Wells was dead. He'd been stabbed in the neck the night before, and no one knew what happened. Clarke was beside herself with guilt. She'd spent far too long hating him and when she finally forgives him, he dies.

Elena was upset too. They weren't exactly best friends but he was a good guy. He didn't deserve to die just because his father was an ass— that was the current hypothesis of his murder, anyway.

"I just can't believe it." Daniel shook his head, finally giving his wristband over to Monty.

"Think i'm next?" Elena joked, but it lacked fervour. "I mean, since Kane is my father, and all?"

Monty side eyed her, working away at figuring out how to contact the Ark. "Don't joke about that, Elena. You can't die." He told her, matter of factly.

"He's right." Jasper spoke, joining them in the corner of the second floor. "We'd have no one to put Murphy in his place without you." He mused.

Daniel feigned offence, placing his right hand over his heart. "Excuse me? I am perfectly capable of taking on that role." He explained.

"But also, please don't die, Elena. I'd never recover from it." He pouted at his best friend. She stuck her tongue out in response.

"Yes! I did it. It still operates." Monty declared with a grin, pulling everyone's focus onto him. "I did it!" He repeated, pumping his fists in the air.

"You did it!" Daniel cheered him on, shaking Monty's shoulders roughly. His head bobbed on his shoulders.

"Now, if I can only patch it through to the drop ship mainframe." He bit his lip. Elena raised her eyebrows at him in question. "I can do it." He confirmed. "We'll be talking to the Ark by nightfall."

Elena, in excitement, slapped Jaspers arm, causing him to stumble over his own two feet. She muttered an apology, and clasped her hands together.

"Monty, you are a genius and I love you." She cooed, shoving Jasper again with a smile.

"Oh, um.." Monty cleared his throat. "I love you too?"

Octavia took Jasper just outside the camps gates for the first time since his near death. Any time she or Elena has tried before, he'd have a panic attack and go back to square one— not even leaving the drop ship.

Though, maybe this experience wasn't going to convince him to go outside the barrier again. Elena wouldn't if she found fingers.

"Who else knows about this?" Clarke asked the pair, examining the knife they had brought to her attention.

"No one, we brought it straight here." Octavia said.

Elena took the knife from her friend and took a closer look. It was made from metal off the drop ship. It was very reminiscent of the one Murphy had made her.

JM

"Shit." She swore, throwing it down on the table. She ran a hand through her hair. This was not going to go well for anyone involved. "It was one of us."

"What?" Daniel whisper yelled.

Bellamy crossed his arms, unfazed. "We need to keep it quiet." He tried to intimidate them with his posture, but no one seemed to care.

"Get out of my way, Bellamy." Clarke shoved at him, moving by him to get to the tents open flap. She was furious, and only Elena knew why.

He clenched his jaw. "Be smart about this. Look at what we achieved; the wall, the patrols. Like it or not, thinking the grounders killed Wells is good for us."

Elena scoffed. "You're kidding me." She jabbed her index finger into his chest. "It's good for you. They're afraid, and you're feeding off it." She was disgusted.

"It's good for all of us." He corrected. He grabbed the finger that was still pointed at him, gripping it a little tighter than necessary. "What are you gonna do about it, Elena? Huh?" He taunted, smirking.

God, she hated that smirk.

"If it was Octavia that got hurt, you'd be out there demanding they pay for it. Just because you didn't like Wells, doesn't mean he deserved to die. Someone has to take accountability for what was done to him."

"She's right." Daniel agreed. "We can't just go around killing each other—just because you don't like their parents. It wont work out in the long run."

Bellamy dragged his hand down his face. "So, what? you gonna go out there and ask the killer to just step forward? You don't even know whose knife that is."

He directed the last statement at Clarke, who's hand was grasping the knife again. "JM." She seethed at him. "John Murphy. The people have a right to know."

He let her storm out, Elena hot on her heals, and him on hers. The rest of the group stayed behind for a few seconds before joining them.

"You son of a bitch!" Clarke seethed, shoving Murphy away from the group he was with.

He stumbled back. "What's your problem?"

"Recognise this?" She held up the weapon that was used to kill her best friend.

"It's my knife." He simply stated. "Where'd you find it?" He wondered, reaching for it.

"Where you dropped it after you killed Wells."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "The Grounders killed Wells, not me." He looked at Elena and Bellamy. "You guys believe this crap?" He scoffed.

Elena pursed her lips. "You threatened to kill him, and your knife was found with his fingers." She pointed at him with fury. "So, yes, Murphy. I do believe it."

"Bellamy," He turned to the older man, pleading. "I didn't do this. I'm telling you, man."

"I say we float him!" Someone in the crowed yelled.
Shouts of agreement following suit.

"No!" Elena shouted.

Clarke was with Elena. "That's not what i'm saying."

"He deserves to float! It's justice!"

"Revenge isn't justice." She spat back.

The delinquents encouraged Bellamy to take charge and do the earthbound equivalent to floating. Elena wasn't sure what that was yet, but she knew she didn't want him to die— she certainly didn't want to watch.

"Bellamy, you're not a murderer." Elena placed a hand on his bicep. "Clarke told me about Atom. How hard it was for you. Don't do this." She pleaded.

He looked down at her and frowned. She thought he was going to listen to her, until the chanting drowned out her voice. He was listening to them.

He stepped away from her. The other criminals had beaten Murphy to a pulp while she tried to talk sense into Bellamy. They'd also wrapped a rope around his neck and had it hung over a tree branch.

All they needed was for Bellamy to kick the stool that was supporting Murphy's weight, holding him up.

Which he did.

Elena and Clarke both ran toward Bellamy, someone held Clarke back, while Elena pounded into his chest, demanding him to let Murphy down. "Stop this!"

"I can't." He told her through his teeth. He had a firm grip on her shoulders, keeping her in place so she wouldn't get to the boy— but still letting her hit him.

"Murphy didn't kill Wells!" A young voice called out from somewhere. "I did!" Everyone froze.

Clarke shoved the boy that was holding her back, taking the axe from Bellamy's belt hook, and cutting Murphy down from the tree.

Elena joined her over his limp body. He was having a hard time trying to breathe. His eyes were distant, it didn't seem like he even knew where he was.

"You're gonna be okay." She promised him, looking at Bellamy, who was standing with Charlotte, in disgust.

"I hate him." She admitted to Clarke.

Back inside the tent, Elena avoided looking at the young murderous girl. She was stood in front of the older man, who looked gutted at her admission. Elena, however, was stood next to Daniel, trying to keep her anger at bay. Charlotte had killed a good man.

"Why, Charlotte?" Bellamy asked her the question they all desperately wanted the answer to.

"I was trying to slay my demons, like you told me." She replied. She looked scared, and for a moment, Elena felt bad for her. She was just a kid.

But, so was Wells.

"What does she mean?" Elena asked, still not looking in his direction. If he had encouraged this, then she'd never look at him again.

He looked at her, and frowned when he noticed her gaze was on another boy. "She misunderstood me." He turned back to the young girl. "Charlotte, that is not what I meant." He chastised.

"Bring the girl out now!" Murphy screamed out from the other side of the tents flap. He was demanding she face the same punishment that he had.

"Shut up!" Elena shouted back.

"Please don't let them hurt me." Charlottes voice was shaky, her eyes full of tears. She gripped Bellamy's sleeve to further her pleading.

Daniel sighed. "Anyone have any ideas?" He ran his hands up and down Elena's arms in comfort.

No one spoke up. They couldn't hand over a child to a bunch of sociopaths. However, she could understand where Murphys rage was coming from.

They almost killed him for a crime he didn't commit, and looked the other way when the actual murderer came forward. It was hypocrisy. But Charlotte was only twelve years old— a scared fucking child.

Bellamy shook his head, clenching his jaw. He looked at Elena again, and back to Charlotte. "Stay here, with them." He told her. "Elena, come with me."

She scoffed in response.

"Murphy might actually listen to you. He follows you round here like a dog. Come with me." He insisted.

"Fine." She said through her teeth. "But i'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. Because she's just a kid. Because Wells would not want this for her."

He nodded his head tightly. They both moved for the tents closed flap and pushed through to the other side.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to join us." Murphy greeted them with a faux smile.

"Dial it down, and back off." Bellamy ordered.

"Or what?" Murphy taunted. "You'll hang me?"

Elena stepped forward. "Murphy, stop it." Her tone was soft, but stern. "Get your payback on Bellamy, I don't care— but leave Charlotte out of it." She said.

He scoffed, moving closer to her. They were basically nose to nose. "Who's side are you on, Elena?"

"I'm on the side that isn't trying to kill a little girl." She shoved him away from her. He stumbled for just a moment, and then he moved toward her quickly.

Seeing this as a possible threat, Bellamy stalked closer to the pair, and stood between them. His hand, palm facing out, stopped Murphy in his tracks. He scoffed.

Murphy, feeling superior, punched him. Bellamy fell over with the impact, clutching his nose. Elena leaned down next to him and helped him sit up. She glared at Murphy. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

He ignored her. "Let's get the girl!" He gathered up his troops— the other psychopaths, and headed toward the tent. He swore, and Elena could hear him thrash around with the tents fabric. "Dammit!"

"Charlotte, when I catch you, you are gonna pay!" He was screaming, his throat probably going raw with the aggression. He stomped through the tent and made his way into the woods.

Charlotte was in trouble.

     Elena was getting read to track Murphy in the woods and steer him away from the young girl, when Daniel approached her with a rock. "It's the sharpest one I could find." He tossed it between his hands. "I bet it'd do some damage, though." He smiled.

"I am not carrying around a rock." She muttered while checking her water ration, and then making sure her shoes were tied properly.

Daniel frowned. "It's for me."

Elena whipped her head around to look at him. "You can't come with me." She told him. "Murphy is being crazy—he's dangerous, right now."

He shook his head. "Which is exactly why I am not letting you go alone." He tried to step closer to her, but was intercepted by a hulking frame.

"She's with me." Bellamy snarled.

Elena snorted. "I never want to hear those words in association with me, out of your mouth again." She pulled her socks up over the bottom of her trousers.

"I don't trust you." Daniel pointed his rock at the older man, who was glaring at him. "I'm coming with."

"Daniel—" Elena was cut off by him.

"You can't keep going out there, putting your life at risk for other people. If you're doing this, i'm doing it with you, Elena." He left no room for negotiation.

His firm tone made Elena shiver, and Bellamy narrow his eyes. He didn't like that Daniel had decided to tag along. Not when Elena seemed to be on his side for the first time ever. Her best friend was going to ruin it.

"Alright, you're with me." Elena told him. She turned to Bellamy. "You have your followers, I have mine."

"Follower; singular." Daniel corrected. She glared at him, then hit his shoulder with her own as she walked by him to the woods.

"Come on!" She called back, and he jogged after her.

"You can't hide forever, Charlotte!" Murphy's taunts continued through out the night, never once faltering.

Elena and Daniel stopped to talk rest after the latter had tripped over a giant rock and severely injured his knee — he grazed it.

Elena got jittery sitting still, knowing that Murphy was tracking the younger girl with the intention of hurting, or killing her.

She stood up, dusting herself off and shoving Daniels shoulder to wake him up. "I'm going." She told him.

He blinked slowly, rubbing his eye with his palm. "I'm coming with you." He shrieked when he tried to stand up, immediately dropping back down.

"Never mind, I think my leg is broken."

"Your legs not broken, you idiot." Elena seethed. "Just stay here." She handed him her water ration. "Murphy is close by, I can hear him."

Daniel grabbed her wrist. "Be careful. He's psychotic, Elena. He's unpredictable." He reminded her.

"This would be so much easier if I had a gun." Elena mumbled, righting her hat that had gone crooked.

"Do you even know how to use a gun?" He asked. She shook her head, and shrugged. "I'm a fast learner."

"No! No, Murphy!" Charlottes cries reached the pair and Elena winced. She tightened her grip on her knife and started in the direction of her voice.

Daniel pushed himself up, and braved his sore knee to follow his best friend toward danger. He was limping behind, making too much noise.

"Daniel." She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. "If you don't be quiet, I am gonna throttle you."

"That seems harsh." He gulped.

She ignored him, and turned back around. The further they walked, the clearer the arguing between Murphy and his pursuers became.

"I am sick of listening to you talk." She heard Murphy grit out between clenched teeth. When he came into view, he was holding a knife to Clarkes throat.

"Let her go!" Elena shouted, coming up to his left side holding her knife pointed his way. "Murphy, I swear to god, if you hurt her, I will end you."

"I will slit her throat." He said.

Charlotte cried harder. "Please, don't hurt her." She begged him, stepping backwards.

"I'll make you a deal." Murphy said. "You come with me right now. I'll let her go." He bargained.

"Don't do it Charlotte." Bellamy ordered.

She looked at him, then to Clarke at Murphy's mercy. Her eyes were full of tears that hadn't fallen yet. She looked behind her, and made a move.

"Charlotte no!" Daniel yelled. He was the first to pick up on what she had planned for herself. "Please!"

"I can't let any of you get hurt anymore. Not because of me. Not after what I did." She turned fully toward the cliff— and jumped.

Time stopped for a moment. Everything fell silent, but Elena could still see everyone's mouth moving. It was all in slow motion as she watched Bellamy and Daniel stalk (limp) toward Murphy.

Bellamy started to pummel his fist into Murphy's face over and over and over again. Daniel looked at him with so much hate, encouraging the older man.

"He deserves to die!" Bellamy bellowed, which broke Elena out of her shocked state.

"We don't decide who lives and dies." Clarke tried to reason with him. "Not down here." She was firm.

Elena moved closer to them. She placed a gentle hand on Bellamy's shoulder. "Let him go, Bellamy." Her voice was low, barley above a whisper, but he heard her, anyway. His hand faltered, and he obeyed.

"I was wrong before." Clarke continued. "Sometimes it's dangerous to tell people the truth." Elena glared at Murphy. "But, if we're gonna survive down here, we can't just live by 'whatever the hell we want'. We need rules." The blonde told them.

"And who makes those rules?" Bellamy spat. "You?"

"For now, we make those rules." She grabbed Elena's arm. "The three of us."

Daniel feigned offence. "What about me?" They all looked at him with straight faces. "Fine." He uttered.

"I don't want any part of this." Elena whispered. "I'm not leader material, Clarke." She shook her head.

Bellamy scoffed. "I disagree." He rasped. "So, what now? We just take him back, and pretend like it never happened?" He asked incredulously.

"No. We banish him."

Bellamy turned back to Murphy. He grabbed him by the scruff of his jacket, and pulled him over to the cliffs edge. "If I ever catch you near camp, we'll be back here. Understand?" He threatened.

Murphy nodded.

"What about them?" Elena motioned to the other guys that has followed Murphy to hurt Charlotte. "Murphy didn't act alone. If he's being punished, they are too."

He looked at them. "You can come back and follow me, or go off with him to die. Your choice."

Everyone headed back for camp, but Elena lingered for a moment. She looked down at Murphy and fought the urge to strangle him. "I hate you for this."

"I know." He mumbled.

She crouched next to him, and handed him her knife. "If grounders come for you, give 'em hell."

He swallowed the lump in his throat and took the knife from her loose grasp. "I don't wanna die out here." He admitted quietly, avoiding her gaze.

"Then don't." She pushed herself up. "I understand why you were mad, Murphy. But you screwed up big time trying to kill a little girl." He clicked his jaw.

"Goodbye." She didn't look back as she started a brisk walk to catch up with the group. She didn't even stay long enough to hear him say goodbye back.

She just left.