This drabble is part of a project I've decided to do (which I call the "Word Count Challenge"). For every increment of followers I get on Twitter, I'm challenging myself to write a fic that is exactly that number of words in length. A few weeks ago, I hit 400 followers, so I wrote a fic that is exactly 400 words long :)
Two previous fics that are apart of this project:
-"The Pain" for 100 words
-"Be Free" for 200 words
-"Something Beautiful" for 300 words
Enjoy xxx
The Child Without a Childhood
Without hesitation, Clarke reached forward and brushed some stay tears away from Madi's face. Without any other light around them, Clarke could barely see the outline of the young girl's face. She knew from past experiences that it would be twisted fear from nightmares. She was almost glad that she couldn't see her expression.
Clarke's didn't have to ask what was wrong – she knew. Sometimes, the young girl would wake up panicked, not knowing where she was or where her parents were. Even after she remembered, the fear and the loss were fresh. The tears would follow naturally.
She was so young, yet she had experienced so much heartbreak and fear. For the first several years of her life, Madi was scared beyond belief that a Flamekeeper would take her away. She was taught that anyone outside of Shadow Valley meant to harm her. She was taught that she could lose her family, her neighbours, and her childhood.
Although, it wasn't like she had much of a childhood either way. Clarke could relate. It wasn't her parents' fault – they tried their very best to shield her from the terrors of the world. Much like life on the Ark, it was just a product of their upbringing. The fear and loneliness came with the fact they were survivors.
Her whole life had been comprised of hiding, fearing, and wondering when the day would come where she could walk free. While her childhood wasn't taken away by a Flamekeeper as she was brought to Polis, her childhood was still lost. All due to her blood.
It was evident to Clarke that Madi was a survivor the first moment that they met. She had managed to survive Praimfaya and spent almost 50 days on her own. Madi was exceptional in every regard.
Yet, as she held the sobbing girl tightly, Clarke was reminded that she was still a child. She was a child that was raised under the ground in fear. She was a child without parents. She was a child without a childhood.
Madi was stronger than Clarke ever was at that age, and it broke her heart. In this moment, she swore to herself – no other harm would fall upon this child. Not if she could help it.
"It's okay, Madi," Clarke whispered, pulling the quivering girl tighter under her arm. "You're safe. I won't let anything hurt you." I promise.
