On the Run ~ON HOLD~

Chapter 12 Charlotte

Thea and Bellamy ran through the woods as quietly as possible. They could hear Murphy's distant shouts, calling for Charlotte. They took his angered shouts as a good sign, seeing as it meant that he hadn't caught up to the young girl and their other two friends yet.

Bellamy stopped abruptly, causing Thea to run directly into has back.

"What on earth are you..."

She was cut off as Bellamy placed his hand over her mouth to quiet her. Scrunching up her nose in annoyance, she licked his hand, causing him to quickly pull it away and send her a look of disgust. She just shrugged and spat on the ground to get the taste of his dirty hand out of her mouth.

Getting the memo that they needed to be quiet now, she crept up behind Bellamy who was peeking his head around a large tree.

Suddenly, he reached out with lightening speed and grabbed someone who screamed in surprise. It was Charlotte.

Bellamy immediately attempted to calm her down, placing his hand over her mouth like he had done to Thea only moments before.  

"Shh, Charlotte. It's me," he whispered to the girl.

Once she calmed down, Bellamy steadied her and let go of her. Thea joined his side and Charlotte looked up at her with scared eyes.

Before either of them could say anything to comfort the little girl however, Murphy's shouts were heard again. He was getting closer.

The three silently took off in the opposite direction but Charlotte started struggling.

"Let me go," she shouted at Bellamy who was pulling her along behind him.

"We're trying to help you," he growled at the girl.

"I'm not your sister," the girl said, "Just stop helping me. Both of you," she looked over Bellamy's shoulder to Thea before she again attempted to run in the other direction.

"Murphy, I'm over here," she screamed, hoping to attract the other boy's attention.

Thea immediately tackled the girl to the ground where they landed roughly against the hard dirt. Bellamy joined them a second later, pulling them both to their feet and keeping a tight hold on Charlotte.

"Are you trying to get us all killed?" Thea skated indignantly as she brushed herself off from the fall.

"Just go, okay? I'm the one they want," Charlotte yelled stubbornly.

Bellamy paused for a moment before speaking in a deadly serious voice, "Okay, Charlotte, listen to me. I won't leave you. We won't leave you," he gestured to Thea beside him and she nodded in confirmation.

"Please Bellamy," Charlotte spoke calmly this time, "Thea," she gave them a sad look before once again trying to escape.

Bellamy, finally fed up with chasing after her, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Thea followed behind them at a jog, keeping an eye out behind them as Murphy and his crew got closer and closer.

Bellamy, with Charlotte over his shoulder, broke through the trees ahead of her and she followed, only to hear Bellamy curse under his breath.

Thea saw what he had, "Dammit," she said as she noticed the cliff with over a hundred foot drop they were on the edge of.

Bellamy set Charlotte down as Murphy approached. The rain dripped from all of them, running down their faces and soaking their clothes. Thea shivered.

Murphy broke through the trees, "Bellamy," he yelled, "You cannot fight all of us, give her up."

"Maybe not, but I guarantee I'll take a few of you with me," Bellamy answered, stepping in front of Charlotte protectively.