NEW PLAN: FUCK IT.

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LOST IN FIRE (book three).
°•        CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE        •°

"        YOU'RE GOING TO GET
EVERYONE KILLED!       "

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A faint memory crosses Harley's mind as an army she's one with nears Sanctum. Finn Collins was a long-forgotten friend from so many years ago that she's almost lost sight of what he looked like before Clarke took his life. But words that he shared with Bellamy in the dropship stuck with her. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. The Primes became Harley's enemy the second she found out they were body snatchers. The Children of Gabriel had been her enemy since they killed Rose after giving Harley and Octavia an unnecessary beating. So she had to decide who she wanted to take down more.

Once the Primes were down, Harley would have to wait and see what was next. But Clarke was who they depended on. Her friend who, unlike Finn, was still alive despite what Russell Prime thought. Harley didn't know who carried as much faith as she had that Clarke could play her role. Bellamy certainly didn't. She could read it on his face.

The electric towers that held radiation barriers came into their view as they leave the bundle of trees. Harley suddenly stops. This was where the first death on Sanctum happened. The bolts of radiation burned Shaw severely and he died while wishing Raven nothing but happiness. Harley has known for what felt like a very, very long time that it wasn't her fault. She long accepted that. But standing a couple of feet away from the field that he died in brings another wave of guilt she could drown in.

It wasn't like Harley knew Shaw well enough. Not like Raven or Diyoza did. The only interactions they had were when he compared her to a name-shared motorcycle he used to own and when they bonded over mutual wrath towards Clarke over a fire. But Harley watched him take his last breath after he led them into what they didn't even know was a trap. It was still a traumatizing memory.

"What do we do now?" Layla asks as she signals the army to stop behind them.

"Now we wait." Bellamy doesn't even glance her way when he answers. Harley fears it has something to do with Octavia beside her.

The blue light from the electric towers gleams across Octavia's sharp face as she reminds her brother, "Clarke will get it down."

Harley smiles at that. She knew she wasn't the only one whose faith grew since leaving the anomaly. Octavia doesn't notice how proud she was, but she doesn't have to. She should be proud of her own accomplishment without another's approval. Harley only wished she felt the same when it came to what Bellamy thought of her.

Her kind words glide past Bellamy. He turns to Gabriel. "You. You can go in and help her," he demands carelessly. Harley's smile fades and she rolls her eyes. Bellamy hasn't given much of a thought to anyone else's stance lately.

Octavia continues to try, "How, Bell? They know what he looks like from Jade," she points out rightfully. "Besides, it's not the plan."

Her brother glares back for a quiet beat. Harley hates the glare in his dark eyes. "Or push him into Sanctum," she sarcastically suggests. "Ruin the plan. Get Clarke killed along with our family. That's a much better plan from the King of Genocide," she spat. She's struggled to let Bellamy's cold comment about the Queen of Cannibals earlier fly by.

A hand slips into Harley's and thin fingers squeeze around her palm. "Harley," is all Octavia says softly. A quiet warning to back down and let it go - as if it was that simple. It's beyond her how she's okay with how Bellamy was treating her when Octavia was desperately attempting to prove herself as a better person. What more does she have to do? Should she grovel, die for him?

The scowl Bellamy held deepens directly towards Harley, but she lets it go. For Octavia, if anything. Her hand slips away and the emptiness brings a cold feeling as Harley watches her follow Bellamy a few feet away. She knows she can't get in between the Blake siblings. She can't force Bellamy to forgive her. She can't make Octavia accept she's likely better off without his forgiveness.

"Everyone, stand down. Stay low, out of sight of the hourly patrols," Gabriel instructs his people. They slowly crouch and their clothing along with the darkness helps mask them with the trees. It's perfect camouflage. Harley wonders if they've been watched on Sanctum longer than she thought since they landed.

Someone approaches Harley and lightly bumps her shoulder when she jumps, and nearly swung a fist in surprise. She releases a slow breath when she realizes it's only Gabriel. "You looked stressed," he comments. There's a smile dancing on his lips to show he's joking.

Harley looks back to Sanctum. "My brother's still there. My family is."

A hole still fills in Harley's heart. She can't explain why. She knows the people she loves are surviving in Sanctum, but there's some type of pain she feels that she can't explain. It was the same ache that comes when she's loving someone from a long, long distance. Like when Octavia was in the bunker. Or when Murphy had disappeared after Mount Weather. But Harley just can't place her finger on it.

"They'll make it," Gabriel says like it's a promise. Harley can almost hear his smile widen as if he can sense the aching heart Harley has, the one that was a size too large. "They have you."

It was a kind thing to say. That Harley's love for everyone could somehow keep them alive before she could save them herself. She tries to smile too, but the moonlight gives away the glimmering tears in her eyes.

These thoughts continue running long until the sun rises. Orange and yellow start painting the once dark sky as the ball rises. It isn't long until the roar of a motorcycle's engine follows as the wheels rip across the field. Harley ducks her head behind a bush. The army remains frozen and unmoving as they eavesdrop.

She can't hear the mumbling until they remove their helmets. "I thought I was gonna miss the namings."

"Check Sector H when we get back. We can't take any chances today."

"Naming Day?" Nelson repeats quietly. Harley struggles to put those pieces together - did that have something to do with the Primes snatching bodies?

"They said namings. Plural," Layla corrects.

The engines started revving once more. One of them takes off through the field while the other guard buckles his helmet. He hadn't even finished placing the strap into place when Gabriel suddenly leaps out of his hiding spot. Bellamy exclaims his name as Gabriel is already gone, bolting through the electric dome. He cries out as it flickers around him and does a swift tumble through the soil, revealing himself to the enemy.

"Crazy suiciders," the guard mumbles and draws his gun.

Gabriel fights back. He kicks the guard in his leg, twisting around his torso, and wrestling the weapon out of his hands. Octavia huffs before she breaks free from the bushes as well, a few in their army following, as she calls out, "Gabriel, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Octavia!" Harley hisses, leaping on her feet, but it's too late. She already let Gabriel's name fall.

They gather close enough to the dome to almost touch it. This distance gives Harley the perfect view of the guard's face as he lays on his back, his own gun pointed at him. "Gabriel?" He repeats in wonder.

"You said namings. How many?" Gabriel pants. His voice raises when the guard doesn't answer. "Who's coming back?!"

"I don't know. All of them, I think," the guard panics. Gabriel pauses as he thinks this over before he stops holding him at gunpoint, choosing to instead kick him in the face, effectively knocking him unconscious.

Gabriel sheaths the gun and starts unbuttoning the jacket that helped him blend in the trees. "I can't have Russell murder more innocent people," he tells them.

Harley shakes her head. This can't be happening. Gabriel was going to ruin everything. "Gabriel, that isn't the plan!" She exclaims. She grows desperate. "You're going to get everyone killed!"

"I know it's hard, but we have to stick to the plan," Bellamy tries to sympathize. "Clarke gets the shield down and we use the toxin as a distraction to save our people."

"Yeah, well, I have a new plan: use our distraction to stop Naming Day." Gabriel crouches and begins stripping the guard of his black cape. "Look, I'm sorry, but unlike you... I can't sacrifice the few to save the many." He slips the helmet over his head and straddles the motorcycle. Harley could've slapped a palm over her face. That's exactly what he's doing except everyone was going to get killed once they found out who he was.

The last thing Harley sees is Gabriel's apologetic eyes before he pulls the glass frame over his face and drives straight into Sanctum.

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It sucks when all they can do is sit and wait. The sun eventually once goes back to where it was, hidden behind the trees, and Harley was growing antsy. She knew it'd be stupid to just run through the shield as Shaw did, but she was growing desperate. The hours passing were slowly killing her. She had to physically ground her boots into the ground to keep herself from moving. Once again, they were all depending on Clarke since Gabriel had taken off. And it was impossible to stop looking at the towers of electricity holding the fence up. Harley had started to wonder long ago how much longer they should wait when it happens.

The electric fences flickered one by one before shutting off completely. It was done. The shield was broken.

Harley could've cried with relief but she smiles instead. She should've never doubted Clarke for a second. "She did it. It's down," she whispers excitedly.

Bellamy's face lights up. "Told you she'd do it."

He shares a teasing smile with his sister. Octavia beams before shoving his shoulder playfully and turns to Harley. "You ready?" She asks.

She's given a nod just as Nelson jumps out of the bundles of leaves and shouts at the top of his lungs, "Death to Primes!"

Dozens of his people follow the chant. It mixes with the raging screams of people ready for war as they draw their weapons and wave them. It'd be impossible for Sanctum to not hear them coming when Harley rips her sword from her sheath, raises her blade in the air, and releases a furious battle cry that long continues in the air.

Their army that was seeking blood sprints into the field. That blood was soon going to taste like the truth for sure because they weren't there to just fight and win. Harley's legs pump as she lowers her arm and tears across the open field like someone lit a fire because she can't wait to watch Sanctum burn.

Their war cries start to quiet the closer they grow. Octavia had rose her fist to signal the army of Gabriel to slow down and lower their voices so they'd still have the element of surprise. Harley was panting as they come to the open hill close by, but she sees the shadow of a few figures standing shoulder to shoulder a good distance away. The moon reflects over their faces and Harley slows until she almost stops, exhaling in relief.

Bellamy reaches Echo first and embraces her as Clarke asks, "What took you so long?"

Harley races past them and throws her arms over Clarke. She stumbles to catch the weight that smacks into her. "Thank you, Clarke," she says softly as she hooks her chin over the other's shoulder. She feels Clarke's arms snake around her a second later and squeezes.

It's been too long since Harley's last seen the others, including Echo and Miller. She lets go of Clarke and smiles at him as she squeezes Echo's shoulder as a silent thank you. She wasn't sure what it was for - keeping Murphy alive? Being alive herself? Whatever it was, Harley's heart was almost full being surrounded by most of her family.

"Hey, I hate to cut the moment short. But Russell told the people it was a false alarm," Clarke breaks the news. "They're not evacuating. We have no distraction."

Echo nods. "The rest of our friends are still in trouble and we don't have the people to fight our way through," she adds.

"It's okay," Harley says like she was trying to convince herself more. "We're not here to fight or go to war. We're here to liberate."

The memory of the agreement for Monty repeats in Harley's mind. This was all for him and Harper without a doubt, for her own sanity as well.

"Harley's right," Layla agrees from behind the little reunion. "The only weapon we need for that is the truth."

Nelson scoffs and shakes his head. "You sound like Gabriel."

"Maybe that's a good thing," Harley argues.

Clarke's eyes scan them. "Where is Gabriel? And why did he set off the alarm so soon?" She questions.

"Hold on. They won't believe us just because we tell them the truth," Echo points out.

A heavy pause passes as they realize she's right. As much as Harley wants to believe it, the truth won't just set the people of Sanctum free. So many of them have given their lives for their beliefs. It won't be easy for them to swallow.

"What are you thinking?" Bellamy asks when he notices Echo's features twist as she realizes something.

"I'm thinking Ryker helped us start this. His mother will finish it," Echo says decidedly.

They all share a glance towards the only face they can't see. A bag was pulled over their head and their hands were cuffed in front of her. She must be conscious as she's on her feet, but she doesn't say a word.

A small chip that almost reminds Harley of the ALIE's brainwashing chips is raised in Clarke's hand. "They think I'm Josephine, so it can't be me," she says.

"I can do it," Harley offers immediately. She reaches to take it. "Who can hold a peace talk like me?"

"You've been in the woods with O, Harley. Sanctum's people won't even recognize you," Bellamy reminds her. Harley glares at him but she lowers her hand. "I can do it," he suggests and takes the chip from Clarke. He nods to Layla and Nelson. "On me."

Sanctum is almost like Harley remembered it. Except it now looked like a battlefield awaiting its war. She recalled when she thought the place was a beautiful palace with many glittering decorations under the red sun, but now, candles were lit, giving the place an ominous orange glow as a large crowd gathered to face the balcony of the palace where Russell stood. His people hang onto every word despite everything that leaves his mouth has been a lie their entire lives.

The chatter rises when they notice movement approaching and everyone turns their heads. Harley remains hidden in the shelter they chose, her shoulder bumping Clarke's when the girl peers past the curtain. They can't see Bellamy leading Priya, wearing the body of the kind girl Harley met when she landed, Delilah, until they're near the crowd. She still feels sick looking at her.

"The power is out! The shield is down, but we are not here to fight!" Bellamy announces. His deep voice is powerful enough to boom throughout Sanctum. "I have something to tell you that will be hard to hear, but it's the truth... The Primes told you that we're your enemy. They lied. They lied about everything. They're not Gods. They don't become one with their hosts. They kill them. They steal your bodies so they can live forever."

The crowd starts murmuring with fear so Bellamy nudges Priya's shoulder. She's speechless at first. But eventually, she caves. "It's true. We're not divine." The crowd starts to gasp and cry out in disbelief. "We survive because we have technology. But we need your bodies to do it." Her voice begins to break. "Delilah's not one with me. She's dead, killed so that I could return. It's all a lie."

The residents of Sanctum began shouting accusations of more lies. Something stirs in Harley's gut. Her hands tighten on the windowsill. This was going south fast.

Suddenly, Russell's voice echoes as he speaks into a mic. "I am disappointed in you, Priya. I'm disappointed in all of you." His people slowly turn to face him again. "According to our adjustment protocol... Nonbelievers must be purified!"

Harley watches in dread as Russell pitches a small machine over the rail. As it hits the ground, it explodes, and Sanctum's people scream in terror as green smoke surrounds them. Harley gasps as a smell starts to burn her nostrils. Russell sent his own people into a state of madness to save himself.

"Everybody, antitoxin, now!" Layla calls over the arising chaos.

Clarke surfs through one of the bags before she retrieves the masks and shoves one in Harley's chest. She gratefully accepts it and places it over her nose and mouth just before the smoke can drift to them. After a few deep breaths, Harley's nostrils start to clear and the urge to cough fades. She lowers it just as Bellamy approaches hurriedly.

"Where the hell is Priya?" Layla demands.

"The toxin separated us. The crowd got between us," Bellamy says with a cock of his head. Everyone is screaming behind them as they bump into one another, punching, throwing each other to the ground, refusing to stop fighting as the toxic gas takes over.

It's a struggle but through the clouds of green and furious people, Harley can see Russell's prisoners being guided into the palace. Madi, Raven, and Jackson are among them. She hears Clarke's soft protest as she takes a step forward, but Harley lunges to push her back. "You can't get in there, Clarke," Harley reminds her. It doesn't matter if they thought she was Josephine. The crowd would kill her before she could reach the palace's steps.

"Jacks? Jacks!" Miller exclaims behind them. His footsteps start to sound across the ground.

Octavia jumps to catch his arm and drag him back. "Wait, Harley's right, we can't - "

He drags his arm away. "I do not take orders from you anymore!" Miller practically screams in her face, pain evident in his voice.

"Miller, you'll never make it past the guards," Bellamy insists.

"No. But I can," Clarke argues. Harley opens her mouth to protest, but Clarke shakes her head. "It's Madi. I have to, Harley."

"I'm going with you," Gaia declares. Clarke shakes her head, but she continues, "They'll think I'm Josephine's guard. You're right. It's Madi. I'm going." She pulls her hood over her shaved head as Clarke finally agrees.

She nods. "Okay." Clarke spun to Miller who was sulking silently as he watches them take his boyfriend away. "Miller, stay here and protect the others. I'll get him back. Trust me," she promises.

"Uh, guys? We've got a problem," Octavia pipes up.

Harley turns to face her direction. One of Sanctum's people had finally seemed to spot their little huddled spot and was pointing, shouting, "Kill the invaders!"

It slowly draws everyone's attention whose eyes land on them. Harley curses under her breath. They wasted too much time discussing a plan they didn't even have. Bellamy knocks one of them out when they get too close and shouts for Clarke to run.

"What will you do?!" Clarke panics.

"I'm still working on that part, just go!" Bellamy commands.

Gaia guides Clarke away and they soon grow farther before disappearing completely. Harley backs away from the opening of the shelter until her back hits one of the glass windows. Bellamy is still whirling around as he struggles to think of a plan on the spot.

All of a sudden, the glass behind Harley shatters and two arms seize her from behind. Harley screams in fear as her attacker snarls, wrapping an arm around her throat and squeezing until her windpipe is cut off. Echo and Octavia had already withdrawn their swords and scrambled to save her.

It'd be so easy to twist his arm, even break it, and stab him in the chest. It'd be simple for them to just kill him. But Harley has a better idea. Through her panic, she stops kicking, bends her right leg, and grabs the handle of the knife sticking out of her boot. The weapon spun in her fingers before Harley brought the blade down and stabs it through the man's hand. Blood seeps onto her clothes and it must hurt terribly - but he'll live.

He cries out, but his grip on Harley loosens until she pushes away and stumbles right into Octavia. She does a quick scan that lasts barely two seconds and cups her chin. "You okay?"

Harley nods swiftly and grabs Octavia's wrist to yank her away from the violent scene raging closer. They have to run. They circle together, backs bumping one another to keep eyes everywhere, as Echo calls, "Move in! If we start fighting, it'll turn into a bloodbath. We need to take cover and wait it out!"

Sanctum suddenly seemed so much smaller than it had before. Harley wishes there were better hiding spots as they're chased into what looks like a small, metal chamber, and the door slams shut behind them. A latch is thrown over the lock as fists began pounding after them. The metal starts to rattle over the screams. If it wasn't for the gas peeking through the windows, sending them into a green glow, they'd be stuck in darkness.

Harley isn't sure how much time had started to pass. It could've been hours again for all she knew. She couldn't clear the racing thoughts out of her head as the door, their only exit out of this box, continues to shake with every hit. Even the walls quiver as their shelter is surrounded. The smoke had started to clear and it wouldn't be much longer before they were going to be plunged into darkness. Hopefully, the door breaks before that happens.

"How much longer will this last?" Bellamy spoke.

"It'll last longer than these walls will," Echo states.

"Okay. We move together, firing all directions," Nelson announces, taking charge. "Once we get to the stairs, we haul ass to the woods."

"They have more people than we have bullets," Harley argues. They weren't all armed - and they made the choice they weren't taking any more lives.

Bellamy shakes his head. He isn't concerned about the murder like Harley was. "No way. We're not leaving our people."

The latch releases a crack. Harley didn't want to kill anyone, but she also wanted to live. It drives her to grab the handle of her sword and withdraw it. Her heart starts pounding as Bellamy barks orders, "Here they come! Knock them out, we tie them up. Take out enough, eventually, they'll stop." Harley knew as well as the others it was a shit plan. They very well may die where they stood as soon as the mob poured in.

But they don't.

The battering stops. So do the shouts. It's as if the world stopped turning. It was so quiet, Harley swears she could hear her own heart racing in her chest.

"Is it over?" Echo wonders quietly, breaking the silence.

"Can't be," Harley whispers. She has hope - but she refuses to believe they just gave up wanting to murder them.

It's no surprise once again that Harley's right. A dull thud sounds behind them as one of their attackers had dropped a small can through the grate in the ceiling. As it smacks against the concrete, it goes off, spraying yet another gas into the air rapidly. The clouds of it barely fill Harley's nose before her eyes flutter shut with a wave of tiredness and her brain slowly shuts off, her knees wobbling with the struggle to support before finally hitting the ground below.

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author's note:

i know i know dakotas on a short hiatus but this chapter only needed a few paragraphs before being edited and ready to publish so i decided to just get it over with to give u guys a treat before i ghost. i'm going thru a lot mentally rn and just need some space but writing helps me a lot, unfortunately i have to pick up more hours at work to fill my bank numbers since paying my taxes wiped me tf out.

it's been so long since i've written this i forgot what i even wrote LIKE. i think the only thing i wanted to address was harley refusing to kill people this time unless deemed absolutely necessary while also being a badass with her sword in an army?? my babyyy.

oh! and this act has just two more chapters before ending. i'm curious to know how y'all think it'll go so lmk!! thank u again for reading!! ❤️

- koda