Shaw peaced out the second we hit camp, leaving me stuck in an awkward silence with Charlotte and Wells. Not that the silence on the way back was any prize, in fact Shaw leaving might have actually been an improvement.
While we were digging, at least there was stuff to yell about – orders like "Come on, let's move it" or "Don't just drop him in, you idiot!" But now, the air hung heavy with unspoken words. Back on the Ark, I probably would have blurted something out, even a bad joke, just to break the ice. But my social skills were about as rusty as an abandoned satellite after all those years locked up.
I glanced at Charlotte, hoping to find a way to break the ice. But she seemed different. The usual spark in her eyes was replaced by nervous jitters. She had positioned herself behind me, not exactly hiding, but definitely avoiding eye contact with Wells, especially.
Then Wells cleared his throat, shattering the awkward silence. "Alright, so, what's the plan for sleeping arrangements? You two haven't had a chance to set up a tent yet, have you, what with… well, you know."
I stammered, caught off guard. My eyes darted across the camp, taking in the hodgepodge of tents cobbled together from scraps. "Uh, yeah, not really."
"We haven't really thought about it," Charlotte chimed in, her voice barely a whisper.
"Well," Wells continued, "there are a few of us still bunking in the dropship until we can get something more permanent built. You could crash there for the night."
The dropship? No way. After a whole day of finally breathing fresh air, the metal box filled with strangers held zero appeal. "No thanks," I said quickly, maybe a little too forcefully. "I'll, uh, just sleep outside."
"Sleeping outside's not exactly a great idea," Wells countered gently. "Wild animals, exposure... not exactly a recipe for a good night's sleep. Trust me, the dropship's no the best but it beats being out in the cold." There was a hint of concern in his voice, which was kind of surprising.
Suddenly, the air outside started to seem just a bit chillier, the woods just a bit more menacing, and I could feel phantom insects crawling over my skin. It was almost enough for me to reconsider the dropship. Almost.
Seeing my look, Wells sighed. "Look, Maybe I could..." Wells hesitated. "There's some extra space in my tent. You could crash there for the night, if you'd like."
Part of me rebelled at the idea. Sure, it beat the cold, hard ground, but sharing a space with someone I didn't really know put me off a little. Still, I could handle it for one night. The more important problem was that I wasn't comfortable leaving Charlotte alone in the dropship with a bunch of strangers – criminals, technically. It felt like a bad idea, and I wasn't a fan of bad ideas. But I wasn't sure Charlotte would be thrilled with staying with Wells either.
"Thanks, Wells, that's really nice of you," I said, forcing a smile. "But..." I trailed off, searching for another option.
Suddenly, an idea sparked in my mind. "Maybe Charlotte could bunk with one of the girls for the night?" I glanced at Charlotte, only half-hoping she wouldn't be against the idea of being separated for a night.
To my relief, her shoulders slumped slightly, a hint of gratitude flickering in her eyes. "Yeah," she chimed in, her voice a little stronger now. "That sounds good."
Wells seemed relieved as well. "Alright then. I can ask around and see if anyone has an extra spot for Charlotte."
Wells seemed relieved as well. "Alright then. I'll ask around and see if anyone has an extra spot for Charlotte."
With a silent nod of agreement, Wells set off to find a willing tent-mate for Charlotte. As he disappeared, I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Relief washed over me, mingled with a surprising sense of... appreciation(?) towards Wells for offering his tent, and for being surprisingly helpful. He was definitely not what I'd expected, but in a good way.
As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, plunging the camp into darkness, Charlotte leaned her head against my shoulder. "Thanks," she murmured, barely a whisper.
I knew what she was referring to. "No problem," I mumbled back, then after a moment of hesitation, I ventured. "He seems alright, though."
Charlotte was silent for a while at that, but after a moment I felt her nod hesitantly into my side. "Yeah, I guess. He's not who I thought he was."
Before we could continue any further, Wells reappeared, a slightly flustered expression on his face. "Alright," he announced, "Harper said there's room for you in her tent."
"Harper?" I echoed; the name unfamiliar.
Wells nodded. "She's got a big tent. A couple of other girls are bunking with her too."
Charlotte shot him a grateful look, a flicker of her earlier spark returning to her eyes. "Thanks, Wells. I-I appreciate it."
"No worries," he replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Harper's tent is the one with the blue tarp, over by the west side of the camp. You can't miss it."
With a grateful nod, Charlotte scurried off in the direction Wells indicated. I watched her go, a strange sense of protectiveness washing over me. While it was definitely a million times better than the Ark, Earth was still pretty harsh, and while Charlotte could handle herself, she was still just a kid – we all were, but her even more so. But at least she had a safe place to sleep for the night.
"So, I guess that just leaves us," Wells said.
A wry smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah," I replied, "just us two. Lead the way, then."
Wells chuckled, a soft sound that held a hint of relief. He gestured towards the eastern side of the camp, where a collection of tents huddled amongst the sparse trees. "My tent's over there," he explained, "It's not much, but it keeps the wind out."
We reached the far edge of the camp, where a small tent made of grey tarp stood nestled amongst the trees.
"This is it," Wells said, pushing aside the makeshift flap. "Not fancy, but it's home for now."
I slipped through the narrow entrance, the smell of damp earth and stale sweat filling my nostrils. Inside, the tent was cramped but surprisingly organized. Dust motes danced in the flickering light of a small flashlight, and a faint scent of woodsmoke hung in the air.
"Wow," I breathed, surprised. "This is...not bad."
Wells grinned. "Thanks. I tried to keep it neat-ish."
I lowered myself onto the soft earth, a welcome change from the hard ground. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me of the long day and the fact that I hadn't eaten anything since before we started digging.
"Hungry?" Wells asked, digging around in his backpack. He pulled out a pouch and shook it, producing a handful of what looked like nuts and dried berries. "Found them earlier today," Wells explained. "Food's a little...light at the moment. Clarke and her crew are supposed to be back from Mount Weather with more, but..." he trailed off, his voice laced with worry.
I hesitated for a moment, surprised by the offer. This wasn't much, but sharing it with a stranger, especially on our first night on a new planet, spoke volumes about Wells.
"You sure you can spare it?" I finally managed.
He shrugged. "You earned it after spending all day burying those guys. Especially you and Charlotte, being new and all."
He settled down on his own bedroll with a thoughtful frown like he was considering something. "Actually, I wanted to go on the food run, but my ankle's messed up. Foraging was all I could manage."
Respect washed over me. He helped carry the stretcher with a bum ankle? That was pretty hardcore. "You didn't say anything," I said, surprised.
Wells shrugged, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "Didn't seem like the time or place."
I snorted, a laugh escaping my lips because that sounded exactly like something he'd say. "You're alright, Wells," I finally said, a small smile on my face. "I don't think I've introduced myself yet. Cyrus."
Wells offered a warm smile. "Wells Jaha. Wells." he corrected, extending a hand towards me. I shook it, and we settled into a comfortable silence for a moment, with the only sound being the flickering of the dying flashlight.
"Batteries are down. We should probably get some shut-eye," Wells finally said, noticing the dwindling light. "We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
I readily laid down, the physical exhaustion from digging the graves, coupled with the emotional weight of the day, had taken its toll and I was grateful for the sanctuary of sleep.
The first rays of dawn peeked through the gaps in the makeshift tent, casting an unwelcome glare across my bleary eyes. I glanced over at Wells, still fast asleep in his own bedroll on the other side of the tent. I debated waking him, but figured he probably needed the extra rest; he certainly deserved it after his help yesterday.
Suppressing a yawn, I decided to get a head start on the day. Crawling out of the tent, I stretched my stiff muscles, feeling the ache in my back and arms from yesterday's gravedigging. It was a job I hoped to avoid in the future. I felt a pang of sympathy for Charlotte. If I was feeling this sore, I could only imagine how bad she had it.
Movement caught my eye, and I saw Charlotte emerging from another tent across the clearing, weariness etched on her face. She offered a tired smile as our gazes met.
Making my way over, each step accompanied by protesting muscles, I greeted her. "Morning," I mumbled, trying to work out the kinks in my neck.
"Mornin'," she replied, her voice still groggy. "You sleep okay?"
I managed a weak smile. "Eventually. Not the best sleep I've ever had though." I gestured towards my aching body. "How about you? You look like you could use a few more hours."
Charlotte stretched, wincing slightly. "Same here. But you did most of the digging, to be fair."
A twinge of… something pricked at me. "Hey, you helped plenty."
She offered a faint smile. "Maybe…"
Suddenly, a groan sounded behind us, and we turned to see Wells emerging from his tent, rubbing sleep from his eyes. I noticed his leg seemed less stiff today, though he still favored it slightly as he walked.
"Mornin'," he croaked, his voice husky from sleep. "I thought we'd get started on your tent. You guys up for it?"
I shook my head. "Nope. Never learned how. Survival classes ended when I got locked up. Guess the council never thought criminals would need to know that, huh?"
"Actually," Charlotte interjected, "they did have us take some Earth survival classes just before we were shipped down. Basic stuff, like building shelters and tracking. We never really got to practice though."
Her words stung a bit. So, they had gotten some prep for Earth, while I'd been stuck in solitary. No wonder they seemed to know each other, probably classmates. Just another reason to be pissed at the council.
Before I could dwell on my rotten luck, Wells spoke up, his voice gentle. "Hey, we can all teach each other. That's the whole point of sending us down together, right? You and I will build the shelter, and Charlotte, you can lend a hand. There's some leftover scraps and poles from the dropship. Enough to throw something together, at least."
I perked up a bit, nodding at him. "Alright. Yeah, I'm down."
Wells gestured towards the pile of fabric and poles. "Alright," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Here's the basic idea. We need to build a frame..."
He spent the next hour showing us the ropes (literally), explaining how to connect the poles and secure the fabric with knots I'd never even seen before. He was patient, demonstrating each step carefully while Charlotte and I did our best to follow along and help.
Despite my efforts, I felt like I was lagging behind. My fingers fumbled with the ropes, tangling them into a mess of clumsy knots. Charlotte, on the other hand, seemed to be a natural. Her nimble fingers tied knots and secured the fabric with ease.
"Hey, Wells," Charlotte said after a while, "thanks for yesterday. For having the girls share their food with me."
Wells glanced up, a small smile playing on his lips. "Sure thing. Just trying to make sure everyone gets a fair shake."
I stayed quiet, a pang of guilt hitting me for not doing more for Charlotte myself. The thought had skipped my mind, since I hadn't realized I was hungry myself until Wells had offered me. But at least it seemed to have softened her up towards him a bit, so I guess it all worked out in the end.
As we continued working on the shelter, the silence grew heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of fabric or a muttered curse under my breath when I inevitably messed up another knot. I could feel Wells and Charlotte's eyes on me, their concern clear as day, and frustration bubbled up inside me." Don't sweat it," I mumbled, shoving the rope aside a little too hard. "I got it."
"Hey," Wells said calmly, "it's cool if you need a hand. Those knots can be tricky."
I forced a smile. "Yeah, I guess they are."
Charlotte knelt down next to me, picking up the discarded rope. "Here, let me show you," she offered patiently. Her fingers moved quickly, tying the rope into a secure knot in seconds. "See? Easy once you get the hang of it."
Her words were meant to be encouraging, but I couldn't shake the frustration bubbling inside me. I wasn't used to being bad at things, especially something as simple as tying a knot. Back on the Ark, I'd always been good at school. I had to be, if I wanted to be an engineer someday.
"So, Cyrus," Wells started, picking up on the shift in mood, "what'd you train for on the Ark, you know, before you got locked up?"
The question caught me off guard. Could he read my mind or something? I stared at Wells for a second, seriously considering the possibility of psychic abilities before discarding the idea. Talking about the Ark, about my old life, felt like picking at a scab. But curiosity flickered in Charlotte's eyes too, and with a sigh, I found myself giving in
"Engineering," I mumbled, a pang of longing for the life I'd wanted twisting in my gut. "Always wanted to do it since I was a kid. Taking things apart, putting them back together, that was my thing. But when it came time to pick my entry-level classes, turns out I'm way too claustrophobic for vents and way too freaked out by spacewalks to be messing around outside the Ark. No future in engineering."
Wells nodded, his expression sympathetic. "That sucks. So what did you end up with?"
"Electronics and software," I replied, shrugging off the disappointment. "Not exactly my first pick, but at least I wasn't stuck fixing toilets." Those last words came out a bit harsher than I meant them to. I thought I'd be over that by now, guess not.
Wells seemed to get it, though his curiosity was still burning bright in his eyes. It was natural, I guess, him wanting to know why I was here, what landed me in this situation. But the truth was, I wasn't ready to spill my guts to just anyone, not yet.
Before Wells could pry any further, Charlotte stepped in, sensing my discomfort. "Maybe we should finish this tent first," she suggested softly. "We can chat later."
I shot her a look of thanks, relieved for the interruption. "Yeah," I mumbled, turning my attention back to the fabric and poles.
We worked on the tent in comfortable silence, and after what felt like forever, we finally managed to wrestle the fabric into place, tying it all down with a series of what were hopefully secure knots. It wasn't exactly the Ritz-Carlton, but it would keep the elements at bay, which was all that really mattered.
Stepping back to admire our handiwork, Wells' triumphant grin was contagious. "See?" he said. "We did it! A little home away from home... well, sort of. A little rough around the edges, maybe."
I snorted. We'd definitely put some sweat and frustration into this project, and the finished product was undeniably... rough. "It's a palace, you mean," I teased him, nudging Charlotte with my elbow. "After all that work, calling it anything less would be an insult."
Charlotte let out a laugh, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "A palace fit for royalty," she agreed, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Dusty royalty, maybe."
Wells chuckled, surveying our creation with satisfaction. "Hey, it'll keep the rain out, and that's the important part. Besides, we can always fancy it up later, make some improvements."
A grin spread across my face, despite the grime and exhaustion. A sense of accomplishment washed over me, warming me from the inside out.
"Hey, Cyrus," Charlotte chimed in, turning to me with a shy smile. "How about we explore a bit? We barely saw anything yesterday. Wanna come?"
Charlotte's sudden boldness surprised me. She grabbed my hand and started pulling me along, a playful laugh bubbling out of her. I let out a helpless laugh myself, a protest dying on my lips before it even formed. There was something undeniably infectious about her enthusiasm, something I couldn't help but find appealing.
"Alright, alright," I mumbled, letting her drag me along. "Just don't blame me if we get lost out here."
"Lost in paradise? Doesn't sound so bad," she teased, her voice light.
Paradise might be a bit of a stretch, considering the whole crash-landing situation, but the idea of exploring beyond the immediate camp did hold some appeal. Plus, the possibility of finding decent food was a strong incentive.
We walked hand-in-hand, a comfortable silence settling between us as we ventured deeper into the woods. The air here was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth. We weaved between towering trees, their ancient roots twisting and gnarled like the claws of some forgotten beast. Sunlight speared through the dense canopy, dappling the forest floor in a mosaic of light and shadow.
Charlotte was practically bursting with newfound energy, determined to climb every rock and fallen log in sight with the agility of a mountain goat. I followed behind, a bit more cautious, carefully navigating the uneven terrain.
I watched as she scrambled up a particularly steep incline, her pant legs scraping against the rough bark. "Careful," I called out, a hint of concern creeping into my voice. But before I could finish the sentence, she slipped, tumbling down the incline with a surprised yelp.
I rushed to her side, expecting to find her scraped and bruised. Instead, she was sprawled on the ground, a wide grin plastered across her face.
"Gotcha!" she exclaimed, reaching out and grabbing a handful of bright red berries from a nearby bush.
I rolled my eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Gotcha? You almost gave me a heart attack! I told you to be careful," I teased, brushing a bit of dirt off her nose.
She glared at me, a playful pout forming on her lips. Before she could retaliate, I knelt beside her, gently brushing the dirt off her face.
Her pout quickly melted into a smile. "But I didn't get hurt though."
"Yeah, but you could have," I countered, my fingers lingering on her cheek for a beat too long. A warmth spread through my chest that I couldn't quite place. I quickly withdrew my hand and mumbled, "Just try not to break anything too valuable, okay? I doubt we have a spare leg lying around."
Charlotte swatted my arm playfully. "Relax, Cy. I'm fine."
I tried and failed to suppress a smile at the little nickname she coined up. Despite her words, I couldn't shake the feeling that I needed to watch over her. Maybe it was because she was smaller and seemed more vulnerable than me. Whatever it was, it left a knot of unease churning in my stomach.
"Hey, these look good, don't they?" she said, holding out the berries for my inspection. They were plump and juicy, like the ones Wells had shared yesterday, but a different color.
I hesitated, taking the berry and examining it closely. It didn't look poisonous, and though my knowledge of Earth flora was pretty rusty, I was pretty sure it was safe.
"Only one way to find out. Ladies first," I said, a playful glint in my eyes.
Charlotte pouted for a second, but then popped a berry into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully for a moment. Her face then broke into a wide grin.
"Sweet!" she exclaimed. "Not bad at all. Maybe a little tart, but definitely edible."
Without further ado, I popped a berry into my mouth, the sweet juice exploding on my tongue. It was a simple pleasure, a far cry from the bland, synthetic food back on the Ark. I couldn't help but go back for seconds.
"Hey, Cyrus!" I stopped stuffing my face with berries when I heard Charlotte call back over her shoulder. "Race you to that big rock!" She pointed towards a large, moss-covered boulder nestled amongst the trees.
For a moment, I considered the mature thing to do and refuse, so I could finish my berry feast. But a competitive streak I hadn't realized existed stirred within me. I dropped the berries I was holding and mumbled a curse under my breath. "Don't even think about winning!" I shouted back, breaking into a jog as she took off with a squeal.
We pushed through the undergrowth, dodging low-hanging branches and swatting away surprised bugs. The playful chase pumped adrenaline through me, chasing away the tiredness that lingered from yesterday.
Reaching the boulder first, I flopped down onto the cool moss, letting out a victory grunt. Charlotte, a little winded, joined me a moment later, collapsing beside me with a dramatic sigh.
"Alright, alright," she admitted, wiping sweat from her forehead. "You win. But only because you're older."
I raised an eyebrow. "Hey, you got a head start the size of Texas. By my calculations, cheating cancels out the age advantage."
"Fine, fine," Charlotte conceded, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. "Truce?"
A grin spread across my face, the playful competition sparking a weird warmth in my chest. "Truce," I mumbled, offering her a hand.
She grabbed it firmly, pulling herself up from the moss.
We continued our back-and-forth as we reached the top of a small hill, the thick trees giving way to a stunning view. Below us, a crystal-clear river snaked through the green landscape, sunlight glinting off its surface like scattered diamonds. I let out a surprised breath, a wave of relief washing over me so strong it almost knocked the wind out of me. Water. Real, clean, drinkable water.
"Wow," Charlotte breathed beside me, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's beautiful."
"Water," I breathed, my voice rough. "We can finally get a decent drink and wash up a bit."
A grin erupted on Charlotte's face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Race you!" Before I could react, she was gone, a blur of brown hair and lanky limbs charging down the slope.
With a groan, I followed after her, my legs burning from the first race. Seriously, where's she getting all this energy from? I thought, but the promise of cool, refreshing water spurred me on. I pushed myself harder, reaching the riverbank a few seconds behind Charlotte.
Panting, we both dropped to our knees at the water's edge, scooping handfuls of the cool liquid into our cupped hands. We drank deeply, the water tasting like life itself after the recycled slop we'd been forced to drink on the Ark.
Looking down at my reflection in the water, I was taken aback by what I saw. My eyes, usually a vibrant green, were dull and rimmed with red from exhaustion. My hair, once a dark brown, hung limply around my face, matted with sweat and grime. The face staring back at me was a far cry from the one I used to see in the mirror. Older. Harder. Sadder.
A sound made me glance over at Charlotte. She was already halfway through stripping off her dirty clothes. I quickly looked away, a heat creeping up my neck even though her back was turned. It felt weirdly protective, a subconscious urge to shield whatever innocence she had left.
"Uh, Charlotte," I started, my voice hesitant, "remember, we can't swim?"
She froze, disappointment clouding her features for a moment. "Right," she mumbled, lowering her arms.
I sighed, feeling like a jerk for raining on her parade. "But hey, at least we can enjoy the water. We'll just stick to the shallow parts, where we can stand and keep our heads above water."
Her face lit up. "Yeah!" she agreed, her enthusiasm returning. "That works too."
I smiled back, a small one. "Alright then."
I looked away again, took a deep breath, and stripped off my tattered clothes, leaving me in just my underwear. Despite the scrawny build brought on by Ark rations and a lack of exercise, I still had a hint of underlying strength. Good genes, I guess. With a self-deprecating chuckle, I waded into the water, the cool liquid washing over me in a refreshing wave.
Suddenly, a splash from behind startled me. I whirled around, heart pounding, to see Charlotte emerging from the water, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"You look like a drowned rat," she giggled, her words laced with playful malice.
I sputtered, a blush creeping up my face. "Thanks," I mumbled, wiping the water from my eyes. "You're not exactly a mermaid yourself.
She grinned, shaking her hair like a wet dog. "Maybe not, but at least I'm not covered in grime anymore."
Scoffing, I dunked my head underwater, scrubbing away the dirt and sweat with a vengeance. Surfacing, I felt lighter, cleaner, almost... new.
Looking around, I caught Charlotte staring at me, a curious expression on her face. Feeling self-conscious, I shuffled toward my discarded clothes, although they were way out of reach to offer much modesty.
"What?" I mumbled, meeting her gaze.
She shook her head, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "Nothing," she mumbled, looking away. "You just...look different somehow."
"Different how?" I pressed, surprised and a little nervous at her comment.
A quick dunk in a river shouldn't make that much of a difference, right? Was it good different or bad different? Glancing at my reflection in the water, I saw the same skinny face staring back, the dark circles under my eyes even more noticeable thanks to the water. My hair was plastered to my forehead and dripping. Not exactly GQ material... whatever that was.
"I don't see it," I mumbled, shrugging the comment off.
Charlotte kept staring, her gaze lingering on my face in a way that made me squirm. A blush crawled up my neck, a sensation I wasn't used to. Social skills were one thing, but girls were a whole other level of awkward I hadn't even considered.
"Well," she finally said, barely a whisper, "you're not...as gross anymore."
I snorted a laugh. "Thanks, I think." Trying to lighten the mood, I splashed some water at her, earning a shriek and a playful shove in return. We splashed back and forth for a while, giggling like little kids as the spray flew through the air.
The cool water seeped into my muscles, loosening the tension that had built up over what felt like forever - which, come to think of it, it probably had been. Finally, I waded out of the river, the afternoon sun casting my long shadow across the smooth pebbles lining the bank.
For a moment, I just stood there, enjoying the feeling of clean water on my skin and the absence of dust clinging to every inch of me. A forgotten sense of peace washed over me. It felt like ages since I'd last felt this way.
A flicker of movement caught my eye. Charlotte, already clean and mostly dry, sat on a nearby rock. Her hair, usually a drab brown, now hung in damp strands around her face, catching the sunlight in golden streaks. She was watching me with an unreadable expression. I couldn't decipher the emotions swirling in her eyes - curiosity, maybe even a hint of something more?
Self-consciously, I ran a hand through my hair, the cool strands sticking to my forehead. "You good?" I asked.
She blinked, seemingly startled out of her daze. A faint blush crept up her cheeks, dusting them a rosy pink.
"Uh, yeah," she stammered, her gaze flickering away for a moment before locking back on me. "I was just..."
Her sentence trailed off, and for a beat, the only sound was the gurgling of the river. Then, in a barely audible whisper, she spoke.
"Wow," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper, "you're tall."
I blinked, surprised by her odd compliment. "Tall?" I echoed, self-consciously running a hand through my dripping hair.
Her gaze seemed to linger on my exposed arms for a beat too long, sending a shiver down my spine. Was she...? No. It had to be my imagination. Charlotte was practically a kid, barely older than twelve. Me, on the other hand, was almost seventeen - sort of. There was no way she could be...
The thought was cut short as Charlotte cleared her throat, her cheeks dusted a faint pink. "So," she began, her voice quieter now, "about this morning..."
My gut clenched, dreading the question I knew was coming.
"Yeah?" I managed, my voice rough.
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte charged ahead. "Why were you in lockup?"
The question hung heavy in the air, zapping the chill mood that had settled between us for a minute. I flinched, a wave of anger and resentment crashing over me.
Sensing my discomfort, Charlotte reached out, her hand hovering like a question mark over mine. "Whatever," she mumbled, concern lacing her voice. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. It's just...you seemed pissed earlier."
For a long moment, I stared at her hand, the delicate fingers stretched out in a hesitant offering. The urge to pull away, to retreat into myself, was strong. But something in her eyes, a flicker of vulnerability, held me back.
"My parents got floated," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "Both of them. They...they said they were traitors. The trial was a joke. They were always going to find them guilty. Everyone knew it."
A surge of sympathy hit me. Floating both parents? That was messed up, even by Ark standards. Usually in those couple-offense situations, one got floated while the other got a lighter sentence. It made me curious as to what they did, since as far as I knew treason would be the least crime to warrant both getting spaced.
"I flipped out," Charlotte continued, her voice trembling a little. "They were taking everything to that redistribution center, all our stuff, and I just...lost it. They said I attacked a guard and then locked me up."
The anger and fear in her voice were clear, like she was reliving that day all over again. No wonder she'd been skittish around Wells. His father, the Chancellor, was the one who called the shots on who got floated.
I reached out, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hey," I said softly, my voice rough. "That wasn't your fault. You were just trying to hold onto something important."
Charlotte gave a shaky nod, her lower lip trembling. A tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down her cheek. Instinctively, I reached out, wiping the tear away with my thumb in a gesture of comfort. Her eyes widened for a moment, surprised by the unexpected touch, but she didn't flinch away. In fact, she seemed to lean into my touch, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.
For a moment, we sat in a companionable silence, the gurgling of the river providing a somewhat calming soundtrack. Then, I cleared my throat, the silence suddenly getting suffocating. My stomach clenched, a knot of apprehension tightening in my gut.
"N-" I choked on the word, my throat suddenly tight. Finally, after what felt like forever, I managed to blurt out the truth. "Nothing...I didn't do anything." The words tasted like ashes in my mouth, a bitter truth that left a hollow ache in my chest.
Charlotte's gaze sharpened with curiosity, her earlier vulnerability replaced by a flicker of concern. "Nothing?" she echoed, her brow furrowed.
"Yeah," I answered, the word laced with a bitterness I couldn't quite hide. My throat tightened, the words suddenly catching in my throat.
Charlotte's brow furrowed in confusion. "But...why?"
My hands clenched into fists, anger simmering beneath the surface. "My mom..." I began, the word laced with venom that even surprised me. "She...she did something messed up. Something that..." I trailed off, my voice choked with emotion.
Before I could finish, a sudden rustle in the bushes sent a jolt of fear through me. "What was that?" Charlotte whispered, eyes wide with alarm, her gaze darting towards the source of the sound.
We strained to listen, peering through the trees in the direction of the sound. The sound came again, closer this time, accompanied by the murmur of hushed voices.
"We need to hide," I hissed, grabbing our clothes and yanking Charlotte's arm towards a cluster of large rocks a few feet away. We scrambled behind them, their smooth surfaces cold against my back. Pressing ourselves flat against the stone, we held our breath, straining to hear what was going on.
A moment later, four figures burst into view, their expressions etched with worry. It was Clarke, Wells, Finn, and Octavia, running at full speed.
"Hey, wait!" Charlotte cried out, but her voice was lost in the distance. The group didn't even glance back, their focus solely on getting back to camp.
"They're missing someone, Jasper," Charlotte said. "He's not with them."
"Something's wrong. We should probably get back," I said, my voice tight.
Charlotte nodded, her eyes wide with apprehension. We crept out from behind the rocks, gathering our discarded clothes. There was no point in arguing. With a shared look of apprehension, we retraced our steps back towards the makeshift camp, the playful mood of the afternoon vanished, replaced by a heavy sense of foreboding. The sounds of the forest seemed to amplify – the rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig. Every shadow seemed to hold a hidden danger.
As we arrived back at the camp site, the sight that greeted us did little to ease our anxieties. The once bustling camp was gathered in a ring with Clarke, Bellamy, Finn, Murphy and Wells in the center. Groups of delinquents had their faces etched with worry as they heard what Clarke and her group had to say.
"What's going on?" Charlotte whispered, her voice barely a squeak.
"I think we're about to find out."