I'm Just A Kid

Chapter 9: Banishment

As I slowly regain consciousness, the first thing I notice is the pain. My head is throbbing so badly that for a few seconds I can't even remember where I am. Everything around me is hazy, shapes and colours blending together as I blink repeatedly, desperately trying to make my eyes focus. I can hear voices somewhere nearby, along with the rustling of leaves and the sound of footsteps moving through the forest.

Then I realise I'm being carried.

The sudden realisation sends a jolt of panic through me. I don't know who has me or where they're taking me, and the last thing I remember is being surrounded by people and then hitting my head. My heart starts racing as I try to piece everything together. Wells. Murphy. The crowd. The fighting. I remember running toward them, trying to pull people away. Then the impact.

After that, nothing.

With every ounce of strength I have, I push myself away from whoever is carrying me. My legs immediately give out beneath me, and I drop onto the cold, hard ground with a groan. Pain shoots through my head again, making me squeeze my eyes shut.

"Emmy?!" someone asks, shaking my shoulders and snapping their fingers in front of my face, trying to bring me back.

I force my eyes open.

Clarke, Charlotte, and Finn are all standing around me. Their faces are full of concern, and for some reason that makes me feel even more confused. I look around, trying to understand where we are, but all I can see are trees and bushes stretching in every direction. There is no camp. No dropship. No people shouting.

Nothing.

"What the fuck happened," I groan as Finn reaches his hand out, which I gladly take.

My hand feels small in his as he pulls me carefully to my feet. I immediately sway, and he catches me before I can fall, putting my arm over his shoulder to help keep me balanced. I don't argue with him. Normally, I would have made some sarcastic comment about being able to walk by myself, but my head is still spinning and I don't particularly trust my legs right now.

My memories slowly begin coming back, each one arriving in broken pieces. I remember the commotion in camp. I remember everyone surrounding Murphy after Clarke accused him of killing Wells. I remember trying to stop them.

Then I remember the boy.

The hit.

The branch.

My stomach twists.

"Where are we? What happened to Murphy? There was this guy, he, he hit me. Oh I'm going to kill him," I say, mumbling that last part while still trying to collect all my memories.

Finn gives me a worried look, but I don't really notice. I'm too busy trying to understand why I'm in the middle of a forest with three people who all look like they know something I don't.

"Emmy I will explain it all to you later, I promise, but right now we need to go," Finn reassures as he starts walking, pulling me along with him.

I just nod, not wanting to be an inconvenience.

The truth is, I don't feel fine.

I'm scared.

I don't know what's happening, I don't know where we are, and I don't understand why everyone is acting like there's some huge secret that I'm the only one who hasn't been told about. But admitting that feels impossible. I've spent so much time trying to prove that I'm capable of looking after myself that saying I'm scared feels like admitting I've failed.

So instead, I keep my mouth shut and walk.

Or at least, I try to.

I'm still a bit out of it, and keeping up with them is harder than I want to admit. Finn and Clarke are both walking quickly, while Charlotte stays close by. My legs feel heavy, and every few steps my head throbs again.