AS IT TURNS OUT, FINDING THE SOURCE OF THE ACID FOG ISN'T EASY AS ANY OF THEM ASSUMED. June realized that searching for it was the least of their problems as of now. Not only did they have the problem of finding food and water so they'd have energy, a place to rest, and still not get caught, but Maya had informed them their friends were disappearing. One at a time. It didn't take a genius to know what was happening to them, which meant they'd have to work even faster. Searching took longer than June or Bellamy expected, and they were late for the check-in with the radio.

"Ark Station, do you read me?" Bellamy repeated into the radio. "Anybody there?"

"You're late." Clarke's worried voice fills the speaker. "Every three hours means every three hours," she scolded.

Bellamy rolls his eyes fondly. "You through?" He joked.

"Have you found the source of the acid fog?" Clarke asked.

"No, that's gonna have to wait," Bellamy answered.

"What? No. You need to find the source, now," Clarke insisted.

Shaking her head at Clarke's pushiness, June took the radio from Bellamy. "Clarke, I know what you mean, but there's a bigger problem here," she informed her before handing the radio back to Bellamy.

"Nothing is more important than that."

"Our friends are," Bellamy stated. "They've started taking them from the dorm one at a time every few hours."

"Taking them where?" Raven cuts in.

"I don't know," Bellamy replied honestly. "We tried to follow them, but they want to a classified level. Maya borrowed the schematics of the vent system from her boss, and I'm still trying to find a way in." He paused to glance to Maya, who had been hunched over a large paper. "Anything?"

With one hand trailing the path on the paper, observing closely, Maya responded. "I think I found a path, but it's gonna be tight," she announced. She picked up two objects on the table and handed one to June and the other to Bellamy. "Here's the walkies Raven asked for, and the earbuds."

Smiling, June accepted the walkie. "Thank you, Maya."

"Bellamy, you have to find them," Clarke demanded like they haven't been trying already.

"That's the plan," Bellamy reassured her.

"If you don't, this is all for nothing."

Picking her head up, June clenched her jaw. She knew Clarke meant well, but she was coming off much harsher. She gave Bellamy a nod, signaling to just leave the conversation at that. Maya cleared her throat, grabbing their attention. "I may have an idea," she suggested in a small voice.

"It'll have to wait," Bellamy said. "I have to see where our friends are, and we can't risk two people caught in the vents instead of one."

Nodding in agreement, Maya handed the map to Bellamy. "After, then," she offered. "But June, you'll have to come with me."

"Why?" June questioned, eyebrows furrowed.

"We'll need to get you changed."

━━━━━━━━

Waiting for Bellamy was agonizing. June had spent her time pacing with Maya, thinking about everything that could have gone wrong as they put some pieces together. She learned how to make her lie more believable; that she was just an innocent student who was a hermit, studying medics and keeping close to Maya like a lost puppy so she could learn off of her. They decided to start hiding as much food as Maya could smuggle into the vents since no one normal crawls through them, up until Bellamy radioed in hours later, finished with his mission and prepared to follow Maya's plan, involving speaking to President Dante Wallace.

The outfit change June had was a pair of blue nurses scrubs and a tray of food. Bellamy accompanied her side, holding the door open to a brightly white room for her to enter. There's an elder man sitting on the bed, head lifting when he sees the two. "Your evening meal, President Wallace," June greeted him. A soft, classical music is playing by a record player in the corner of the area.

"You're not a nurse here," Dante said in confusion, glancing from June to Bellamy. "Who are you?"

"Jasper sent me," Bellamy said without giving him their names, hands clasped in front of him as he guarded the door. "We need your help. Your son is killing our people."

"I'm a prisoner, same as them," Dante argued.

"A prisoner who knows every inch of this mountain," Bellamy pointed out.

Setting the tray down beside his bed, June tried to smile, hoping if someone was watching the security camera they'd think they were having a normal conversation. "And a prisoner who knows every security measure. Just help us out, please."

"After Clarke escaped, I had all exits fortified and put under extra surveillance. My son has no doubt changed all access and entrance codes by now," Dante explained.

June timidly smile, tilting her head. "Never is that easy, is it?" She said flatly. "I can tell that you aren't stupid, so you can guess where we're from. I was a hacker on The Ark, I didn't say anything about needing codes."

It's quiet as Dante stares at them, incredulous at June's bravery to admit who she was and still demand for help. "Who's helping you?" He finally asked.

"That's not important right now," Bellamy responded, refusing to sell Maya out. "We're not letting our friends die here."

"I'm sorry. I can't help them escape," Dante apologized. June could tell he sounded genuine like he never wanted this to happen. She believed it, considering his own son locked him away so he couldn't set the delinquents free. June's still upset by the words, but she's prepared to let it go and find their own way, but he holds up a hand to stop them. "But," he began. "... I may be able to buy them some time."

Hesitating, June looked up to meet Bellamy's eyes. They didn't need to say anything. It was like an unspoken agreement happened between the few seconds that passed, a mutual chat that they trusted the President. June nodded slowly,

"How?" Bellamy questioned after a beat of silence.

"A containment breach."

━━━━━━━━

"No. No way. You aren't going by yourself."

Rolling her eyes, a groan escaped June's lips. "You're such a mom, Bellamy," she said with her hands on her hips. They've been at one another for what seemed like an hour or two but could have only been a few minutes, straight after June had gotten changed into her normal clothes again. "We came here for a reason. Monty is locked away, and I'm the backup plan. You can't access the system matching Dante's coordinates without me at a guard's computer," June argued. She was getting irritated, not knowing why Bellamy just wouldn't let her go, and also hoping that Raven didn't have to be listening in through their walkies at this exact moment.

"Yes, I can," Bellamy protested stubbornly.

"Actually," Raven's voice piped in through their earpieces. "If June can hack into the system from her end, she can open the file for you, Bellamy. She could even open the exits if you let her."

Bellamy says nothing, seeming like he was avoiding June's gaze. It made her sigh and flick her walkie off so Raven couldn't hear. "Bellamy, is there something you're not telling me?" She says quietly.

There's more silence before Bellamy finally gives her a curt nod. "It's a bone marrow treatment," he started, his voice low. "That's how they're treating themselves."

June's heart cracks in her chest before sinking. That's how they're doing this? The Mountain Men are torturing her friends, bleeding them dry in one of the most painful procedures. She's only heard stories, couldn't imagine the suffering some of her friends have already endured - if they survived it. "Bastards," June breathed out, referring to the Mountain Men in disgust. She shook off the shudder she felt, trying to stay focused, knowing it was the only way she could help everyone. "Bellamy, I'll be fine. You heard Raven."

"What if you're not?" Bellamy retorted.

"I will be," June repeated more firm. "You have to let me do this." She held her hand up, fingers curled. "Give me Maya's key card." Bellamy's hand moves to rest on the pocket on his vest that holds Maya's key card, but he doesn't make a move to give it to her. "Bellamy. No offense, but if you don't put that key card in my hand, I will punch you in the face."

There's a hint of a smile as Bellamy pulls out the key card and reluctantly places it in June's palm. "Just stay on your walkie," he requested.

Holding the key card in one hand, June gives him a mock, two-finger salute with the other. "You got it," she promised.

With one last look, June took off down Mount Weather's hall. Maya had already given so many directions, including times, when the guard's computer room would be being decontaminated by her. No one would be in there. June reminded herself as she walked as quickly as possible she was a resident here, not an inside man. She had to fit in as best as possible, including not trying to hide and give smiles to everyone she saw, despite not knowing if they possibly had a hand in her people's deaths.

Remembering her promise to Bellamy as she came close to the door, June flicked her radio back on. "Bellamy? Raven?" She spoke, adjusting the piece in her ear.

"We're here," Bellamy replied.

"Yeah. You there yet, June?" Raven asked.

After looking both ways and making sure no one was watching her, June slid Maya's key card over the entry pad. It flashed green before the door clicked, signaling access. "I'm here," June whispered, sliding in and quietly shutting the door behind her. She couldn't help but be amazed at the amount of computers in the room, and the one large screen hanging in front of her. A grin spread.

"June, I can hear your smile from here," Raven spoke. "Get to work."

"Copy that," June said fondly, snapping out of her haze at the sound of Raven's voice and rushing to the first computer she saw. "Bellamy, how are you doing?"

"Not so good."

"What do you see?" Raven questioned.

A sigh. And, then; "Close your eyes. Imagine a bottomless pit."

"Just stick with it," Raven instructed. "According to Dante's coordinates, you're almost there."

June tuned them out, too busy pulling up windows of the computer's complex set up so she could get past the code Dante's son, Cage, had put on it. Her mind wandered as she tapped on the keyboard with the speed of light, remembering the last time she was at an electronics like this. Back when Wells was alive and he asked June for a favor, not knowing what was coming with them breaking The Ark's law. A twinge of sadness hit her, hard, remembering Wells. His recollection to her mind came with grief, knowing he was dead because she left him alone.

"Hey, June, Earth to June?" Raven was calling.

"What?!" June exclaimed, giving her hands a shake to stop the trembling, not even realizing that she had zoned out so far. "Yeah, yeah, did you reconnect the plug, Bellamy?" She asked, trying to remember the small words picked out.

"It's done," Bellamy declared. "All you now."

Files flashed through June's eyes, different windows popping up with multiples letters that she buzzed through. This is fine, June told herself as just the right deep file popped up. She knew what doing this meant. That maybe a dozen or two dozen people were going to die from radiation if they were on the same level as her friends. But this is what they chose to do. They wanted to kill June's people for their own needs.

"Today, June," Raven encouraged. "You got to pull the outside air in to reverse the air filtration system."

"I'm not stupid, Raven," June mumbled, hitting the enter button before pressing on the ESC key until her windows closed. "Okay. Bellamy, it's done. Unplug it."

There's a silence, making June assume he's following through until he asks. "Just tell me how we know it's even working."

As if it was on cue, a high pitched alarm began wailing through the air. "Containment breach," a woman's voice announces on the intercom.

"I'd say it's working," Raven joked.

"Thank you, Mr. President," Bellamy said with a short laugh.

"Alright," June stopped them. "Our friends will be safe for now, Dante said, but - " June was cut off when a few knocks on the door echoed. "Shit!" She whispered loudly.  June's hands began working faster, trying to get to the exit codes as Raven and Bellamy started shouting in her ear in demand to know what's happening. "There's someone at the door," June said as quietly as she could so they wouldn't hear. "I'm trying to open the exits - "

"Maya?" A deep voice called from the outside. "You done in there?"

Bellamy's voice was filled with alarm even though he was breathless like he was running. "June, forget it! Get out of there!"

"I can't, Bellamy."

Even if the door wasn't June's only exit, she couldn't move from her seat. She was so positive if she could just open the exits, this could be over. It'd be hard, but June and Bellamy could slip their friends out, and Clarke could work on another deal with Lexa, maybe they could even sneak out the grounders in cages -

The door flies open.

June shoots up from her seat, her heart racing in her chest. Two tall guards entered, a man following them. He was in a suit, much cleaner looking with black hair slicked back and pasty white skin. Despite Raven and Bellamy continuing to shout in her speaker, June feels like she can't hear anything except a ringing, almost like she isn't there. Nobody speaks, nobody even dares to move.

Suddenly, June does the first thing she can think of and lunges for the door. She doesn't get far as the two guards each seize her arm, clutching with a bruising grip. "Let me go!" June screeched, struggling to get out of their grip while kicking her legs.

The cleaned-up man passes her like June had said nothing, bending over to study the computer screen. "Exit codes?" He read, looking over his shoulder with a brow raised. "I can only guess you're not one of us, are you?"

June can't give Bellamy up. She won't.

"I'm one of the delinquents," June lied in a sneer.

"June, stop talking!" Bellamy's voice shouted in her ear before the guard ripped it out.

Ignoring Bellamy's warning, June continued, hoping who she could only guess was Cage would believe her and not know Bellamy was in the Mountain. "You're killing my friends, bleeding them dry. I breached level five."

"You killed ten guards and one doctor," Cage fired back.

A fury boiled inside June, angry that he sounded so blameful to her like he wasn't killing her friends one by one. "I wish I killed you all," she sneered.

Cage shook his head before waving to his guards. "Put her to use. Take her to Doctor Sheppard."

The guards are strong, too strong for June to struggle at all against them as they roughly take her to level five. She studied them for a second, waiting. One name tag read Emerson, and the other read Moore. But they seemed fine. June wondered why, for a moment, why aren't they bursting into radiation burns and falling to the floor in pain before it clicks. The bone marrow treatment works. They were already cured. June wants to cry in some emotion, whether it's sorrow or fear, but she can't. She feels like she's going to be sick.

Emerson uses his key card to open a door after hauling June down a long, dark hallway. "Doctor Sheppard," he announces before pushing June in. "You have another."

The room is dark, just like the hallway, save for a flimsy light hanging from the ceiling. There's a line of cages, but not nearly as many as the ones in the harvest room. But June hardly noticed them. Her gaze locks into a long chair with straps on it that would lock whoever sat on it in. A tray was next to it, a few medical items resting on it, including a drill. June feels ice shoot through her veins. She knows exactly why she's here.

"No," June gasped, suddenly trying to swing her arms and get away. "No! No!" She cried out, feeling the guards press onto her arms harder.

"Bring her here," the doctor says, standing from his spinning chair.

"Don't do this!" June begged, being lifted, causing her to kick her legs. She isn't going to be tied down without a fight. "Let me go! You sick - "

June's airway is suddenly cut off as Moore grips her throat. June gasped for air, muscles weakening as Emerson helps Moore lift her by the legs and press her onto the chair. "No!" June choked out, her limbs thrashing as Emerson pins her legs down and wraps the leather around her ankles tightly. No matter how much she fights, she can't kick her legs free. Moore and Emerson work together to bring her arms down, buckling the leather binds around her wrists. The last strap is brought around her neck, so tight, June can't lift her head without choking.

The doctor tears the hem of June's shirt with a scalpel. She knows it's useless to beg, and feels pathetic when tears well up in her eyes. She can't see anyone in the room, isn't sure if they're moving around in preparation, as she can only see the ceiling above her. June isn't sure if she's breathing or not when she hears the sound of a drill filling the air. She clenched her hands into fists, bracing herself as a cold, metal tip presses against the skin of her hip.

It starts feeling like just a needle prick. June's sure she can bear it, just the annoying flare that she could just brush away if she grits her teeth. But then it goes deeper, and she feels her mild blood sliding out of the hole. And the second it hits bone, June is hit with the worst pain she's ever endured in her life.

June would take Murphy hitting her with the butt of the gun in the chest and face again and again. She would take another arrow to her side, take a few if she had to. She would even go through the shower treatment given to her when sneaking into Mount Weather. The same boiling hot water scrubbing into her body, as long as she wouldn't have to do this. Hell, even the grounders torturing her was paradise. No pain June had been through compared to what she's suffering in now.

It's the sharpest, fiery hot pain that shoots up June's hip and spreads throughout her body making her cry out. She wants to kick, squirm away from the drill, but the restraints keep her from doing so. Then it's worse.

So much worse.

June is positive she's on fire on the inside as she throws her head back, jaw falling open. And she can't hold back the haunting, blood curdling scream that shreds her vocal cords and echoes through the entire Mountain.