I'm Just A Kid

Chapter 10: Fallen Star

My eyes fluttered open slowly, the darkness around me breaking apart into blurry shapes and muted sounds. For a few seconds, I had no idea where I was. My head felt heavy, and there was a dull ache behind my eyes that made it difficult to think. I blinked several times, trying to force my vision into focus, until I slowly realised I was sitting on one of the steel tables inside the dropship.

Then everything came back.

The forest. The cliff. Charlotte.

My stomach dropped as the memories came rushing back. I remembered her standing at the edge, the shouting, the panic, and reaching for her even though I knew I was running out of time. I remembered the ground disappearing beneath me and the horrible pain in my arm when I fell. After that, everything had become a mess of shouting and darkness, and I couldn't remember exactly how I'd ended up back here.

"Emmy!"

The sudden voice made me jump. I looked toward the entrance and saw Clarke rushing toward me. The second she reached me, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Hey," I mumbled, still groggy.

I hugged her back almost immediately. I didn't even care that it probably wasn't like me. After everything that had happened, feeling someone's arms around me was strangely comforting. For the first time since waking up, I felt like I wasn't completely alone.

Then pain shot through my arm. I winced sharply and pulled away, instinctively cradling it against myself.

Clarke immediately noticed. "Sorry."

"It's okay," I muttered, looking down.

She stepped back, giving me room while still watching me carefully.

My eyes dropped toward my arm.

It was wrapped in thick bandages from my wrist almost to my elbow. The wrapping was clean and carefully done, with a small sling resting against my side. I stared at it for several seconds, my stomach tightening as the memory of the fall became clearer.

This wasn't just some horrible nightmare.

I had actually fallen.

Clarke noticed where I was looking.

"I had to clean it and set it as best I could."

I looked up at her.

"You fixed it?"

"I did what I could."

"You actually know how to do that?"

She gave me a small smile.

"Apparently being the only person with medical training around here has its advantages."

I looked back at my arm.

"It hurts."

"That's because you broke it."

"I gathered that."

Clarke smiled faintly before her expression became serious again. "Emmy, do you remember what happened?"

"Enough," I sighed.

My eyes remained fixed on my arm. I swallowed, already knowing the question I needed to ask but not wanting to hear the answer.

"Is she gone?"

Clarke didn't ask who I meant. She just nodded.

The answer hit harder than I expected. I looked away quickly, staring down at my knees because I could feel my eyes beginning to burn. Charlotte was gone. She had been twelve. My age.