The Garden of Eden (Silent Moments Series: Book 5)

Chapter 14

 I focused on the task at hand, wrapping the rope tightly around Octavia's arm to form a makeshift tourniquet. "It's not for the worm, it's for the blood," I explained to Bellamy, who looked at me questioningly.

Octavia groaned under her breath, "Whatever you are going to do, do it." Her voice was a mix of pain and impatience.

I made a careful incision in her upper bicep. The sight was gruesome, but necessary. With a deep breath, I reached into the wound, searching for the elusive parasite. "Kegan?" Bellamy's voice was laced with horror. "Kegan, you're going to lose it."

"Like hell I am," I grunted, my fingers finally closing around the squirming worm. "I've got it! Stay still!"

Just then, Monty's voice crackled through the radio, adding another layer of urgency to our dire situation. "Please, if you can hear me, this is an emergency."

I passed the responsibility to Bellamy. "I got this. Take it," I instructed, focusing on the extraction.

"Monty, it's me," Bellamy responded, his voice strained. "We've got a situation here."

"The prisoners have a missile system," Monty revealed, his voice tinged with panic. "They're targeting your location. You need to move, now!"

As I finally pulled the writhing worm from Octavia's arm, the reality of Monty's words hit us. The worm, resembling a small snake, thrashed violently in my grip. With Indra's help, I quickly sealed it in a jar, ensuring it couldn't harm anyone else.

The gravity of the new threat loomed over us. "Missiles?" I echoed, my mind racing with the implications.

"We have to move," Bellamy stated, urgency evident in his voice.

"We can't just leave Obika," I argued, torn between the immediate need to save Octavia and the looming danger of the missile attack.

"Fight or hide," Indra interjected, her eyes scanning the tent. "We need to make a decision."

As the group deliberated, the weight of our choices hung heavily in the air. We were trapped between two lethal threats, each demanding a different response. The sense of urgency was palpable as we prepared to face whatever came next.

Indra's voice cut through the tense air, her skepticism apparent. "How are we supposed to find cover in a desert wasteland?" she questioned, voicing the concern on everyone's mind.

"You still don't understand," Octavia groaned, her voice strained with pain and frustration. "Wonkru does not retreat."

"You do if you want to live," Bellamy countered, his voice laced with desperation.

Indra intervened, practical as ever. "Now is not the time for a debate. Even if we did retreat, the path puts us in the middle of a sandstorm!"

Octavia's determination was unyielding. "Those ruins are not our home! The Valley is, and we're taking it back," she sneered, attempting to stand despite her weakened state.

"Octavia, easy," I cautioned, gently pressing her back down. "The venom's still in your system."

Ignoring my warning, she grunted and wobbled out of the tent, her resolve clear. We had no choice but to move towards the sandstorm, the lesser of two evils.

Wonkru's loyalty to Octavia was remarkable. They formed a human shield around her, braving the sandstorm with a collective strength that was awe-inspiring. I focused on packing her wound, applying pressure to stem the bleeding, lacking the resources to do more.

After the storm passed, the morning revealed the toll it had taken. Indra, among others, was down. "What's wrong with her? Is it a worm?" Octavia rasped, concern evident even in her weakened state.

"I don't think so," I replied, examining Indra. "I'm guessing there's glass in her lungs. We gotta get her back to Polis."

The urgency of the situation was palpable. Despite the danger we had just survived, our challenges were far from over. The journey back to Polis loomed ahead, a race against time to save Indra and regroup for the challenges that awaited us.

Miller approached Octavia, his face etched with sorrow. "Blodreina, there's eleven dead," he reported solemnly. "Twelve including Obika."

"Take their weapons and their armor," Octavia instructed, her voice heavy with the burden of command. "Leave the bodies."

"Leave them?" Cooper echoed, her tone laced with disbelief.

"There's no time," Octavia sighed, weary yet resolute. "The enemy can see us. Sound the retreat."

Cooper quickly mobilized the group, her efficiency a testament to Wonkru's discipline. Seizing the opportunity, I turned my attention to Octavia's wound. "How's that arm?" I asked, gently unwrapping the cloth. Inspecting the wound, I was relieved to find it wasn't as severe as I had feared. "Damage to the muscle should be minimal, but we'll know more in a few days."

"Thank you for saving my life," Octavia said, her voice carrying a rare note of sincerity.

"You saved ours," Bellamy added, approaching us. "You were right. Wonkru is strong. Just like their leader."

Octavia caught his arm, using it for support as she sat up. "I'm glad you're alive, big brother," she whispered, her voice softening as she kissed him on the cheek. Bellamy returned the gesture with a smile, enveloping her in a hug, a moment of familial warmth amidst the turmoil. But the moment was fleeting. Octavia's gaze hardened as she released him. "But if you ever speak out against Wonkru again, then you are an enemy of Wonkru," she warned, her hands framing his face. "And you are my enemy."

As the uncertain sound echoed from above, tension gripped the soldiers, their weapons poised for whatever threat might descend from the sky. Amidst this anxiety, the screeching of brakes cut through the air, a sound that sent my heart racing with a mix of hope and apprehension. When the rover careened around the corner, a wave of unbridled joy washed over me. There she was, emerging from the vehicle like a beacon in the chaos. We dashed towards each other, the distance closing with each heartbeat. Lifting her off the ground, I spun her around, our laughter mingling in the air – a moment of pure elation. As I set her down, our embrace lingered, a testament to the depth of our bond and the relief of being reunited.

The joyous mood was further amplified as Harper and Monty stepped out of the rover, their presence adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Then Echo emerged, quickly finding her way into Bellamy's arms. Their embrace, intense and full of emotion, culminated in a kiss that revealed a depth of relationship I hadn't fully realized before. Intrigued yet cautious, I resisted the urge to glance at Octavia, aware of the complex emotions this scene might evoke in her. The interaction between Bellamy and Echo, while beautiful, had the potential to stir a whirlwind of feelings, especially in his sister. This moment, amidst the backdrop of uncertainty and the looming challenges we faced, was a poignant reminder of the human connections that kept us anchored. It was a scene marked by joyous reunions, blossoming relationships, and the unspoken undercurrents of our intertwined lives.