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justinewt · 3 months

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Heavy Hearts - THE 100 REWRITE Chapter Twenty-Two

[THE 100 MASTERLIST]

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Summary: It took Pike less than 24 hours after being elected Chancellor for things to go downhill. And Michelle's relationship with Bellamy was one of those things that quickly withered, for the sole reason that he chose the wrong side, thinking Pike was giving him a purpose; to help protect their people. To them, that meant starting trouble, maybe even causing a war, with the Grounders...

Words: 7k

Warnings: The 100 season 3 spoilers (episode 5 “Hakeldama”; episode 6 "Bitter Harvest"), blood, mention of mass killing, emotional distress, nervous breakdown, grief, betrayal

It had barely been a day since Pike took the lead at Arkadia and the group of nine of his minions, including Bellamy, were returning from their mission to exterminate the 300 Grounders who were stationed nearby to protect them. Michelle was outside of the Ark ring, drinking from a flask which concealed inside alcohol she had taken from the bar in the hangar last night. The last time she found herself drinking a whole bottle was when Murphy left with Jaha, a good three months ago. She was just so over it she didn’t know how to deal with the conflicting emotions within her. Her feelings for Bellamy, which she had tried to bury after it became too much for her, came into conflict with her frustration with the fact that he let Pike use him like this. Seeing the gate open and Pike’s group walk in, she stared at Bellamy who walked at the front. His bulletproof vest was covered in blood. She looked around, sliping her flask in her pocket and she moved closer to her father and Abby who were watching the comers with just as much shock on their faces. Everyone in the area had their eyes on them. It wasn’t just Bellamy who had blood everywhere, it was all of them. Octavia ran up to her brother, understandably worried but he seemed to kind of just brush her off, not even glancing at her, trying to be imperturbable. Or at least she hoped it was an act because it would mean he was beginning to understand and see what was wrong with all this.

“Lock it up.” Pike ordered the gate closed at he brought up the rear of the group. Bellamy had stopped in the middle of the ground, his head tilted forward, his gaze shifting around until he met Michelle’s. At the same time, Pike jumped on a stage, calling for everyone’s attention. Michelle crossed her arms, almost in sync with her father next to her. “Twenty-four hours ago, you elected me your Chancellor. Every action I’ve taken since, and every action I will take, will be to achieve one sacred goal. The creation of a self-sustaining, prosperous, and safe Arkadia.”

“Yeah.” The crowd agreed.

“This morning, on a muddy field, our people paid tribute to those who have been taken from us by sending a message to the Grounders. This land is ours now.” People cheered loudly, under the judgemental eye of Michelle as she frowned. Pike looked like a madman to her, speaking in such a fierce tone. “Resist, and you will be met by force. Fight and you will be greeted by death. Today is a new beginning. Mark it down, remember it just like the Grounders will remember it.”

As the cheering increased, Pike walked down and his group followed him, Bellamy at his heels as they walked past Michelle, Kane and Abby. This time no glances were exchanged between the two young people, and she just stared at them, gripping her arms tighter.

“No wounded.” Abby nodded quietly. “10 against 300 and there’s no wounded. How’s that possible?”

“10 with automatic rifles against 300 with swords, spears, and bows. Take down the archers and the rest of them will drop like flies.” Michelle said in a sigh. Her father and Abby looked at her. She was quick to understand how Pike, Bellamy and the others had gone about exterminating the Grounders. Get rid of the ones protecting the camp, the others with their blades won't stand a chance in front of bullets coming at them. While Abby headed to the infirmary, Kane and Michelle slipped away into a dimly lit corridor of the Ark ring with Octavia. With no one around, it was time to make a move. Kane informed the two girls that Indra had signaled and wanted to meet, meaning she had survived the massacre orchestrated earlier and he gave this mission to Octavia. He lifted a panel on the wall and gave her the direction to the crawlspace door, dropping her right outside the camp wall. She didn’t need much more convincing and slipped right in. An alarm went off as an announcement called for Kane to go to the Chancellor’s office. He closed the panel and turned to Michelle.

“I’ll go see Pike. Go to Abby and stay out of his sight. We don’t know what he will do next.”

“But—”

“Michelle, please. Listen to me.” She let out a sigh and nodded before heading to the infirmary outside, after asking her father to try and knock some sense into Bellamy if he came across the latter, and he left for Pike’s office. As she walked away, she realized how much their relationship had grown in less than a year. If he had asked her to listen to him back on the Ark, she would have spit in his face, which she did and there she was, barely rolling her eyes at the request and obliging. It may also have had to do with the fact that she was forced by circumstances to mature more quickly, even though she was only 18 years old. She was somewhat of a brat and very much insecure before she was put in solitary confinement but being thrown into the real world, having to take decisions for her survival as well as that of her friends, it really pushed her to being more of an adult when she had barely left adolescence. Now, she also had a parent to support and guide her through all of this when all of the young romances she got into ever only fucked her up even more. It didn’t mean she would always be so complient, otherwise she wouldn’t have sneaked out of that cave with Bellamy, ending up with a concussion and bedridden for days.

She casually exited the ring, tucking her hair behind her ears, and tying it as she headed towards the infirmary. She walked around the gigantic structure from the outside since she had thought, if Bellamy was somewhere, it was where Pike was, and that would be inside. She really didn’t want to see him right now. She walked across the camp and noticed that the gate was open. Curious, she turned away from her original path to go see what was going on. Though she knew her father had specifically asked her to go to Abby, it made her think of why he was so worried. It probably had to do with the fact that even if she could be mature at times, he was aware that she was still young and could be reckless and if she happened to behave in a reckless manner in front of Pike, it would be purely for provocation and that could get her in trouble. Pike wasn’t the annoying Earth skills teacher that he was on the ark, he was the new Chancellor, and he was aggressive. And because she wasn’t scared of him, it could enrage his followers and put her in danger, which Kane wouldn’t let happen. Maybe knowing that she was kind of protected, no matter what she would do, made her a little more confident and more daring when it came to Pike.

She slowed down, eventually coming to a halt and watched the Arkadia guards walk outside the campgrounds. She saw someone with their face covered up and only the eyes visible. Another man was standing there, his hands up. She squinted her eyes, moving to the side to get a better sight and she almost lost her balance, tripping on her foot when she recognized Jaha. It made her look for Murphy, thinking it might be there as well but there was only Jaha and the other veiled stranger. She watched the group of men talk, unable to hear anything they were saying because of the distance but she quickly felt the friendly reunion turned quite hostile when the guards’ interest fell on his companion and the weird bag he was carrying. One went to snatch it from the latter, and they fell to the ground, fighting. Jaha yelled his name as a gunshot went off. The man rolled off the guard onto the ground, his hand still stretched out to the bag before he rolled on his back. The former Chancellor, troubled by the sudden violence walked to the Farm Station guy that came up to him and retrieved his bag while they called out for a medic. Michelle tightened her lips, looking at the man lying on the ground. All she could think of was that since Pike had taken command, the guards were much more reactive, quick to shoot those whose faces they didn’t like. Those being exclusively Grounders, of course. Jaha kneeled next to his friend, telling him a few words, and hugging him as his body stopped twitching. She was taken out of her contemplation when Abby walked past her.

The man was carried away while Jaha and Abby entered Arkadia. Jaha saw Michelle standing there and for some reason, he seemed pleasantly surprised to see her. She just looked back at him; a little sad Murphy wasn’t with him. There was something about Jaha that bothered her, and it was the same than months before, when he left. He was acting too peaceful, smiling at her as if they were friends. Well, she did use to be very good friends with his late son, but she had never been as close to him as Clarke was. He faced her and patted her shoulders, being all too friendly for her taste. She wasn’t even sure a greeting made its way out of her mouth. This awkward reunion was quickly over, and she followed them to the infirmary.

“Where’s John? I thought you left together.” She asked him once Abby was done telling Jaha about all that had happened recently. Jaha chuckled at her eagerness to know the boy’s whereabouts. She glanced away, brushing her hand over her hair.

“Don’t worry about John, Michelle. That boy is a fighter. That might be one of the few things you two have in common.” His smile was meant to be warm and reassuring but she didn't like Jaha's new behavior since he became obsessed with this city of lights thing. Abby continued the conversation. Michelle began to walk back and forth next to them before seeing her father come in from the other side of the room. She instantly wondered what he and Pike had talked about. He looked at her and gave her a smile. Unsurprisingly, she received his smile much better than Jaha’s.

“And the others? You left with 12 people, Thelonious.” When Kane walked past his daughter, he saw Jaha and stopped in his tracks, shocked at the man sudden reappanrance in Arkadia, which was still named Camp Jaha, not too long ago. The two men shared a hug.

“Where’s your uniform?” Abby wondered, seeing he wasn’t wearing his black jacket anymore. Michelle hadn’t even noticed it.

“Pike just relieved me of my command. Stripped Lincoln of his commission.” He looked back at Jaha. “You always did have good timing.”

“Abby caught me up. I’m sorry about the election, Marcus.” It was a little weird for Michelle to hear her father’s name said outloud. Nowadays she called him dad but for 18 years of her life, she had called him by his last name, and it was the only other denomination that made sense in her head. She sometimes wondered about how Kane would have been her last name if her mother didn’t keep from him the fact, he was her child’s father.

“Forget the election.” He brushed it off. “The war you predicted the day you left is about to happen.”

“Ask him where he’s been.” Abby chimed in.

“I found the City of Light.” Michelle frowned at his claim. She just thought it was complete bullshit and her father was a little dumbfounded too.

“Well, that’s great. Isn’t it?” His slow and unsure delivery gave away his doubts regarding the topic.

“Ask his friend, Otan.” The Grounder that was shot outside the camp was wrapped up in a sheet, on a bed in front of them. The blood stain above the bullet wound had stopped spreading by now. “Apparently, he’s there right now.”

“I don’t blame you for doubting, Abby. I know how it sounds. But it is real, and it is incredible.”

“More like unbelievable.” Michelle let out, raising her eyebrows.

“One day you’ll be able to go there and see how wonderful it is.” He turned his head back to Kane, looking at the old Chancellor with doubt flooding his eyes. “Everything that you worry about now, war, power, none of it matters in the City of Light.”

“I heard you were here, Sir.” Hannah, Monty’s mother came up from behind Kane and went to shake hands with Jaha. Michelle began to wonder which sides he would take.

“And I heard you made it, Hannah. I’m so glad.”

“Chancellor Pike would like to speak with you.”

“We’ll finish this later.” His face looked much more serious as his gaze passed over Kane, Michelle, and Abby. The young woman watched him walk away from the corner of her eyes. A moment after Kane had left, Pike and a whole bunch of guards, with Bellamy among them, stormed in the infirmary. A soldier ripped the blanket off a woman lying on a bed. Michelle stood there, upset at what she was witnessing. She tried to lay low like her father asked. A guard pushed her out of the way, almost making her fall over. She stumbled, clinging to a bed’s iron frame next to her and holding herself against it so as not to be pushed again.

“Grounders, on your feet, line up now.”

“What are you doing? These are sick people.” Abby turned to Pike, outraged. “You can’t just throw them out into the cold.”

“We’re not. They’re being interned.” He explained to her as Michelle approached. Bellamy stared into the void and they both ignored each other.

“What?” Abby turned around when she heard someone hurriedly coming in. That’s when Bellamy decided to open his mouth.

“Lincoln, you don’t want to be here right now.”

“We asked them to come here.”

“We can’t spare the supplies.” Lincoln quickly looked away when a friend of his was being sat up on her bed, to be taken outside like the others. One of Pike’s dogs faced him, his hand on the gun at his belt. The woman grunted.

“She’s too sick to move.” He growled.

“Looks like she’s moving just fine to me.” Bellamy stepped in, telling him to back off and turned to Jackson, wanting to know why he even brought the Grounder here. At the same time, the sick woman they were forcing to stand up fell to the ground, groaning in pain as she was indeed too weak and sick to move. She needed more rest, but Pike and his minions wouldn’t let her. With a single punch, Lincoln put the man to the ground and Abby stretched her arm out in front of Michelle, moving her behind her. But the first hit wasn’t enough, and Lincoln bent over, grabbing him by his jacket and repeatedly punching his face. Blood spurted on the ground.

“Lincoln—” Bellamy tried to pull him off him, but he received a punch and fell backwards. Michelle let out a gasp and widened her eyes. She tried to take a step forward, but Abby held her behind her back.

“Lincoln.” The girl called out to him as Bellamy as he continued to walk towards Bellamy once the latter had gotten up. She might be on the same side as him, but she couldn’t deny she still had feelings for him. She was more frustrated rather than angry at him because she thought him siding with Pike made him look like a stupid sheep. Abby didn’t let go of her but she walked in front of the doctor and called out to him louder. They looked to the side and Pike had stepped forward, holding his gun low in front him, pointed at the girl at the feet of the bed.

“He goes with them.” Pike declared and motioned his head for his men to take him away as well. Michelle watched them handcuff him and swallowed bitterly. Her eyes shifted back to Bellamy, and they looked at each other, both a little unsettled.

“Sorry we had to do this the hard way.” Abby turned to Pike, anger in her eyes and she tightened her grasp on Michelle’s arm before leaving, dragging her out of the infirmary. She only broke the eye contact with Bellamy as they crossed the door’s threshold. As long as he was with Pike, he wasn’t the one she used to know. Michelle had no idea what Abby had in mind leading her down this maze of hallways until the two women found Kane. The doctor quickly explained the situation to him, and the small group no longer had many options available to them; They had to leave Arkadia before it was too late, and before Pike decided to get lock them up or get rid of them like he did the Grounders. News to Michelle, Clarke had been sneaked into camp by Octavia, who they sent for after she left her to talk to Bellamy alone. A few minutes later, while Kane, Abby and Michelle waited in front of the amovible panel to the crawlspace, Octavia and Clarke came running to them. The latter threw herself in her mother’s arms. Seeing her childhood friend after so long had Michelle a little taken aback until the blonde drew her into a hug.

“We know what happened. We know what Pike did. Is there anything we can do to prevent a retaliation?”

“Abby, hurry.” Kane urged her. He had their way out ready.

“We came here to give them Pike.” Octavia stated.

“He’s the duly elected Chancellor. Our people knew what they were voting for. Besides, he has the guards and all the guns. Can’t get close to him.”

“And that’s not the way we do things.” Abby added.

“Then maybe it’s time we changed the way we do things.” As Octavia spoke, a voice rang from the speakers in the camp, announcing a security breach. A lockdown was commencing and if they wanted to get out, their time was running out. “What about Lincoln?”

“You want to help him?” Kane pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was a radio. “The range isn’t great. Stay close and wait for me to contact you. Go.”

“You’re staying here?” Michelle took a step towards her father before following Clarke inside the opening. The latter was having a quick talk with her mother as well. Both wished their parents would come with them.

“Go with Octavia and Clarke, I’ll contact you.” He put his hand on her shoulder.

“I won’t be of any use to them. I’m staying here with you… it’s not safer outside.” She argued quietly and he sighed, feeling that he couldn’t really convince her to leave this time. He might be afraid about Pike, but she was really set on staying with her father inside the camp. And she felt like she would be a liability to Octavia out there. She was a survivor who knew the ways of the Grounders and Michelle was just a girl whose dad wanted far away from the unpredictable Chancellor. He looked at her with worry and drew her into a hug.

“Just stay away from Pike.” She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t promise not to talk to Bellamy if she crossed paths with him. Once Abby and Clarke said their goodbyes for now, they broke their embrace and Kane closed the panel. As her face disappeared in the dark crawlspace, Michelle and Clarke stared at each other. They would meet again once things settled down and it would be a real reunion this time around. Clarke had to go meet up with Lexa and it would probably take her until nightfall to reach the Commander. Michelle kept a low profile, staying in her room until the sun rose the next day and she thought, for just a second, that she had woken up in Bellamy’s room like that night when she kept him company after Gina's death. They had fallen asleep, sat on the floor and she woke up to the realization that he had carried her onto his bed.

She stood up and went straight to take a shower, letting the water run down her face as she stared into the void. It felt as if everything was hitting her at the same time after all those months, her mother’s death, her fling with Murphy and his departure, the complicated beginnings of her relationship with her newly found dad and the romance she could have had with Bellamy and which she threw away, and now, he was siding with one of the few people she despised. After a few seconds, she felt her face twist into a pout as she tried to fight her urge to cry, letting out a whimper. She crouched, wrapping her arm around her knees, and put a hand on her mouth and began to sob like a child, strands of her waterlogged hair sticking to her face. She was crying like a child who had just lost her mother and was left alone with her thoughts and feelings for too long. Having to survive, she was actively trying to suppress all of it, to stay focused but after keeping it all to herself and never talking about it, she couldn’t help but break down in tears where no one could see her.

Her head was hurting quite a bit after bawling her eyes out for almost ten minutes straight. She tried to put a wet cloth on her eyes for a moment, to lessen the redness and swelling but she eventually left and went to the infirmary to help Abby around. Her hair was still damp, and she slicked them back to have them out of her face. She walked out of her room, putting on her jacket, not really paying attention to her surroundings. Her mind was still clouded by the overflow of feelings of mourning and grief. Without Clarke, or even Murphy, she felt especially lonely and even though she wanted to go to her father right now and just cry in his arms, she thought they had more urgent things to do. She, once again, set aside her feelings and focus on everything else. Until the next breakdown.

Michelle wanted to go and stay in the hangar, to have a drink and be alone but still somewhat surrounded by a few people, but she took a detour through the infirmary. Her headache didn't seem to want to leave her and every step she took as well as the slightest attempt at looking around made her grind her teeth. She passed Raven as she entered while the latter was leaving the room. The mechanic gave her a smile that was strangely friendly, and she seemed at her best, despite her bad leg. Michelle stopped in her tracks and watched her walk away for a second. She would have thought that the injury completely prevented to walk without wincing but there she was, acting like all her pain was gone, as if by magic. She looked away, wondering what it was that helped her and whatever it was, it tempted her. She turned back to Abby, standing by the bed Raven had sat up from. The doctor was writing down a few things on a notepad and she raised her head when she noticed someone approaching.

“Are you okay?” She rushed to look at her face more closely, illuminating her pupils with a small flashlight, worried to see her so tired and had her sit down on the bed. “Your eyes are quite swollen, and your pupils are a little dilated.”

“I’m fine, I just—” She had no idea why this blatant lie even came out of her mouth, but Abby was no fool, and it was apparently obvious that she had been crying. Her attempt to subside the redness around her eyes had been in vain.

“Well, you’re not fine if you came to see me. Did you sleep last night?”

“Yeah, but not very well. I woke up with a migraine and my eyes hurt.” She said, glossing over the fact that her migraines and tension in her eyes was caused by her breakdown in the shower but she wouldn’t say it out loud and Abby guessed the cause of it anyway, though she didn’t have the reasons why she had cried. Or maybe she knew without the girl even saying a word, Abby had always been like a second mother to her, and she was her mother’s best friend. She brought her some eyedrops to try and help with the redness. Michelle leaned her head back, applying the product and closing her eyes before she was given a cold compress. She put it on her eyes. Since she was completely still, her migraine was more bearable and with her eyes blinded, she swallowed whatever medication Abby chose to give her. After a dozen minutes, she put it down and Abby checked her eyes again.

“You should be fine now.”

“The cold sure helped.” She stood up. “How’s Raven?”

“The pain in her leg is gone.”

“But you’re not convinced?”

“It’s not usual for pain to disappear so quickly.” Abby stated.

“Did she take something?” That was the question that burned her lips. She wanted to know what had relieved her so drastically. Michelle didn't have any physical pain comparable to hers, but it was mentally that she was hurting.

“She said Jaha gave her the key to the City of Light.” Michelle didn’t respond. She looked down, thinking. Despite doubting the existence of that utopic place that Jaha told them about, she wondered if taking the key could help her feel better. She might have felt tempted to take it but there was still some reluctance and wariness towards taking whatever that key was. The two women left for the hangar and walked up to Jasper who was observing Jaha in the distance. The latter stood tall, holding a tiny black pouch in his hands. A bunch of people were sitting in circle in front of him after queueing to receive what was probably the key Raven had told Abby about. The former Chancellor glanced at the trio but for some reason, Michelle felt he was looking at her specifically. Maybe he could see she was conflicted about the thing he promised.

“They seem pretty happy.” Jasper noted.

“Yeah. They sure do.” Abby nodded and crossed her arms, not convinced. Jaha eventually kneeled next to the others and closed his eyes. Michelle watched him, silent.

“A lot more of them today, too.”

“I know you’re tempted, but, let me figure out what it is, first. Okay?” Michelle’s gaze went straight to Abby, but the latter clearly didn’t think that she was tempted. Her question was directed to Jasper. After she left the room, she headed back towards the infirmary, but Michelle remained next to Jasper without moving, staring at the meditation that was taking place before their eyes. When Jasper turned his head towards her and asked if she was tempted too, she just shrugged and walked away towards the tables in the other corner of the hangar. She took a glass and rested her cheek on her fist, leaning on the table, looking in the direction of the large door. The truck sat there. She closed her eyes as she exhaled through her nose, resting a little until suddenly, the sounds of several people entering alerted her. Standing up, she saw Pike's group heading towards the vehicle, opening, and loudly moving around crates of weapons and ammo. Something was brewing. No doubt what had occupied her father all morning. She saw the latter walk up to them, trying to say a word to Bellamy before they left.

“That’s a lot of firepower.”

“Let’s hope we don’t need it.” The young man replied, to busy with said weapons to look at the former councilman. She didnd’t hear what her father asked but with Bellamy’s answer, she figured he enquired about what they were preparing for. She moved to a table closer, trying to ignore the stray noises of those who were busy around them. “Planning for our future.”

“You know that looks a lot like our past.” Her father’s voice was low and because of the distance between them she heard it as a whisper, but she managed to listen. She appreciated that he kept trying to talk to Bellamy, but it unsurprisingly fell on deaf ears. He always replied with a much louder and determined tone. It also seemed he didn’t even see the girl sitting in the background.

“We’re building a life here. Not trying to make peace with people who only understand war.”

“Damn right.” Monty’s mother agreed as she walked back and forth from the ammunitions’ crate to the car. Kane tried to talk to her as well, but she couldn’t care any less. She stood up as Bellamy called for the group to move out and she approached, descending the few steps that separated the garage area from the tables. Her father looked at her with disappointment on his face. She was just as bummed as him. Standing on the outside of the car, calling for the last of them to jump in as the latter said goodbye to Nate, he glanced at Kane and Michelle, his eyes lingering on her for a few more seconds before he moved on to their mission and got in. He slammed the rear door as the hangar slid open and she took a step forward, watching the car drive away. She didn’t even notice Nate leaving as her heart ached. She felt betrayed by Bellamy. Closing her eyes with a sigh, she turned around and the two of them left. He could tell that Michelle was particularly down today and as he walked with her down the hall, he placed a hand on her shoulder. They stopped in their tracks, and she just looked down at her hands. He didn’ need to ask her what was troubling her, it was easy to guess at least some of it had to do with Bellamy. She had never told her father that she liked the young man, the same way she didn’t tell him about Murphy, and he just saw the two of them together.

“Why does he side with Pike?” She mumbled.

“He’s convinced he’s doing the right thing.” She nodded and took a step forward, resting her head on her father's shoulder, who wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. Her body shook with silent sobs as he stroked her back. She wished she had her mom to comfort her but at least she had him. While she found herself alone, without her friends, all busy here and there, she had her father. He knew that she wasn’t upset just because of her heartbreak over Bellamy’s actions. He had not forgotten the tragic death of her mother which had impacted them both so deeply. The day she died was the day he found out he was a dad in the first place. She raised her head a minute later, sniffling, and he cupped her face with one hand, wiping her tears with his thumb. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” She wiped her wet eyes with the sleeve of her jacket.

“I let this happen. Pike’s influence has gotten too strong.” He placed a kiss on the top of her head and advised her to go and rest in her room, promising to find a solution to resolve the situation. She ended up leaving for her room and he went to see Abby in the infirmary. Closing the door behind her, she sighed. This little moment with his father had done him a lot of good. She took off her jacket and dropped it on the chair at her desk before plopping down on her bed.

She woke up a couple hours later to a loud knock at her door. Leaning on the mattress, she sat up. She thought at first it might be her father until she heard Bellamy's voice calling her name from the hallway.

“What do you want?”

“Open the door, please.” She rolled her eyes and grabbed the doorknob. All her sadness was overshadowed by her frustration with Bellamy.

“What?” She repeated her question after she opened the door ajar. They stared at each other, and he glanced into the room through the opening.

“Can I come in?” She wanted to try to talk to him and avoid talking to him at the same time, but she stepped aside to let him pass and crossed her arms. For a second, he had his back to her, and she could see his gaze scanning the place for some reason. He turned around and his gaze seemed much more serious.

“So, what do you want? You quit following Pike around?”

“We walked into an ambush. Octavia had warned the Grounders that we were coming.” He ignored her remark and took a few steps towards her.

“Okay, and? What’s that got to do with me?” She raised her eyebrows.

“We know it was your father who told her.”

“I don’t know, last I saw him was when you left earlier. I don't track my father.” Of course, she knew but she was well aware he came down to her room to question her regarding their suspicions about her father's actions. He and Pike understood that Kane was the mole giving out intel to the outside and from their point of view, he was trying to sabotage them when all he was doing was trying to prevent a war. But she could tell that despite everything, they had no proof against him and could not accuse him of anything.

“You know Clarke was there last night.” He wasn’t even asking; it was a statement. He knew she knew. That her very own best friend they were talking about. And her silence gave it away in any case. “That same night, both her and Octavia disappeared, and who were you with? Abby and Kane.”

“Doesn’t mean I know what you’re talking about right now. You walked into an ambush. Not my fault. What were you going to do to those Grounders anyway? Exterminate them like the ones sent to help us?”

“We have to take actions to protect our people.”

“You keep saying that.” She raised her voice, letting her hands fall along her body. “Is it you talking? Or Pike?”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Pike understands it, unlike your father.”

“You’re right. My father is thoughtful. He wouldn’t order the extermination of 300 innocents.” She had had enough. She sighed and grabbed him by the arm to push him out of her room, but he stood his grounds and slipped his hand in his pocket. In the blink of an eye, she found herself with her hands cuffed and he mumbled an apology before dragging her with him. She struggled but he closed the cell's door after removing the handcuffs and she found herself locked in with the Grounders already there. Looking around, she saw Lincoln, as surprised as she was to see her here with them.

Less than 30 minutes after Bellamy had forced her into the cell, he returned accompanied by Pike. She was pacing in the room, walking back and forth, dragging her feet on the floor, and stopped when she noticed them walking in their direction. Lincoln was sitting on a bench, watching the scene and they exchanged a glance, knowing the two men were coming for her. A guard unlocked the gate and pulled her out, tying her hands in her back.

“How long are you gonna detain me?”

“I might decide to release you if you tell us what we wanna know, Michelle.” Pike said before turning around, signaling the guards to take her with them, while a second closed the cell. The guard thrusted her cuffed hands into her back, and she groaned, taking a few stumbling steps forward. When they reached another room, she was abruptly pushed down onto a chair, her restraints were attached to the chair to prevent her from moving around. Pike and Bellamy, who were joined by Monty’s mother, Hannah, stood on the other side of the table at the center, with the Chancellor right in front of her. She stared at Pike with that arrogant look plastered on his face, in silence, and when she looked away at Bellamy, he spoke up and snapped her attention back to him. “Eyes on me, miss Kane. I'm the only one you'll be talking to right now.”

“My name is Cartwig. Michelle Cartwig.” She hissed. Even though she had grown to love her father, she would never change her last name for anything in the world. Bearing her mother's name allowed Michelle to maintain her connection to her and honor her as long as she lived. It seemed he was looking to get a reaction out of her because he nodded and briefly smirked, his hands on his hips.

“I know. Your mother’s last name. Callie Cartwig.” She gave him a death stare, grinding her teeth as he he stressed the name of the deceased. She clenched her fists, leaning forward, pulling tightly on the handcuffs, causing a burning sensation to rise around her wrists.

“Go float yourself, Pike.” She let herself fall heavily against the back of the chair. He chuckled at her insolence.

“I must say, I didn’t know Kane was your father. But I guess did you. Your mother never told either of you, right? Not until she was on the verge of death anyway.”

“What is this?” She frowned, shaking her head. “You don’t know shit about my family.”

“True. Then tell me about your father. What is he up to, Michelle?” He leaned over and put his hands on the table. Maybe was he trying to be intimidating but she didn’t react much, keeping her head held high.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged, sketching a tight smile.

“Now, you see, I think that’s a lie. Someone's been giving intel to Octavia, from inside the camp. And I'm sure you know what it's all about.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She would keep on lying every time he asked her that king of question again. She didn’t know what her father had been doing and how the ambush came to be, but she knew he was plotting against Pike. She had seen Clarke being sneaked in and out of camp and Octavia leaving through the crawlspace as well. She would never tell him all this.

“You’re a traitor. On the Ark—"

“You’re late to the party, Hannah, I was already a traitor on the Ark.”

“And you were a month away from getting floated. You were given a second chance, and you wasted it by choosing the wrong side.” He paused, she looked back at him, wondering what his silence was about. “But we’re not on the Ark anymore.” Her eyebrows relaxed, understanding that they wouldn't execute her, at least not for the time being and she stared at Pike, tilting her head to the side in incomprehension.

“So, what are you gonna do to me?”

“Maybe if we keep you and your father separated, he will make a mistake and we can arrest him. All right, lock her up.” He motioned to the guards and was almost lifted from her chair by them when they made her get up, because she didn't have time to stand on her feet. They held her arms so tightly that she barely had time to take one step after another, her feet basically dragging on the ground. They passed Bellamy and she glanced at him, but her eyes went on Pike nearby and she called out to him. He turned his head towards her, and she spat at him. Years later, and she was still spitting in the face of a figure of authority. Then, it was Kane, now it was Pike. The second she did this insulting act, her face distorted in pain as a guard struck her with an electric baton. She fell to her knees and heard Bellamy yell at them to stop. With her eyes closed, her face leaning forward, she caught her breath, which had been cut off by the violence of the gesture. She opened her eyes when she felt two fingers gently lift her chin. Bellamy was kneeling in front of her. She shook her face, pulling away from his fingers and he let his hand fall.

“I didn’t pick the wrong side. You did.” she said, letting out a labored breath. He looked at her, quiet, as the guards picked her up and dragged her back to the cell, where they unceremoniously pushed her to the ground after freeing her from her handcuffs.

“Locking up their own now.” She grabbed the hand Lincoln gave her and he helped her up, noticing the burn mark across her top, where she was hit. She gave him a nod as a silent thank.

“Yeah, they were already locking up teenagers in the past. Executing the adults.” Her tone made it easy for him to understand she had been detained before her people ever came down to the ground. She sighed, looking towards the door. The blow had hurt her much more deeply. She continued to hope that Bellamy would wake up and join them, but she was angry with him for letting Pike lead him astray.

[To be continued…]

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Published (01/12/2023) by Andrea

Taglist: @cathrin2405 @kika64 @mirellef2001

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