Charlotte and I snuck back into camp, the air buzzing with tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. We pushed through the worried crowd until we could see what was going on. Bellamy was practically in Clarke's face, all puffed-up and angry, but she stood her ground. Octavia, Bellamy's sister, was sitting on a log nearby, looking pale and worried. She had a nasty red wound on her leg, all swollen and gross. Just great, as if this wasn't the last thing we needed – an injured campmate and a fight brewing.
"What happened to her?" Bellamy growled, his voice laced with barely contained rage.
"Snakebite," Clarke explained, her voice strained but firm. "We were searching for Mount Weather… we stopped at a river when something got her…"
The river? Please don't tell me it was our river. A chill ran down my spine as I remembered me and Charlotte splashing around there. Had we really been frolicking around in a snake pit?
As Clarke continued talking, I spotted Wells out of the corner of my eye. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flickering between Clarke and the others in her group. "Wait," he said, his voice sharp. "Where's the kid with the goggles?"
Clarke's jaw clenched. "Jasper," she corrected, her voice tight. "He's gone. Someone took him."
Finn stepped forward, looking pretty serious. "As it turns out, we're not alone down here. When the last man from the ground died on the Ark died, they said he was the last person born on Earth. They were wrong. Turns out we aren't the first ones here. There are people who have been living here this whole time. Grounders."
A gasp went through the crowd as the news settled over us like a thick fog, shattering the fragile sense of security we'd clung to since arriving on Earth. We weren't alone. And we weren't safe.
Fear twisted in my gut, and I glanced at the blonde standing next to me. Her eyes mirrored mine, but then, perhaps sensing my fear, her hand, previously trembling in mine, suddenly squeezing mine in what was meant to be… reassurance? A flicker of something I couldn't decipher crossed her features for a moment, replacing the fear. It almost felt as if she was trying to comfort me.
Taking my cue from Charlotte's composure, I forced the fear back and tried to remain calm. I had to be able to do at least this much. If I couldn't, then I wouldn't be of much use to against whatever we were going to be facing in the future. I squeezed her hand back, silently promise to protect her.
Clarke spoke again, louder, "It's true. Everything we thought we knew about the ground is wrong. There are people here, survivors. The good news is we can survive here. Radiation won't kill us."
Finn cut in, "The bad news is the Grounders will."
Clarke scanned the crowd, eyes narrowed as she spotted Murphy. "Where's your wristband?" she demanded.
Wells jumped in, "Ask him," glaring at Bellamy. Looks like Team Screw-Bellamy got a new member.
Clarke's voice turned sharp. "How many?"
Murphy smirked. "Twenty-three and counting."
Clarke looked like she was about to explode. "You idiots! Life support on the Ark is failing," she yelled at the crowd. "That's why they sent us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever took Jasper. If you take off your wristbands, you're not just killing them, you're killing us!"
Bellamy, stepped forward to challenge her. "We're stronger than you think," he argued. "Don't listen to her. She's one of the privileged. If they come down, she'll have it good. How many of you can say the same? We can take care of ourselves. That wristband on your arm? It makes you a prisoner. We are not prisoners anymore! They say they'll forgive your crimes. I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The Grounders should worry about us!"
The crowd cheered, feeding off his words. Ten minutes ago, I might have joined them, but now I felt sick with worry. This was bad.
As the crowd got more riled up, I saw Clarke storm off, with Wells following her. He was going with her and no way was I letting him go alone, not after what we just learned. Besides, I had another reason to tag along – one who stuck to my side right now – her hand gripping mine.
But dragging Charlotte along for this wasn't an option. One wrong move and she'd be dead. I needed to make sure that she was safe.
"Hey," I whispered, squeezing her hand, "you should go back to the tent."
Her brow furrowed. "Why? Everyone's freaking out about Grounders and Jasper."
"Exactly," I said. "Things are a mess right now, and nobody's really thinking straight. It's safer to wait it out in our spot till at least tomorrow."
She wasn't convinced. "But Jasper—"
"I know." I cut her off, lowering my voice. "Look, Clarke's probably going out there to look for him, and Wells will probably follow. I can't exactly let him go without backup, right?"
A flicker of worry crossed her face, but then, to my surprise, her jaw firmed up. "So, you're going after them?"
"Basically," I said, trying to sound cooler than I felt. "But listen, this might get hairy. Don't need you caught in the crossfire. Head back, wait for me there. I'll be back before you can say Grounder."
A lie, probably. I had no idea how long it would take, or if we would even make it back, but she didn't need to know that.
She looked worried and her eyes searched mine, doubt flickering in their depths, then she nodded reluctantly to my relief. "Okay."
"Good," I said, giving her hand a final squeeze. I slipped back into the crowd, weaving between the delinquents. My eyes scanned the campsite, looking for Wells' mop of black hair. They couldn't have left yet. I headed towards the dropship, hoping they'd still be prepping for their little rescue mission.
Reaching the flap, I took a peek inside, instantly catching the tail end of a conversation. Clarke and Wells were arguing. Clarke wanted him to stay behind, but Wells was insisting on going. Monty, looking upset, also wanted to go to save Jasper, his best friend. Clarke was firm, saying they needed Monty here for his technical skills.
Just then Finn walked in through the flap, brushing past me without a word. Clarke turned to greet him. "Hey. You ready?"
Finn shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither should any of you. That spear was thrown with pinpoint accuracy from, like, 300 feet."
Monty glared at him. "So, what we let Jasper die?"
"That's not happening," Clarke stated. She leveled Finn a disappointed stare. "Spacewalker? What a joke. You think you're such an adventurer. You're really just a coward."
Finn flinched at the insult. "It's not an adventure, Clarke, it's a suicide mission."
Clarke scoffed and walked past him.
Meanwhile, Wells offered Finn a suggestion. "Build a wall. Use the fallen trees. I'll watch out for her."
I decided to make my move. "Hold on, Wells," I said, stepping into the room. "I'm coming with you."
The flap opened, and Charlotte walked in, determined. "I'm coming too," she declared.
My smirk, practiced for maximum effect on Wells, sputtered and died. "Whoa, hold up. What happened to waiting for me back at the tent?" I said, rushing over to her. "You can't come with us. It's too dangerous."
She crossed her arms. "I could tell you were lying If you're going, I'm going."
Wells looked exasperated. "Hold on, both of you. I can handle myself, you two can't. You're not coming."
"Yeah, right," I scoffed. "As I remember it, Clarke tried to stop you from coming too."
Was this hypocritical of me? Absolutely. However, to get my desired outcome which was for Wells to let me come and Charlotte to stay, the only strategy available was blatant unapologetic hypocrisy. Any guilt I felt was overpowered by the urge to protect her from this. And so, I stared unflinchingly hoping she'd back down.
Charlotte wasn't buying it. "So, it's okay for you to go but not me?" she challenged. You think I can just sit around while you run off to play hero?
Ignoring Wells for a moment, I turned back to Charlotte. "Look," I started, my voice low, "this is serious. You can't just—"
"Can't what?" she challenged, a stubborn glint in her eyes. "No matter what you say, I'm coming."
"You can't just come with me," I insisted, my voice a low growl.
"I'm not staying here without you, either," she countered, her jaw set.
We were at a standoff, with neither of us willing to back down anytime soon. Just then, Wells cut in. "Alright, that's enough! Neither of you are coming. And that's final!"
Charlotte and I broke eye contact and, almost like we planned it, both turned to Wells with matching glares. The others in the dropship—Monty, and even Finn—tried to hide their laughs at the mini showdown playing out.
A couple of minutes later, we three were standing in front of a very confused Clarke. My smug feeling had faded, replaced by a mild dissatisfaction. Charlotte shuffled her feet next to me with a tiny pleased smile. And Wells... he just looked defeated.
"What's this supposed to be?" Clarke asked, frowning at Wells.
"Reinforcements," I said, stepping forward. "We're coming with you."
Clarke's eyes flicked between me and Wells, who gave a hesitant nod that screamed defeat more than anything. She wasn't happy. "You're bringing kids on a rescue mission?" she almost shouted at Wells. "This isn't a game. We're going into Grounder territory."
Watching Wells wilt under her verbal assault, she then turned her sights on us.
"Do you even have a clue what you're getting yourselves into?"
"Look," I said, trying to stay calm, "With all due respect, you don't know what you're up against either. You think you and Wells can just walk in, grab Jasper, and walk back out? We're probably going to have to fight, and they've likely got more people."
Her jaw clenched, but before she could fire back, I pressed on. "And let's not forget," I continued, "if we do manage to find Jasper, he's probably not going to be in top shape. Someone's going to have to carry him out. You need more people. More people equal more protection for everyone involved. Unfortunately for you, the volunteer sign-up sheet was pretty empty."
Even if none of that convinced her, I wasn't backing down. "I'm still coming with you. End of discussion." Because, let's face it, Clarke didn't really have a choice.
Except maybe she did. Clarke stared at me, her blue eyes narrowed in a way that was both hostile and... kinda captivating. I briefly got lost in her gaze, but the moment was broken when Bellamy walked up.
"What's the holdup, Princess?" Bellamy drawled, with a scowl that was seemingly permanent, etched on his face, as he sauntered up. A smirk played on the lips of the guy trailing behind him, Murphy if I wasn't mistaken.
"Clarke, what's going on?" Wells, who'd been relatively quiet throughout our little display, had instantly tensed at the sight of them both.
I could understand his concern with the resident Chancellor Jackass – Bellamy, but Murphy seemed to bother him too. Even Charlotte hid behind me when Murphy smirked our way.
"Bellamy has a gun," Clarke explained, her voice leaving no room for argument. "We'll need it against whatever's out there." She couldn't resist a dig "Especially with your… reinforcements, tagging along."
I took that as her grudging acceptance, especially when she stormed out of the camp right after, Bellamy and Murphy following at a more leisurely pace. "Well, this just got interesting," I muttered sarcastically, earning a small smile from Charlotte and even a flicker of amusement from Wells.
Charlotte pointed to a rip in Wells' jacket. "Hey, you weren't wearing that tear this morning."
Wells grimaced. "Yeah, Murphy and I had a little... disagreement while you guys were out. Bellamy riled things up and it turned into a knife fight."
"Woah. Did you at least knock him on his ass?" I asked, mock-serious.
A slow smirk played on Wells' lips. That was all the answer I needed. I let out a low whistle, impressed. "Nice."
The moment passed quickly, replaced by a more serious thought. "Do any of us actually trust Bellamy with a gun?"
Wells shot me a look that said it all. "Hell no."
Charlotte added, a bit unsure, "Not really."
"Alright then," I whispered, a conspiratorial glint in my eyes. "Looks like we just need to get it off him then."
We caught up to the others but kept to the back of the group with Bellamy and Murphy in ahead of us and, Clark at the front. But even from here, I could see the laser focus Wells had on Clarke.
I snapped my fingers in front of his face, snapping him out of it. Wells blinked, startled, then saw Charlotte and me grinning. "Earth to Wells, come in Wells." I snickered, getting a matching grin from Charlotte.
"Alright, Romeo, out with it," I teased, nudging him. "Who did you really come out here for? Wouldn't you rather be walking with the Princess up front?"
Wells stammered, his face growing a shade of pink that rivaled the sunset we were leaving behind. "What? No, of course not! I just... you know... we need to track Jasper."
"Yeah, makes sense." I mockingly accepted the flimsy excuse. "So, shouldn't you be up there with her, you know, strategizing and all?"
Eager to deflect, Wells brushed it off quickly. "Nah, I'm good back here. Besides, I know why I'm here. What about you, Cy? What made you so gung-ho about saving Jasper?"
The question caught me off guard. I felt a blush creep up my neck. "Uh, well..." I stammered, trying to find the right words. Seeing my flustered state, Charlotte looked confused and Wells suddenly gained a teasing look.
"Just doing my part, I guess." I mumbled, so lowly that even I wasn't buying it.
"I don't buy it." Wells was quick to see through my pitiful deflection and quickly shut it down. Seems this was his payback for all my teasing earlier.
Charlotte didn't seem to buy it either. She tilted her head, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Cy?"
"Alright, alright, look…" Taking a deep breath, I lowered my voice a little. "Remember how freaked you were by the lake, when you saw Jasper was gone? I figured you couldn't handle another person dying so soon after yesterday." I nudged her shoulder gently. "Remember what I promised, Char? Those two were the last ones. Just trying to keep my word, that's all."
Charlotte seemed momentarily stunned, then a smile spread across her face, bright enough to light up the whole forest. Before I could react, she slipped her hand into mine, sending a warmth through me, unexpected and strangely comforting.
Wells, however, seemed slightly taken aback by the display. He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Woah, woah, woah. Since when did you two become cuddle buddies? And where's my nickname, huh 'Cy'? 'Char'? I'm feeling a little left out here."
Charlotte, finally breaking free from her daze, looked up at me, her cheeks flushed pink. "Nickname?" she echoed. "That's gonna be a bit difficult. I mean, you can't really shorten 'Wells' any more, can you?"
Wells pretended to be offended. "Sure you can! You can call me 'W'. Seems fitting to me."
I snorted. "W is three syllables, Wells. It's shorter to just call you by name. Besides, with all those Ls Clarke keeps giving you, there couldn't be a less fitting nickname for you."
Wells conceded with a muttered "Touché," his gaze drifting back to Clarke's retreating figure, a hint of melancholy in his smile.
Sensing his mood shift, I nudged him playfully. "Hey, you want to go catch up with Clarke? Maybe smooth things over a bit? Besides, it might keep Bellamy and Murphy from getting any bright ideas." Plus, with Wells as our tracker, Clarke couldn't just ditch him even if she wanted to.
Charlotte chimed in, her voice hopeful. "Yeah, maybe you can even... patch things up? You two are friends, right?"
Wells seemed to consider it for a moment, then shot us a grateful smile before taking off at a run, roughly brushing Bellamy's and Murphy's shoulders as he passed them. Good lad.
Murphy yelled some insult after him, but Wells ignored it, reaching Clarke's side and launching into what I assumed was a discussion about tracking Jasper. When Murphy heard Charlotte's and my snickers behind him, he cast a glare in our direction, looking like he was itching for a fight. His hand hovered dangerously close to the knife strapped to his hip. To my surprise, it was Bellamy who stepped in, placing a hand on Murphy's shoulder with a forced smile.
"Hold on, Murphy," Bellamy drawled, placing a hand on his shoulder in a placating way. Now, after what Bellamy pulled with the gun yesterday, I wasn't exactly sure what to think of this. Sure, he stopped Murphy from taking a cheap shot at us, but that didn't mean I trusted him.
I wouldn't put anything past Bellamy, especially not when he started strolling casually in our direction. I instinctively pulled Charlotte back behind me, putting myself between her and whatever Bellamy had planned, while taking a step back myself.
Look, I wasn't stupid. The guy had a gun, and self-preservation was a pretty strong instinct.
Bellamy noticed me backing up and held his hands up in a placating gesture, a smile on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey now, no need for that. We just got off on the wrong foot, you and me. I shouldn't have threatened you like that yesterday. I wasn't exactly thinking straight, you know? Trying to protect my sister and all."
Right. Because threatening a kid with a gun is peak big brother behavior.
"In my defense, you looked a lot more... rabid yesterday," he continued.
"It's amazing what a bath'll do," I replied, with a bit more snark than I should've. But he deserved every bit of it.
"Look," he continued, his voice turning friendly, "let's start over, alright? Clean slate. But first, you and your friend need to do me a little favor."
He reached out a hand, his gaze flickering between me and Charlotte. I knew that look. The look that meant he was about to ask for something shady.
"A favor, huh?" I said, my voice dripping with suspicion. "What kind of favor?"
"Just a small one," Bellamy said, his smile widening a fraction. "Those fancy wristbands you're rocking? How about you take them off?"
There it was. The reason for the sudden ceasefire with Murphy. He wanted our wristbands, the ones that monitored our vitals and location for the Ark. No way in hell was I falling for that.
"Not a chance," I spat back, crossing my arms defiantly.
Bellamy's smile faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Come on, now," he wheedled. "You don't need those things. They're symbols of the Ark's control. They track you; they monitor you; they basically turn you into a glorified lab rat. You don't owe them anything, alright?"
He was trying to play the rebellion angle, but I wasn't buying it. This guy reeked of self-serving motives. Seeing he wasn't getting anywhere with me, he switched tactics.
"They're the ones who locked you up, who sent you down there, who floated your parents-" He cut himself off there, his gaze flickering to Charlotte for a brief moment.
Charlotte flinched, her eyes welling up. I felt a surge of anger hot enough to melt the damn forest. How low could this guy get?
"Don't you dare," I growled, stepping in front of Charlotte to shield her from him. "Leave her out of this."
Bellamy held up his hands in mock surrender. "Woah, there. Easy. Just trying to make a point. You really you want to help the people who did that to your friend's parents? Who probably did the same to yours?"
This bastard! I was barely holding myself back from just lunging for him, fueled by a white-hot rage. Thankfully, Clarke and Wells reappeared before I could do anything stupid.
"What's going on here?" Clarke demanded, her voice sharp. "We need to keep moving, if we want to find Jasper."
Bellamy straightened up, the picture of innocence. "Relax, Princess," he drawled. "Just getting things settled. We'll keep moving, just as soon as I get their wristbands." He gestured towards me and Charlotte, but then included Clarke and Wells in his sweeping motion with a hand. "Yours too."
Clarke's jaw clenched. "Absolutely not," she snapped. "The only way the Ark is going to think I'm dead is if I am dead."
Not exactly the best thing to say to a guy with a gun, but hey, that was Clarke for you. Always ready to speak her mind, even when it involved potentially getting us all shot.
At this point, I assumed she had a plan, until she just turned around and started to walk off. Great. So apparently, she didn't have an actual plan. She'd just called his bluff, and now what? She was just going to walk off? I would've shot her just for that.
Murphy seemed to be thinking similar to me as he started to move to stop her from walking away, but Wells stepped into his path, blocking him. A flicker of fear crossed Murphy's face for a brief moment. Guess Wells hadn't been kidding about knocking him on his ass earlier.
With Murphy effectively blocked and Bellamy not making a move, Wells inclined his head slightly towards me and Charlotte. In that moment, I could really appreciate what a badass my friend was.
Taking Charlotte's hand, I walked around Bellamy and Murphy, with Wells acting as a buffer between us. I nudged Charlotte ahead of me, then hung back a bit to make sure Wells didn't get jumped by one of them.
Satisfied that for now at least, Bellamy and Murphy weren't going to try anything funny, I followed after Clarke and Charlotte with Wells walking right beside me.
"Looks like you're back here with me again, Wells," I said, unable to resist a playful jab. "Starting to think you like me more than Princess Sparkles over there."
Wells just grinned. "Sounded like you were having more fun over here," he replied.
I laughed, but the amusement quickly faded. "Clarke's an idiot for bringing those two along," I grumbled.
"Yeah, well," Wells conceded, "she was right about needing Bellamy's gun out here."
"Not gonna be of much help to us if he decides to shoot us all with it instead," I countered.
"It might be a little difficult for him to do that without this," Wells said, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a familiar-looking object. My jaw practically hit the floor as I stared at the gun in Wells' hand. "You got his gun already," I breathed. "How?"
"Walked right past him," Wells said coolly. "Seemed a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity."
"Dude, you're awesome, you know that?" I exclaimed, thoroughly impressed. Feeling a weight lift off my shoulders, I couldn't help but ask, "So what do you think Bellamy's gonna do when he realizes this is missing?"
He just shrugged, but a hint of a smile played on his lips. "Doesn't matter if he figures it out," he said. "The second he tries anything, I'll shoot him."
Wells' last words hung heavy in the air, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. We weren't exactly best friends with Bellamy, but the idea of Wells putting a bullet in him wasn't the most comforting thought. Still, it was better than the alternative – Bellamy putting a bullet in us.
It wasn't long before we reached the spot where Jasper got taken – a clearing with a wide river snaking through it. A smear of crimson stained the ground by the riverbank, making my stomach churn. Even Bellamy and Murphy couldn't hide the grimace that flickered across their faces.
"This is it," Clarke said, her voice tight. "We were standing right here. Jasper used those vines to swing across the river, and then…" her voice trailed off as her eyes drifted to the bloodstain.
Bellamy studied the scene, his brow furrowed. "Hold on. For them to have gotten him like you said, right through the chest, they'd have had to be…" he trailed off, his eyes flicking behind us in the direction where we'd come from.
It hit me like a punch to the gut. The spearman must have been stalking them, maybe even from the moment they left camp. Unease prickled at my skin. If he'd been following behind them, then why attack only Jasper? The others would have all been closer and much easier targets.
As if reading my mind, Murphy spoke up. "They attacked him because he crossed the river. They don't want us anywhere near Mount Weather."
Bellamy's lips curled into a smug smile as he turned to Clarke and us. "So much for the Chancellor's orders," he said with a smirk. "Looks like thanks to our Grounder friends, the camp is pretty much your only option if you want to eat." Of course, that camp just happened to be under his control. He was laying it on thick, figuring subtlety was wasted with us since he thought we were out of options.
Great. Just great.
Bellamy took charge, clapping his hands a little too loudly to get our attention. "Alright, listen up. We need to cover more ground. Clarke and I will take one side, Murphy and…" he started, his gaze flickering between Charlotte and me, a glint of something in his eyes that made me want to shove him in the river.
"Nope," I cut him off before he could even finish his thought. "Access denied." I planted myself firmly between Charlotte and "Team Jackass", with Wells right beside me, giving Bellamy a glare that could freeze water.
Bellamy's face twisted in annoyance, but I wasn't backing down. Clarke looked like she'd rather gnaw off her own arm than be stuck with Bellamy, and Charlotte wasn't thrilled about Murphy either, nor would I ever allow it.
"New plan," I announced, taking charge. Looked like it was my turn to play leader. "Wells, you take Charlotte. You're probably the best equipped to protect her right now." He raised an eyebrow at the comment before nodding knowing what I was referring to. "Clarke and I will go together. Bellamy and Murphy, you two can be a happy little couple and search together. Sound good?"
"Sounds good," Clarke agreed, looking relieved.
"Anyone who doesn't like this plan can hit the road," I said, hoping they'd just leave because now that Wells had the gun, we didn't really need them around.
Let's just say my suggestion wasn't exactly popular. Bellamy and Murphy looked like they were ready to argue, maybe even take a swing at me. But before they could do anything, a loud bang echoed through the clearing. We all jumped and turned to see Wells holding the gun up, a puff of smoke rising from the barrel. So much for keeping the gun a secret, but I couldn't blame Wells for that.
"Looks like some warnings are necessary," Wells said coolly, making it clear he wasn't kidding.
Bellamy's hand went to his holster, only to find nothing there. Realizing Wells was in control, Bellamy's bravado faded a bit. He put his hands up in a placating gesture.
"Alright, alright," he said. "Just calm down. We'll do it your way."
Wells lowered the gun but kept his eyes locked on Bellamy. " Alright, here's the plan. We split into pairs. Clarke and I will take the west side. Bellamy and Murphy, you two take the east. Charlotte and I will search the north. If you find anything, yell."
Clarke shot a sidelong glance at me. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to say something.
"Fine," Clarke said, her tone clipped but controlled. "Let's get this over with."
I followed, casting a quick glance back at Bellamy and Murphy, who exchanged annoyed looks but eventually turned east, their frustration barely masked. Charlotte and Wells took the north side, their steps crunching on the forest floor as they vanished into the shadows.
Clarke and I moved in silence for a while, each lost in our thoughts as we navigated through the dense foliage. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and pine, mingling with the faint rustle of unseen creatures. The silence was occasionally broken by the rustling of leaves or distant birdcalls, but for the most part, it was eerily quiet.
Clarke marched ahead, her footsteps heavy and purposeful. I kept pace beside her, trying to catch glimpses of her expression. She had a habit of clenching her jaw when she was frustrated, and right now, her frustration was palpable.
"So," I started, trying to break the silence as we moved through the dense trees, "That was quite the stunt back there. Did you actually have any plans other than just calling Bellamy's bluff?""
Clarke shot me a sideways glance, her expression guarded. "I did what I had to do. I was trying to get him to back off. It seemed like the only way to keep things from escalating."
"Escalating? Clarke, he had a gun. That's not exactly a situation you can just play by ear." I tried to keep my tone measured, but frustration seeped through. "You were ready to risk everything on the chance that he wouldn't shoot. What was your backup plan if he had decided to go through with it?"
Clarke's expression tightened. "You think I didn't think it through? It was a risk, sure. But sometimes you have to take risks to get results. If we'd let Bellamy push us around, we'd be in an even worse situation." She countered angrily. "And what about you? You think you're some kind of expert now? You were pretty damn bold yourself."
"Bold isn't the same as reckless. I wasn't about to let him pull something on Charlotte," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I acted knowing Wells had stolen the gun off him. You, on the other hand didn't, you seemed to be hoping he wouldn't go through with it. That's not leadership, that's gambling with people's lives."
Clarke looked away, her face hardening. "I'm trying to make the best decisions I can in a messed-up situation. With the Grounders down here, I can't let Bellamy go on acting like he's in charge, that means I have to take charge. And the only reason you're so comfortable playing it safe is because you've got Wells backing you up."
"Playing it safe is better than playing it stupid," I shot back. "I'm not by any means in favor of Bellamy being leader, but with the way you're acting, you're not going to gain anyone else on your side, and you'll lose the trust of everyone who's following you."
Clarke's eyes flashed with anger and hurt but I didn't let up. "If you keep making these snap decisions without thinking them through, you'll get people killed. Right now, you're more likable than Bellamy, but that won't save you if you lose everyone's trust."
Clarke's jaw tightened, and she remained silent for a moment. The weight of the conversation seemed to hang in the air, the forest around us growing even quieter. Finally, Clarke let out a breath and nodded slowly. "Maybe you're right. I guess I didn't really think it through as much as I should have."
I nodded, appreciating her acknowledgment, though it didn't solve anything immediately. "Let's focus on finding Jasper for now, and getting out of this mess. We can figure out the rest later."
As Clarke and I continued our search, the tension between us slowly began to ease. The weight of our earlier conversation seemed to have settled into a tentative understanding. Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Bellamy and Murphy trudged through the underbrush, their steps heavy with frustration and resentment.
Murphy kicked at a stone, sending it skittering across the forest floor. "This is bullshit," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Bellamy to hear. "So now we're bowing down and following Wells's orders now? What happened to being in charge, Bellamy?"
Bellamy shot him a glare. "Everything is still under control. We have your knife, don't we?"
Murphy snorted, clearly not satisfied. "A knife? Really? If you'd been paying attention, we'd still have the gun, too."
Bellamy's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them. Without a word, he turned and lunged at Murphy, his movements swift and calculated. Murphy tried to react, but Bellamy's training gave him an overwhelming advantage. In a few quick moves, Bellamy disarmed Murphy, twisted his arm behind his back, and pressed the blade of the knife to his throat.
Murphy struggled for a moment, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The knife's edge was cold against his skin. Bellamy leaned in, his voice low and menacing. "Don't question me again," he hissed. "You think you're tough, but you're nothing compared to what I've been through. You cross me, and you'll find out just how bad it can get."
Murphy's eyes flickered with fear and anger, but he nodded, a barely perceptible movement.
"Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I get it. I'll follow your lead."
Bellamy held the position for a moment longer, letting the reality of the situation sink in. Then, with a sharp push, he released Murphy and stood up, tossing the knife back to him. Murphy caught it, his hands shaking slightly. Bellamy turned away, walking off without another word, his confidence in his own dominance evident in every step.
Murphy, still on his knees, seethed with a mixture of humiliation and anger. But he made no move to attack Bellamy again. He knew better than to test the limits of Bellamy's patience—or his skill.
Bellamy, for his part, remained silent, his focus solely on finding a way to maintain control over the group.