XX

[PREVIOUSLY: Octavia and Murphy are taken from their cells and escorted across the river where they see a truly petrifying sight. They are abandoned by the grounders near their camp ... and it is there that Murphy starts convulsing in pain].

I let out a shrill cry for help, but my voice was muffled by the thick material of the gag stuffed in my mouth. I scrambled to my feet and looked every which way but there was no sign of anyone or anything.

Bellamy and Clarke had destroyed the village, taken the spoils and gone straight back to camp to enjoy them. Once again, they had broken my trust and this time? It would be far harder to repair.

A fresh spout of blood erupted from Murphy's mouth, soaking through his gag and dripping onto the floor. He made short gasping sounds and I knew he was choking to death on his own vomit. As much as I hated Murphy for what he had done to Charlotte, no one, not even him, deserved to die like this. I was trying so hard to find the peace that my people needed ... but I guess I had learned the hard truth too late: there was no peace - not on earth anyway.

Murphy slumped to the floor, his eyes huge with fear and his body trembling with pain. As I stared down at him, I saw that he was losing his strength ... he was about to die.

Oh my god.

"Octavia?"

My eyes widened in shock as I whirled around to face the speaker.

Dustin.

"Mmhhmmmuuhmmm!" I tried to scream, to explain, but no coherent words left my mouth. Damn this gag!

"Hold on!" he called out as he turned to look back over his shoulder. "Bryce! Bryce, come quick! It's Octavia!"

The two boys sprinted towards me. Dustin was the first at the scene.

"Oh geez," he let out a horrified gasp as he spotted Murphy's convulsing figure lying prone on the floor.

"Mmmhhmm!" I let out another desperate muffled noise, indicating that he should take my gag off.

Dustin, having got the message, reached forward and jerked the material from my mouth.

I coughed and sputtered, breathing in a great big gulp of fresh air.

"Q-quick!" I cried out hoarsely. "He - he's been infected by something! He's dying!"

Dustin and Bryce rushed to Murphy's side. They cut his bonds and loosened the gag, rolling him over so he had room to empty out all of the blood that had been gathering up in his mouth.

As Dustin pounded Murphy's back in an attempt to bring him back, Bryce scurried up behind me and used a short knife to severe the ropes holding my wrists. "Are you okay?" he inquired, concerned.

I nodded. "W-where's Bellamy?"

"He - he went out to look for you," Bryce stuttered, unsure of where to start. "He - he told Clarke to hold off the attack until he returned. H - he feared that you had been captured by the grounders and were being used as a hostage. She - er - she didn't listen though ..."

"Oh. How surprising," I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I brushed down my grimy pants. "Look, stay here with Dustin. When Murphy recovers, bring him back to camp. I need to talk to Clarke."

"Won't you be needing that?" Bryce questioned as he nodded to something on the ground beside me.

I glanced down and let out a gasp of surprise. "My sword!" I exclaimed. "H-how ...? I - I - er - screw it, I'm sick of trying to figure out everything." I bent down and snatched up the weapon, strapping it securely around my waist. "The grounders must've left it with the two of us when they dropped us off. Must've thought it was a piece of crap. It kinda is."

Bryce frowned and shook his head. "You did your best ... O."

I had trouble from stopping the smile that threatened to spread across my face. I placed a gentle hand on Bryce's shoulder and whispered, "Thanks," before whirling around and breaking into a full-paced sprint.

It only took me several minutes before I arrived back at the camp. I heard the sound of beating music, the cheers and yells of drunken youths, and the high-pitched laughter of Jasper.

A low growl rose up in the back of my throat as I unsheathed my sword and stepped up towards the front gate. I glanced up towards the empty posts lining the wall. No one was on watch.

How stupid can they be?

I lifted my blade and thrust it straight through the flimsy wooden gate. As I retracted the sword from my target, I let out a furious yell, "Clarke Griffin! Open up this gate! NOW!"

Gradually, the laughter from within the camp ceased. I could sense everyone's eyes on the door. I could hear slow footsteps plodding across the ground towards the gate. I felt, with each passing second, the anger that was building up within me.

CREAK.

The gate swung open. Clarke stood in the entrance; Nate, Jasper, Monty, Finn and Raven right behind her.

"Octavia?" Clarke guffawed, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Fancy seeing you here."

I didn't even respond before lunging forward and seizing Clarke by the front of her shirt. I slammed her up against the wall and held my sword to her throat. "Now is not the time to play games, Clarke!" I spat. "Bellamy is out there, risking his life to save mine, and you're here partying and having a merry ol' time with absolutely no one on watch! Are you frickin kidding me?"

Shoving Clarke roughly aside, I turned to the others who were all looking at me with expressions of amazement plastered onto their faces.

"I just returned from TonDC!" I shouted out as I addressed them all. "Which so happens to be the main grounder headquarters! I talked to their leader, I saw their defences first-hand, I met their warriors face-to-face ... They are stronger than us! If they should chose to attack, which they will, we will be defenceless against them! How many bullets do we have? A couple hundred? How long do you think they're gonna last us, huh? You may be criminals, but you're not killers. These grounders are! They're trained, they're fierce, and they're coming for us! I, Octavia Blake, bear a message from their commander. Leave or die! It is your decision! But the longer we wait, the higher the chance is that we will not make it. And I, for one, didn't come all the way down from the Ark just to end up on the point of some grounder's sword. Shame on you for being oblivious, for not caring, for being ruthless, for becoming traitors! Shame on you all! This is not who we are. Yet it is who you are trying to be! And let me tell you all something; you're failing miserably! It will be your lives that are sacrificed ... not mine! Suit yourselves, but I'm leaving. I'm going to find my brother."

Tears of anger and resentment stung my eyes as I whirled around and stormed off in the direction of the drop-ship. If I was going to make it through, I was at least going to have to stock up on supplies.

"Wait!"

At the sound of that oh-so-familiar voice, I paused mid-stride. Slowly, I turned around, my mouth hanging open in shock.

Bellamy was standing right outside the gate entrance. His rifle was slung over one shoulder and Murphy's arm was slung over the other. He was accompanied by a loyal squad of the Ark's ex-guards, including Dustin and Bryce.

He gazed at me and I could see the brotherly pride that lingered in his eyes. "Murphy's ill," he called out. "Take him back to the drop-ship. Quickly."

A few boys hurried forward and assisted a limp and flailing Murphy as he was dragged off.

Bellamy cast a disgusted look at Clarke as he stepped inside the camp grounds. "I expected better of you, Griffin," he hissed. "Now do your job and help Murphy ... or you'll meet the same fate that he did: banishment."

Clarke hesitated for one moment longer. "Bell, if he's banished, why is he back here?"

Bellamy glanced over towards me and smiled. "Cos my lil sis wants him here. And that's enough explanation for me."

Clarke shook her head disbelievingly as she turned around and followed the others back to the drop-ship.

"Bellamy!" I cried out as I ran towards him.

He enveloped me in his strong arms and nestled a sturdy chin on top of my head. "I'm glad your home, O, I'm glad your home."

I melted into his warm embrace for a few more seconds ... but I knew it couldn't last. Slowly, hesitantly, I pulled away. I looked Bellamy in the eyes and spoke up, "We need to talk."

Bellamy nodded in agreement. "Like hell we do. We have a massive army of bloodthirsty grounder warriors to stop ... there's a lot we need to discuss."

I bit my lip and smirked. The Blake siblings were back in business. Those grounders better ... watch ... out ...

Gif: Octavia and Bellamy share their brother-sister moment.

XX