could you do this to us Lizzy?" I sigh. "It's complicated." I take a syringe out of my coat pocket. I give him a grim smile. "WICKED is good." Then I plunge the sharp needle into his skin.

~*~*~

My eyes jolted open as I was suddenly swept off the ground. I let out a scream and started to claw around. The figure started to run through the forest.
I realized the struggle was useless. I looked up to see brown eyes staring at me. I smiled at Newt. "Long time no see?" He laughed but kept running.
I frowned. "I'll give you five bucks if you put me down." He gave me a questioning look. "Five dollars?" I waved his question away. "Don't fall for it Newt, it usually never works."
We broke out of the trees and immediately a crowd surrounded us. Alby pushed his way through. He glared at me. "What the shuck was that Greenie." I stare at him dumbly.
"I tried to find some peace and quiet?" He laughed harshly. "Funny Greenie. Throw her in the slammer." He tossed Newt something shiny that jingled when they landed in his palm. I gulped. Keys. "Ummm, can we negotiate here?" I ask as he carried he away. He chuckled softly. "I'll see if I can shorten your time Greenie." "Elizabeth." "What?" "What I said." He smiles as I remind him of the day we first met. Then he frowns. "What even happened to you?"
I sigh. "I honestly don't know Newt. When the-" I cut off, searching for the word. Doors. "Doors closed." I continued. "Something didn't feel right inside me." I sigh, leaning my head against his chest and listening to the comforting sound of his heartbeat. "You're going to be okay, you know that, right?" "Mmmm." I sigh softly. He chuckles and I hear the rusty creak of a door. I am set down on a hard floor. I miss his warmth as soon as he unwraps himself from my arms. I whimper slightly and curl up tighter. "Be right back Greenie." I hear him leave, but am to tired to care that he left the door open.
I suddenly feel something soft around me. I open my eyes to see Newt brought a blanket, and is motioning for me to lift my head. I do, and he sets a pillow under. I am half asleep already.
He kisses the top of my head softly. "Sleep tight Greenie."
"What?" I mumble softly. I can almost feel his smile.
"What I said."