— CHAPTER FOUR,
the enemy within.

THE WEIGHT IN HER HANDS MAKES HER HEART RACE.

The sword laid across her hands is beautifully crafted. The metal shines brightly, light reflecting off of the cleanish steel. This sword has taken many lives, all at the hands of Ruby Carson.

This is her sword.

The sword that found its way to her. She carried this weapon with her for weeks. And now it's back in her presence. This is the sword she has taken so, so many lives with. She never wants to part with the weapon again.

The others have traveled to Mount Weather to help Pike's people get settled in as there isn't enough room at Arkadia for everyone. Raven asked Ruby if she wanted to come but the Carson girl said no. She isn't ready to face those demons.

Not yet.

No there.

She isn't ready to walk the halls and see the dead bodies of the five men she killed so brutally despite their bodies not being there anymore. She knows, in her mind, she'd replay the slaughter over and over. She isn't ready to walk into the dorm and remember Raven's screams or Marcus's panic. She isn't ready to see the ghost of Cage Wallace and his evil smirk.

Marcus and Abby have left for the summit in Polis, the capital. Luca and Lincoln told her about it during their time at the bunker. They taught her everything there is to know about Grounders and their culture. They told her about all of the clans and every commander there's ever been. They told her about nightblood and the meaning behind their black blood.

Ruby now in a chair in the hanger bay. She needs some time to process the events of today.

She's back home again.

With her people.

But Bellamy isn't hers anymore.

He's Gina's.

Deep down, she hates him for it. But on the outside, Ruby doesn't blame him. She's been gone for three months. She could've been dead for all Bellamy had known. During those three months, Ruby would've give anything to be with Bellamy and the rest of her people.

Killed anyone.

But it still gifts all the same.

How had they shared so much during the first month and half on the ground but it only took him two months to move on?

It would taken Ruby a life time to move on from Bellamy Blake.

She wonders to herself it had always been a one-sided love. She wants to ask him, why? Why did he move on so quickly? Why did he turn his back on her? Why does he love another woman?

The sudden sound of shuffling causes Ruby to turn and look over her shoulder. Behind her, Jasper approaches the moonshine to get more. She watched with sad eyes as he gets a metal cup like he had earlier and fills it with the liquid. He downs it without even making a face.

"That shit will kill you." Ruby speaks up, announcing her presence.

Jasper scoffs at her words. "I'm already dead." He speaks up. Then he points at her, "and so are you."

"Maybe so," she shrugs. She raises her sword so that her face reflects in the shiny metal. She eyeballs herself. She takes in her hurting cheekbones and defined jawline. Her eyes linger on her reflected eyes for a beat longer. "But who's to say death is the end?"

"It is the end. There's nothing after. Just. . . death." Jasper shakes his head, leaning against the table. He stares down at his feet.

"It could be," Ruby says. She stands, sheathing her sword as she does. She walks over to Jasper and leans against the table beside him. She looks to him. "It's good to be back."

"It's good to have you back." Jasper's brown eyes lock with hers. "It was so— what's a good word? Weird not having you around."

"Believe me, Jas, you wouldn't have wanted me around until like three days ago." She says. "I don't think you guys should even want me here now."

She watches Jasper runs his hand down his face. A frown tugs at her lips as he looks back at her with tears in his eyes. "Jasper, what is it?" She asked worriedly.

"Cage. . . he— he. . . I'm so sorry, Ruby." Jasper breathes out. "I should've stopped you. You were meant to stay with us— me, Maya, and Octavia. I could've. . . I should've stopped you!"

An agonized look forms in her eyes. Ruby did tell everyone the entire story. From the moment she heard Marcus's voice on that radio three months ago to the point where she returned to Arkadia. She did notice that Bellamy lingered in the room as she told her story and left as soon as she finished. She tried not to think about it.

"It's not your fault, Jasper." Ruby says softly. It's the most gentle she's spoken in months. "Cage had that planned for me. He was going to make me his own killer because he knew if he didn't, I would've killed him. He was going to accomplish that before he died one way or another. He was very ambitious son of a bitch, I have to give him that."

She watches as more unwelcome tears spring in Jasper's brown eyes. She does something unexpected. Jasper noticed her hesitance to touch people when she returned earlier in the day. So when she slowly wraps her arms around his middle, he's taken aback.

But Jasper doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around her shoulders and hold her more closely than he ever has. He saved her once, a long time ago. When she sat against that tree with a lost look on her eyes and blood all over her. And now it's her turn to save her. While he has the lost look in his eyes and pain in his heart.

"It's not your fault." Ruby whispers.

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Night has settled over them. Now, Ruby stands beside Ryland who also didn't leave to Polis or Mount Weather. Ryland gnaws on his finger nails, a nervous habit he's obviously picked up over the last three months. In his other hand, he holds a walkie-talkie. The pair of best friends heard an explosion in the direction of Mount Weather several seconds ago.

Ruby stares off into that direction when she hears Raven's voice come in over the radio.

"Bellamy, Ryland. Guys, come in. The Grounders attacked Mount Weather." She coughs into the radio. Static crackles.

"What are you talking about?" Bellamy suddenly asks over the radio.

"It's gone, it's gone. They're all gone. Sinclair, Amara, and I are the only ones left. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Ruby can hear the sob that threatens to break through Raven's lips.

"All of them?" Ryland whispers.

"All of them." Raven cries. Ruby watches with a sad expression as Ryland covers his mouth, tears coming to his brown eyes. Ruby doesn't know exactly how to react, she doesn't feel the need to cry but she feel as if she's failed everyone inside the Mountain. But they weren't her people. Her people are her, they're in Polis, they're the only three left at Mount Weather.

Sudden realization dawns on Ruby.

Gina was at Mount Weather.

Bellamy is going be broken.

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Ruby stands in the hanger bay with her hands folded behind her back as the rover pulls to a stop. She watches as the door opens and slams shut. Her eyes and Bellamy's lock as he shuts the door. Ruby allows her eyes to look away first as Marcus exits the driver's side. Pike, Abby, and Octavia all file out of the back.

Octavia freezes when she sees Ruby. Despite all the madness, Octavia embraces her friend and kisses her right on the forehead.

"What the hell happened?" Ruby asks Marcus as he approaches the two girls.

"Azgeda attacked Mount Weather. Half of Pike's were killed." He tells her, keeping his voice low as he looks over at a distraught looking Pike. "And Skaikru is now the thirteenth clan." He rolls up his sleeve to reveal the burned mark of the coalition. Ice Nation. Sky People.

"The other twelve clans won't be happy about this. Especially Azgeda." Ruby informs him. Ice Nation.

"Clarke was there." Marcus says. Ruby's eyes dart to meet his. "She's safe."

"She won't be for long," Ruby says breathlessly.

"What do you mean?" Marcus squints.

"Queen Nia. . . she's going to be pissed." Ruby tells him.

"The queen of Azgeda? She'll be angry?" Marcus questions her. Ice Nation.

"Oh, yeah. Extremely. Lincoln and Luca told me all about her. She's a power hungry, selfish bitch. She doesn't believe Skaikru should have a spot on the coalition. She also wants Wanheda's power. Kill Wanheda, you'll command death." Ruby says. Sky People. Commander of Death.

"Wanheda? As in Clarke?" He asks. Ruby nods. He heaves a sigh before asking, "have the others returned? Sinclair, Raven, and Amara?" Commander of Death.

"Yeah," Ruby says quietly.

─────────

An alarm starts to blare.

From where he stands beside Ruby, Luca looks over at her. "What the hell is that?" He asks.

"I have no idea," she shakes her head.

"All security personnel report to the Main Gate." A voice instructs over the PA system. This is enough to get the duo to rush to the main gate of Arkadia.

When they get here, there's several Grounders surrounded by the guards. However, a familiar face stares back at them. Ruby's eyes wide.

"Nyko?" Ruby asks quietly. She quickly rushes over to where the guards pat down the Grounders and Nyko for any type of weapon.

Octavia approaches.

"Hey, hey, hey! That's enough!" She demands.

"Stop it!" Luca hisses as he helps one of the fallen Grounder's stand back to his feet. Luca protectively shifts in front of him.

"The Chancellor told Nyko that we would help." Octavia informs the guards.

A guard turns to glower down at Octavia, "you're one of them, you take 'em in. Or you can let your Reaper friends do it."

The air stills.

Luca and Ruby both freeze. Their eyes turn to the man. Luca's eyes are stunned, surprised the man would even say that. But Ruby's eyes are full of dangerous rage.

"What'd you just say?" Ruby asks lowly.

"I said she could get her Reaper friends to take in these bastards," the guard steps closer, as if challenging her.

Ruby's lip curls in anger. "You wanna see what a fucking Reaper can do?"

"That's enough." Luca grabs her arm, pulling her away from the man. He leans in and whispers quietly in her ear, "he is not worth it. Save your energy."

Ruby never takes her eyes off of the guard. When the man finally looks away, Luca releases her arm. Ruby keeps her eyes on the man as she helps a young Grounder to her feet. She can't be much older than Ruby. Perhaps even younger, probably around sixteen. "I got you," Ruby tells her.

Ruby, Luca, and Octavia all help the group of sick Grounders to med bay where Abby is preparing herself and the room for them.

Once everyone is settled in a bed, Abby looks to Ruby. "Thank you," she starts. "You know, the memorial is starting soon."

"I don't really care." Ruby tells her.

"You should go," Abby walks up to Ruby, she puts her hands on both of Ruby's biceps. "They were your people."

"No, they weren't." Ruby shakes her head firmly. "My people are in these beds. My people are out there working to make this a better home. My people are in Polis as we speak. Raven, Octavia, Lincoln, Jasper, Monty, Harper, Clarke, Miller, you, Marcus, Luca, Indra."

"Bellamy?" Abby raises her eyebrows.

Ruby tries to hide the hurt expression that crosses her face as she thinks of Bellamy's betrayal. Then she says, "he's not my people anymore."

After this, Ruby leaves med bay. She goes to the hanger bay where the memorial for those lost at Mount Weather is being held. She silently slips into the room and stands in the back. Her brown and red eyes flicker over the room.

"All is certain that we die. How we die is up to us," Pike starts. "Who will speak for Iris Jones?"

She watches as Miller's boyfriend, Bryan, stands and walks to the front. He turns to face the crowd. "Iris was strong.  Good with a knife. She saved my life. I'm just sorry I couldn't do the same for her." He flicks open a pocket knife and sets it on the metal table. He retreats back to the crowd, settling beside Miller.

"We will miss Iris. May we meet again," Pike speaks up. Everyone repeats the phrase. Everyone expect Ruby. Then Pike starts to speak again. "Who will speak for Gina Martin?"

Immediately, Ruby's eyes fly to Bellamy. She watches as he stands and makes his way to the front. He faces the crowd and takes a steadying breath.

"Gina was real. She always saw the light, even here. She understood the pain I was in when I—" for a moment he stops talking. His eyes meet Ruby's eyes from across the room. He sees the emotion in her eyes. He looks back down. "She deserved better." He sets down the Iliad on the metal table but as he does, the door to the hanger bay opens and several guards approach Pike.

Ruby's eyes flicker as Lincoln approaches her from the side. He comes to stand beside her. "What's going on?" She whispers.

"Just listen," he tells her.

Ruby turns her attention back to Pike and the others.

"What? You have a Grounder a radio!?" Pike hisses. The crowd begins to mumble amongst themselves.

"Sir, are we under attack?" Hannah Green pipes.

"No, we are not under attack!" Marcus quickly stands up. "Their commander sent a peacekeeping force. To ensure that we can defend any further attack from the Ice Nation."

"Peacekeeping force? Even you can't be that naïve, Marcus!" Pike's voice raises to a bear shout. Ruby's hand slowly reaches for her sword.

"Watch your tone." Abby pipes. "You're talking to the next chancellor. We're all grieving. This has been hard on all of us. But we can't let anger drive our policy."

"Anger is our policy." Pike steps up. "Now if they're here to defend us, as you say! Tell them to go home! We can defend ourselves!"

"Defend yourselves?" Ruby's voice cuts through the air. All eyes in the room turn to her. "Azgeda are the ones that killed took your people out." Ruby's face turns dangerous. She steps up, then she takes a few steps forward. "They're the ones that killed your people from the very beginning right? The Grounders are not bad people. Not all of them. Azgeda is. They're power hungry. Trikru didn't do shit to you. They're the ones that murdered my people, my friends! And now here we are, we have peace with them. Don't play with me and mine, Pike. I'll kill you before you even get the damn chance." Ice Nation. Tree Clan.

Everyone watches as Pike jumps down from where he stands. He approaches Ruby, getting in her face. Lincoln tenses at this. Marcus makes his way toward them.

"Are you threatening me?" Pike asks her in a low voice.

"I'm promising you." She snarls.

"You!" Comes the sudden shout. A man stands and points at Lincoln. "You don't belong here. You're one of them!"

That's when a rock is flung across the room. It strikes Lincoln directly in the head. Ruby is fast to react. She shoves Pike away from her before she darts to Lincoln, pulling her sword from its sheath in the process.

That's when the fighting starts.

Lincoln grabs Ruby's arm and pulls her behind him protectively. He takes a blow to the stomach. Then another to his face.

"Back up!" Ruby shouts furiously. She prepares herself bring down the Sky People but before she can do anything, Pike stops this.

"Hey!" He shouts. Everyone stops and look to him. "We do not attack our own! Fighting each other only makes us weak! The enemy is not in this camp. The enemy is out there."

"Maybe the enemy is in this camp," Ruby speaks up. Pike's eyes meet her's through the chaos. She sees the anger in his eyes. And he sees the hatred in her eyes.

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word count: 2,745
episodes: ye who enter here & watch the thrones

WOWWOWOWOW!!!

okay, so, originally i hated this chapter but now?? i love this bitch. i added over 1,000 words and i'm just obsessed with this chapter.

ruby, lincoln, and luca are so precious. i love them so much. ruby loves her people but lincoln and luca are HER family. they all share a special bond that she doesn't have with anyone else (excpet ryland). but even then, ryland didn't experience the trauma of being a reaper like the other three did. their shared trauma is what makes them so incredibly close. they truly love each other with all their hearts and it means so much to me. 

also, rellamy is totally fucked!!! their relationship is about to hit the fan. let me just say, guys, the fall of ruby and bellamy is not a pretty one. it's ugly and sad but it's one of my favorite storylines because it's so important to the rest of the series  and their relationship in the future.

octavia and ruby have also reunited!! i didn't give them a huge reunion because octavia was always updated by lincoln whenever he came to arkadia. but octavia was very happy to see ruby with her people again.

also, that ruby and jasper scene 🥹. they're my babies fr. their friendship is one of my absolute favorites in this entire series. they got close at the very start and they stay close until the very end.

anyway, guys, things are about to get very, very interesting.