fifteen - Paper Thin

''Everywhere I looked,'' The girl exclaimed. ''There were fins, and teeth, and blood. I knew if they saw me, I'd be next. So I just floated there, waiting, praying they swim on. But they didn't.''

Bellamy and Octavia turned when Brandi and Tristan stormed into the room, disturbing the story teller and the vibe she was creating.

''Tristan!'' Brandi hissed, keeping her voice as she watched him sit next to Jasper who had a gentle smile on his face.

''Why are you so mad at me?'' She breathes out, absentmindedly taking a seat besides Clarke. She shakes her head while shrugging her shoulders ''They could just be lying about us.''

''And tell me how the hell would that benefit them in any way if they did?'' He snapped.

The argument grew an awkward tension around the group.

''I didn't even know my mom-''

''Our mom'' He corrected.

''I didn't even know she was pregnant with you!'' She exclaimed, getting redder at the fact that Tristan was making things more complicated than it was.

''Shh'' Someone scolded within the audience.

Brandi turned to the older woman who was looking at her with a cold stare. Snarling at her, she turns around to see that Tristan was gone.

As were Bellamy and Clarke.

Letting out a breath of distress, Brandi props her knees and puts her face in her hands, rubbing at her temple where a slight pounding started to grew.

''Although he may be a little inconsiderate, I can see where he's coming from with this'' Octavia points out.

Brandi lifts her head from her hands and let's them fall into her lap, her palms slapping against the material of her jeans. ''Well can you tell me so I can understand?''

Octavia shrugs her shoulders. ''Sorry, it's a little sibling thing.''

Jasper, Octavia and Brandi turned when Luna approached as she was only looking down at the younger Blake.

''We need to talk'' She says and reveals Lincoln's journal, the object she was shielding within her grip.

''That's our cue'' Brandi mutters as her and Jasper took a stand. ''I gotta find Tristan anyway.''

× × ×

''Tristan!'' Brandi calls again, now at the final place she hasn't familiarized herself with yet.

Around her were metal scrapes into the shape of crates and she continuously had to turn long corner in search of her 'little brother'.

''Tristan!'' She let's out a puff of air. ''Please tell me you're here..''

She turned another corner and was almost blinded by the sun shining brightly over the seas. In front of her was Tristan who leaned against the railing, the view of the sea moving from under them.

''Tristan'' She calls out of relief, but there was a hint of desperation clear in her voice.

He chose to say nothing. Too many thoughts crossed his mind and as of right now, for Brandi's benefit, it'd be best to keep quiet.

She pursed her lips when swallowing and fiddled with her nimble fingertips as she took a few steps towards him.

''I don't understand-''

He scoffs at her.

''I thought you'd be happy..'' The volume of her of her voice lowered with every second that passed her by.

She stared the backside of him intently, waiting for a reaction of some sort. She was almost relieved but slightly scared when he turned his head to the side.

He moved his head forward before turning his whole body towards her.

''Happy?'' He scoffs. ''The Second I Was Born, Nobody Wanted To Hold Me! I Had No Parents, I Didn't Have You, I Didn't Have No One! Even The Orphanages Were Trash!''

Her dull brown orbs shimmered with tears that pooled her wide luminous eyes, the pearl shaped liquid rolling down her cheeks.

''This World,'' He exlaims, raising a pointer finger and circling the air around him. ''Is cold, Brandi. There were nights where I just sat and realized how worthless my life was. I was lucky enough- grateful even when Nyko dropped in and saved me. And when we find him, I'm leaving. I don't ever wanna hear from you.''

By now Brandi blinked briny tears from her bloodshot eyes, her long lashes stuck together in clumps as if she'd been swimming. Her cheeks shined from the wet track of tears that trailed down to her wobbling chin.

''You don't mean that'' She choked out of her quivering lips. She shakes her vigorously out of denial. ''You don't mean that, Tristan.''

He stared her down with no remorse. ''Where were you, Brandi?''

He watched her break down in front of him, turning her head to the side so her hair was covering her red mottled face.

''Your my older sister. It's your job to be there for me.''

She shakes her head again, her shoulders as her sobs came pouring out. ''I didn't know-''

''That's Not Good Enough!''

She jumped in place when he punched a metal crate that was nearby.

Brandi watch as he hissed from the pain, shaking his hand to diminish the pain away.

''Then let me fix it'' She whispers. ''Let me fix all those years when you needed someone to lift you up and tell you everything is going to be okay.''

He shakes his head and avoided eye contact. ''That's just it. You won't be able to.''

Tristan lifted his head to look at her, but his orbs shifted past her when he noticed someone standing at that last corner, witnessing everything with sorrow eyes.

Brandi noticed his sudden changed and furrowed her brows, hesitating when turning around to see Luna.

''What the hell do you want?'' Tristan spazzed, holding his arms out and puffing his chest.

''Tristan'' Brandi scolds, turning to give him a pleading look but he pointed at her.

''I don't want hear anything else out of you.''

Her chest sank with every word thrown at her.

She puts her hands out in defense. ''I know that this has nothing to do with me, but-''

''That's right,'' He strained a flat smile and waved her off. ''Bye.''

Luna's gaze shifted over to Brandi who mouthed an apologetic 'I'm sorry'.

''I knew this girl,'' Luna continued. ''Real young and naive and self centered. She was married to a man opposite of her. He was generous, strong, and attentive. They had a daughter that took in more of her father than mother. The mother wanted her to be everything she wasn't, because she knew it would be for her best.

But like I said, the mother was naive. She killed someone who endangered her future child, one that was growing inside of her. As much as the mother tried to take responsibility, the father was madly and truly in love with her to let her to take the fall, even if it was all her fault..''

Tristan and Brandi watched intently as Luna started to choke on her words, but nonetheless, she smiled through the pain.

''They gave up their little girl and told her they had to take a trip and will back real soon. Her smiled killed them, but what she said broke them from within. She gave them a tight hug and whispered in their ears 'I love you. Come back real soon because I'll miss you.' So on they're way to Polis, they waited and waited until their baby boy was born.

Neither were able to hold him. Instead he was taken from them. They gave us a choice, to be banned from the twelve clans or to die.

She chose to flee, but he fought for them. He didn't want to let go of his little girl and now son. So they killed him, right in front of her.''

Luna let out a soft chuckle and looked up, wiping away the stray tears. ''Uh, not too long ago, the girl got to see her kids again. She was so amazed to see her little girl all grown up. As if she couldn't believe how much time has done them both. She got to see the two have their first argument, and she got in between to fix everything. Just like us, right here, right now. She and I are doing it because you can't loose each other. Brothers and sisters are suppose to last through everything until death has done them.''

''What happened to the mom?'' Brandi asks, her and Tristan more intrigued of the story than the actual lesson Luna was trying to make.

Luna takes a moment to look at them both and a melody of laughter fills they're ears. But it was a laughter of despair.

''She never got to tell them that she was they're mother. And she watched them leave, giving her the saddest feeling she's never experienced before.''

Tristan looked away and nodded. He turned to look back at Luna and smacked his lips together. ''That was nice and all but even though we're siblings by blood, she's always gonna be a stranger to me.''

Brandi's body slumped when he purposely pushed his shoulders against hers, walking past her and Luna and down the long corner.

× × ×

Brandi returned to the fire Clarke, Bellamy and Octavia surrounded and sat next to the younger Blake.

''Where were you?'' Bellamy asked.

She shakes her head and stares solemnly into the fire. ''It doesn't matter.''

Octavia took a moment to look her over, noticing how distraught she was. ''Yes, it does.''

She shifts her body to face her. ''What happened after you left? Where's Tristan?''

Screwing her eyes tightly shut, she shakes her head. ''Nothing, just let me get my mind off of it.''

''Hey,'' Octavia places a hand on her knee. ''Bellamy and I are always here for you if you need someone to talk to.''

She opens her eyes and turns to her, smiling at her softly. ''I know.''

She reaches over and grabs from behind her head, kissing her temple bring their heads together. ''Thank you.''

Bellamy smiles at the two, turning to look back at Clarke who was staring intently over at Luna. She was walking over to Derrick.

''Clarke,'' Bellamy starts. ''Let it go.''

She turns to look back at him and shakes her head. ''We can't just leave.''

Brandi couldn't help but roll her eyes. ''It's not like we have much of a choice. She said no, time to find another plan.''

''Maybe we do.''

Both, Brandi and Octavia sat up and tore away from the contact, furrowing they're brows at the blonde in front of them.

''What are you talking about?'' Bellamy asks.

''I'm talking about putting this,'' She pulls out the tin can that holds the A.I. ''into her head without asking.''

''Are you fucking crazy?'' Brandi hissed, thinking Clarke has officially lost it.

And the fact that she's going this far is angering Brandi even more.

''No way, Clarke. This isn't like Emerson, where he was actually trying to kill us'' Octavia whispers.

She tilts her head to the side. ''You think I don't know that?''

''I think you lost your marbles'' Brandi remarked, blinking rapidly at the girl who thought it was a good idea to force a chip to drill within someone.

''Clarke, we don't have to do this'' Bellamy prompts. ''We can fight and go back to Arkadia. We arm up-''

''Fight who? It's an army of our own people. I don't like this anymore than you do, but if Raven's right, and the code on this thing can stop Alie-''

They turned when Derrick called after Luna in they're native language as she walked off.

''Give me a better idea.''

Octavia and Brandi glance at each other before Octavia turned to look at Bellamy.

He looked at his younger sister and then looked over at Brandi.

''I still think this is crazy'' She let's them know.

Bellamy looks back at Clarke. ''We'll stay here. It's the only way they'll leave you alone with her.''

Clarke nods at him but before she had the chance to stand, Octavia piped up. ''Even Alie gives people a choice.''

''We gave Luna a choice and she said no.''

Brandi let's out a breath. ''Then I'm coming with, just to see how badly you'll fail at this.''

× × ×

Brandi watches as Luna smiles down at the laughing little girls.

Derrick walks over and interrupts the life lesson the messy brunette was teaching. ''Te skai gada wòn loi aa wu.''

''Em's pera, ai'll gan erey bilaik'' She tune back to the little girls. ''Osir odon gon today. Nama haya Derrick kom te vasac mastafus.''

Brandi couldn't help but stare intently as the small blonde and Luna share a tight embrace.

They release in seconds and she runs off.

Clarke to closer steps towards Luna who fixing the fishnet gate while Brandi sat on the tin cans.

''We're they born here?'' Clarke asks, referring to the kids.

''A few. Most were orphaned by war, or ran from one they didn't believe in.''

''Like you from the conclave?''

She stopped all her movements, asking ''What did Titus tell you about me?''

''That you were a coward. A traitor to the blood.''

A scoff is heard out of Luna. ''That sounds like Titus.''

Luna then turns to face Clarke. ''Lexa's death must have been hard for him. She was his favorite.''

It was barely visible when Clarke nodded as her gaze lowered at the mentioning of Lexa.

''You cared for her'' Luna clarified.

Looking up at her, she nods again. ''Yes. Lexa was special. She was working toward peace. Blood must not have blood.''

Clarke holds up the A.I for the three to see. ''You can finish what she started.''

''I have peace right here.''

''Luna,'' Clarke practically begs. ''The flame Is your birthright. Take it. Please. You're the only one who can save us.''

''How many lives would be lost to pay for those I would save?'' Luna points out.

''Some causes are worth killing for.''

Brandi leans forward from the anticipation as the two stared at each other with intimidation.

''Not to me.''

''Ascend Superius.''

Wires that looks like legs popped out of the chip and when Clarke reached out for the brunette, Luna took her by the arm and flipped her to the ground.

She holds there and says. ''I didn't flee the conclave because I was afraid I would lose. I fled because I knew I would win.''

Clarke gets pulled up with a grunt.

''You should be grateful , Clarke. After I was forced to kill my own brother in the first round, I was matched against Lexa in the second,'' She tilts her head to the side. ''Fate is funny that way, don't you think?''

Luna rips the A.I from Clarke's touch. ''You'll get this back when you leave.''

After Luna walks off, Brandi claps slowly at her. ''That went peachy, didn't it?''

× × ×

Tristan turned, turning back instantly with a sneer when seeing who tapped him on the shoulder.

''It's time to go'' Brandi says, dropping her weight onto her right leg.

Tristan stood from the fire that was dying out and walked behind the older Potter that was leading them outside.

''You two find the Potter siblings, we'll get the scrawny white kid'' A gruff voice instructed, pulling the two back a couple of steps.

''We need to hide'' Brandi whispers, pulling Tristan towards the opposite direction.

''Hold up'' Tristan hissed, peeking his head around the corner to see Luna struggle herself out of someone's grip.

''Tristan, we need to go'' Brandi prompts in a hushed voice.

He turns to her with furrowed brows. ''Luna's people is attacking Luna.''

It took Brandi a moment before she realized the similarity of the situation. ''Alie's here.''

Tristan begins to pull Brandi back in the direction they were heading, finding places they could hide in.

''How could they be chipped if they live in the ocean?''

''That's beyond the point. The real question is, why are they trying to find us and Jasper?''

Tristan stops her as he takes moment to think. ''Didn't Raven say that her goal is to chip everyone?''

Brandi's features falter when getting more of the gist of the situation. ''They're trying to chip Luna, and when they do, Luna's gonna chip the rest of her people.''

''So we need to find the others-''

''We need to find Luna'' Brandi corrects.

Tristan shakes his head, opening his mouth to say something when the two heard a couple of guards coming they're way.

Brandi grabs him by the wrist and pull him through multiple rooms, with each door leading them to somewhere.

When they reached a room with no back door, Brandi closed it shut and started searching the room that could be used as a possible weapon.

''We don't have a plan'' Tristan clarifies, watching bounce from one side of the room to the other.

She turns to him and breathes out ''Yes, we do.''

Brandi starts pulling at the metal rod that was holding up the shelves of many items.

''We have less than a minute or so before those guards come marching through that door. Find something you could use as a weapon and when they come, you kill. Got it?''

His adam apple falls when he swallows and nods, looking around the practically empty room for a compatible weapon but there weren't many options.

Brandi let's out a grunt when she pulled the rod off. She turns to Tristan and holds up the rod. ''Here.''

She tossed him the piece she had he caught it at ease.

He looked down at the piece of metal and back at her, nodding in appreciation.

× × ×

She swung the piece of metal against Derrick's head, loosening his grip on Luna who he had drowning in the tin of water.

Her body limped when she felt a sharp pain sprout from her side, shooting throughout her entire body.

Since her body was ready to fal, she took it as a advantage and dropped her weight onto her hands, lifting herself up and purposely kicking whoever was behind her.

She the took the knife out of her and stabbed one of the guards in the eye.

Meanwhile, Tristan was in the back, untying Jasper, considering he was shot not too long ago to do much fighting.

Brandi turns her head to the side Luna had her back against hers.

''There's three of them,'' She breathes out. ''And two of us. Think you could handle it?''

Brandi let's out a dry chuckle, a smirk ghosting her lips. ''Watch me.''

While Luna went after the two, Brandi charged for the third, blocking his attempt to stab her.

She grabs him by the arm and swings her leg from behind, dropping him to the floor. She takes that arm and drives the blade into his chest.

Brandi stands back up, looking back at Luna who was panting.

A small smile forms on her lips, but falters when seeing Derrick come from behind Brandi, the metal rod raised in his grip.

''Brandi, Watch-''

The brunette splits to the ground once Derrick threw the rod down to what he thought was going to hit her head.

Brandi snatches the rod from below, swinging it around to hit him in the leg while Jasper and Tristan kick him from behind his back.

Brandi slides herself way just in time before Derrick's body fell on her.

''No, stop'' Luna calls. ''This one's mine.''

The trio stepped back as Derrick stood back up, now facing Luna.

Luna held her hands out and stared him pleadingly. ''Derrick, this isn't you.''

He doesn't reply. Instead he walks towards, causing her to shake her head as she begs. ''Please, Derrick, don't.''

He want to punch her but she blocked it, as well as every other until his chest was open for target, where she stick the knife in.

Clarke, Octavia and Bellamy stormed in, stopping with short breathes when witnessing what was going on.

''What the hell happened to you'' Octavia asks while staring Brandi down with distaste, while Bellamy pulled her into a hug.

Brandi's eyes flutter shut when she leaned her body further into Bellamy's. ''Alie, man.''

× × ×

''Any one of them could be chipped and we'd never know'' Bellamy whispers over to Clarke.

''If they are, they'll make their move before we put the flame in Luna'' Clarke reasons.

''We're telling you, they're not'' Brandi reminds for about the fifth time.

''We trust, Luna'' Tristan adds in.

''Just because she tells you a sap story, doesn't mean you can trust her'' Bellamy counters that had Brandi drilling holes from behind his head.

''Stay sharp'' Clarke instructs when she sees Luna coming over with a servant at her side who had a tray of cup.

Each of them take a cup from the tray as Luna spoke. ''The ceremony is about to begin.''

''Luna, wait'' Clarke calls before she walks away. ''I'm so sorry. But now your seeing what we're facing. An enemy that will do anything to win and she won't stop until she has everyone.''

Luna held up the A.I. ''People I love, died today. Needlessly, at my hand. I can't let that happen again.''

Luna turned her back to the group and raised an arm, rising up her people in the process.

''As we prepare to give our brothers and sister to the sea, we honor their lives..'' She switches an arm to raise the one she has her cup in. ''Kom woda 'so gyon op, gon woda 'so kom daun.''

Everyone raised an glass chanting ''Kom woda 'so gyon op, gon woda 'so kom daun.''

As Brandi Tristan removed the tin to they're lips, Luna pulled them aside.

She smiled weakly at them which had Brandi Tristan sharing an odd glance at each other before looking back at Luna.

''I just wanna get a good look at you guys before you go'' She clarifies and pulls them into a strong embrace.

''I love you. Come back real soon because I'll miss you'' She whispers in they're ears.

Brandi's vision started to haze and her body felt numb. She breathed out a struggled ''Mom..''

When she woke up, she was back on the island with her bow and quiver laid out next to her.

''No,'' She's gasped. ''Oh my god, no.''

''Where is she?'' Tristan asks with a low and groggy voice. ''Where Is She?''

''Where's who?'' Jasper asks the two, starting at them with wide eyes along with Octavia, Bellamy and Clarke.

''No,'' Brandi shakes her head. ''She was just right here.''

''Luna?'' Clarke asks, still not sure who the siblings were going on about.

''Mom'' The siblings breathe out in unison.

Bellamy tore his gaze from the two to look at Clarke with an odd stare. ''Maybe the poison has a side affect or-''

Brandi stood instantly from the ground, screeching out a ''No!''

She tries hard to hold back on the tears when saying ''Luna is our mom.''