┍━━━━━━━━━━┑
chapter ten.
drop these weapons now.
┕━━━━━━━━━━┙

"That doesn't seem possible."

A heavy sigh came from June as she hung her head in her hands. She had spent what felt like hours, maybe years, trying to explain to Jackson what happened to Raven the day before. She started at the beginning, the full story, with her and Raven listening to Jaha's story about a chip that takes away pain and brings you to the City of Light. Then how the frantic girl was screeching that it took all of her memories, and she couldn't remember Finn or what happened between her and June. Jackson's reaction was fair. June sounded crazy, and she knew it. If she hadn't experienced it for herself, she wouldn't believe it either.

"I know," June mumbled. "I don't know how else to explain it." She was so frustrated that she could cry. She hasn't seen Raven in what felt like a year, wanting to comply with her wishes to be left alone. June didn't even know if she was okay or not and it was eating at her.

It was quiet between June and Jackson in Arkadia's medical station, with the sick grounders in lock-up still. Her mind was drowning in all of its struggles. Raven wasn't safe, neither was her friend, Lincoln. She didn't know what to do, especially when Jackson was staring at her like she sprouted another head. "So this chip," he began, a bit awkwardly now. "You're saying that you swallow it, and then it... Eliminates pain?"

"Yeah." June sighed again, lifting her head up. "But she doesn't remember anything that was painful for her. I wouldn't believe it either, but I know her. She isn't lying. She's terrified." June was well-aware she sounded dramatic with her emphasizing her words, but she can't help expressing her fear.

Yet, Jackson nods, even if he doesn't understand. "How about you calm down and take a breath," he suggested carefully as if he was walking on eggshells around June. "If Abby is taking this as serious as you say, I will too. I'll talk to Jaha myself. See if there's anything more to it than the tests Abby did," he offered gently.

Although Jackson had every reason to believe June had lost her mind, he only gave her kind words that made her weakly smile. "Thank you," she responded, genuinely touched.

The doors to medical slid open and Abby herself walked in, causing their conversation to be halted. Abby strolled in, an urgent expression on her face that she was doing her best to mask as she approached the desk that the air sat at. "June," she greeted. "I could use your help. I got a call from Chancellor Pike about two guards falling."

"Really?" June said slowly. "That doesn't sound suspicious at all." Then she shook her head. "I can't. I'm worried about Raven and the chip, I think - "

"Now, please," Abby interrupted, more demanding than before.

June feels small at the commanding tone thrown at her by the older woman, and can't stop herself from caving. She swiped up two small, portable First-Aid kits, handing one to Abby. "Thanks again, Jackson," she said to the assistant, genuine and grateful that he had sat and listened, and even offered to talk to Jaha himself when seeing June was that worried about the mechanic she loved. As they leave, June noticed that Abby was moving much more fast than normal and picked up the pace to match hers. "What are we even doing?" She questioned quickly.

"We're saving them. The prisoners," Abby answered while keeping her sight locked ahead of them. "I thought you'd want to help."

That was enough for June. She had so many more questions, ones that she didn't think Abby would be open to answer just yet with the panic rising, but she didn't ask. She kept silent as she followed, thinking back to the prisoners. Not only her friend Lincoln but innocent, sick people that didn't belong behind prison bars. June could use her intelligence and guess that a plan had happened without her while she was so concerned about Raven against Chancellor Pike who could have decided something terrible.

There were two guards on the ground, who June thought both to be out cold, as they arrive and see them sprawled in front of a room. But one of them was Bryan, who stirred where Miller crouched over him, a smile appearing. "Is the other guard okay?" June asked, still confused as she came up behind them.

"Yeah," Miller confirmed. "Just the sedation drug, but I wouldn't risk it. Time to be fast."

Nodding, June attached the First-Aid kit to her belt, figuring it could be used later before rushing into the room. Octavia was cutting Lincoln's wired bounds then moving to Sinclair's, while Abby worked on Kane's who gave her a disapproving look. "I told you not to do this," he warned her lowly.

"Why would I start listening to you now?" Abby retorted, a smile spreading on her lips.

A nudge pressed on June's back, and she turned to see Miller handing out guns, holding a rifle in her direction. But she denied it, shaking her head. "It's alright, I don't need it. I shouldn't sneak out. Pike still trusts me for now." She paused, thinking of all the crude comments June has made since she met him. "I think."

The radio attached to Octavia's hip beeps. "Okay, S, come in." It was Harper, her tone laced with anxiety.

"What is it?" Lincoln asked Octavia, seeing her features fall into shock.

"This wasn't the plan. We used their frequencies so they could hear us," Octavia panicked, bringing her walkie to her mouth and pressing the button. "Go ahead!"

"Stay where you are," Harper warned. "Repeat, stay where you are. The exit is not clear."

Shutting her eyes briefly, Octavia took a deep breath. "How many guards?" She questioned boldly like she was prepared to fight her way through.

"Too many. I said stay put."

Nobody knows what to do and a silence follows over them. June thinks back to what she said earlier. Pike trusts me for now. I think. "Maybe I can do something," she tried to offer, hopeful that she could help. "Try and direct them a different way - "

But June's words are cut off when Octavia's radio rapidly speaks. "Calling all guards. The prisoners are headed for the main gate. I repeat; the prisoners are headed for the main gate! Over!" It exclaimed, the voice familiar.

"That was Monty?" Octavia guessed. In disbelief, June slowly smiled, full of fondness that her friend had pitched in and saved them at the last second.

"Guess he's with us after all," Miller added flatly.

"I probably could have told you that," June informed him, knowing her faith in Monty was too strong to doubt.

Kane rose with the other two prisoners from where he was freed. "What if Pike finds out?" He pointed out.

"We don't know what," Abby protested. "What we do know is we have to move."

With Abby right, the group escorting the prisoners down unmonitored halls scurry to leave without being caught. June wished for a moment that she did take up Miller's off of carrying a firearm, before she shakes it off, knowing she didn't need it. She couldn't leave the station without Raven and being reassured that she was okay, and Pike didn't know she was helping the prisoners escape. June was safe in Arkadia at least, and she didn't have a reason to go with them, not if Raven was out of her mind and losing her memory because of a chip.

Harper was waiting for them and was more than relieved when she sees them all approach. She moves to quickly pull a curved wall piece and reveal a hidden trail that had to lead to the outside. She waves to hurry them along, Bryan and Miller leaving first, Sinclair following. "Go on," Kane urged Harper, waving her inside. "Okay, Abby, June, come on. You'll be next."

"I can't," June protested with a shake of her head. "Raven needs me. But keep my friends safe, okay?" She timidly requested, filled with relief when Kane nodded in promise.

"I'm not going either," Abby stated, catching both June and Kane off guard. "They need someone to show them the way out of the dark... Besides, I - "

All of a sudden, Kane sprung forward mid-sentence, cupping Abby's face in his hands and pulling her to him. Their lips meet in a passionate kiss, one June assumes is their first time after a long time of pinning. She can't hide her smile, but her head turned, giving the two adults privacy for a minute. When they break apart, Kane is still holding Abby, but more gingerly as he whispered to her. "May we meet again."

"We will," Abby replied determinedly. She sent Kane one last longing look before she left, the air tense behind her.

June opened her mouth to say good-bye herself. She was prepared to spin on her heels, possibly head back to medical and wait for Raven to call for her, but everything came to a stop when Octavia's radio went off one more time.

"I have a message for the traitors of this camp. There will be an execution today. Either turn yourselves in or the other grounder prisoners will die in your place."

A wave of disgust washed over June. She wanted to say so - speak her thoughts, that Pike was a repulsive tyrant who was going to be overthrown no matter the costs it took. But she isn't given a chance, because Lincoln straightened once he heard the message delivered and started to turn away. June's heart sinks in her chest.

"Please don't!" Octavia begged, lurching to grab his arm and tug him back. "No, wait!"

"I can't let them die because of me," Lincoln argued, his voice cracking.

"This isn't happening." June steps back into place, trying to seem brave enough to convince Lincoln to stay, refusing to show how scared she was to lose another friend. "I'll stop Pike from doing this, I will. But you - you have to stay."

But Lincoln; the most selfless person June had ever met, tilted his head in her direction sadly. "You can't stop this, June," he told her gently.

"Lincoln, no. Please," Octavia pleaded again before gesturing to the open escape door. "We're almost out."

"I know what you're feeling, but they're searching the station," Kane attempted to sympathize with him. "And we need to go. Now."

Lincoln nodded, and the spark in June that prayed he'd stay died when he disagreed. "You should."

"Fine. I'm going with you." Octavia's bluntness caused June to snap her head at her, unable to bear the thought of losing two close friends, even one sending a dagger in her shattering heart. "Oso throu daun ogeda," Octavia continued fearlessly, oblivious that June's world was crashing down into pieces around her. (We fight together.)

The most sorrowful look is brought to Lincoln's features. If June wasn't heartbroken before, she was now, feeling a sudden wetness trail down her one of her cheeks as she watched Lincoln gently bring his hands to Octavia's face, cupping her jaw with adoration. "I love you," he said softly. As Kane had done to Abby, Lincoln pulled Octavia into a loving kiss, one hand trailing down her side until it reached the bag hanging on her shoulder.

June doesn't know Lincoln is sedating Octavia until she saw the medication sticking out of her neck. "No!" Octavia gasped, teary eyes fluttering shut when her system is filled with the drug and crumpling down. Lincoln quickly leans down to catch her limp body, tucking one arm under her bent legs and the other under her shoulders to lift her.

Helpless, June doesn't bother fighting back the tears that had built up now. "Lincoln," is all she can cry, the words that she wanted to beg for him to stay not coming out. But Lincoln doesn't look at her, too focused on the girl he loves unconscious draped in his arms.

"What are you doing?" Kane questioned like what was happening before them wasn't already clear enough.

Without answering at first, Lincoln carefully brings Octavia around, handing her to Kane. Her weak limbs swing around like she's a rag doll. "Same thing you'd do for your people," Lincoln responded gravely. "Just get her out of here."

Understanding, Kane slowly nodded as he stepped past the door. He doesn't leave just yet, not looking at June's trembling form, but Lincoln. "Ste yuj," he says firmly. (Stay strong.)

"You too," Lincoln says. Kane is visibly struggling with grief as he turned, leaving and taking Octavia with him. Lincoln was about to turn himself but stopped when June pushed past the wobbling in her knees to lunge forward and throw her arms over his burly stature. Lincoln clearly isn't expecting it as his arms are open, unsure what to do at first, before they're brought down to rest around her hips. And when he feels a few wet drops stain his neck from June's watery eyes, he lowered his head to whisper in her ear.

"Ge smak daun, gyon op nodotaim." (Get knocked down, get back up.)

The message is clear. There's nothing June can do to stop the inevitable, and the agony of grief that is soon to come, she would have to rise from. She nods from where her face is pressed against Lincoln's shoulder, blinking fast to see through her blurry vision as she released him, drawing her arms back to herself. "Go," Lincoln urged June kindly, pressing her shoulder to send her off.

And June does. She finally takes off in the opposite direction of Lincoln's path, walking so fast down Arkadia's halls that her shaking legs nearly collapse from the pressure. She began to wish. June wished that she expressed her thanks to Lincoln - would have gone back and said the two words a million times if she could. She wished that she could hug him again, squeeze him tightly until the pain faded. But most of all, June prayed that what she knew was going to happen wouldn't. That Lincoln, the incredibly kind and giving man full of faith who made her change her mind about grounders, wouldn't be given a fate that he didn't deserve.

Every broken thought running in circles around June's head is stopped when she collided with another body. "Woah," they speak in surprise, stumbling back as their hands fly up to catch June's arms before she tumbled to the ground. June is exhausted, thinking maybe she had been running for hours, and both the movement and life had sucked everything out of her. "You okay, there?" They ask.

June has to pick her head up and blink away her tears multiple times to be sure she's right, that it's Jasper who's gripping her arms, eyes flickering up and down to study her. June wanted to tell him everything, even if he didn't care and hated her. She wanted to spill her guts everywhere, but she can't. The only words that June can muster come out brokenly. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She's not even sure what she's apologizing for - the torture that both of them had been through since landing? Being the cause of Maya's death? All of Mount Weather? All of it? She's apologized a dozen times, but not while breaking down crying until she is struggling to breathe correctly. Maybe June had truly lost her mind, but she's sure for a moment that Jasper looked forgiving as he gave her a curt nod. "I know," he finally mumbled before the subject changes. "Raven sent me to find you, but if this is a bad time..."

"Okay. Okay..." June repeated, bringing her hand up to wipe furiously at her eyes, though nothing helps. She cares about Raven, she does, but all she can think of is Lincoln. It doesn't help when June sees a flicker of movement happening behind Jasper's head outside of a large, open window.

It's raining heavily. Dirty water splashed around the mud as Lincoln, his wrists bound, fell to his knees, still keeping his head up bravely. Chancellor Pike stood in front of him, one hand being brought to the handgun in the holster at his hip. June doesn't look at Jasper again as she walked around him, her boots feeling like dragging bricks as she staggered to the window and pressed the palm of her hands on the bottom rim.

"June," Jasper says carefully from behind her. "Maybe you shouldn't watch this..."

"No," June breathed out, but she isn't sure if she's saying it to Jasper or what Pike was about to do as he brings the gun out. A part of June knows that Jasper is right. She shouldn't be witnessing the execution Pike was firm about. It'll be the worst memory of Lincoln she'll have, maybe be the only one she could remember that would overpower all the goods ones.

As Pike pointed the barrel of his gun at Lincoln's head, June remembered everything. From when he was holding Octavia hostage and stabbed Finn after they broke into his cave to save her, the very first time she had seen him. Shortly after that, when she witnessed Bellamy torturing Lincoln for information. When June saw him embrace Octavia on the bridge, holding her like he never wanted to let her go, she was appalled a friend had decided to be with a grounder. Then when June and Finn had gone into his cave again to steal medicine to save Raven, and he held a knife to her throat. She hated the idea of running through the woods with him when he wanted to tag along, but that changed when June was hit by arrows and he refused to leave her behind, carrying her out of the warzone.

It changed from there. A close friendship and mutual respect to one another was sparked, and June cared about Lincoln. He sacrificed his place belonging with his people to help save her friends, and then again to try and help them at Mount Weather when Lexa made a deal and left them all to die. Lincoln was known as a traitor to Trikru, but to June, he was so much more. He was kind, optimistic, compassionate, generous, and selfless.

The light Lincoln carried died the second Pike pulled the trigger.

A ruptured sob breaks free of June's throat. She watched in silent horror when blood spewed out of Lincoln's head from the bullet that pierced his temple. She knows that she isn't allowed to cry any louder than Pike would hear and see her, but she wants to wail and scream in grief until her throat is raw as she watches Lincoln's body fall to the side, gone. June's head fell, and she choked out another cry, tears streaming down her cheeks, ones she can't control as she plays the permanent impression again and again in her mind until she feels sick.

It's the soft hand resting on June's shoulder that brings her back to the cruel, harsh reality that Lincoln was truly gone. "June," Jasper murmured to her. "There's nothing you can do for him. Raven needs you now."

Lifting her head, June sends one last look to the scene. Lincoln, sprawled on his back, and Pike, lowering his gun. Her expression is full of both sadness and fury, the mix of emotions swirling before June nods, because of Lincoln's final words to her repeating in her head.

Get knocked down, get back up.