PIECE BY PIECE.

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LOST IN FIRE (book three).
°•        CHAPTER SIX        •°

"        HEY, BROTHER.       "

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The day turned into night by the time they were close enough. Harley was itching in frustration, eyes flickering from Monty's work to use the lasercom and listen in on their camp to being unsure what was happening inside. According to Madi, she knew exactly where it was, due to the prisoners having landed in her home. It sounded so familiar that Harley could laugh. Prisoners falling out of space to see if their home planet, Earth, was survivable. She couldn't lie and say she didn't miss the dropship camp. When everything seemed so simple and compared to now, the war with grounders seemed like a fairy tale. Almost a happier memory.

When the static on the radio became louder, Harley's head snapped at the sound, eagerly listening. The prisoners hadn't spoken to one another on the radio the entire ride, so even Monty was stunned as Madi slammed the brakes. Harley nearly fell out of her seat, gripping a handle so she didn't slide off just as a man's voice filled the speaker.

"McCreary, it's Duff. Did we release the prisoners?" It asks.

A pause. And, then; "What the hell are you talking about?" Another man demanded, McCreary, Harley guesses.

"One of them just took off from the aft airlock."

"Prisoners," Emori repeated in wonder. "Harley was right. That has to be John and Raven."

Echo straightened. "Alright," she began eagerly. "I can scope it out. Wait on my signal - "

She doesn't get much of a chance to finish. Harley's gone before she can blink, kicking the rover's door open with her foot and jumping out. As soon as her boots hit the ground, she becomes a flash of movement, taking off in the direction of the camp. She can hear Echo call her name quietly, but she's moving too fast to care, both of her legs pumping to dodge every root in the ground or tree branch that was in her way. As Harley's leg bends, sliding down a short slope and coming to a stop, she can see a figure darting behind a large tree. An all too familiar one.

A slow and proud grin tugs on the corner of Harley's lips. She lightly dashes ahead, making her steps unheard as she sees Murphy turn around. Relief floods her body, but she doesn't speak, instead lunging behind him, throwing an arm over her shoulder and slapping her hand over his mouth. Murphy shouts in surprise, the sound muffled, trying to worm his way out of Harley's grip.

"Hey, brother," Harley whispered. "Shh." She hushed him. Murphy becomes wide eyes at her voice but calms down so Harley can lower her hand.

"Oh, thank God," Murphy breathes out at the sight of her. Harley faintly smiles, prepared to hug him, but stopping herself when she hears footsteps behind them. She whirled around, hand flying to rip out her sword as she stands in front of Murphy, but relaxed when seeing that it was only Echo. She only nodded to Murphy before sticking two fingers in her mouth, whistling loudly.

The piercing noise sends the rest of their group joining them. They looked relieved to see Murphy alive, Harley too, from which she supposed was because of her taking off. Murphy grins at the sight. "Raven knew you guys would be watching the camp," he commented before a more serious expression takes over his features. "We gotta go. Now."

"Where's Raven?" Emori questioned, confused.

"She's still there," Murphy replied in a pant.

Astonished, Emori narrowed her eyes at him. "You left her?" She demanded to know harshly. "Why am I not surprised?"

"She made a deal to get me out," Murphy defended as they circled around him.

Once Monty was close, he noticed something different. "Shock collar?" Harley is confused but startled when she sees what he means. She didn't see it at first, but she can see it now. A thick black contraption is wrapped around Murphy's neck, one he didn't seem to be fond of.

As Monty reaches out to touch it, Murphy bats his hand away quickly. "Trust me. I wouldn't do that," he warned before shaking his head. "I saw Abby and Kane being led off the ship."

"That means Bellamy got the bunker open," Echo noted. Harley's stomach churns with sudden tenderness. Bellamy got the prisoners to open the bunker. Her mind thought to Octavia - the leader she knew she could become, the girl she was in love with who was now closer than they had been for six years. "Did he not come back?" Echo asked.

Before Murphy can answer, Madi rushes to join them from her short distance away. "What about Clarke?" She added worriedly.

Surprised at the new voice, Murphy swivels his head to look at her with his eyebrows furrowed before looking back at the group. "Who's the hobbit?" Then he brushes it off. "You know what? Never mind. We just got to get a warning to Bellamy before they fire their missiles."

"Missiles?" Monty echoes in question.

"Yeah," Murphy confirmed. "As in fiery death from above. Raven said that we need to get into radio range. Where's the rover?" He was speaking so fast, Harley wasn't sure she was able to keep up from her thoughts having drifted and being stuck on Octavia. But she isn't given much time to think as Madi eagerly pips in.

"In the bear cave. I'll drive," Madi offers, already running forward. "Don't worry. The bears are gone!"

Because Madi had heard Clarke was still in trouble, she drove the rover much faster. Harley kept her lips tight, remembering what news was delivered. Their family was going to be blown from missiles. Murphy was in the passenger seat, becoming annoyed very fast at the radio in his hands when no responses were given. "Bellamy, come in," he urged. "It's Murphy. Please tell me you can hear me." He lowered it, noticing that Madi had been sneaking short glances at him. "What?"

Hands gripping the steering wheel, Madi loosely shrugged. "Thought you'd be funnier," she admitted.

"Clarke told her stories," Monty explained from the back seat.

That had Murphy's attention. He perked up. "Oh, really? Was I the dashing hero who got the girl?" He asked with a wide smile.

"Or the selfish fool who lost her?" Emori countered. Harley suddenly frowned, imagining fast how Murphy felt at the cruel comment.

It's awkward before Madi speaks. "Octavia's my favorite," she said. Murphy cocked his head, insulted. "I mean, no offense," Madi quickly defended. "Clarke said she wouldn't have made it without each one of you."

"We wouldn't have made it without her," Echo declared.

They spent six years believing Clarke had sacrificed her life for all of them. Harley knew that Clarke would, had she had to of. Harper nodded as well. "Not even close," she agreed.

Suddenly, a buzzing sound fills the rover at the same time Murphy throws his head back and shouts in pain. Harley's eyes widen as they lay on the collar around his neck. It had lightened a blue, electricity cracking as his body trembled. "John!" She shouted, lunging forward despite Monty trying to bring her back. Harley found out why as soon as her hands touch the collar to rip it off of her brother.

Electricity shocks its way from Harley's fingertips and up her arm. She shrieked in surprise at the painful feeling, being tugged back by Monty while Madi slams on the rover's breaks before it can hurt more. He leaned forward, using a flashlight to quickly study Murphy's state. "The collar must have a proximity tether!" He announced. "Madi, back up!" The young girl complied quickly, bringing the vehicle into reverse. Murphy's twitching and grunts didn't stop, not until they began to cease slowly. "That's it," Monty directed when he saw him calm. "Stop here."

"John," Harley whispered, hand touching his upper arm this time. Murphy is panting like he couldn't catch his breath, muscles tensing under her touch. "Hey, can you hear me?" His eyes are shut, head tilted back with his chin pointed to the ceiling, but he nodded.

"Monty, can you get it off?" Harper questioned in concern.

"There's no time," Echo argued. "We have to stop those missiles."

The door on Murphy's side pops open. "What are you doing?" Monty spoke up.

"What I have to do," Murphy breathed out simply. "Echo's right."

Harley stands up straighter, jaw falling open. "What the hell, John?!" She demanded, voice cracking.

It doesn't seem to affect Murphy much. "Just leave me behind," he ordered.

"No way!" Monty exclaimed. "If it has a tether, it'll have a tracker too. They're probably on their way right now." Harley shuts her eyes, hand running down her short hair in despair. According to Raven, who had studied their files, these were prisoners who prided themselves on murder and terrorist attacks before the nuclear bombs. If they catch Murphy, they'll kill him. They'll kill all of them.

"That means you gotta go," Murphy warned them. He doesn't show any of them how scared he is as he slides out of the rover, landing on his feet and shutting the door behind him. "Go," he commanded again. "Before our friends explode."

It doesn't take Harley a second to think her choice over. When it was Murphy's life at risk, she never has to. "Yeah. We do," Harley mumbled, reaching down to grab the sword she had stored out of the way for more room.

Before Harley can open the rover's door, Emori stopped her by touching her hand. "No," she disagreed. "Stay here. Bellamy needs our best fighters. I can help John with his collar," she insisted.

Then Bellamy's words, when they were in space, rang in Harley's head. Octavia needs you now. Its been six long years since she had seen her, and not one day passed where Harley didn't love her. She wanted to cry, but it felt like all of her energy had been sucked out of her until she felt nothing. Harley's mouth is dry as she opened it, trying to find the right words before she finally requested quietly. "Just take care of him. Please."

Maybe Harley and Emori hadn't seen eye to eye since she abandoned Murphy. Harley hated the comments she made about him, but now, she was putting all of her faith and trust in the other. She waited until Emori nodded in agreement before popping the door open, allowing her to step out. Madi waits until Harley shuts the door again, sparing one last glance to the window, wondering if it was the last time she'd ever see her brother.

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They aren't able to reach Bellamy until they reach the desert. Harley would spend days in the ring looking down at the planet, seeing it was completely dry, except for the one spot of green that Madi claimed her and Clarke survived in. She was still stunned when they arrived, seeing there was absolutely nothing but sand. No trees, plants, not a leaf in sight. There was no sign of life anywhere. Harley had been silent the entire ride, only perking up when she knew they were getting close to their destination.

"Please, if you can hear me, this is an emergency," Monty had been pleading into the speaker from where he had taken over Murphy's seat.

"Come in," Bellamy's voice suddenly breathed back, sounding panicked. There was shouting in the background. "Monty, it's me. Something tells me we got your emergency beat."

"I doubt that," Monty stated before breaking the news as quickly as he can. "The prisoners have an eye in the sky on the mothership and a missile system on their transport ship. They're on their way to you right now. You have to move, hide somewhere, take cover," he ordered.

It doesn't take long at all for it to sink in. "Hide from an eye in the sky? How are we supposed to do that?" He asked in alarm.

"Murphy says we have a friend inside," Monty responded. "If he's right, the eye won't be watching. You have a window, but you have to move. Now."

The next few hours are anything but easy. None of them sleep, not even Madi, who keeps speeding through the deadly wasteland. They're too far from where the missile is being launched, but when they hear a quiet rumble in the distance, they all know what it is. Harley's hands tremble at the idea of them not making it out of the window Monty said they had. She knows they wouldn't know for sure until at last the sun came up,

Dread that had filled Harley's chest was replaced with a feeling she hadn't been familiar with for so long that it was foreign and strange. Hope. She sat up straighter when Madi turns the wheel sharply, causing the rover to swing around a tall slope of sand and reveal the people who were on guard behind it. Madi stopped the rover, causing it to quickly jerk. She's the first to jump out, barely pausing before she takes off across the sand.

Harley sees why when they step out one by one. Monty is first, then Harper opened the door from the back, waving in a gesture for Harley and Echo to join her. Harley slowly brought herself around the rover, glancing around to further study their new area. Long lengths of dry blood covers parts of the sand, the bodies having to be hidden. Madi is hanging in Clarke's hug, joyful at being with her again. Men and women are on guard, guns cocked cautiously just in case. Harley looks away uneasily, almost bumping into Monty who had his hand raised, faintly waving.

"Monty, who are you..." The question dies in Harley's throat as she follows his gaze to who he's waving out.

She's propped up against a bump of sand, holding her chest. She's older. Her dark, raven hair is cut shorter than what Harley remembered, free of any braids. A red color rims her bright green eyes that match her suit, dressed in red armor and knee-high boots. Harley feels her breath hitch in her throat and a fond feeling of admiration shooting through her veins. It's Octavia.

Harley bolted across the desert without sparing another second. It flies back behind her boots, but she doesn't stop, pushing through the crowd of guards and keeps her eyes trained on Octavia. The widest smile she can muster spreads along with tears of relief that began springing in her eyes. Octavia is clutching her stomach like she's in pain, eyes wide in saucers as she tries to stand, but isn't given the chance. When Harley is close enough, she falls to her knees and skids across the dirt, coming to a stop right in front of her.

Now that she's face to face and up close, Harley can see the older look on Octavia's sharp features. She hardly even looks like the old Octavia, but she doesn't care. Her shaking hands rise, slowly coming to cup Octavia's jaw. She's so stunned that she feels like they're the only two people here, finally together after six years of being apart. Harley wondered if Octavia is in the same state of shock, but she's positive she is when her fingertips press against her cheeks gently almost like she'd fade.

"Oh, God," Harley choked out, arms stretching over Octavia's shoulder to tightly hug her. She buried her face into her neck, squeezing her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling on her skin. She feels so complete when Octavia's arms are brought over her hips, embracing her so tight that all of Harley's shattered pieces fall back together.

Harley is still trembling when she pulls away. She wants to say so much - tell Octavia how much she loves her, how much she missed her in all this time, but she has a hunch that Octavia already knows when her hands drape up to pull her into a kiss. Harley was reminded how she felt the minute that their lips touch. It was like finding her home all over again.

Their foreheads warmly touched when they pull apart. Harley pulled her hand away to brush at her cheeks, wiping away any small tears that had started rolling down her smiling cheeks. Their smiles are shared until Octavia's falls, her expression turning from confusion to anger. Harley is lost as she looked over her shoulder, seeing what Octavia was staring at. It's Bellamy and Echo, holding onto each other, having a reunion of their own.

When Echo meets Octavia's scowl, she took a small step back, suddenly fearful. Harley becomes concerned for Echo, a member of her family, and for Octavia's sanity, the girl she loved when she saw the angry glare turn into a much more deadly one.