On the Run ~ON HOLD~

Chapter 23 Sickness

Her breaths came out short and fast as she struggled to take in enough air. Pain flashed through her upper body as she slowly regained consciousness.

Thea groaned as her eyes fluttered open. She was vaguely aware of the pain in her side as she struggled to sit up. Her head was pounding and she felt as though she had the worst hangover ever.

Hearing the sound of someone coughing, she painfully turned her head to see a beaten and bloodied figure on the ground. Carefully getting to her feet, she cautiously approached the unrecognizable figure. As she got closer, she realize who it was.

"Murphy?" she gasped.

The boy turned towards her and she nearly gasped at the sight of his bloodied face.

"What happened to you?" she spoke softly, before remembering who she was talking to, "Why are you here? You were banished," she reminded him sharply.

Murphy struggled to answer between coughs, "I—grounders tortured me—escaped—Clarke and Bellamy said I have to leave as soon as I'm better."

No sooner had he finished explaining, he leaned over and threw up blood on the floor.

"Oh my god," Thea gasped, rushing forward to help, their differences forgotten.

Wincing, but ignoring the pain in her side, Thea knelt down in front of the sick boy, trying to keep him upright so he wouldn't choke on his own blood.

"You're burning up," she muttered, feeling his flaming skin against her clammy hands.

"Is that your way of telling me you think I'm hot?" Murphy smirked before convulsing into another coughing fit.

"Shut up, Murphy. Now is really not the time."

Suddenly, pounding footsteps were heard and Clarke rushed in. She went to step closer but Thea held out a hand.

Staying where she was, Clarke spoke up, "Murphy, I need you to tell me exactly how you escaped from the grounders."

Murphy shook his head, his breathing uneven as he struggled to take in air.

"Murphy, look at me, how did you escape?" Thea questioned when she realized he wasn't going to answer Clarke.

"I don't know, I woke up and they forgot to lock my cage. There was no one there so I took off," he struggled to get the words out.

Thea made eye contact with Clarke, the two thinking exactly the same thing.

"They let you go," Clarke said.

Thea struggled to breathe as she felt something trickle down her cheek. Reaching up to wipe it away, she pulled her hand back to see a red liquid.

Looking up at Clarke, terrified and wanting answers, Thea gasped, "What's happening?"

Clarke didn't get the chance to respond before more footsteps stomped into the dropship. Bellamy.

"Bellamy, stay back," Thea warned him, realizing that whatever this sickness was, it was highly contagious. She must have caught it just by being in the same room as Murphy for a few hours when she was unconscious.

"Did he do something to you?" Bellamy's deep voice was filled with malice as he stared threateningly at Murphy.

Thea barely managed to shake her head no, as Clarke and Bellamy stood side by side, observing the two on the ground.

"What the hell is this?" Bellamy asked.

There was a pause before Clarke answered, "Biological warfare. You were waiting for the grounders to retaliate for the bridge, this is it. Murphy's the weapon."

Bellamy looked around at the other sick people that had wandered into the ship.

"Is this your revenge?" he asked Murphy, "Helping the grounders kill us?" he asked angrily as Thea struggled to sit up against the wall with Clarke's help.

"I didn't know about this, I swear," Murphy gasped out.

"Stop lying!" Thea jumped as Bellamy's harsh voice rang throughout the enclosed space.

"When are they coming?" Bellamy wouldn't stop.

Clarke finally managed to get Thea propped up against the wall, going back over to help Murphy.

"Murphy, think, what can you tell us that's useful? Did you see anything?"

"They are vicious, cruel," was his reply.

Bellamy walked forward, "You wanna see vicious?" he threatened.

"Hey, don't," Clarke held out a hand to stop Bellamy's advance on Murphy, "Whatever this thing is, it spreads through contact."

A sudden coughing fit came over Thea and she felt her wound rip open again as blood trickled down her chin.

Bellamy stepped towards her, "Thea—"

"I'm fine Bellamy. Don't come any closer, you'll get it too," she used her sleeve to wipe the blood from her chin as she put pressure on her wound with her other hand.

Bellamy looked conflicted but before he could argue Finn burst into the room.

"Clarke?"

"Finn you shouldn't be in here. No one should," Clarke scolded him.

"I heard you were sick. Clarke, what is this?" Finn asked.

"I don't know," she responded.

Clarke said more but a sudden ringing in Thea's ears made it impossible to hear as a sudden dizziness took over her.

Unable to sit upright any longer, Thea's body collapsed and she fell sideways, her head hitting the floor moments later. Everyone froze for a moment, unsure of what to do. Bellamy was the first to act, slinging his gun over his shoulder as he rushed forward.

"Bellamy, don't touch her, you'll get sick," Clarke warned.

Bellamy didn't listen, scooping up the dazed girl into his arms and carrying her over to the makeshift bed.

"Bellamy, you'll get sick," Thea's voice was weak as she barely held onto consciousness.

"It's okay, princess. I'll be okay. And so will you," he whispered as he laid her gently on the bed.

Thea tried to respond but she felt her eyes begin to close and as soon as her head hit the mattress, she was asleep.

It was because of her unconscious state that she didn't see the first one; the first person who began to choke on their own blood, coughing violently for a minute before becoming silent. She didn't see them begin to die. And as a result, she was blissfully unaware of the crisis surrounding their camp.

Bellamy watched over her for a moment as she slept. He noticed how peaceful her face looked when she was asleep. She looked younger, almost childlike in a way.

He reached out cautiously, stroking a piece of hair away from her warm forehead.

Smiling sadly, he spoke quietly, "You're gonna be okay, princess. You have to be. Who else is gonna kick everyone's ass when they don't listen to me and Clarke?" he chuckled sadly.

"Alright, get some sleep, princess," he glanced once more at her motionless face before turning on his heel and walking away.