THE FIRE IN YOU.

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LOST IN FIRE (book three).
°•        INTRODUCTION        •°

"        I'M NOT ANGRY.       "

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46 DAYS SINCE PRAIMFAYA.

        "If you cut my neck, I will actually kill you."

"If I cut your neck, you'll be the one dead."

Harley rolled her eyes as she felt Murphy tug at one her long, brown strands of hair hesitantly. She had made the decision days ago, but it was only now she had mustered up enough confidence to ask Murphy to help her. He had been hesitant at first, wondering if his sister was talking nonsense or actually wanted this done before Harley put a knife in his hand, making him cave. She had her hair out of the ponytail she had worn since coming up to space, the dark hair's length coming down to her mid-back in preparation to be cut off.

"Do you even know if this will work?" Murphy questioned, twirling the strand around his finger before letting it fall. "Is the knife sharp enough? What if it doesn't come out straight?"

"Come on," Harley groaned. "I trust you." She tilted her head back, giving Murphy more permission than he already had. This time, he didn't respond, and she felt him picking up the a thicker strand and running two fingers down it. Harley kept still as his hand came to a stop above her shoulder, feeling the blade brush against it before pressing onto it more firmly. The piece he chose fell to the floor, Harley's gaze following it before clearing her throat. "Keep going."

Without another complaint or question, Murphy complied. Harley didn't move as he went around her head, matching each strand as neat as he could. She could feel the end pieces grazing against her neck, even the knife as it lightly brushed against her skin to cut off more of her hair. Harley felt like the minutes that went by were like hours, but that hadn't been anything new. She found out how easy it was to be bored in the ring compared to Earth, with no wars, no constant fighting for their lives.

"All done," Murphy speaking up broke Harley from her thoughts, forcing her back to the reality in space. She brought her hand up, skimming the finished product. The ends of the hair were pointed, but it rested above her shoulder, coming to a stop around her chin.

There were no mirrors in space, but Harley smiled in content. "Thanks, John," she said, rising to her feet. She looked down, seeing the hair he had cut off in a pool surrounding her boots. Harley nudged it aside with the tip of her shoe, brushing it away.

"Looks good, if I do say so myself," Murphy complimented, flicking the knife in his hand as he studied the glimmer of the blade.

Harley fondly rolled her eyes. "Alright, you're no stylist," she commented, snatching the knife out of his hand and waving it mockingly. "I'll see you for our last rations before we test Monty's first algae." Murphy snorted and waved her away, sending Harley out of his and Emori's shared room.

The ring wasn't as empty as the day they arrived. After a week or so, everyone grieving and pulling themselves together, they started working together to make the station look more like a home. Harley walked down the hall, thinking how weird it felt when she couldn't feel her old long hair sweeping across her back. She turned a corner, coming to the opening of the large space with the view of what was left of Earth where Bellamy resided. He would spend hours a day gazing outside, but for now, he looked away, his stare landing on Harley.

"Woah," Bellamy greeted as Harley tucked the knife into her belt. "Am I crazy or did you just cut your locks?"

Harley laughed, walking past the low table made to join him. "Actually, John did, but close enough," she answered, bringing a hand up to run it down the short length. "How's Earth?" She questioned, changing the subject as she peered out of the clear window. Harley got her answer at the sight of the planet, completely white and dry like a desert zone with a single spot of green so small it stood out.

"Dead as the day we left," Bellamy replied, dark eyes moving to Earth once more. Harley frowned in understanding. She let her mind wander to Octavia firstly if her bunker was far away from the one green speck or right underneath it. Harley thought of their old home, Arkadia, that she could only assume was blown away in Praimfaya as well. She pressed the flat of her hand against the glass, her heavy breath fogging the window.

"Bellamy, Harley." A hard voice broke the heavy silence between the pair. Harley turned around alongside Bellamy only to see Echo joining them, one sword in hand with a dull look as she lifted her chin in greeting. "Can I talk to her for a minute?" She requested, referring to Harley.

Unsure, Bellamy looked to Harley and waited until she nodded in permission. He didn't spare a second to look towards Echo, leaving her side at the window and striding away until they were left in silence. "Working your way through me and Bellamy?" Harley questioned, slowly walking, one boot in front of the other. She knew perfectly well both her and Bellamy were the only two who paid Echo no attention unless they absolutely had to, still holding a grudge for her actions against Octavia in the past.

"Something like that," Echo admitted. "There's no harm in trying, right?" Harley rolled her eyes, about to turn away before Echo lifted her sword. She held the handle out in her direction, making the other stare back in confusion. "Take it," she offered more clearly. "You're a quick learner, Harley. Let me make a warrior out of you."

"And what?" Harley asked. "I just forget everything in the past, Mount Weather, Clover, Octavia, and we hold hands for the next five years?"

There's a harshness in Harley's tone that Echo cocks an eyebrow at. "I don't take what you think about me personally, Harley," she began calmly. "I want to prove myself on this ring. Let me try to show you how much I want to change." Echo held the weapon up further, waiting until Harley had a grip on the handle in acceptance. The Ice Nation grounder pulled out her other sword, the one she kept in her sheath.

"How does this change start?" Harley questioned, the soft mat under her feet pressing down as she walked in a slow circle. "You teaching me how to fight?"

"You cut your hair," Echo noted, making Harley think she was ignoring the question before she finished. "I think there's a change in you somewhere."

With that, Echo struck. Her sword was yanked out of her sheath, and she waved it forward, the blade had sliced through the air near Harley before she stopped it by bringing her sword up. The long blades clashed, the song ringing as Harley tried to swing it away. "Feet work is important," Echo reminded her, demonstrating as she sidestepped. "Shift your weight."

Knuckles white, Harley gripped the handle tightly and tried to comply. She swung her sword to the right, the left, but every wave she had Echo was prepared for. She spun weightlessly without breaking a sweat, closer until her hit was hard enough for Harley to back down. Echo took a step back, letting her catch her breath as she twirled her sword in a circle by holding the handle, rotating her wrist. Echo studied Harley closely, her eyes flickering up and down as she took notes in her head of her statue.

"You're angry, Harley," Echo announced. "Use that."

"I'm not angry," Harley hissed, jolting forward and brandishing her weapon by swinging it ahead.

Quicker, Echo ducked, bringing her sword up and banging the sword's blades to push Harley's away. Instead of backing down like she had before, Harley kept her clasp steady as she fought back. She felt stronger this time, holding her ground in a way she hadn't done, her sword making a loud chime every time it hit Echo's. But Harley knew that she was right, no matter if she denied it - Harley was angry.

That fury grew her first day in space. She was angry at the world; wondering what kind of hell they had to have lived in for it to be this cruel. She was always so optimistic, believing the light at the end of the tunnel was brighter than any darkness they suffered through. The world had never been fair, but it destroyed the Earth, leaving only one green spot. Maybe that would have been enough for Harley a long time ago, but now, teeth clenched and flushing red, swords clanging against one another, she couldn't be as bright.

With Echo's arm straight, having missed the other's sword being swung, Harley took advantage of it by bending her arm and jamming her elbow into her opponent's collarbone. Echo, who wasn't ready for the hit, took a few steps back as she rested her hand on the possible bruising wound. The hand that held Harley's sword began shaking as she stopped, lowering her arm, her mind whirring too fast for her to keep up as she processed what she had done. Strands of her new short hair blew as she huffed a few deep breaths, her blue eyes flickering to Echo.

"I'm - I'm sorry," Harley mumbled breathlessly. The pair were just training, Echo was only teaching her how to fight with a sword. She felt guilty reacting as badly as she had.

"Don't." Echo pulled her hand away, seeming more surprised than angry that Harley got the upper hand on her for a split second. "Don't apologize. There's a fire in you, use it."

And so Harley did.