𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ➼ 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗺𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗲¹

𝗙 𝗢 𝗥 𝗧 𝗬 . 𝗡 𝗜 𝗡 𝗘

"There they are. Hold it right there!" A man shouts.

I turn to see a load of guards rush in with guns and my hope of escaping depletes.

"Get your hands up!" He shouts.

I reluctantly put up my hands and I'm harshly shoved to the ground and handcuffed.

the grounders were more gentle than these buffoons

I'm dragged to my feet and pulled down the corridor behind Clarke. Two guards hold onto each of us as we're ushered through Mount Weather.

We enter what I assume is Dante's office and one guard takes a hold of Clarke and I.

"Loose the handcuffs" Dante orders, not looking away from the picture he's painting.

"There's a blank canvas if you'd like" He tells Clarke.

My handcuffs are taken off and I rub my raw wrists angrily.

it seems the only emotion I feel vividly anymore is anger

"I used to paint the ground too" Clarke tells the old man.

"It's not just the ground. It's a memory" Dante replies.

"Hold up. You've been out there?" I ask in surprise.

"Yes. Fifty six years ago, for five minutes. I was seven when the first of what we called the outsiders appeared. Before that, we thought we were all there was. Imagine our surprise" Dante elaborates.

"We don't have to imagine" Clarke assures him.

"My father, this was his office at the time, believed it meant that the earth was survivable again, and so, he opened the doors. Within a week, fifty four people were dead from the exposure. My mother and sister among them" Dante explains.

He turns to us and I feel slightly guilty for trying to open the door.

"Loss...pain, regret. Time eases these things, girls, but the only time it's ever truly gone is when I'm painting" He admits.

"You didn't bring us here to talk about painting, did you?" Clarke replies.

"I'm afraid I have bad news. Our patrols have swept the area and found no evidence of survivors, either at your camp or from the Ark" Dante tells us and a crushing feeling erupts in my chest.

they're all gone

"How can they be sure?" Clarke argues.

"They can't. I've ordered them to keep searching" Dante replies.

"I need to see for myself!" Clarke snaps.

"I'm sorry. I can't allow that. I'm doing this for your own good, Clarke. It's not safe out there" He tells her.

"Radiation has no effect on us" Clarke retorts.

"It's not the radiation I'm concerned about" Dante states.

"Then what? The grounders? I'm sure we could take a few of them to find our friends" I protest.

"You both need time to grieve" Dante says and I scoff.

"I'm done grieving" I announce clearly.

"These men will show you to your room" Dante tells us, pointing at the guards.

"And if I try to leave?" Clarke asks.

"Please don't test me, Clarke" He replies.

She spins around and I shoot the man one last glare before following the guards.

╳°»。 ∾·⁙· ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ·⁙·∾ 。«°╳

"For the past and the future we serve" Dante says as we all stand in the dining hall hand in hand.

"We give thanks" Everyone echoes.

"Good health, good food and good company. And the blessings of new friends" Dante speaks again.

"We give thanks" Everyone says in return.

I let go of Monty and Clarke's hands and we all sit down. I look down at the food on my plate and a sick feeling swirls inside me.

"I need some space" I mumble and Clarke nods.

I get up from my seat and quickly exit the hall, ignoring the stares and questioning gazes I receive.

I enter our dorm and make my way to my bunk bed which is below Clarke's. I kick off my boots and let my hoodie fall to the floor before curling up in bed.

I tug the blanket over me and bury my face in the pillow as I take deep breaths. Sleep doesn't come easy to me, it takes me a long time to let sleep consume me.

The thing on my mind as I drift off into the unconscious darkness being all people I've lost since I first placed a foot on earth.

too many people