twenty six - Our Life Is In Your Hands

Black rain wasn't the only occurrence that appear to shift the change in the air. The city of Polis was dark and tension was thick in the air.

It was a new battle field and it was all for the bunker. It was arranged that one person from each clan had to fight in order to live.

Which lead to Bellamy and Brandi approaching Octavia that next morning, when the ceremony had started.

The young Blake had volunteered to represent for Skaikru and Brandi wanted to switch places.

The brunette smirks at the couple and asks, ''Here to give me a pep talk?''

Brandi shakes her head, walking closer into the room with Bellamy following close behind. ''It's not too late to let me take over.''

She raised a brow. ''You don't think I can do this?''

''I have complete faith in you,'' She smiles. Octavia knew she was telling the truth, she's always giving her a reason to never doubt her survival instincts. ''But you're my best friend. I don't want to see you get hurt.''

''Brandi,'' Bellamy breathes out, taking a seat next to his little on the couch. ''You haven't been feeling good lately.''

Tilting her head to the side, Octavia furrows her brows at her. Brandi Potter? She's immune to practically anything and everything.

She waves her off. ''It's just a stomach flu. I'm fine.''

''No,'' Octavia shakes her head. ''I am doing this. If I don't, nobody else will and we'll be left to die. We made it this far, and I'm not turning back now.''

She looks down at the lit candles that were melting with wax. ''If I die, I die. At least I go down fighting.''

''O,-''

''Don't,'' She interrupts him. There was no persuasion that could convince her out of this situation. ''This is my decision, Bell.''

She stands up from the couch and holds her arms out, scoffing, ''I know what the odds are. I don't need you pointing them out.''

With her arms folded across her chest, Brandi turns along with Octavia to find Clarke approaching.

''It's time.''

Octavia takes her steps forward, heading out for her next battle when Clarke stops her. ''Hey..''

She looks up. The blonde nods her head as she encourages, ''You got this.''

As Octavia Blake leaves without another word, Bellamy stands up from his spot on the couch, taking small steps towards Clarke. ''You really think she has a chance?''

She cocks her head to the side and inhales, ''Right now, she needs to believe it.''

Brandi looks away with a scoff. Even at the end of the world, Clarke Griffen has never changed.

She forced her in between the two and follows after her best friend, just as the flamekeeper, Gaia announced, ''Octavia kom Skaikru, step forward.''

Brandi had stopped somewhere along the middle of the crowd, allowing the brunette to walk the rest of the way up to the stage.

''Accept this sigil of your clan and fight with honor as their champion,'' She repeats like rehearsed line as she ties a necklace around her neck. There was a trinket attached that dignified her clan.

Octavia had stood her place confidently next to Roan.

''Ilian kom Trishanakru,'' Gaia calls the next contestant. She had turned to the same grounder that caused the abundous amount of trouble yet over at Arkadia. ''Accept the sigil of your clan and fight with honor as their champion.''

She ties the necklace around his neck, allowing him to line up beside Octavia.

''The champions now chosen are here today, as our represnters for all conclaves,'' Gaia informs the crowd. ''A battle to the death within the walls of Polis. These warriors will fight until only one remains. When that warrior collects all of the sigils from the fallen and delivers them to me, they will be declared the victor. This final champion alone will tell us which clan is meant to survive in the crypt of Bekka Pramheda, and which clans are meant to perish in Praimfaya.''

''Osir koma chon belaik slip daun klombe rona, ba masta op gon won chon em bela.''

''Dei beli ai!''

Luna Potter fiercly forced her way through the crowd, she even past by Brandi's physique and didn't even notice.

The way she stormed past blew obnoxious wind as she climbed on stage. ''I'm Luna kom Flokru and I'm the last of my clan.''

''We know who you are,'' Gaia holds her head high. ''The natblida who ran from her conclave.''

''I'm not running from this one,'' She counters.

Gaia had no choice but to retrieve a necklace. It was a conclave welcoming all, she couldn't deny one.

''Accept this sigil, Luna kom Flokru,'' She shakes her head. ''But with your clan gone, who will you fight for?''

''I fight for no one,'' She turns to the crowd and exclaims, ''I fight for death!''

The crowd broke out into murmurs. The spur of the moment intensified the challenge at hand, not to mention that Luna was a surreal fighter.

''When I win, no one will be saved.''

× × ×

''Skaikru!'' Gaia alarms as she reached the group. There stood Jaha, Clarke, Kane, Bellamy and Brandi. ''Two advisors to the worgeda. The rest of you, report to your designated safe zone. Now.''

''Wait,'' Brandi quickly let's out. ''I wanna see Luna.''

She shakes her head. ''Absolutely not.''

She exhaled deeply through her nostrils. ''Why not?''

''You're not an advisor from her clan-''

She couldn't resist the urge to roll her eyes. ''Bullshit.''

Gaia tilts her head up and straightens her posture with her hands clasped behind her back. This is the first encounter she's had with Brandi Potter and from the looks of her, the description seemed to be a perfect fit.

''Look,'' She raised a brow. ''She's my mother and I just want to talk to her,'' She lifts her arms up. ''You wanna pat me down?''

Her stern features soften. Gaia knew that if it was the other way around, she would like to contact her mother one last time.

She nods her head. ''But you can't stay long.''

''I won't,'' She eagerly agrees. ''Thank you.''

She bops her head at her before gaze trailed among those surrounding her. Pursing her lips, she then heads off towards the next clan to impose.

Clarke shakes her head. ''Brandi, you know there's no convincing your mother. You've experienced it on the boat.''

Pressing both of her hands against her chest, the brunette hissed, ''I want to know why the hell she's doing this in the first place, especially knowing she's fighting against her own kids.''

''We all have our reasons,'' Kane nods his head at Brandi. It was understandable to believe why she needed to see her. His gaze shifts over to Bellamy, cocking his head to the side. ''Come on, we have to get her ready.''

''This conversation isn't over,'' Jaha reaches out for Kane. ''The death wave will be here within three days, and here we are, risking the fate of our people on a blood sport?''

''The fate of all people,'' Clarke corrects. ''You heard Luna.''

''She's just one of 13,'' Kane points out.

Brandi slants a corner of her lips to the side as she shakes her head. ''Luna's fighting could kill, so it's not just her threat we have to worry about. The game just gotten worse than what it already was.''

''Let's not forget that she's a nightblood novitiate,'' Clarke adds. ''She's been trained in combat exactly like this.''

Bellamy narrows his eyes at the blonde, lowering his voice to a lower tone. ''You want us to cheat?''

The brunette was flabbergasted witnessing the blonde answer his question with silence.

''You know the rules. If we break them, we lose, and if we lose, We die,'' Kane emphasized.

''The rules are not the problem, Marcus,'' Jaha contradicts. ''The game is. Even if we stop Luna, even if Octavia finds a way to win,-''

''Which she will,'' Brandi comments. Though Luna being involved might shake the balance, Brandi still believed in Octavia all the way. Being trained by Indra, Lincoln and herself, she had high potential.

''Does anyone truly believe that the grounders will accept Skaikru as the lone survivors?''

Brandi scoffs. ''Way to make the grounders seem like a racial slur. Don't forget, Jaha, we stay true to our word. And you wouldn't be lone survivors because there's more than enough room for more people. You are going to share the space, right?''

''Of course,'' Kane instantly answers. ''And she's right. The conclave is sacred, they will honor the winner. So, like it or not, we're all grounders now.''

A proud grin tugged on Brandi's lips. She would of never thought to see Kane in this light from where she first met him.

''You get our people to the safe zone,'' Kane instructs before turning to Bellamy. ''We'll have Octavia ready for the fight. The rest is up to her.''

As Marcus Kane walked off towards the sanctuary that held all the weapons and warriors, Bellamy was stuck in place.

Furrowing her brows, Brandi places a hand on his arm and mumbles, ''Hey..''

He clenched his jaw before turning to her, but he didn't meet eye contact.

''What's wrong?''

''Somebody else should go see her,'' He shakes his head, his lips dragging towards a frown. ''I wouldn't know what to say to her.''

Brandi looked over at Clarke who both shared equally empathetic features. Though, they didn't see eye to eye much, there was one thing they had in common.

They both care deeply for Bellamy. They would always want the best for him.

And letting him not see his sister for what could be her last moment alive, wasn't the best choice for him.

''I have to help my mom get the bunker ready for whoever wins,'' Clarke excuses. ''Besides, you're her brother. You not being there is worse than saying the wrong thing.''

Her hand trailed from his muscular clothed arm down and interlocked her hand with his.

''Come on.''

When he turns to look at, he met her gaze with a lopsided smile and nods.

As he starts leading the way, Brandi glances back at the blonde and mouths a quiet, ''Thank you.''

Her smile was vague, but it was still a smile as she nods her head.

Once they were inside, Kane had carefully entertained himself towards Octavia's area by observing those around him.

Bellamy just followed, his eyes trained on his younger sister giving Brandi's a small squeeze every now and then.

When they had approached the younger Blake, Brandi quickly slipped from Bellamy's grasp and ran up to her and gave her a hug.

Although she was taken by surprise, she giggles softly and engulfs in the hug.

''Slay hard, kid,'' She whispers by her ear before walking away.

The further she walked away from the pit of fire Octavia stood near, the closer she got to Luna.

She was swinging around a long spike, quiet grunts falling from her lips as she strikes her attacks with full force.

Brandi knew better. This was just a peek of what Luna was capable of. Her real skills were just a trick up her sleeve.

She went to reach for her until she swiftly turns, the metal tip of the spike pressed against the artery pressure of her neck.

Brandi's chest heaves out a dry chuckle. ''Any further now, mom. You'll kill us either way.''

She pulls the staff away from her throat and steps closer to her. ''What are you doing here, Brandi?''

She shakes her head. ''Why do you want to do this?''

She shrugs her shoulders almost sloppily. ''We're all going to die at the end of the day. I'm just making it easier.''

Her nostrils flared with anger. ''You know, you make it really hard to like you when you pull shit like this.''

''That laboratory, you're little friends have been staying at,'' She dreaded, her voice dropping several octaves. ''They just make you want to die with the stuff I have seen, that I had learn. You're around selfish people, Brandi. You and your brother.''

She pursed her lips. ''They want to save as many people as possible.''

''They want?'' She raised a brow. ''What they want and what they do are two different things, darling.''

She watched her mother intently sigh deeply, her eyes screwing shut while shaking her head.

''How is he?''

The edge in her voice was long gone as soon as she asked.

''He woke up,'' Brandi licks her lips. ''Still recovering.''

She nods her head. ''I wish I could see him. You both grew up so well.''

Brandi stood in silence. The moments to be sincere is far what she wanted from her at this point.

Luna cocks her head. ''Challenge me a bit, I could use a test dummy.''

''Cut me and I'll strangle you.''

Luna chuckles softly as Brandi reaches out for a spike similar to hers. ''I should be telling you that, you're the one who hates me.''

Luna swung her spike and Brandi was quick swing hers back, the metal clashing together.

''I can't hate someone I used to love.''

The lost daze conquering her mothers features allowed Brandi to act quickly as she removed her staff, spinning on one foot and kicking the spike in a different direction.

Once she's back to facing her, she pokes the tip of her spike into her clothed chest.

''You still love me?''

She furrows her brows. ''You're my mom. I never forgot about you and the life we lived.''

Luna delivers her staff in between the two as well, poking her metal tip against her clothed stomach.

''I'm surprised you're not fighting,'' She pursed the corners of her lips. ''You would have killed to have a competition like this back then.''

She winced. ''Agh.''

Taking a step back, she dropped the wooden staff from her grasp to grip on to her stomach that churned.

Luna rolls her eyes. ''I barely touched you.''

While looking down at her stomach, she shakes her head vigorously. ''It's not that.''

She furrows her brows as she lowers her staff against her side. Luna walked up to her, confused by the looks of her daughter's agitated features.

Using her free hand, she lifts her head up only a little by her chin to meet her gaze.

She removes her touch from her chin and instead exchanges it on her stomach. She pressed against and felt how stuffed she was.

''You're bloated,'' She clarifies.

''I'm in pain,'' She corrects.

Luna narrows her eyes, darting for her lips. Her lips were drying up, slowly growing cracks given she was breathing through her mouth.

''Something wrong your breathing?''

She shakes her head. ''No, I can breathe.''

She arches a brow. ''Inhale.''

Brandi intakes air through her lips but instantly releases when she shook her head again. ''Inhale through your nose.''

''I can't,'' She tells her.

''Why not?''

She chuckles dryly, ''Because it's stuffy. Why the hell does this matter?''

Luna breathes out a grin. Her free hands lands on the back of her head, pulling her close until their foreheads touched.

''I love you, Brandi,'' She mumbles. ''Tell Tristan, I love him too.''

''I will,'' She stammers out with the nod of her head.

× × ×

The moment those double doors were kicked open and Octavia Blake triumphantly strode down the aisle with all the sigils dangling in her hand, blood splattered from head to toe, Brandi was practically bouncing in her spot and gripping on to Kane's arm.

She accomplished what little believed in. Brandi Potter was one of them and she couldn't be any more proud of the youngest Blake.

Gaia sweeps the like of necklaces off of the floor after Octavia tossed them to her feet.

''Octavia kom Skaikru,'' She looks up from the chains and breathes out of disbelief, ''Is victorious.''

There was a moment where quiet murmurs rushed to the surface. They came to an immediate hault as Gaia announced, ''The crypt of the first commander belongs to her people.''

''No.'' She walks up the steps and faces the advisors standing before her. ''I wasn't fighting for Skaikru today. I thought I was fighting for myself, but I now know that's not true, either. I was fighting for us all. Skaikru will not take the bunker alone. We will share it equally because we are equal. We are one clan, and we will survive praimfaya together. Ogeda.''

Ogeda became a chant all around.

Brandi would of joined in along the fun but she couldn't help but wonder where Bellamy had wandered off that is making him this moment?

The speed in her legs quickened as she walks over to Octavia, the brunette that limped into Indra's arms.

''Lincoln would be so proud of you,'' Indra praises.

Brandi smiles, resting a hand on Indra's shoulder. ''We are all so proud of you, hun.''

Attention was averted to Kane that approached. His features contorted into something serious that made him stern.

''There won't be enough room for all of our people,'' He prompts in a whisper, only sure the ladies in front of him heard.

''It's unity day, Kane.''

Brandi accidentally let's out a snarl. She loathes that day. Speaking from experience, that day doesn't necessarily end so well, from the story told and from when she got stabbed in the thigh by an arrow.

Something within Octavia snapped as she began looking around with purpose. ''Where's my brother?''

Everything was moving so fast. Like how uncanny Brandi becoming, cursing and wishing the worst upon the people that locked themselves in the bunker.

They were ready, they could have strived as one. But yet, Skaikru messed it all up.