We got the flares working in the end. They were beautiful. I'd never seen anything so great. It was a spectacular moment and a wonderful atmosphere. After the last flare went off, everybody started to retire to their tents. I wasn't very tired after all the hype, so lingered around outside, watching the night sky. I wondered if the Ark really had seen our flares. Maybe my mom was watching too.

"Hey."

I groaned when I put a face to the voice behind me. I didn't want to talk to Bellamy at all so I stood stood up from my spot against the tree and started to walk away. I couldn't believe he even had the nerve to talk to me after what he did.

"Billie-"

"Goodnight, Bellamy."

I heard him jogging to catch up with me and I paused, crossing my arms and facing him. I was furious but I held my tongue, not wanting to say anything I didn't truly mean. Although, a lot of words did come to mind.

"Please, just listen."

I turned around with a sigh. The flames from his torch were illuminating his skin. His brown eyes searched mine. "I'm listening."

"Okay, before you start yelling at me can you just tell me if you've seen Octavia?" I scoffed and he got defensive before I could even answer his question. "Look, i've told you, I'm sorry."

"Sorry just doesn't cut it, Bellamy. And Octavia? No. I haven't seen her," He sighed and I saw a worried look sketch onto his face so I quickly added, "I'm sure she's fine."

"Yeah. Thanks anyway," He started walking through camp, shouting her name. I watched after him, growing increasingly worried for my friend too. Maybe she did want some alone time. But being alone out here was dangerous. Plus I really hadn't seen her for hours. I groaned. I was still mad at Bellamy and didn't even want to speak to him, but Octavia was my friend. If something had happened, I would never forgive myself.

"Bellamy!" I called out as I headed over to him. "Let me help," I took the flame torch from his hand and we headed over to Clarke's tent.

"You're up?" Bellamy asked when we reached her.

"Yeah." She stood up. "Knowing that hundreds of people might be dying on the Ark makes it pretty hard to sleep," She snapped.

"Raven's flares will work," Bellamy assured.

Clarke's entire face hardened. "Her radio would've worked better."

A brief flicker of hurt seemed to cross Bellamy's face but he ignored her statement. "Have you seen Octavia?"

"No," She replied, not sounding worried at all. "It's Octavia. She's probably chasing butterflies."

"Clarke, I've checked the camp. She's not here," Hearing the panic in Bellamy's voice actually really alarmed me. Usually, he was the calm one. Clarke's eyes found mine and I gave her a gentle shrug.

"Ok. I'll help you find her. Let's check again. You go to the dropship. Billie and I will check the rest of the tents," She ordered.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me I'm not doing this for you," Clarke responded coldly. "I'm doing it for Octavia."

Her words even hurt me so I can't imagine how Bellamy felt. Clarke Griffin was definitely not the same person anymore. And despite our moment of reconciliation earlier today, I didn't know how long it would take for us to break again. She's changed. And right now, I don't think it's for the better.

After a while of searching with no luck, Bellamy woke up the entire camp. "Hey, everybody, gather around and grab a weapon. My sister's been out there alone for 12 hours. Arm up. We're not coming back without her."

A girl called Monroe stepped forwards first, picking up an axe. Jasper and I both stepped forwards at the same time but Clarke stopped us both. "Hey, Jasper, you don't have to do this. You haven't left camp since we brought you back."

"Clarke, I need to do this."

"We need all the people we can get," Bellamy said as he walked over. Jasper and I both nodded and headed over to the weapons. "Finn, we're leaving!" I heard Bellamy yell.

His voice sounded from inside Raven's tent. "All right. I'm coming."

I jogged to catch up with the rest of the camp. Most people's heads were looking up at the sky. A collection of shining stars streaked through the sky as excited shouts filled the air.

"Did you see that?" A young boy shouted, pointing at the air. "Look up there."

"They didn't work," I heard Raven say from behind Clarke and Finn. "They didn't see the flares."

"A meteor shower tells you that?" Bellamy glanced at the sky.

Then I realised.

They weren't stars. Or meteors.

"It's not a meteor shower, it's a funeral," Clarke said, her face going pale. "Hundreds of bodies being returned to the Earth from the Ark. This is what it looks like from the other side," She shook her head. "They didn't get our message."

Raven's face formed into one of pure rage as she stormed over to Bellamy. "This is all because of you!"

"I helped you find the radio," He reminded as Clarke and Finn held Raven back.

"Yeah, after you jacked it from my pod and trashed it!" She shouted.

"Yeah, he knows," Clarke said as she placed a hand on Raven's shoulder. "Now has to live with it."

Bellamy looked back up at the bodies, which looked like streaks of silver in the pitch black sky. "All I know is that my sister is out there and I'm gonna find her. You coming or what?"

Finn nodded, his voice quiet. "Yeah."

"What are we waiting for? Move out!"

As the crowd of people started to move, Jasper and I hung back to talk to Clarke, Finn and Raven.

"We have to talk to them. The oxygen level will just keep dropping. And if we don't tell them that they can survive down here, they'll kill more people," Clarke said solemnly. "They have to."

"Guys they're leaving," Jasper warned. "We gotta go."

"I gotta do this," Finn told Raven. "And you should stay and fix the radio, ok?"

"Fix it? The transmitter's smashed. Unless there's a parts depot down here, we're not talking to the Ark," She replied sadly.

Clarke bit her lip, looking at Finn. "Art supply store," Then she turned to Raven. "I know a place you might be able to get a transmitter."

"Great," Raven's eyes flickered between both Clarke and Finn, obviously noticing something between them. "It looks like you're coming with me instead."

"Finn? We're not gonna find her without you.," Jasper pointed out.

Finn turned to the two girls. "Be careful."

"Hey," Raven grabbed his arm, placing a kiss on his lips. "I love you."

I studied Clarke's face as she turned her head away from the two of them. Her expression wasn't very readable but she looked hurt. I felt really bad for her. And I kinda wanted to punch Finn in the face.

"I love you, too."

Finn nodded at Jasper and I and the three of us joined the crowd of people.

~

"Look! Over here!" Someone shouted. I turned my head in their direction.

"What is it?" Bellamy asked.

"Right there," The boy shone the flame torch in the direction of a bush. I could see an object tangled on the branches. It appeared to be a belt. "You see it? Is that Octavia's?"

"Rope," Bellamy commanded. Somebody passed it to him and he tossed the coil down the slope.

"What are you doing?" Finn asked.

"We need the rope to get back up," He replied. "Flashlight." The boy who'd found Octavia's belt handed him the flashlight. Bellamy skidded down the hillside and grasped onto the bush, taking the belt in his hands. He examined it quickly before turning back to us. "It's hers."

I felt my heart pounding in my chest, nerves settling in. Jasper passed his torch to Finn and a smirk appeared on his face. He slipped his knife into the loop of his jeans and grabbed the rope.

"Is he serious?" I heard someone say.

Jasper slid down the slope until he disappeared into the darkness. There was a silence between people and I sighed, placing my knife in my belt loop, like Jasper had done. I grabbed onto the rope, holding as tightly as I could.

"What are you doing?" Finn asked with a sigh.

I raised my eyebrows. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

I took a deep breath, gradually sliding down the hill. My feet skidded slightly, causing my heart to leap into my throat a couple of times. I jumped down at the end, causing both boys to look over. The two of them were crouched over, looking at something. The flashlight was glowing, making us able to see a bloodstain on the rocks. Some of the crimson red colour was dribbled on Bellamy's fingers, showing that he had checked to see if it was fresh; which it clearly was.

Someone else jumped down, causing me to turn around. The orange glow of the flame torch illuminated Finn's face. He bent over and we all huddled around the rocks.

"Someone else was here," Bellamy stated.

Finn pointed at the soil. "The prints are deeper going that way."

"What does that mean?" I asked, meeting his gaze.

"He was carrying her."

Jasper's face immediately brightened up. "If they took her, she's alive Like when they took me."

Bellamy stood up and the three of us followed. Everyone else eventually joined us and after a couple of minutes, we all came to an opening. Rotting skeletons were scattered around, strung up on poles. My stomach twisted.

"I don't speak Grounder," Finn paused. "But I'm pretty sure this means keep out."

"Let's get out of here," A boy said uneasily. "It's crazy."

"I'm outta here." Another added.

"Yeah, me, too."

"I'm out."

"Go back if you want," Bellamy said. "My sister, my responsibility." A couple of people left but I stayed put.

"I'd walk into hell to find her." Jasper said firmly.

Finn and I shared a worried glance.

"I think we just did."