AVERY HAD OCTAVIA STAY WITH HER BROTHER WHILE SHE DEALT WITH THE OTHERS. She ordered them to keep building the wall, that the Grounders weren't going to stop while we dealt with our own problems.

Once the older Blake woke up, the sun had disappeared and darkness set in. 

"Where did they go?" He asked, quickly approaching her,

"In the woods." Bellamy nodded and started walking towards the camp's exit, "Woah, Bellamy, it's too dangerous."

"Charlotte's out there." He argued,

"With Finn and Clarke!" Avery stated, "She'll be okay."

"Do you really think Finn and Clarke can handle Murphy?" Bellamy asked, staring into her eyes,

She looked at him for a moment, "Let's go." They went to the exit and Avery looked out into the woods. 

The Grounders were still out there. And in the darkness, they are definitely at a disadvantage.

Bellamy looked back at her, "What are you waiting for?"

"It's just..." She looked up at him, "Last time I went out there... Jasper..."

"Look," He walked back over and stood in front of Avery, "I'll protect you out there. There'll be nothing to worry about."

"How can I believe that?"

"Just trust me, sweetheart."

Avery hesitated before nodding, "Okay. I can do that."

"Good." He grabbed her wrist and they ran into the forest, "Now let's find her before Murphy gets ahold of her."

They ran towards the direction that Avery knew Finn's hideout was. They tried to stay quiet, not wanting to risk being found by the Grounders or Murphy.

The two heard footsteps and Bellamy immediately pulled her behind the tree and the two quieted their breathing. Avery poked her head around the tree and noticed a shorter figure with a braid.

"Charlotte." Avery whispered.

Bellamy quickly went over to the younger girl and grabbed her. She let out a scream and he quickly quieted her,

Suddenly, a bunch of deep voices filled the air, "Charlotte! You can't hide forever."

"Don't worry. We won't hurt you."

They began to run, "Let me go!" She tried to pull away,

"I'm trying..." He pulled her back, "Hey, hey. I'm trying to help you."

Charlotte stopped struggling, "I'm not your sister! Just stop helping me!" She broke away and started running, "I'm over here!"

"Charlotte!" Avery tried to grab her but she slipped away,

"Are you trying to get us all killed?" Bellamy asked, grabbing onto the girl again, 

"Just go, okay? I'm the one they want."

Bellamy grabbed her shoulders, "Okay, Charlotte, listen to me. I won't leave you. We won't leave you."

"Please, Bellamy." He sighed and lifted her over his shoulders, "Aah! Murphy! I'm over here!"

 "Come on out, Charlotte! Come on out." Avery heard Murphy's voice behind her,

"Shit."

The two of them began running, Avery sticking behind Bellamy in case someone came from behind. Charlotte continued screaming, probably attracting more than just Murphy.

Bellamy stopped and Avery accidentally bumped into him, grabbing onto his arm as she noticed the cliff. He quickly set the younger girl down and they both stepped in front of her, blocking her from Murphy as he stepped through the trees.

"You can't fight all of us." Murphy smirked, "Give her up."

"Maybe not, but I guarantee I'll take a few of you with me."

Avery stepped forward, "Wait, wait. There has to be a better way to handle this." She turned to look at Bellamy, "Let's talk about this."

"I'm sick of listening to you talk." Murphy pulled her by the hair and up against him. She was going to fight back when he placed a knife to her throat,

"Let her go."

"I will slit her throat." He tightened his grip.

Avery let out a small whimper. Throughout the years, there was never really a situation where such violence had occurred. Yes, the day she was arrested there were a few punches thrown but nothing like weapons being involved. Now, here she was, trying to diffuse the situation, and she had a knife to her throat.

"Murphy!" Clarke and Finn broke through the tree line a paused when they saw the situation, "Look, just calm down, okay?"

"Don't tell me to calm down!" Murphy growled, pulling on Avery's hair more and she let out a small yelp. Clarke raised her hands in surrender and took a step back,

"Please don't hurt her." Charlotte begged from behind Bellamy,

 "Don't hurt her? Okay, I'll make you a deal. You come with me right now, I will let her go." Murphy stated,

"Don't do it, Charlotte." Avery said, making eye contact with the little girl.

She looked down at tried to pass Bellamy, who held her back, "No! No, I have to!" She cried,

"Murphy, this is not happening." Bellamy told the boy,

Charlotte shook her head, "I can't let any of you get hurt anymore. Not because of me. Not after what I did."

Avery watched as the little girl turned around. Murphy loosened his grip on her and Avery darted forward as she jumped, "No!"

She jumped. Charlotte jumped to her death because of the guilt and commotion of it all. She's dead.

Clarke came over and wrapped her arm around Avery's shoulder, helping her up and making sure Murphy didn't do any damage.

"Bellamy, stop!" The two girls turned to see Bellamy tackle Murphy to the ground and repeatedly punch him, "You'll kill him!"

Finn went over and pulled him off, "Get off me! He deserves to die."

"No!" Avery took a step forward, "We don't decide who lives and dies. Not down here."

Bellamy shook his head, "So help me God, if you say the people have a right to decide..."

"No, I was wrong before, okay?" Clarke stood beside Avery, "You were right. Sometimes it's dangerous to tell people the truth. But if we're gonna survive down here, we can't just live by whatever the hell we want. We need rules."

"And who makes those rules, huh? You?" He questioned,

"For now, we make the rules. The three of us. Okay?"

"So, what, then? We just take him back and pretend like it never happened?" Bellamy scoffed,

"No!" Clarke looked back at the bloody Murphy that laid on the ground, "We banish him."

Bellamy looked between Avery and Clarke before grabbing Murphy by the jacket and dragging him towards the edge of the cliff, "Get up."

"Bellamy! Stop!" Avery held Clarke back,

"Wait."

"If I ever catch you near camp, we'll be back here. Understand?" Murphy nodded and Bellamy tossed him back on the ground before turning towards the others, "As for the four of you, you can come back and follow me, or go off with him to die. Your choice."

Bellamy grabbed onto Avery's arm and pulled her back towards camp. They didn't make it very far before he stopped and turned towards her.

He quickly checked her for any injuries, "Bell-" Before she could finish, he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered into her hair,

Avery pulled back, "What are you so sorry about?"

Bellamy stared down at her for a moment, "I told you that you could trust me and I'd protect you. But I couldn't do that... I couldn't even save Char-"

She gripped his wrists, "Bellamy, listen to me. What happened to Charlotte wasn't your fault. No one saw it coming. And Murphy didn't do more than pull my hair. None of this is on you."

"If I didn't kick the box that sent Murphy to hang, maybe-"

"If you didn't do it someone else would have. This isn't on you, Bellamy. It isn't your fault."