The Swap (On Hold)

-Part 2- 'Migraines'

The boys were pretty tired and fell asleep really quickly, but I couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, sleep wouldn't come to me. I started to get a sharp pain in my head, it felt like it was pulsing. I ignored it, it was probably just a bad headache. I decided to go to med-jack's hut to get some pain meds. I remembered where it was because Newt showed me earlier. I slowly opened and closed the door, shivering in the cold.

I dragged my feet across the glade but didn't get too far before I collapsed, the pain in my head and neck too much to bear. I pushed my back against a tree, slipping down, tears falling down my face. I sat there, breathing heavily as my head pounded on my skull for what felt like an eternity until I saw a figure moving towards me. I could tell it wasn't Newt, Minho or Alby, this kid was much smaller. I waved at him, my eyes bloodshot and my vision blurry. The kid saw me and started running, he looked about twelve or thirteen, much too young to be stuck in this hell-hole. He reached me and crouched down beside my trembling body. I tried to give him a weak smile and said in as cheery a voice as I could,

'Hey kiddo, I'm Brooke, how about you?' I whispered, my voice cracking.

'I'm Chuck!' he said, smiling at me, I could tell I was going to like this kid. 'What's wrong? You look sick, can I help? Maybe I'll go fetch Newt or Minho or Alby, I'm not good at this stuff anyway....' He muttered the last part sadly and quietly, and I felt my heart break.

'Actually Chuck, if you could pop over to the med-jacks hut, I just need you to get me some pain meds and a bottle of water.' I told him, smiling at his excited face.

'Okay, stay here, I'll be right back greenie.' He called out over his shoulder, as he ran off to gather the supplies I asked for.

'He's a good kid, I feel awful though, no one that young should have to go through this torture.' I thought to myself

Just then I saw another figure making its way towards me, taller than chuck, I thought but I was so dizzy I ignored it.

'Hey Chuck, over here!' I whispered, waving over to the tall person.

'I'm not Chuck, greenie.' A deeper voice called out. Shit. I woke someone else up.

'Oh, sorry, umm... who are you?'

'Gally. What are you doing out here at this time?'

'Sore head.' I mumbled at boy, who was now towering over me, feeling a wave of dizziness and exhaustion wash over me.

'Right, come on then greenie. Let's get you back to Minho and Newt.' Gally said, holding his hand out for me to grab. This time his voice was laced with sympathy, a sound unfamiliar to me within the past few months.

'What about Chuck?' I whispered, grabbing his hand stubbornly as I had no other option, feeling more and more woozy each minute.

'I'll find him, but first I'm taking you back to Newt and Minho's room.'

'I am perfectly capable of walking back on my own.' I told the boy, trying to stand up, but my knees buckled and I almost toppled over, until something caught me.

'Woahhh there, we don't need you collapsing on me now do we?' He joked, and I could see him smirking down at me in the moonlight. I let out a small, sarcastic chuckle as he hooked his arms around my waist for support

'Don't get too comfortable there pal.' I mumbled, wrapping my arms around his neck before sucking up my pride and closing my eyes, letting sleep come to me.

————

A woman lifted us onto her shoulders and pushed through the swarm of people, who were screaming and shouting. Snow dropped onto my nose as I looked up at the sky. I turned and looked at Thomas, who was crying, so I hugged him. We got to the front and the woman set us down, whispering to us, icy tears pooling up in her eyes and falling onto her pretty face.