Four days had passed since our near disaster experience up on the ravine, and in those four days a lot of progress had been made.
We had been in frequent contact with Bellamy, and had learned more about our current situation.
Apparently, this wasn't Clarke's first betrayal. Bellamy had relayed to me how she had left him in Polis to die. I couldn't quite explain the anger I felt over this revelation.
He had explained to us that the reason Clarke was siding with McCreary, the reason she had betrayed him in Polis, almost certainly had everything to do with Madi.
According to Echo, Clarke had met a little girl in the early days following Praimfaya. Essentially, Madi had become her daughter, so it made perfect sense that Clarke was willing to do anything to protect her. A mother's love was unchallenged, the actions Abby had taken in the past was a perfect example of that.
But did it excuse betraying all of her friends, her family? I wasn't entirely sure about that. There had to be another way.
The reason Clarke needed to protect Madi in the first place, as explained by Bellamy, was due to the fact that Madi was evidently a Nightblood. This meant that she was eligible to be a true commander, something Clarke feared. Madi taking the Flame meant she was a direct threat to Octavia. And from what Echo told me, that was not a position anyone wanted to be in at this point in time.
However, Gaia and Bellamy had taken it upon themselves to placed the Flame in Madi's head, a decision that Clarke clearly was not happy with.
So, that lead us to the exact position we were in. One in which a good portion of my family could be massacred in a number of hours.
The group of us had worked hard to devise a sturdy battle plan. We had consulted with Diyoza, learning the battle plan she had curated, one that McCreary was sure to follow. With that information, Echo and I formed a plan in which our people would hopefully escaped unscathed, and take the valley seamlessly.
That brought us to right now, just before dawn on the day of attack.
The sky was still dark as we sat in small groups within the forest, everyone prepping for the battle that would ensue in a number of hours.
"Everybody ammo up!" Shaw instructed, slowly walking around the group to ensure everyone was armed and ready.
He stopped next to where I was sitting, reaching out to hand me another clip of ammo. I gave him a small smile as I took it, shoving into my pocket with slightly shaky hands.
Shaw gave me a curt nod before readdressing the group. "Once the shooting starts, it'll take ten minutes for McCreary's reinforcements to arrive, so don't use all your bullets before then."
For what felt like the fifth time, I checked the clip that was already loaded in my gun, ensuring it was full.
As I looked up from my task, I noted that Shaw had approached Raven. It had been four days and she still had yet to say a single word to him since he saved our asses, while incidentally almost sacrificing his life.
"Avery."
I pulled my eyes away from Raven and Shaw to look up at Echo who was standing in front of me, a slightly unnerved look on her face. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I cleared my throat, nodding as I shoved the clip back into my gun. "Sure."
She hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to me, her eyes flickering between her hands and my face for a moment.
"I-uh." she paused, letting out a small cough. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry for everything that happened between us. I was horrible to you."
I stared at her for a moment, my face unwavering. Was she really sorry? Or was she just saying all of this because there was a potential we were all about to die? Better to enter battle knowing you have people who will have your back no matter what.
Nonetheless, I finally gave her a small nod. "Thank you, Echo." I quickly glanced toward where Murphy was sitting. "Besides, we have bigger things to worry about than minute drama-like the fact that John still doesn't know how to work that damn gun."
Echo let out a small chuckle as she nodded. "Fingers crossed he has it figured out in the next hour."
I gave her a small smile as my eyes slowly drifted back to Shaw and Raven. It appeared that she was no longer mad at him, considering her lips were currently against his.
Watching them for only a moment, I tore my gaze away, my hand flying up to the necklace that still hung off my neck. My fingers clasped around the ring that Bellamy gave me, the possession I refused to part with, even through everything that had happened in the past weeks.
In that moment I hated myself. I hated myself for letting Bellamy go, for not even listening to what he had to say.
He could die in the next few hours, and if that happened I wasn't sure I would be able to move on.
So lost in my thoughts, I startled slightly as Emori plopped down next to me, throwing her arm over my shoulder.
Apparently my despair was visibly obvious.
I leaned into her slightly as I wore a sad smile. "At least someone gets a happy ending." I mumbled, nodding toward Raven and Shaw.
Emori sighed as she rested her head against mine. "You'll be together soon." she promised.
I snorted, closing my eyes for a moment. "Whatever that means."
A comfortable silence settled amongst us before I let out a small breath.
I needed to move on from those thoughts right now, I needed to step up.
"It's almost dawn." I announced, looking to both Echo and Emori. "Let's go over this again."
I picked up my flashlight, pointing it down at the battle plan that was laid out in front of me.
With a deep sigh, I delved into the battle plan, mostly going over it to ensure I had missed nothing in the planning. If we could distract McCreary's men, pulling all reinforcements to point A, then the final two points will be open to Bellamy, Octavia and the Wonkru army.
Everything had to go perfectly, or disaster would strike.
As I spoke, I could hear my voice becoming increasingly thick with nerves.
It was time to put to use everything that I had become on the Ring. No longer was I timid compliant. Now, I was ready to take on an entire army of prisoners-I had to for the people that I loved.
---
It was time.
The weather was dreary, almost matching the mood of what was to occur.
A group consisting of Murphy, Raven, Emori, Shaw, Echo and myself were positioned atop of the ravine, guns loaded and ready.
Within a matter of minutes the shooting was to commence, and I was ready to do whatever was needed to stop McCreary and his men.
"Everyone ready." Echo ordered from her positioned, her eyes locked on our target.
I let out a low sigh as I readjusted my grip on my gun.
Just a few more seconds...
"Now!"
Upon Echo's signal, we all began to fire.
The gunfire rained down against the pillbox, the noise reverberating through the entire ravine.
My eyes almost seemed to go blank as I stared froward, my finger pressed tightly against the trigger.
We were met with immediate defence from within the pillbox. Bullets raced toward us.
I lowered myself further to the ground as rain began to fall from the sky, causing a shiver to run through my body.
"Murphy!" Echo yelled over the noise. "You've finally got a gun, use it!"
Murphy looked up from sonic cannon, a look of distress on his face "I'm going as fast as I can. Come on!" he yelled, angrily shaking the gun.
Finally, the whirring sound picked up and a surprised smile came to Murphy's face.
He jumped out from behind the trees, aiming the cannon toward the pillbox. "Say hello to my little friend!"
Unsurprisingly, his arrogance backfired.
The gun sent an explosion into a nearby set of rocks, meanwhile Murphy was sent flying backward.
I glanced over at him as I continued firing. He let out a grunt, rolling over. "It's got a little bit of kickback."
"John!" Emori gasped, lowering her gun slightly to check on him.
But she was soon distracted, as were all of us, by the noise the cannon was making. It sounded like it was seconds from exploding.
"What did you do?" Emori demanded.
"This is why I said we shouldn't give him the big gun!" I screamed, looking over in worry as the machine continue to whine in what could only mean imminent disaster.
Raven lowered her gun, quickly rushing toward it.
"I'll cover you!" I promised, my eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of active shooters.
"He cracked the core. It's gonna blow!" Shaw yelled. "We should run."
My eyes nervously flitted between the pillbox and the cannon. Raven made quick work in opening the control panel.
Thankfully, she managed to disconnect the wires before it had a chance to blow. "I don't run."
My breathing was rapid as my eyes returned to where all of McCreary's men should have been.
But there was nothing but stillness.
"They stopped shooting." I declared, my voice laced with confusion and concern.
Shaw raised the monocular to his eye, quickly scanning the tree line. "No movement in the pillboxes."
Raven wore a distressed look. "No reinforcements yet either."
Murphy, who had finally pulled himself to his feet, look distraught. "Where the hell is everyone, then?"
I pushed myself up from where I had been kneeling and slowly made my way to the edge of the ravine that overlooked the ground below.
Another shiver ran through my body, but this time it wasn't because of the cold.
"Something's wrong." I announced, my voice wavering in fear. "Really wrong."
---
Never had I felt so angry, so disappointed, so devastated.
Upon our return to the cave, we had discovered that both Diyoza and Kane were missing, therefore solving the problem of how all of this happened.
"I'm radioing Bellamy." I announced instantly, needing to hear his voice for my own sanity at this point. I needed to know that he was okay.
"Bellamy," I called into the radio, anxiously pacing in a small circle. "Bellamy, do you read me? Come in."
Seconds passed...and then minutes.
With each passing moment I felt my heart drop further and further into my stomach.
"Bellamy." I repeated after a couple of minutes. "Bellamy, come in."
I felt like I was going to be sick.
Another few minutes passed with no response at all.
Everyone watched me with worried eyes as I clutched onto the radio like it was my lifeline.
"Bellamy-"
"Avery."
It wasn't Bellamy, but it was a response and I was relieved to hear Monty's voice nonetheless.
"Monty, thank God." I breathed before speaking again. "Put Bellamy on."
"What the hell happened?" Monty demanded. "I thought you said it was safe?"
Raven reached out and pulled the walkie toward her mouth. "It was Diyoza." she snapped. "That bitch betrayed us."
My eyes darkened at the mention of her name. If it weren't for the innocent child she was carrying, she'd be dead the minute I laid eyes on her.
"We don't know that." Shaw reasoned, he seeming to be the only sensible one at this point.
"Yeah?" I challenged. "Then where the hell is she?"
"She wasn't alone." Murphy muttered. "Kane betrayed us too."
I clenched my jaw as I took the radio back from Raven. "Monty, where the hell is Bellamy?"
The response that came from Monty almost caused my knees to buckle from beneath me. "He's missing, but there's still gunfire in the gorge. It's not over yet."
Was that supposed to make me feel better?
"Guys," Monty asserted. "If you don't figure something out fast, 300 people are gonna die out here."
Echo's face screwed up in anger as she grabbed the radio from me. "If there are 300 of you, then attack! You have the numbers." she snapped.
"That's not an option." Monty fired back. "There's only a handful of people willing to go back in. They're at each other's throats. Nobody's in charge."
I dug my hands into my hair, nervously pulling at the roots as I paced back and forth.
"Echo," Raven whispered. "If the enemy is listening..."
"Okay." Echo conceded to Monty. "We understand, and we'll figure something out. Radio silence until then. Is that clear?"
I continued pacing as Monty gave his response. My mind was racing a mile a minute.
"What about air support then?" Murphy suggested. "Transport ship's got missiles, right? If we can get on board, take control--"
"--No way!" Raven instantly argued. "The one thing McCreary doesn't have is a pilot, and you wanted to walk one through the front door?"
"Raven's right." I muttered, nervously chewing on my finger. "It's too risky."
"I agree with Murphy." Shaw declared. "If we can't get them through the gorge this thing is over, and they die in the wasteland."
I winced slightly at his words, the prospect of that almost being too much for me to bear.
We needed a better plan.
Come on Avery, think.
Think!
Think!
"I've got it." I announced, turning to the group with wild eyes. "Monty said there's no one in charge...so let's give them a leader."
The group all looked to me in confusion, but Murphy was the first one to voice it. "Collins, what are you talking about?"
My mind was racing so quickly I barely even registered that he was talking to me. "John, Emori and Echo, you three stay here and get that cannon working. Raven and Shaw, you're with me."
I was already marching toward the exit of the cave when Shaw reached out and stopped me. "You've gotta tell us what you're planning."
My face fell slightly when I realized my neglect to actually share my idea with the group. "It's simple," I smiled, turning to address them all. "Who better to lead the army than the Commander?"
-an-
guys! we are getting so close to the aves and bell reunion...I am excited