Barricade- John Murphy

Chapter 20

Season 2

Episode 5:
Human Trials

I wait with the others before Raven gives us the signal that we can go. I take off for the gate, stopping long enough for them to open it before I rush out. "Arty slow down. We'll find him." Nate assures me. "Artemis. Hey, are you sure about this?" Bellamy asks me with worry. "What?" I ask him. "Going back there. I know you're going for Murphy. But you shouldn't force yourself to face them yet." He tells me.

"I'll face a hundred of my demons if it means I find Murphy." I say as I keep walking. "Hey. Just breathe. We'll find him in no time." Octavia says joining my side. I nod slightly as I take a deep breath. After walking for hours, it was dark. I didn't want to stop, but Nate finally reasoned with me that going further in the dark would do everyone more harm than good. Murphy included.

"Last time I saw you, you were closing the dropship door." I hear Bellamy mutter. I roll my eyes hearing that. I could care less at this second. All I wanted was to find Murphy and get back to camp. I pull out the pen I found and start drawing on my hand, the little bit of light from the fire guiding me. A hand hovers over mine and I look over at Nate. I give him a small smile before pulling his hand a bit more into the light.

I start drawing on his hand, my nerves slowly calming down. "You haven't seen him Clarke. Losing you, the others. It changed him. He executed the grounder who had your watch. Didn't even blink." I catch from Bellamy. "That doesn't sound like Finn." Clarke comments and I scoff. "Because you haven't seen him. He's not Finn anymore. He's some... psychotic version of himself." I comment making them turn to me.

"Have you slept yet?" Bellamy asks me. "I can't sleep. Not without Murphy. I've tried a few times to sleep alone. I get nightmares that wake me up screaming." I say focusing on my drawing. "What happened to you?" Clarke asks and I sigh. "Ask your little boyfriend when we find him. Seems he has no problem airing my dirty laundry." I mutter at her.

"Yeah... Finn outed everything in the forest right before we found Mel. Murphy beat the shit out of him." I hear Bellamy tell her. "And Lincoln." I hear once I focus again. I look up seeing Octavia awake. "I think we've slept long enough." She says getting up. I get up with her quickly. I was ready to find Murphy. I was considering going myself at that point. Nate gets up next to me, adjusting the gun slung around his shoulder. He and Bellamy both had one.

We head through the trees, and after a long walk, the sun starts to rise. Just after the sun rises we reach a huge statue. "Which way to the village?" Bellamy asks. I look at Octavia, not remembering which way. It was dark last time I saw this damn thing. "Tavi?" I say seeing her staring at something. "The Reapers came from there." She says pointing off in one direction. "I couldn't save him." She says as she starts to cry.

I frown, seeing how upset she was, made me want to find this Lincoln guy for her. Even if I don't know him, I trust her not to be with a bad dude. When she calms down we head in the direction she tells us. As we walk I start to hear yelling. Before I hear gunshots. "Murphy!" I yell taking off. "Arty wait!" I hear the others screaming. I burst out of the tree line and freeze.

Bodies scattered the ground, people were crying. "Oh my god..." I mutter softly. My eyes scan the people standing until they land on Murphy. "Murphy." I say relieved. He turns and shock crosses his face. "Goddess?" He says and I run over jumping into his arms. "I heard the shooting. I got so scared." I cry into his shoulder. "I'm okay. I'm okay." He tells me softly, calming me down.

"Artemis." I heard and turn as Mira and Keran walk over. "Are you guys okay?" I ask quickly and they both nod. "We were coming from the other side of the village when we heard the shooting." Mira tells me. "I'm sorry for what he did. I may not be comfortable around your people, but they are your people." I tell them both. "That is kind of you. A unique quality for a warrior in training." Keran says with a small smirk.

"That scar will just make you even more of a badass warrior." Murphy adds and I roll my eyes smiling. "Arty." I hear and see Clarke walking over. "What's up?" I ask her. "We should head back soon. No doubt my mom knows we're gone." She tells me. "I could care less about your mom Clarke. She keeps belittling us. We're not kids anymore yet she seems to forget that." I say and she sighs softly.

"We should still head back soon. Who's this?" She asks, finally realizing the two grounders. "Keran and his sister Mira. Two of the three grounders I trust right now." I say simply. "Mira... the one who made you the knives, right?" Clarke asks and I nod. We decide to head back quickly before the grounders try to retaliate for what Finn did. I couldn't say I'd blame them though.

The walk back seems quicker and by the time it's dark we're back. Abby questions us one by one, but I refused to sit in a tiny room with her. I'd strangle her for treating me like a fucking toddler. I answer her questions until she asks who gave us the weapons. "A person with a face. And eyes, hair. All that good shit." I say staring her down. "Artemis. That is a felony, as Marcus said." She tells me.

"Don't talk to me about him. For all I know he could be fucking dead. That's how little I trust the rest of the grounders." I say with a glare. "I need names." She tells me. "Bob, Lauren, Andrew, Garfield, Ronald." I list with a sarcastic smile. "Artemis you are a child. Like it or not. You aren't in charge here. We are the adults, not you. You need to stop going against everything we say." She snaps at me.

"Oh you're the adults? Then fucking act like it, Abby! If WE are the children. Then WHY are we more devoted to getting our people back than you. Why don't you fucking care?!" I yell at her. She glances around, and I knew I was drawing attention. "I have friends in that mountain. Jasper, Monty, Harper, Miller. Just to name a few. And I won't rest until they're back with us. Safe. And if I have to start a revolution and rebel against you? I'll fucking do it. You're not in charge here Abby. The quicker you get with the program. The less I'll have to put you in your place." I say before I get up walking away.

I walk over seeing Murphy smirking as I walk over. Finn and Clarke were at the little table with him. "That was sexy." Murphy says with a grin. I roll my eyes taking his cup and down the rest of it. "Eww.. Monty's moonshine?" I ask and he nods. "Well. Let's go to bed. I'm done with people." I tell him. "Arty wait." Finn says as I turn around. "Sorry. Bit busy. Maybe someone else has trauma you can air out?" I say grabbing Murphy and pull him along.

He starts snickering and I elbow him. "Come on. I got a surprise." He tells me tugging me around the side of the ship. I see a few tents and look at him confused. "Bellamy, Finn, Raven, and Clarke have had no problem adjusting back to the actual beds the Ark has. Us, Octavia and Nate can't. So.. we made ourselves a few tents. Her and Nate don't want to revert back. And I already know you won't. So we have our spot here. Millers dad said he'd make sure Abby doesn't mess with it." He tells me.

"Murphy... this is amazing." I smile brightly at him. I lean up pressing my lips to his. I lean back blushing. "Sorry..." I whisper. "What for? Goddess, anything we do is at your pace. Especially after what's happened. If all you need right now is cuddles, hand holding and sporadic kisses, I'm here." He grins at me. "Smartass." I nudge him heading for the tents. I see Octavia and Nate sitting at a small fire and smile joining them.