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justinewt · 4 months

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Our Souls Bleeding Tears of Anguish - THE 100 REWRITE Chapter Twenty-Three

[THE 100 MASTERLIST]

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Summary: The days following her arrest and imprisonment had been a roller coaster of emotion for Michelle, with far more downs than ups. The mix of fear, frustration, anger and sadness that stirred her insides almost made her sink into despair, and not being sure as to where Bellamy stood in all this made it even harder. She wanted him to show her he was back on their side.

Words: 6.4k

arnings: The 100 season 3 spoilers (episode 8 “Terms and Conditions”; episode 9 "Stealing Fire"; episode 10 "Fallen"), title adapted from quote from Katie MacAlister, execution, lots of blood

Pike suspended access to the prisoners, reinforcing security in front of and in the corridor leading to the cell where all the Grounders in the camp were still locked up, or interned as the new Chancellor preferred to put it, including Michelle herself. She woke up for the second time, curled up on the cold floor and sat up against the wall, crossing her legs. Her arms were bare since she had left her jacket in her room and although they were indoors, being dressed only in a tank top at the end of winter was rather unpleasant. She hadn’t been allowed to see or talk to her father in almost two days and she wondered what was going to happen to her. Pike said they weren’t on the Ark anymore, implying that back then, she would have been floated but not down here, but now she wasn’t so sure about the fact that she wouldn’t walk out of this cell only to be executed.

She was arrested by Bellamy before she could even tell her father that Pike knew there was a mole, and that his suspicions had befallen him. She only hoped it would be all right for him. She dreaded seeing the only parent she had left die before her eyes. Staring into the void, she kept rehashing the same thoughts until she heard movement in the hallway, and she turned her head. Sinclair, the chief engineer back on the Ark and here, was pushed into the cell, just like she was, except he didn’t collapse to the ground. He noticed Michelle and seemed chocked to see her there. This immidietaly told her that her father had no idea where she had gone and it pained her, knowing he was probably doing anything he could to find her and at the same time, find a way to stop Pike.

“This cell will soon be filled with both my people and yours.” Lincoln walked up to Sinclair and Michelle stood up, approaching them. “What’d you do to get here?”

“Whatever it took. I have a message for you from Kane. Get ready. You too, Michelle. Tonight’s a go.” He stepped away and the Grounder and the young woman exchanged a look before she went back to sitting against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her. Whatever this plan of theirs was, she might have a chance to get out of here that very night. A few hours later, Sinclair called for a guard, telling him he was ready to speak, and they sent for Bellamy who arrived shortly after. He came up to the fenced cell door, facing Sinclair. Michelle stayed put, a hand on the ground, on the go. Both her and Lincoln were watching.

“You have something to say?”

“What do you wanna know?”

“Everything.” Sinclair nodded.

“I want immunity. I’m the Chief Engineer and this camp needs me.”

“That’s up to Pike, but it shouldn’t be a problem. What have you got?”

“So…” As he was beginning to speak, or really pretend to give information, Lincoln walked towards them.

“The cowards make their deals to save their own skin.” Bellamy told him to be quiet, but the Grounder kept going at it, adding fuel to the fire. “Can’t defeat the army at the gate? So, you turn on your own? Make you feel strong?”

“I said, “be quiet”.” He repeated.

“I’m not the one who needs to be silenced. He’ll tell them nothing.” When Lincoln grabbed Sinclair by the shoulders and threw him on the ground and began to throw punches at him, Michelle stood up, a hand on the wall. Bellamy shouted and a guard unlocked the door so he could come in and put an end to the assault. Sinclair was groaning loudly at each blow, but what Bellamy wasn’t aware of was that they had been faking it all along. Sinclair was shielding himself with his arms. He realized the deception when it was already too late, Lincoln called all the other prisoners to attack, and they ran forward. Commotion ensued and Bellamy was slammed against the wall, falling to the ground with a thud. The guards outside the cell all cramed against the door to keep the prisoners inside while the Grounders pushed against them with their full strengths, eventually gaining the upper hand. Michelle was frozen in place, wanting to check on Bellamy but also wanting to just make a run for it and leave but when an alarm sounded in the building, calling for reinforcement, she chose her first option and knelt next to Bellamy who groaned in pain. When he came back to his senses, he looked at her as if she had betrayed him, when it was the other way around and he got up hastily. With all the fight going on, she stood back up and watched, almost catching a stray here and there. She then saw Bellamy run through the cell and she was tempted to follow him but knowing how much of a mess this whole operation was, she was going to get caught anyway because there wasn’t anywhere else for her to go.

The riot was quickly put down by the dozens of guards who stunned the prisoners with they weapon and put them back in the cell. The alarm eventually stopped as well, and a heavy atmosphere took over the place. This religious silence lasted all afternoon and as she watched night fall through the small portholes in the corridor, she was alerted by the sounds of footsteps approaching the cell. She got up and saw her father's silhouette through the door. He had a defeated look on his face as his glance went from Lincoln to Sinclair and stopped on his daughter. She stood in front of him and wrapped her arms around him. They tried to get back at Pike and Kane had been on the front line. Now he had been arrested, and Pike had probably passed sentence already. She couldn't bring herself to think that her father could be condemned to death. If he died, she would die as well. If that was what awaited him, Bellamy better be aware of this. He would lose someone he loved, again, and all because of his choices.

They sat down on one of the benches and Michelle rested her head on his shoulder, eventually falling asleep against him.

A while later, she was woken up from her nap by a loud clinging sound of metal against metal. She straightened up, squinting her eyes and put her hand in front of her mouth as she yawned. It was Pike who was hitting against the mesh wall, and she gave him a death stare. Her father stood up.

“I’m not here for you, Kane. Each of you is guilty of the same crimes and as such, you will suffer the same fate. Death.” Michelle's face fell as she heard the news, but she would rather die alongside her father than having to watch the latter get executed. A grounder woman stood up, speaking her native tongue to Lincoln who stretched his hand towards her before approaching Pike who was standing on the other side.

“My people are innocent. They know nothing.” He whispered.

“Sir, Lincoln’s right.” Michelle approached in turn, standing next to her father, who had thought it was his time. “All the others did was run through an open door. Same thing we would do if we were in there. And Michelle—”

“Michelle did protect a traitor, but…” He cut him off and his focus went back to Lincoln. Bellamy looked at her through the holes and she could see his loyalty to Pike was beginning to crumble but she was disappointed things had had to go this far for him to doubt Pike. It had to come to the point where she was sentenced to death. “I believe that’s true. Kane, Lincoln, Sinclair… as the leaders of this coup, you will pay for your crimes with your lives. Execution is set for dawn.”

Michelle’s face lost all its colors and she turned as white as a sheet, as if she had seen a ghost or was on the verge of death. She was exempted from being killed, but her father was not, and just thinking about having to watch him die made her feel sick to her stomach and drained her of all her life force. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Bellamy turn around and she almost threw herself against the grid, her fingers gripping through the mesh. She saw the young man stop in his tracks and look behind him.

“You can’t let him do this.” As she repeated herself two and then three times, she hit the grid each time, she gritted her teeth as she held back from crying, both out of frustration and sadness. His eyes showed that all this disturbed and upset him and he turned his back to her before walking away. She took a step back and her father gently took her shoulder and pulled her back against him. At some point in the night, he was quickly taken out of the cell, chained of course, to go see Abby but he was back barely a couple minutes later. Michelle had never been this clingy in her whole life but all she could do now was to sit next to her father, clinging to his arm, her head resting on his shoulder. Michelle was unable to get any more sleep out of this night and awaiting her father’s death filled her heart with despair. He wasn't even on the scaffold yet and she was ready to give up on life. His sleeve was rolled up to the elbow and he detailed the coalition mark with his fingertip, thinking.

“It could’ve worked.” Lincoln said, sat on the bench a few feet away.

“Death can be an act of unity, too. We don’t break.” He turned his face to Sinclair, quickly glancing to Michelle after placing a kiss on her hair. “We don’t show fear. The people will remember.”

“Chancellor on deck.” A guard then announced. A second later it was Pike’s voice which came to irritate Michelle's ears, and which also made her heart drop. A few Grounders stood up, not knowing what this was about but Lincoln spoke to them. Michelle and Kane got up and he held her face, first looking into her eyes then he pressed his forehead against hers and placed a second kiss there.

“May we meet again.” Pike ordered for everyone to stand against the wall. She was pushed away from her father by a guard and had to watch them tie him, Sinclair, and Lincoln up. Also noticing the absence of Bellamy among the guards and wondered where he had gone now but she quickly put this question at the back of her head. She didn’t care where he was right now, she only cared that she was about to become an orphan. A guard came towards her, and she got her hands tied. Seeing this, Kane got alarmed. “What are you doing?”

“She will be released right after your execution.” The Chancellor then said to Kane. She was already upset over her father’s upcoming death, but she became even more terrified of having to watch. Maybe Pike would keep her somewhere else while it happened, or he would force her to witness it, to break her and ensure she wouldn’t try to fight him in the future. If it was the latter, he would succeed. She would be broken.

“Charles, she doesn’t need to see this.” His plead was ignored and the four of them were walked out of the cell.

“Make way.” Pike commanded as they crossed paths with Harper. She exchanged a prolonged glance with Kane. Once they were further away from her, Michelle saw her peer bring her radio up to her mouth, mumbling something. She figured the latter was in contact with Octavia and as usual, she would get them out of this situation. It somewhat relaxed her because if Octavia was coming, then none of them would be executed and she wouldn’t have to watch. A minute later, Hannah’s voice sounded from Pike’s radio.

“Sir, you were right. Octavia Blake is here, and she’s not alone.” He turned around, cocking his gun at them.

“On their knees!” They were pushed to the ground. He grabbed his walkie-talkie. “Can you confirm a location?”

“Negative, sir.”

“We can assume her friends have told her where we’re taking them. We shouldn’t go further till the route’s secure.” A young guard advised. Michelle recognized Nate’s boyfriend, though she had no idea what his name was.

“Put them in there. Let’s go, move!” They were pushed into an empty dormitory and the door was locked behind them, telling two of his men to stand stand watch. From inside the room, they heard him shouting orders before leaving. They all exchanged a look when, a moment later, the door burst open, revealing Octavia. Michelle glanced out the doorway, the two guards were lying on the floor. Knowing Pike would be back soon, she picked up one of the square floorboards and they slipped in the crawlspace underneath. They heard the guards and the Chancellor walk right above their heads.

“The guys are alive, sir. They must have drugged them.” One spoke.

“We did what they wanted us to do. That won’t happen again.” He declared as he walked out. The guards jogged after him. They waited a little longer and Octavia pushed the floorboard, taking a look.

“All clear.” She grabbed the guns and put them on the floor before jumping out of the crawlspace.

“A little tight in there.”

“Try doing it for 16 years.” Kane was second to climb out and she cut his restraints. She walked towards Lincoln after freeing Michelle while Sinclair pushed the floorboard back into place. Abby entered the room going straight to Kane and Michelle.

“I told you not to do this.”

“Why would I start listening to you now?” She undid their restraints and Michelle sketched an amused smile. That was something she could have said to her father. The radio at Octavia’s belt beeped and Kane looked up at her.

“What is it?”

“This wasn’t the plan. We used their frequencies so they could hear us.”

“Stay where you are.” Harper’s voice came through in a whisper. “Repeat. Stay where you are. The exit is not clear.”

“How many guards?”

“Too many. I said stay put.” Then, suddenly, someone made an announcement sounded throughout the ring, calling all the guards at the main gate claiming the prisoners were headed there. This was obviously a false report to cover for them and allow them to flee.

“That was Monty.”

“Guess he’s with us after all.” Nate said, looking at Octavia.

“Pike will find out.” Kane added.

“We don’t know that. What we do know is we have to move.” Abby quietly urged them. They slipped away into the corridor and headed towards the entrance to the crawlspace to allow them to exit the camp without being seen. A woman’s voice came over PA, warning the citizens of Arkadia that an emergency lockdown was going into effect. Michelle stood by with Abby while Kane had everyone get through the opening. He turned to the two women and motioned for Michelle to move forward. She stepped in and was about to go through the tunnel but when she didn’t hear Abby reply to Kane when he told her it was her turn, she wondered what was going on and looked back.

“I’m not going. They need someone to show them the way out of the dark.” Michelle's eyes widened in shock when she saw her father step forward and take Abby's face in his hands to kiss her passionately. She wasn't expecting it at all and was quite taken aback but she turned out to be pleasantly surprised. If she wanted to see her father with anyone, it would for sure be Abby. She was already like a second mother to her. A sweet smile sketched her lips and she let them have a moment before Abby walked away. Michelle stuck her head through the opening.

“I already saw Clarke as my sister so that's fine with me.” She giggled and her father glanced at her, letting out a quiet laugh until Pike’s voice came over Octavia’s radio and the situation took on a more serious tone again. They were hanging on his threatening words.

“I have a message for the traitors in this camp. There will be an execution today. Either turn yourselves in, or the other Grounder prisoners will die in your place.” Lincoln looked at Octavia, his face impassive and pushed her out of the way. She grabbed his arm to stop him. Kane turned to his daughter and motioned for her to go with the others, telling her he would join them shortly and she nodded before crouching her way to the exit, dropping her right outside the camp. She waited for her father alongside Nate and Bryan and he eventually arrived, carrying an unconscious Octavia in his arms. Lincoln was nowhere to be seen, and for a very simple reason. He stayed behind to turn himself in and save his people from getting killed because of them. He put Octavia on the back of a horse and gave Michelle his jacket when he realized that she was still in just a tank top. She tried to refuse, not wanting her father to be cold but he insisted and placed the garment on her shoulders. She slipped her arms in the sleeves and the group started walking. Octavia came to her senses as it started raining and she clumsily jumped off the horse, mumbling Lincoln’s name. From where they were, they could see the camp in the distance. She stumbled through the bushes to get closer. Her face twisted with anguish. Lincoln fell to his knees in the mud, Pike facing him. Michelle got startled when he shot the Grounder in the head, his body collapsing to the ground and disappearing from their field of vision. She looked at Octavia and the sorrow on her face was gone. She looked cold and emotionless, but hatred pierced through her eyes as she stared at Pike's silhouette.

At the speed they were walking, it took them a minute to get to the cave where Octavia had left Indra earlier in the day. Their walk was in the most heavy and morose silence. Michelle and Kane entered the place after Sinclair, Nate and Harper and the young woman was surprised to see Bellamy there, chained to a rock. This gave her an answer to the question of where he had gone. Octavia walked past them, looking down at her sword in its sheath. He looked nervously at the entrance to the cave.

“Where’s Lincoln?”

“Pike put a bullet in his brain.” She said, her back to him. He couldn’t hide his shock, and guilt, regarding the Grounder’s death.

“O… O, I’m so sorry.” She snapped, suddenly turning around and punched him in the face with all her force. He stood back up, looking at her without saying anything and she kept hitting him, blood staining his lips and cheek. Michelle gritted her teeth, wanting to say something but not daring. She understood how much anger and resentment Octavia must have felt towards her brother, blaming him for what happened.

“Octavia, that’s enough.”

“Kane, stay out of this.” His eyes were wide open. He obviously felt responsible and let his sister lash out at him. She started hitting him repeatedly and everyone without exception looked away. Michelle closed her eyes, wincing at the gruntings. Kane took her by the shoulders, and they moved away from the scene. Octavia was sobbing and pushed Nate away when he tried to stop her. Again, Bellamy said to stay out of this and back off. Michelle put her hands on her ears when Octavia screamed and finished her brother off, his body falling with a thud.

“You’re dead to me.” Michelle heard silence return as Octavia's footsteps walked away towards the back of the cave. She let her hands fall and dared to turn her head, breathing heavily. She tried not to let her jaw drop at the dreadful sight of Bellamy's face covered in blood. She finally got up and approached one of the big bags they had brought. It was mostly weapons, but she found a cloth and some water while the others began to set up a fire on the other side of the cave. Bellamy avoided her gaze and turned his face away when she knelt beside him and tried to bring the folded cloth closer. With a trembling hand, she took his face and proceeded to gently wipe away the blood. He winced from the pain, tightening his lips. His eyes were no longer so wide open but still shocked and flooded with shame as he stared into the void.

“I deserve this.”

“Never said you didn’t.” He rolled his head against the rock and looked at her. She crossed his gaze. His eyes were asking her why she was even tending to him since she agreed he deserved this punishment. “I just— I don’t like seeing you like this. But I'm still angry with you.”

“I’m so sorry.” His voice was soft, almost sounding like a silent request to forgive him and he plunged his eyes into hers. Her hand still against his face, he wrapped hs fingers around her wrist.

“I know. But I can't forgive you just yet, especially out of respect for Octavia.” He briefly looked away, nodding. She let her hand slide off his face and bringing it on her lap, she held his wrist. “I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” His gaze swiftly came back to hers. At first, he didn’t understand what she was even apologizing for.

“Pushing you away.” She said under her breath, glancing at the blood-soaked cloth in her other hand before and then over her shoulder. Behind her, the others had lit a fire and were all sitting around it, talking about their next move, Pike, and the ongoing blockade around Arkadia. That was the reason they couldn’t go very far and turned this cave into their hideout. She looked back at Bellamy’s scarred face. He was staring at her, knowing she was referencing the romance that had blossomed between them before she ended it without a word. She never explained herself to him and subsequently he got together with Gina and their relationship became even more distant and awkward.

“You don’t need to apologize for that.”

“Yes, I do. We hurt each other because I didn’t handle things very well. Had too much on my plate…” Looking away, she parted her lips, wanting to tell him she liked him, but the words wouldn’t come out. Thinking about saying it out loud to him awakened the resentment that was sleeping deep inside her and she concluded briefly, shrugging. She let go of her hand and sat on the wet rocky ground of the cavern. She sighed, raising her head towards skylight above the cave. The thick foliage of the trees let in an openwork light inside. “By the way, did you leave my jacket in my room?”

“I took it after I arrested you. It's in my room.”

“I want it back when we return to Arkadia.” After a look from her father, as he sat down at the fire, she stood up and went next to him. She didn't want to give all her empathy and kindness to Bellamy for the simple reason that she had seen him get beaten up by Octavia. She knew he was sorry for what happened but there was a part of her that wanted to wait and see if he had truly joined their side for good, or if Pike's influence had still a hold of his mind. Giving out everything without knowing if she would get anything, other than a betrayal, from him wasn’t something she was ready to do. From where she was, she had Octavia facing her, sitting with her back to her brother and the latter a few dozen feet away. They stared at each other from the corner of their eyes.

“I say, we run two-man patrols, round the clock, starting now.” Bryan said.

“We’ll do that, but we should be safe here. The Grounder’s blockade is too close for Pike to risk looking for us.” Kane spoke.

“Yeah, but are we safe from the blockade?”

“As long as we stay this side of the line, we should be.”

“They’re Grounders, you really think they’re gonna play by the rules.” Octavia glared at him, and his remark made Michelle roll her eyes, breaking eye contact with Bellamy for a moment.

“Hey, Pike will want you dead now, too. We take him him out, we can go home.”

“We take him out, then the Grounders lift the blockade.” Harper chimed in, adding to Nate’s statement to his boyfriend.

“That’s right. We become the 13th clan, again.” Michelle glanced back at Bellamy, seeing him quietly disagree with what her father was saying. He rose his eyebrows and shook his head in disbelief. Feeling her eyes on him, he peeked at her before looking away. “Those were the terms.”

“Lexa’s terms.” Sinclair corrected. “If what Bellamy says is true and she’s dead, how do we know the next commander will honor them?”

“One problem at a time.”

“What about Clarke?” Michelle turned her head to Nate at the mention of her friend. “With Lexa gone, she’s not safe at Polis."

“Clarke made her choice.” Octavia thrusted the tip of her blade into the ground. “The only thing that matters now is killing Pike.”

“Octavia’s right.” While her father agreed, Michelle saw Bellamy looking up at them and gulped. There was guilt all over his face. “Once we resume our place in the Commander’s coalition, Clarke will be safe. So, how do we do it?”

“Bellamy, come in.” Monty’s voice rising from the radio interrupted their conversation, catching their attention. “It’s Monty, I’m in trouble. Please say you still have your radio.”

“If we respond and Pike’s listening—” Sinclair picked up the radio, hesitant.

“We go to Channel 7.” Bellamy stated. “Please say you still have your radio. That’s seven words after the word “trouble”. It’s code, go to seven.”

After a few seconds of silence, Sinclair and Kane looking at each other, the Chief engineer switched the channels on the radio and hande it to the former councilman. Monty’s voice came up again, asking for Bellamy again. “Monty, it’s Kane. What’s wrong?”

“Pike knows that I helped you get out.”

“Can you get to the dropship?”

“I think so.”

“Good. Go there, I’ll bring you in.” He looked at Bellamy and ended the communication with Monty.

“Hold on, what if it’s a trap and Pike’s waiting?” Harper wondered.

“That’s why I’m going alone.” Kane declared as he stood up. Obviously, Octavia imitated him, who was quickly joined by Nate.

“Monty saved our lives. I’m going too.”

“No, you’re not.” He disapproved. Everyone got up on their feet, including Michelle. “If it is a trap, I’m not marching our entire insurgency into it.”

“To stop me, you’re gonna have to kill me.” Octavia said, coldly.

“She hopes it’s a trap.” She turned her head, looking over her shoulder.

“He’s coming too. We’ll need a hostage to trade for Monty.” Michelle’s gaze went from Octavia to Bellamy in the background. Kane admitted this was a good plan and the so-called hostage was gagged on top of remaining chained. When Nate tried to plead for him, he cut him off, reminding them that he was the enemy and repeated his order.

Advancing cautiously, with Octavia and Kane at the head of the line, the latter pushing a chained and gagged Bellamy in front of him, the group walked on the dropship ground. Fearing that Octavia was right and that it turned out to be a trap, Michelle had insisted to tag along, promising to her father that she would listen to him if something happened. Much like Octavia, but for different reasons, he was quick to realize it would be better for him to accept to let her come rather than argue with her over this. If it was a trap and they got caught, she wanted to be with her father. She refused to be pacing around a humid cave wondering if she was going to hear that her father was dead or see him come back to them. Nate had given her a gun and off she went. They stopped in their tracks. Kane called for Monty, breaking the suspicious calm and silence hanging over the place. He assumed they had gotten there first when after a few seconds there was still no answer and they took a step forward, staring at the curtain that obscured the interior of the ship. Octavia suddenly pulled out her sword, grabbing her brother’s shoulder and putting her blade up to his throat.

“Get outside! Now!” She yelled. Monty appeared and there was a moment where they thought he was alone but when they saw his hands brought together in front of him, tied up, it was clear something was wrong. And behind him, a gun appeared, held up to the young man’s head and the person who held the weapon was no other than Pike himself. The number one target on Octavia’s kill list. Monty apologized for getting them into a trap but none of them were mad at him. The fault lied with Pike, as usual.

“Let him go, Pike.” Kane’s request was obviously denied while he and Michelle aimed their guns at him. They got startled when a shot was fired at their foot and Michelle closed one of her eyes, looking through the sight on top of her gun. She noticed that in his other hand, there was a radio. She frowned, thinking she should have been more observant, at least now they knew he wasn't alone.

“It’s over. Put down your weapons.”

“Shoot him.” Octavia urged, glancing at Kane and Michelle. The latter looked at her father. If he wasn’t going to do anything, she would stand by. He couldn’t shoot though; Monty’s was in his way.

“If he keeps Monty there, I got a clear shot.” While Pike urged the former councilmate to do something, the latter told his daughter to hold her fire. If she missed and hit his gun, Monty would most definitely get a bullet in his head. Another shot was fired at their feet, unsettling them.

“I promised Monty’s mother that I’d bring him home alive. Don’t make me a liar.”

“He’s already a liar.” Michelle uttered, tighetening her grip of her automatic rifle. She was surprised when she saw her father lower his, much to Octavia’s disappointment. He took the strap of the weapon off around his chest and raised his hands in the air, sending a look prompting his daughter to do the same. She gritted her teeth and reluctantly did so, hands in the air, showing the large scar that ran across the palm of her empty hand. She watched her father throw the gun away and rolling her eyes, she imitated him.

“Now, you.” He addressed Octavia, who was still holding her blade to the side of Bellamy’s neck. Her only reaction was to pull her brother closer and put the edge of the sword at the front of his throat. Before another shot could be fired at them, Bellamy suddenly grabbed her arm, twisting it around. She fell to her knees with a grunt. As Michelle thought, not just one man came out of hiding, about half a dozen people appeared. The three of them were held at gun point while Pike picked up Octavia’s sword. Michelle was staring at Bellamy. She couldn’t tell if their conversation at the cave had had any effect or had been pointless and she fooled herself thinking he had switched sides. There was a part of her that was afraid he would just go back with Pike. That part of her believed he would.

“Now, you don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine.”

“You got about five seconds to make me believe you’re still with me.”

“All the others are in a cave not far from here.” Michelle’s face fell from the disappointment that overwhelmed her. Octavia jumped at him, swearing and she was struck with an electric baton, collapsing to the ground with a grunt.

“Give me the coordinates.”

“I don’t have the coordinates. But I can take you there.” Pike had their new prisoners gagged and tied up while he freed Bellamy from his restraints and they pushed the three of them, along with Monty, in the forest. Walking beside her father, with Octavia in front of her and Pike and Bellamy at the lead, Michelle glared at the later, looking around as they advanced, she wondered where he was taking them. This wasn't exactly the route they took to get to the dropship site in the first place. She was on guard and didn't want to get her hopes up if he turned out to be betraying them again. She would be less disappointed if she expected the worst.

“Sure about the route?” Pike eventually asked. “We’re getting close to the blockade line.”

“That’s why Kane set up out here. He didn’t think we’d risk it.”

“Well, he was wrong.”

“What’s gonna happen to my sister?” I know she has to answer for her crimes, but—”

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll make you the same promise I made to Monty’s mother. Immunity from all past actions, but if she screws up again—”

“Oh, she won’t. I’ll make sure of it. My sister, my responsibility.” Michelle glanced at the girl. She couldn't see her face, but she knew that hearing him talk like this made her terribly angry. After what she had said and done to him in the cave, if she ever managed to forgive him, it wasn't going to be any time soon. A moment later, Pike had them come to a halt. Bellamy ensured the cave was right on the other side and they resumed. A horn echoed through the forest. Pike's soldiers raised their weapons, aiming at the treetops but no one could see anything. He urged them to go back to higher grounds and the moment he turned his back to Bellamy, the latter snatched the gun at his belt and held him at gunpoint, yelling at him to drop his weapon. One of the Ark’s guards took a step forward and Octavia hit him in the abdomen with her tied hands and the man fell to the ground.

“We bring you Chancellor Pike of the Sky People. O, translate. Take him. Lift this blockade.” She pulled down her gag and spoke to the Grounders. Michelle jumped, taking a step back as arrows flew from the trees, taking down each of the guards. The Grounders then appeared, running towards them, and circling them, shouting. Crouched down after being startled, Octavia took a knife from one of the bodies and tried to attack Pike but Kane blocked her to stop her. The Grounders wanted him alive, and they wouldn’t get away with it if something like what happened with Finn happened again. Clarke had taken from them their right to revenge after he had shot innocent people in a village. They couldn't take this one away from them.

“In that case…” Pike took a step towards Bellamy, and an arrow lodged itself in his left shoulder. Blood sprayed as he fell to the ground and a Grounder came to deliver another blow. He was knocked out after another kicked him in the face. They picked him up. Meanwhile, Michelle had lowered her gag and Bellamy came in front of her, cutting her bonds with his knife.

“Where are you taking him?” Kane enquired after getting his ties cut.

“To the new Commander.”

“May I join you?” He pulled up his sleeve, revealing the Coallition mark on his arm. “We’re the 13th clan.”

“Don’t slow us down.” The Grounder turned around.

“Are you sure?” Michelle asked, worried.

“We know nothing about the new commander.” Monty added.

“I’m sure. Go home. Tell our people what happened here.” Monty nodded, walking away, leaving Kane with Bellamy and Michelle. He placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder and stroked her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. “Tell Abby I’ll look out for Clarke.” She nodded. He looked at Bellamy. “Did you do this for your sister? Or because it was the right thing to do?”

“You’re welcome.” He tried to dodge the question and leave but Kane grabbed his arm.

“It matters. Until you see that, you’ll still be lost.” Michelle watched her father catch up with the Grounder further away. When she looked at Bellamy, he avoided her gaze at first.

“I still don't know what to think of you.” She was still angry at him, but she really wanted to give him a second chance. Turning Pike in was a first step in the right direction. He was lost after everything that happened. They both had their issues and broken trust was a big one between them. Perhaps he was still afraid that she would push him away again, but now knowing he wouldn't betray them again, Michelle was ready to make efforts this time and she would help him get back on the right path.

“I’m sorry.” He repeated quietly, nodding.

“I’m sorry too.” After looking at each other in silence for a moment, they finally approached Monty who was standing alone not far away.

“My mom turned me in.”

“You’re family. We’ll work it out.” Bellamy put a hand on Monty’s shoulder and taking a peep at Michelle, he did the same, slightly squeezing hers. When she met the enraged gaze of Octavia who was kneeling near one of the bodies, she looked away. One of the men on the ground lifted his head, showing he wasn’t dead, and she jumped, stabbing him in the chest before staring at her brother, speaking trigedasleng. This time, Michelle clearly understood what she said, though the underlying threat wasn’t directed at her.

“Blood must have blood.”

[To be continued…]

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Published (01/19/2023) by Andrea

Taglist: @cathrin2405 @kika64 @mirellef2001

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justinewt · 9 months

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Wanheda - THE 100 REWRITE Chapter Twenty

[THE 100 MASTERLIST]

Previous Chapter / Next Chapter

Summary: Ever since Clarke walked away from camp Arkadia, Bellamy, Michelle and the others had been looking everywhere for her, but they would never find her until she was ready to be found. They started hearing about a certain Wanheda after running into a bunch of Grounders during a mapping run outside the compound and things went downhill from there.

Words: 7.5k

Warnings: The 100 season 3 spoilers (episode 1 “Wanheda - Part 1″ & episode 2 “Wanheda - Part 2″), violence, blood, grief, head trauma

Bellamy grunted and groaned as he traded punches with Lincoln. He fell to the ground and got back up, hitting the grounder in the chest. The two young men made a demonstration of combat under the eyes of the teenagers of the Ark. In the last months, they regularly practiced to fight, under the teaching of Lincoln. Months. Michelle sighed at the thought that it had been 3 months already since Clarke left Camp Jaha, now named Arkadia, and disappeared from their radar. She had no idea where her best friend had gone off to and had to wait for her to resurface and come back. Murphy was sometimes on her mind as well. She wondered if they found this utopia that was the city of light, but she doubted that. She only hoped he was alive, somewhere. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, standing a little behind the group watching Lincoln and Bellamy, she snapped out of her thoughts and her eyes drifted over his bare chest, detailing the bulging muscles of his body. She couldn't believe she would ever find Bellamy so attractive and yet a few months ago they had started to get closer. Purely physical at first, she felt her feelings for him change and get stronger, and for some reason she didn't even understand, she found herself pushing him away and distancing herself from him. She also wondered sometimes if the girlfriend he now had was to make her jealous, and let's say it did. Even if she refused to admit it.

She watched Bellamy get thrown over Lincoln shoulder and onto the ground while he held his punch back. The demonstration was over. He straightened up and turned to the group. Bellamy was still lying on the ground, catching his breath before getting on his feet.

“He had me, but he was too aggressive.” The crowd chuckled and the grounder looked at his opponent. The latter was putting on his t-shirt. “Quitting so soon?”

“Mapping run. Sector 7.”

“Harper, let’s get this over with.” She threw a bag at Lincoln, and he caught it effortlessly.

“The Council wants you to have that.”

“I’m Trikru.” He grabbed a uniform from inside the bag. It was a uniform worn by guards on the Ark.

“A uniform doesn’t change that. This is our home now, Lincoln. We fought for it. Too many of our friends died for it. On the Ark, the uniform meant something different. Down here, it means what we make it mean. Together.” He declared, pointing at the piece of clothing in his hand. “My sister will understand that eventually.”

“Pair up and fight. Now.” Lincoln instructed before following Bellamy to the bench. As they obeyed and began to practice on their own, Michelle fixed her gaze on Bellamy waiting for his talk with Lincoln to end so they could leave the training room. She wasn't staying to practice today, at least not yet. After the incident at Mount Weather, Abby told her to avoid physical effort for the next few months or the drill wound in her femur would never heal properly and though she was annoyed by this constraint, she couldn't go against it, and it made her team up with Bellamy less anyway since she didn't go on missions outside the camp. After a minute, Bellamy walked toward her and looked at her nodding his head towards the door as she followed him outside. They could both feel the awkwardness between them when they were together. It was palpable. But both acted like they didn't took notice of it, preferring to behave as if there was nothing between them. Bellamy probably thought that was what she wanted him to do, and it wasn't, but she felt like she couldn't tell him that. Their relationship was most definitely too weird now.

They walked in silence to a door, glancing at each other from the corner of their eyes when the other wasn't looking. Bellamy knocked and opened the door. Kane was standing in front of a sector map he had drawn on a board and motioned for them to be quiet and come forward. Abby was sleeping on a couch not far from them.

“It’s the Chancellor’s first sleep in two days.” He said quietly.

“I’ll be quick, then. We’re going into Sector 7. I think we should arm the entire unit.”

“Permission granted. But the rules of engagement still apply. Nonlethal response.”

“Copy that.” He proceeded to walk back to the door and leave when Kane called him.

“Bellamy… There hasn’t been an attack since Mount Weather. It’s three months. Our people believe that this is real peace. Try not to screw that up.”

“Yes, sir.” He nodded with a tight smile and turned around. Michelle was about to follow suit with him as she was supposed to accompany him on this mapping run this time around. Her father gently grabbed her arm.

“What? I can still go right? My leg feels fine.”

“Be careful.” She nodded, giving him a reassuring smile, and jogged to catch up with Bellamy down the hallway. Hearing her footsteps behind him, he took a peek over his shoulder, slowing down his pace and walked with her to search out Monty for the mapping run. The latter was sitting at a table when they arrived.

“Monty, why aren’t you ready?” Bellamy asked.

“I am. He’s not.” He simply said, glancing behind him. Bellamy and Michelle followed his gaze and saw Jasper sprawled on the ground, passed out drunk under a table. The three of them walked towards him. “What should we do?”

“We should leave him this time.”

“He’s not getting better. Maya’s death broke him.” He continued, concerned for his best friend. Insisting that he needed this, Bellamy exhaled. They each took an arm to help her up and Michelle sighed quietly before walking after them. The two sat him down when a voice reached their ears. Michelle glanced towards where it rose from and saw Gina, Bellamy's girlfriend. She couldn’t help but cross her arms, rolling her eyes and looking away when she saw them kiss, turning her head the opposite direction. She didn’t even try to hide her annoyance in front of Monty. He was a friend she could trust, there was no point in pretending she didn’t feel anything seeing him with her. She felt that he was looking at her and avoided his gaze.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.” He shrugged and walked away. She jumped at the chance to go further from Bellamy and Gina and accompanied him, leaving Jasper dozing off against the car.

“If you follow me then it’s not ‘nothing’, Michelle.” He grabbed a bucket and began to fill it with water. “I don’t understand what’s up with you and Bellamy.”

“Well, I don’t know… It’s just— It’s nothing.” She glanced at the car. Bellamy was busy with a bag near the vehicle, talking with Raven and Nate. He met her gaze and she looked away. Monty nodded and walked back to Jasper, taking their peers by surprise when he threw the bucket of water in his face. Michelle was kind of sad. He was a good friend but if she had Clarke to talk to it would be very different. Maybe she wouldn’t even have pushed Bellamy away in the first place and things wouldn’t be like this. She couldn’t blame Bellamy though. She showed him she liked him and when it got more serious, she stepped away without warning. He had probably been hurt by her gesture, but she couldn't do anything about it now. It was too late. She had to focus on helping them until they finally found Clarke.

“I’m sorry, was that too cold?” Jasper looked up at him through his eyebrows and started screaming as he slammed him against a wall. The sudden anger that had driven him seemed to leave and he let go of Monty. Bellamy walked up to him and gave him a bulletproof vest.

“No gun for you. Not until you’re sober.”

“Don’t want one.” Before walking away, he mimed a military salute and slightly slapped Bellamy's face, making him turn his head in reflex. Michelle watched for a few seconds, her arms hanging down at her sides before she decided to walk over to get a bulletproof vest and a gun, passing Bellamy without a glance. When he was his back to her, she looked at him getting a kiss from Gina before leaving and the two young women exchanged looks as Michelle got in the back of the rover next to Bellamy, while Raven and Jasper sat at the front.

“She’s too good for you.” Raven taunted.

“Shut up.”

“Careful. Monty might melt her.” Monty turned to Jasper, about to retort something but Bellamy stopped him.

“Raven… take us out.” She nodded and started the car. Nate closed the doors and the hangar door opened, revealing Octavia on horseback in front of the vehicle. They drove across Arkadia and followed her through the woods. Jasper had headphones on and started singing along the music he was listening to. Everyone in the car looked at him and Monty pulled the earphone out.

“No way. If you’re gonna ride shotgun, you can’t just disappear.” When Jasper went to connect his MP3 to the car system, Bellamy kept Monty from stopping him.

“It’s okay. It’s a long ride.” Quickly, Jasper began singing, joined by Raven and Nate who were enjoying the music. It was honestly not bad, but Michelle barely sketched a smile, letting her head rest against the wall, looking out the tiny, barred window on the back. She straightened up when she saw Jasper get up in the car and join them in the back to stick his head out the opening in the roof of the rover. The party was quickly over when the radar started bipping. Raven cut the music and made the car go to a halt.

“A tracking beacon from the Ark.” Monty exclaimed as he got on the passenger seat.

“Who is that?” Bellamy inquired.

“Farm Station.”

“After four months? How?” Nate wondered, glancing at Bellamy.

“We’ll find out. Where are they?” The car doors opened on Octavia, asking if she had missed the party.

“Sector 8.” Monty added.

“That’s Ice Nation.” Michelle said, frowning.

“What about it”?

“The protocole says we go home. Let the Chancellor decide what to do next.” Raven explained.

“Screw protocole. The Chancellor’s not from Farm Station. Monty is. So is Miller’s boyfriend. It’s your call.” Bellamy looked at Monty and Miller, leaving them the choice of action on this one and Monty almost immidietaly agreed to it. Octavia closed the door and they left for the Ice Nation territory. Michelle knew this wasn’t a good idea and it would at some point go sideways, not that she felt bad for going against the orders they had been given but she was thinking about how her father told her to be careful and she was not doing that at all. Even though her leg was healing, she had been warned by Abby to go easy on it or the drill wounds into her bones would always and forever weaken the strength in her limb. The scar on her hand was still barely healed as well, prominent, and pinkish across her palm. She would never fully recover her mobility and strength in her hand as nerves had been severed but the upside to that was that she no longer felt anything in the palm of her hand, neither pain nor hot nor cold.

When the car stopped again, they all quickly got out. Michelle and Bellamy looked around the forest that stretched before them. The sun was hidden by the clouds as the day progressed and they were bathed in a dull whitish light.

“These woods must be the border.”

“So wher’s all the ice?” Jasper asked, walking nonchalantly.

“Much further north.” Octavia stepped next to her brother. “Azgeda stretches for 1,000 miles.”

“Good thing we only have to go 200 meters.” Monty was leaning over the GPS in his hands, not looking ahead of him. Bellamy stopped him in his tracks, reminding him of the rules. They couldn’t engage with lethal forces if they crossed path with people from the Ice Nation. Knowing these people weren’t the most peaceful, it was really a rule setting them up for danger.

“Tight formation on my command. Raven, you stay in the rover.”

“We need every gun we’ve got.” Octavia then declared. As Monty watched the progression of the beam on the radar, telling them how much closer the people were getting, Michelle stared in front of her, holding her gun secured in her grip. Her scarred hand supported the barrel of the weapon. None of them moved a finger. Bellamy held his gun up, getting ready to fire, just in case.

“They’re our people. What are you—”

“We hope they’re our people.” On Bellamy’s command, they all aimed as they saw a bunch of horses coming towards them.

“Ice Nation?”

“Yes. White war paint.” She confirmed her brother’s question. There were three of them, on horses as white as the paint on their faces. Bellamy and the others lowered their guns. Octavia quietly advised them to stay calm and she raised her hands in peace as she approached the riders. They began to speak in trigedasleng. “They think we’re looking for Wanheda.”

“Who’s that?” Bellamy spoke for all of them when he asked this. Michelle frowned in confusion, wondering who it was and why it was even brought up. It must have a signification in their language, but they didn’t have the translation needed to understand. Even Octavia had no idea who that was. An Azgeda rider took a step towards her. Monty noticed a red light hanging from his bag. That was the beacon they had noticed on the radar. Out of the blue, Jasper walked up to them, ignoring Bellamy telling him to come back. He decided to act on his own at the worst time he could have chosen.

“Tell them we observe the Commander’s truce. Do it now.” Octavia hurried to do as her brother asked and she spoke in their language again, with a sense of urgency in her voice. They had to avoid losing control of the situation. Jasper straight up snatched the beacon, and the rider got a hold of him, holding a blade up to his neck. Michelle didn’t understand what he said after, but she made out the word wanheda again. Whoever that was, they were eager to find them. The two other riders bent their bows. Octavia seemingly tried to talk to them, but Jasper ruined any possible effort they could make and smiled as if he found the whole thing so funny. They never should have brought him on this run with them. He was too affected and messd up by what happened at Mount Weather and that had made him too reckless. His behavior was going to put them all at risk and of course things went downhill with the arrogant smile that grew on his face. The rider pressed the blade of his knife against the side of his throat, drawing blood and a shot was fired by each one of them until Bellamy ordered them to hold their fire, which they did but the two riders had fallen heavily from their mounts.

“Jasper, get down.” He kneeled and Octavia threw her machete at the last Azgedan standing, stabbing him neatly in the chest. The latter fell after stumbling. Just after the fight had ceased, they heard Kane's voice coming from the radio in the rover. It all got blew up in the first place because of Jasper. Michelle clenched her jaw, giving him a stare as she trotted around the car, her hand on the car door while Bellamy took the radio. Octavia took care of helping him up anyway. She leaned him against the vehicule while Miller got the aidkit out. As annoying as he was, he was still bleeding from his neck.

“We had to shoot three Ice Nation scouts.” There was no immediate response, so he insisted. “Culvert. Sector 4, copy. Will you tell me what’s going on?”

“When you get here. Out.”

“Sector 4? Why’s Kane so far outside the wall?” Michelle enquired, glancing at Raven standing beside her. It seemed like she was about to ask the exact same thing. He didn’t say anything and went to the others, shouting for them to get Jasper back home. They were knee-deep in a shit load of trouble because of his stupid behavior.

“Miller. Get one of their horses. Raven, since you can’t ride, you’re on the back. Monty, Michelle, you’re with me. Let’s go.” They all nodded to the instructions he gave them. While the others left on horseback, heading back to Camp Arkadia, Michelle, Monty and Bellamy climbed in the car and drove all the way to the entrance of a large tunnel. They jumped out and stayed on the look out.

“You were right about Jasper. Okay? Is that what you want me to say?”

“Quiet. Keep your eyes peeled. I could’ve said no.”

“He’s getting worse, isn’t he? I mean, getting drunk every night is one thing, but smiling with a knife to your throat, that’s next level damaged.”

“Exactly.” Michelle said quietly, staring ahead of her as she saw movement in the dense bushes and trees in front of them. The tall figure of her father appeared, followed by someone. The three of them held their guns low.

“Who’s he with?”

“Indra. He must’ve told her we broke the truce.” Bellamy added before walking to meet them. “Sir, before you say anything, there was a good reason—”

“I’ll deal with that later. This is about Clarke.”

“Clarke?” Michelle’s face suddenly relaxed as she looked at him, her lips parted. She quickly shook off the puzzlement she felt and continued. “What about her?”

“She’s being hunted.” Indra stated with a serious tone.

“By who?” Monty asked.

“By everyone.”

“So, she’s Wanheda.” Michelle quickly figured the person the Azgedan scouts were looking for, and that they kept calling wanheda, was most likely Clarke herself. Even if it didn’t really made sense to her now, there was no other reasoning possible. Bellamy contained his shock but when he looked at her, he couldn’t hide it from her. Just by sharing a simple look, they knew they would both be ready to do anything to save Clarke, wherever she might be and their shared love for her brought them together no matter what state their relationship was in. Even if they happened to hate each other, they would still be prepared to team up. Fortunately enough, they did not in fact hate each other. It was rather the opposite.

With Monty at the wheel, Michelle climbed in the back with the two newcomers, sitting next to her father as they drove through the forest. Indra seemed disconcerted and made uneasy by the tremors of the vehicle when a wheel hit a pothole in the road.

“I’m still getting used to it myself.” Kane admitted sofly.

“Sir, we’re almost out of range. Are you sure you don’t wanna tell the Chancellor?”

“I’m sure.” He told Monty. “I don’t wanna worry Abby until we know something.”

“We know there is a kill order. You people are big on those.”

“It’s not a kill order. It’s a bounty.” Indra corrected. “Clarke’s a symbol. She’s known as Wanheda. Seems like Michelle was the first to make the connection.”

“What does Wanheda means?” Michelle leaned on her knees, clasping her hands together. Indra turned her head towards her, silent for a second.

“It means, Commander of Death.”

“The Ice Nation guys we killed asked about Wanheda. They’re looking for Clarke. Why?” Bellamy spoke.

“My people believe that when you kill someone, you get their power. Kill Wanheda and you command death.”

“She’s just one girl.” Michelle glanced at her father as she straightened up and listened quietly. Maybe it wasn’t a kill order that Clarke was the target of but all in all, she would end up killed by someone. They had to do something to prevent that.

“So was the Commander. What Clarke did at Mount Weather weakened her. The Ice Nation is emboldened. Their Queen wants Clarke’s power. If her people believe she has it, she’ll break the coalition and start a war. I can’t let that happen.” A beeping noise started sounding at the front of the rover and Monty let them know they finally reached Sector 7. He asked where to go now and Indra’s voice rose again. “If she’s here, she’ll need supplies. We’ll start at the trading posts.”

Night fell quickly, and it was pitch-black outside with only the rover's headlights and moon as lights. It was silent too. Until Monty suddenly braked. Though unsettled and taken by surprised, Michelle was well seated and wouldn’t have fallen but Kane grabbed her arm. They looked out the windshield and saw the reason why Monty had stopped the car in the middle of nowhere. There was a large tree trunk lying across the road. They had to move it. Before Monty and Bellamy jumped out the vehicle, Indra stopped them.

“It’s been cut down.” If that was the truth it would mean this was a set up to catch them the moment, they stepped out of the car. Of course, Bellamy doubted her word and stood through the moon roof to take a look. The silence that followed was brief. Another tree crashed to the ground and Bellamy ducked back into the car. Now they knew for sure that Indra was right.

“It’s been three hours. What are they waiting for?” Bellamy was growing impatient and annoyed at whoever was out there. The sun had risen outside and yet none of them could see anything to report around them, after they had now been stuck in the car the whole night.

“I say we make a run for it.”

“No. That’s what they want us to do.” Kane disagreed with Monty as he looked out the rear doors window. But if they couln’t go outside, there wasn’t many things they could do. Indra argued.

“The boy is right. They can wait longer than we can.”

“Okay, Bellamy. You get in the turret, and you cover us. Once we get to that ridge over ther, we’ll cover you.”

“Copy that. Run fast.” He stood up, opening the roof and they tightened their grip on their guns when he let them know that the people prying on them were already here. A man's muffled voice ordered them out, or maybe Bellamy did. The latter was pulled out the vehicle. Kane and Michelle exclaimed in surprise when he was lifted out the rover. They let go of their weapons, with Indra reluctantly doing the same. The metal of her sword clanged as it fell. The moment the door’s handle was turned down, they were pulled out the car violently and thrown on the ground in a concert of gruntings before being all pinned down. Her head held against the dirt, Michelle’s eyes swept over the people around them and watched two of them make Monty stand up. One snatched the beacon from him. He yelled to get it back, but Bellamy called out to him, and a masked woman picked up on his name. It was his mother. The woman took off her mask and drew her son into a hug. It was clear how relieved she was to have found him alive and well, safe and sound.

Michelle looked away, swallowing harshly. It was a sweet and sour sight for her as it only reminded her that her own mother was gone. She would never have the chance to experience such a moment and could only be reunited with her in death, but she was barely 18 so if she played smart at survival, she would still live for quite a while. Knowing that she would never see her mother ever again in this lifetime hurt her in ways she never imagined. She could feel this gaping hole in her heart that would never be filled again. The loss of her mother was still so fresh too. It was an open wound that felt like it would never heal but at least she had found another parent, although she would have preferred to have her mother as well as her father by her side. She blinked heavily to force the tear blurring her sight to fall and roll down her cheek while Monty hugged his mother in a tight embrace, sobbing.

“Pike?”

“You have no idea how good it is to see you.” He declared laughing and with a big smile on his face, holding out his hand to help him up. Michelle and Bellamy kind of glanced at each other as they were still pinned to the ground, a blade to their throats. “Lacroix, Smith, watch our six. Everyeon else, I said stand down.”

The man holding her down released her and she rolled on her back, leaning on her elbow to sit up. She caught her father's gaze as she furtively wiped away the tear and she took the hand he offered to help her up in turn. He gave her a compassionate and fatherly look, putting a comforting hand at the back of her head, softly stroking her hair with his thumb. He didn’t need to do much thinking to understand why she had gotten teary. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes too as he looked at her. His hand slid to her shoulders as they looked towards Monty and his mother. The latter spun around, looking for someone.

“Where’s dad?”

“Your father didn’t make it.” After a second of heavy silence, they stepped into a hug. Michelle watched them for a moment while Kane addressed Pike.

“How many of you are there?”

“63. The rest are camped in the mountains north of here.” He raised his voice, talking to the survivors around him, drawing Michelle's attention back to him. “Grounders killers one and all. Am I right?”

They joined into a yelling cry, and it got Michelle frowning. Her judging and defying stare got him looking directly at her. He squinted his eyes and started observing the proximity there was between Kane and her. She had forgotten but it was true that no one beside Abby had ever known she was Kane’s child. Her mother had always kept it a secret who the father of her kid was. Pointing a finger towards her, he parted his lips.

“Michelle Cartwig, right? I’d recognize that look of defiance anywhere. You always stared at me like this when I was teaching you.” She sketched a tight smile as he gave her a heavy pat on the shoulder that was meant to be friendly.

“Hate to cut this short. We gotta find Clarke.” Bellamy stepped in, unknowingly stopping this awkward interaction for Michelle. They had no time to waste on top of everything, so she didn’t need to be reminded that she always looked mad during Earth Skills lessons.

“Clarke Griffin?” He nodded. “If only all of my Earth Skills students were as good as her.”

“It’s good to see you, sir.” They shared a handshake, chuckling. Kane then asked for the tree to be moved from the road and Pike motioned for the rest of the Farm Station survivors to help them do so. Michelle knew she wouldn’t be of much help with the reduced strength of her hand, but she wanted to walk away from Pike. She had never liked people in position of authority and though the incident in which she spat at Kane, the news of the assault on a guard had spread all over the Ark. Monty joined Michelle and Bellamy “Are you okay?”

“I have to be.” They grunted as they bent over the trunk and proceeded to push it out of the way together. It didn’t take them much time to get things done and they walked back to the others.

“Kane, it’s time to go.” After Bellamy called out to him, the councilman instructed Monty to give the coordinates to Arkadia so they could go there on their own while they looked for Clarke’s whereabouts.

When they arrived at the trading post, they heard noises of commotion in the building. Bellamy walked through the door first and shot the guy attacking the worker inside. She stood up in panic, stumbling as she found her footing, her face covered in blood as she watched them enter. Indra checked out the dead grounder, telling the group that it was a bounty hunter. He must have been after Clarke like everyone else they crossed paths with until now. She talked to the woman in their language and Michelle frowned at Pike when he insisted that they converse in English, for no reason. Kane told him to go search the perimeter with Monty and his mother, to make sure there was no one else lurking around the area. It was easy to tell that in the future, Pike would be a pain in the ass. There was a reason why Michelle had never been very obeidient and nice when he was her teacher. She didn’t like the guy. Watching him walk out, she turned back to Indra who had resumed talking. From what she gathered; she told her they were looking for Wanheda but she seemed wary to speak

“Please. She’s in danger.” Bellamy said.

“You’re Skaikru?” Finding this out seemed to loosen her tongue a bit. “She was here last night.”

“Did she say where she was going?” Kane stepped forward.

“No. She was here when I fell asleep, and gone when I woke up.”

“She gave you any indication of where she might go?”

“No. But he did. He said that his partner came back for her. It was Ice Nation.” Bellamy, Kane and Michelle shared a glance. They had already had a run in with Ice Nation people before. It didn't look good. Monty walked back inside. They all turned to him.

“Good news. I found fresh tracks.”

“Great. Start the Rover.”

“That’s the bad news.” He looked at Bellamy. “Too many trees. We have to go on foot.”

Michelle let the others out first and turned when she heard the woman's voice behind her. “I hope you find her.” She gave her a strong nod before following suit and joining her peers outside. They had to track down Clarke before anything bad happened to her because it would if they wasted too much time. Coming out of the forest, they crossed a large field, on the lookout. Being in such a big and open place was almost less reassuring than being in a crowded forest. There was no way for them to know if someone was watching them from the treetops or following them around in the high grass. As they walked, Michelle heard the others talk behind her and Kane until Indra, who had stopped in her tracks, asked them to be quiet as she looked in the distance. Maybe she had spotted something.

“Listen.”

“War drums.” Kane noted. Michelle looked around and she heard them too. Now that she has pointed it out. She just noticed the consistency of the rumbling sound going on in the background.

“Azgeda.”

“You can tell it’s Ice Nation from the sound?” Monty was puzzled.

“No. From them.” They followed her gaze and saw the bodies lying around. Michelle counted three of them dead.

“We need to get those bodies off the field. Unless you’re good with them thinking we did this.” Kane dropped to one knee; his weapon raised in front of him. The others ran to the bodies to get them off the field because on that one Pike was right, they couldn’t afford to have Azgeda think they killed some of their own. Michelle went along with the others, jogging towards the corpses when Bellamy saw people coming. He looked through the precision scope of his firearm.

“It’s Clarke.” Michelle froze and turned to him. They had been running after her the whole day, looking for her everywhere for months and she was right here and there on the very same field in which they stood. He started running but Pike stopped him in his course. She jogged towards them as the young man shouted for him to get out of his way.

“You’ll never make it in time.”

“He’s right. Look.” Bellamy listened to Monty and looked through the scope again. Michelle did the same and noticed the Azgedan troops marching out of the forest. She then resumed approaching the three of them. “No way we’d get across without being seen.”

“We should lay low, let the army pass. Then we find Clarke.” Michelle looked down, thinking. She wasn’t so in on just waiting it out. If they did so, they would lose their opportunity to get Clarke while she was there. She could tell Bellamy wasn’t so happy about what Pike was telling them they should do right now.

“Guys, there’s a cave.” Monty then showed them a dark opening in the trees.

“I can’t go with you.” Indra declared.

“Why?” Kane looked up at her as he was kneeling beside one of the bodies. He stood back up while the rest of them took care of dragging the body out of the open field.

“Ice Nation has crossed the border. They’re marching against my commander. I have to warn her.”

“We’ll get Clarke.”

“You better. If the Ice Queen gets her first, she’ll be dead. And we’ll be at war.” She warned before leaving them. They carried the bodies into the cave and waited. Michelle leaned against the wall, behind her father as the later stood with Pike and watched Bellamy pacing, constantly looking outside. She felt as restless as him, tapping her foot on the ground but for the time being, she got herself to focus on her hand to distract herself. She ran her thumb along the scar that barred her hand, scraping her fingernail on the tissue but because nerves had gotten severed, she felt nothing and could barely flex her fingers. She used her good hand to force it to close it into a fist, but she couldn’t hold it in that position for very long. She looked up when Bellamy came up to them.

“We’re losing her.” He said, anxious.

“Relax. Save your energy.”

“Kane’s right, son. The army will move soon. You’ll need your strength for what comes next.” He reluctantly gave in and went near the entrance. Michelle let herself slide to the ground, sitting cross-legged, staring at her hand as she held it closed. For some reason, maybe out of pure boredom or to cope with how worried she felt, she grabbed a dry pine needle and started picking at her scar. She couldn't feel anything, so she didn't know if she was going too hard on it, but she didn't care and kept doing so until her father, who had sat on a large rock next to her, stopped her from hurting herself. She just looked up at him and sighed crossing her arms when Monty’s voice broke the heavy silence in the cave. He crouched in front of his mother.

“I need to know what happened.” Michelle watched him and gulped. It reminded her of when she was told how her own mother died following the bombing in the Ark. The thought that it was at that time, that with her last breath she told Kane he was Michelle’s father got her to purse her lips to keep them from quivering. When she lashed out at him, he already knew. It took a second for Monty’s mother to start telling him.

“We landed in the snow. Your father said it absorbed some of the impact. That’s why we survived. The snow looked so beautiful.” Her voice cracked as she started sobbing and she called Pike’s name so he would continue telling Monty the story for her. Michelle stood up and Kane scooted over so she could sit beside him.

“The children were playing in it. They were the first to die. 15 of them.” Michelle tilted her face forward as she leaned on her knees, running her thumb up and down her scar. What hearing the tragic story made her feel had nothing to do with what happened, but it led her to think of her mother, again. She pursed her lips as her hair fell over her face, hiding her fight against the rising tears. She held them back, closing her eyes for a second as her father gently stroked her back before putting his arm around her shoulders. She felt hesitation in his gesture but seeing that she wasn't pushing him away, he held her close. “If not for your father, would have been more. He pulled four kids back into the ship. All four alive today. They got him when he went back for the fifth. Your father died a hero, Monty. We’ve been fighting Grounders ever since.”

“That was the Ice Nation.” Pike turned his head to Kane. “Not all Grounders are the same.”

“They are to me.” His response sure put an end to the conversation. He was so stubborn with his view and opinion on Grounders that it would have been impossible for anyone to convince him of the opposite.

Afterwards, Monty began to explain how they got out of Mount-Weather. Michelle sighed and stood up to stretch her legs. She had noticed Bellamy eyeing the bodies on the ground and one look suffised for them to read each other’s mind. Neither of them was willing to wait any longer before going after Clarke and if they really waited for the army to pass, it would take a while. Behind the backs of the other four who were all too busy listening to Monty, they stole clothing and masks from the dead Grounders and slipped among the troops outside. They stayed very close to each other and behaved as if they belonged in this army. At some point, another warrior came face to face with Bellamy and they stared at each other before he grabbed his shoulders and turned him in the right direction. Michelle stared straight ahead with a conviction she knew was fake and followed suit. The Grounder then walked past them, yelling commands to the others. Once he was a few feet away, his back turned to them, Michelle nodded to Bellamy, and they continued their way in the direction they had seen their friend last. Once in the forest, they removed mask and hood and saw blood at an entrance with stairs sinking into the ground. Pulling out their knives, they glared at each other, and Michelle let Bellamy take the lead. They took careful steps and looked around from where they stood until they noticed someone tied to a pole. They could only see the hands on the sides, so they approached and found Clarke. They were both so relieved that they smiled but as he pulled down the gag in her mouth, she shouted to warn them, but someone came out of the shadows behind Michelle and grabbed her forcefully. She struggled, and as Bellamy raised his knife to attack, the man brought the blade to her throat to dissuade him.

“No, please. Please don’t. I’ll do anything. I’ll stop fighting. Just please, don’t kill her.” Clarke begged him to spare her, her voice getting shaky. Michelle let out a sigh of relieve when he released the blade from her throat but suddenly, he threw the knife at Bellamy, stabbing him in the leg, making him yell of pain as he fell to the ground and he threw Michelle against the wall, hitting her head. She swallowed harshly, rolling on her side. She didn’t lose consciousness but was disoriented and in pain as a sensation of odd warmth seized her head. She couldn’t hear or see what was happening around her as she tried to get up. It felt as if the world was spinning around her, leading her to stumble around and losing her balance only to catch herself on the pole to which Clarke was tied up a moment before except that both she and the man were now gone. The ringing in her ears eventually subdued and she saw Bellamy on the ground. She leaned on the pole, closing her eyes to try to cope with the searing headache she had and called out to him but when she tried to stand on her own and take a step towards him, she felt pulled in the opposite direction, her head spinning and caught herself on the pillar. She threw up but because she hadn't eaten anything since, they left for the mapping run yesterday, she had only bile to get out and it left her throat burning and feeling sore. She took a few tottering steps and leaned forward on her knees, moaning.

“Michelle?” Hearing the worried tone of Bellamy's voice mixed with the pain from getting stabbed and knocked out, she managed to straighten up, stumbling a bit.

“Are you okay?” Her voice sounded castling. She cleared her throat and coughed, looking at the blood-soaked area around the wound on his leg. She helped him up, each leaning on the other for support. He groaned.

“Your head.” As she was about to dismiss his concerns because she had already noticed her head was hurting and acting up, she felt something get on her eye and went to rub it but looking at her hand she saw her fingers were tinged with red. Her head injury wasn't just vertigo and nausea, there was blood dripping on her forehead. She needed to get to Arkadia and get checked by Abby quickly in case of a concussion, but she downplayed it and shrugged. For now, they had to get out of here and she had to suck it up. She took a deep breath and tried to act as if she was completely fine, wiping the blood from his forehead. Her hair stuck to her temple. Maybe it would hide her head injury a little. They slowly climbed up the stairs, grunting and groaning, leaning on the walls and then the trees around them as they walked through the forest. After a few minutes, they heard Monty's voice calling their names and they slopped against a tree. Michelle let go of Bellamy and almost crashed to the ground, but he grabbed her waist and she stabilized herself.

“We told you to wait for the army to move.” Kane reached them, Pike and Monty’s mother were right behind the two, a little further away.

“What happened?” Monty looked them up and down, worried for his friends and Kane’s eyes landed on the wound on his leg.

“We almost had her.” Bellamy said, panting.

“Pike, find their trail.” He grabbed his daughter’s face in his hand, taking a closer look to her face after no doubt noticing a slight reddish tinge to his forehead or maybe she was bleeding again. It was probably more the latter given the urgency in his need to check on her. He ran his finger to brush the hair out of her face and found it stiff and sticking together with blood.

“It’s useless. He knows he’s being followed now.”

“Hey. You can’t even walk.” Kane stopped Bellamy as he tried to leave and because they were holding onto each other, Michelle was dragged along with him. He pushed him against the tree to keep him in place and despite all her efforts, Michelle let out a shaky moan, closing her eyes to get her head to stop spinning. She pushed Bellamy’s arm and sat on the ground, holding her head in her hands.

“So what? We give up? Let him kill her?” He groaned as he took a few steps, stopped by Monty trying to talk some sense into him. Michelle wanted to go after Clarke as bad as he did, but she couldn’t think straight, she couldn’t think at all without her head hurting like hell.

“We can’t lose Clarke!” She lifted her head, looking at Bellamy when he cried out. She tried to stand up on her own and her father kept her from falling over. He held her face in his hand as she closed her eyes, gulping. Throwing his gun over his back, he picked up Michelle and carried her in his arms despite her faint protests insisting that she could walk but he knew she might have a concussion and he wasn't ready to let her take any further risks. He would be mad at her when she wouldn't be bleeding anymore and could stand without closing her eyes.

[To be continued…]

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Published (07/28/2023) by Andrea/

Taglist: @cathrin2405 @kika64

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