twenty one - No Frauds
''Brandi,'' A voice called as softly as possible, shaking the brunette in a semi gentle motion but also a tad roughness to it. ''Brandi, wake up.''
She squints her eyes at the person towering over her.
''Harper,'' She groans as she sits up. She stretches her arms back before clasping her hands together, another groan emitting from her throat as she does so. ''What are you doing here?''
''Come on,'' She gestures. ''We're gonna take a walk.''
Brandi drops her arms and cocks a brow at her. She couldn't help but let a chuckle out. ''I don't think so. Maybe some other time.''
While Brandi folded her arms back on Tristan's bed, resting her chin within the space, returning to the comfortable position she was just in the night before, Harper crossed her arms across her chest and propped a leg out. ''Why? So you can waste another day sitting here?''
She looked back up with a stern look. ''That's a lot for someone who hasn't seen my bad side.''
''Ever since you came back from Polis, you've been trapped in this room. Have you even eaten?''
She sits up and pushes her lips out into a small pout. ''I have.''
''Have you showered? Gotten a clean set of clothes?''
Brandi couldn't remain eye contact with Harper, knowing fully well that she hasn't been keeping up with her hygiene since Tristan been in his coma.
''Well-''
''Exactly,'' Harper nods. ''Let's get you cleaned up, at least walk around for a bit.''
She couldn't help but bounce her leg. Although the idea was tempting, there was just a thought that kept holding her back, a thought that became her first priority.
''What if he wakes up?'' She mumbles, twiddling with the loose string of her long sleeve t-shirt. ''I want to be here when he does.''
''Five to ten minutes wouldn't hurt anybody,'' Harper continues to persist. ''Brandi, I literally saw you walking in here in the middle of the night last night. This is starting to get unhealthy.''
Brandi remained silent. Maybe she was right. Maybe this was becoming unhealthy. Maybe she needed a break. Maybe she also needed a serious shower.
''Ten minutes,'' She breathes out when standing up. ''I want the comfiest clothes you can find.''
Harper responds with nothing but a cheeky grin, as Brandi leads the way out of the infirmary, making sure to grab a spare towel on the way out.
Harper watched with a satisfied smirk as Brandi took her first step outside.She stood there for a second, and just for that one second, her chest heaved through the deep inhale of fresh air, before processing a slow release.
She took another step forward and felt a soft breeze blow by, the slightest contact of air causing the hair on her arms stand along with the rows of goosebumps. Her hair ran along with the breeze, only a few strands getting in the way of her sight, but she didn't mind.
''Told you this couldn't hurt nobody,'' Harper perked about when taking a stand next to her. ''Let's see if there's anymore warm water left.''
Brandi couldn't help the grin that grew from ear to ear. ''That sounds amazing.''
But what didn't sound amazing, was on their way there, a crowd began to follow Harper and Brandi, causing the girls to furrow their brows at one another, wondering what the big deal was?
''Do you hear that?'' Harper questions, a voice speaking through a speaker become more clear than from where they started.
''Is that Monty?''
''Abby Griffin, Eric Jackson, Thelonious Jaha, Raven Reyes, Octavia Blake, Jim Bruder, Heather David, Garcia Watson, Danny Virtue, Sarah Surterquise, Susan Crawford, Chelsea Eran..''
Brandi had never felt so lost as the list of names continued. What was this?
''Clarke Griffen and Bellamy Blake,'' Monty finishes. ''If you didn't make the cut, then it sucks to be you.''
''What? What cut?'' Brandi exclaims. ''Clarke, what is this?''
The blonde kept her eyes trained on Monty, eyes narrowed to slits in the form of sending daggers.
''Well go ahead,'' Monty gestures, letting his arm fall to his side. ''Tell your people what this is all about?''
''Brandi,'' Harper whisper, reaching out to grab the brunette mindlessly departed herself from the crowd and more towards Clarke. But it was already too late because within a matter of seconds, Brandi stood a foot away from her, brows furrowed and neck craned, ready to listen for some answers.
''It's um..'' She clears her throat before turning to her, and let's just say, Clarke Griffin never felt anymore scared in her life. ''It's the list of the hundred people that get to survive.''
And just like that, a light- no. A fire ignited from within, bursting a new spark that made her feel rejoiced with the way it made her blood boil, her adrenaline pump and mind race. She threw her arm back and in that same motion, her locked fist came crashing Clarke's features.
''Brandi!'' Harper and Monty called after her.
The two got lost in the chanting crowd that closed in on them as Brandi went and threw another punch, but she brought an arm up, successfully blocking it on her own. But Brandi wasn't going to give up so easily. When Clarke pushed her arm down, Brandi flicked her wrist to grab onto that same arm and swept her leg from behind Clarke's and dropping her.
When she dropped to the floor, a flow of satisfaction conquered her emotions as throw a punch after punch, even when Clarke was in the process from recovering her pain from the back of her head.
She felt a pair of arms wrap around torso, at a very hesitant attempt to lift her up, and although it would have been mindful to let them carry her away, Brandi has never felt this anger course through her veins.
Brandi gripped tightly onto the pair of arms and threw her head back hard enough to make contact with whoever was behind her until an audible grunt was heard. This caused their grip to loosen, allowing her to elbow them in their chest and spin, lifting her leg to kick them away.
She went to charge for Clarke again, wanting to beat her face to the pulp considering one side of her face was already damaged, but another pair of arms pulled her back, much stronger than before.
''We had a deal!'' She yells throughout the massive chatter among the crowd. But once they heard her speak, the voices slowly muted to hear what she had to say. ''I bargain my life for Tristan, and it's still not good enough for you!''
''He's still alive isn't he?'' She exclaims, holding one arm out once she stood back on her feet while the other held onto her bloody nose. ''Isn't that what you wanted?''
''What's the point if you're gonna let him die anyway?''
She stayed quiet, only letting the sound of her heavy pants linger the air.
She furrows her brows and looks around her, breathing out, ''And for you and Bellamy to be on there-''
She rips herself away from whoever was still holding onto her and began to pace. ''What type of strings are you pulling here, Clarke?''
''I know this is hard to take in,'' Clarke begins to speak that was more towards everyone than just Brandi Potter. ''But to ensure the survival of the human race, the list had to be weight towards young woman who could have children.''
''Wait, what?'' Somebody spoke out. ''It's because she can have kids? How is that fair?''
She shakes her head vigorously. ''It's not fair, it's smart.''
''Yeah,'' Monty intervenes. ''What about Harper?''
Brandi looks back at Harper, noticing the stank face fixating her features as she folds her arms across her chest, wanting to hear what hell of an excuse Clarke had to say.
'''There's a chance she could be a drain on medical resources,'' Clarke worded as carefully as possibly with a simple nod of her head.
Harper furrows her brows. ''Well, I'm not sick.''
''Not yet.''
''Your dad,'' Monty mumbles, figuring out the pieces of the puzzle Clarke was hinting towards. ''You went through her medical records?''
''You're condemning me, for an illness that I might have someday?''
Brandi begins to giggle. ''Well I think we can all agree that we don't like Clarke. Show of hands, anyone?''
''I had to consider all variables,'' Clarke briefly explains to Harper as if it was any constellations to make her feel better.
''That's rich for someone who put herself on the list,'' Harper threw back, a sneer growing on her features.
''And why are you and Bellamy on the list together?'' Brandi jumps back in with the tilt of her head.
''Because strong leadership is essential for survival,'' Jaha speaks up, making his way from in the crowd to being in the center of it.
''All right, you don't like the list,'' Jaha walks up to Monty with his hand out, waiting until Monty handed him the infamous list of the one hundred names that included no Potter sibling whatsoever. Once he gotten what he wanted, he lifted that same arm that held the paper in the air and turns to the group of people. ''Considered it shredded. Now we can keep fighting each other and die, or we can work together and give everyone a shot at survival. Your choice.''
''Meaning what?''
''We hold a lottery. Randomly choose the hundred people to survive, but you have to work for it everyday. You don't show up for your assignments, you can't be in the lottery, and when the time comes, we'll collect the names and we draw.''
Brandi shook her head. ''I made a negotiation-''
''And that negotiation is no longer in proposition,'' Jaha claims, causing her jaw to jut forward and an eyebrow to be cocked.
''And this fist won't be up on Clarke, it'll be up on you-''
Monty instantly came to her side and pulled her back by her arm. ''Brandi, you can't fight your way through everything.''
She kept her eyes trained on Jaha, hoping that her stare could pierce through his exterior.
''He's wasting your medical supplies right now as we speak. He gets to have a spot.''
''Unless, of course, we cut the cord,'' Jaha shrugs his shoulders simply.
''I'll cut you,'' She threatens, charging for him again until Harper also came around her other side to pull her back.
''Didn't you have someone you love? Someone you cared about?'' Brandi exclaims, her rage driving her out of control. ''How would you feel if you knew you could help them- save them. But you can't because you don't have enough power to do so?''
She looks away with a bitter chuckle. ''I am so tired of this nonsense filled with double standard.''
She rips herself away from Monty and Harper's touch before roughly pushing herself away from the scene and back inside where she can relax by Tristan side.
× × ×
All eyes landed on the brunette that barged in, features stern and hard, revealing no form of emotions as she wandered further into the room.
''Who do we have to kill?''
Clarke shakes her head. ''You aren't going to kill nobody. Nobody is.''
She points a thumb back, referring towards another room as she speaks, ''Then explain to me why Octavia is in the infirmary as we speak with a major wound that hasn't even been treated yet?''
''It's Ice Nation,'' Harper speaks up before Clarke could say otherwise. ''They're coming, and they're not just coming to say hello.''
''I need to talk to Roan,'' Clarke suggests. ''Something happened. Some.. Misunderstanding.''
''If he wanted to talk, he wouldn't be coming with his army,'' Harper counters with the shake of her head.
Brandi holds a hand up in front of Harper, a gesture for her to be quiet. ''If a conversation is what she wants then a conversation she's going to get, whether King Roan likes it or not.''
''And what do you suggest?'' Miller's father questions, straightening his stance as if he wanted to hear the bright idea, Brandi had come up with.
''Clarke will be the only one to meet him,'' She turns to everyone. ''We won't.''
''Whose we?'' Clarke intervenes.
''We as in, I'm apart of this since I'm making the plan,'' Brandi spat as she turns her head to the side, given that her back is face towards Clarke as she does so. ''We'll be out hiding with our best aimers. Our target will be King Roan, and because that'll be our target, nobody will try anything, unless a bullets been fired. Thankfully, we won't have to worry about that.''
''What are you going to do?'' Monty concerns.
''Whatever you need me there for, I'll be it, but I refuse to sit on the sidelines for this one,'' She binds. She takes a quick glance around the room before heaving a sigh. ''Now, are we in?''
× × ×
''I really don't think you should be here,'' Monty prompts to Brandi who laid on the ground between himself and Harper. They both had their weapons aimed on Roan, meanwhile, Brandi simply watched the scene slowly go down. ''Your wounds haven't even properly healed yet.''
''As long as I'm not limping, I'm fine,'' She waves him off, her eyes trained on the long distance stand off between Clark and Roans and his army.
Monty peered over Brandi's physique to look over at Harper, the two eyeing each other with a pointed look as Clarke begins to speak out, ''We need to talk!''
A response was made also but although there was an echo towards the scene, the voice was too low to make out from how high they were hiding.
''Archers! Target Wanheda!'' A voice boomed, allowing every single man in Roan's army to retrieve an arrow into their quiver.
''Now,'' Brandi breathes out, reaching for the walkie talkie. ''Do it now.''
Green lights appeared, directly landing onto Roan. This definitely had alarmed the situation by the way his archers started moving around in circular motions, wide eyes towards the skaikru that was one step ahead of them.
''Okay, we got their attention.''
A buzz was heard over the walkie talkie before a voice spoke. ''Alright, remember, no one fires unless fired upon. The radiation is our enemy, not the Ice Nation.''
Brandi's gaze was trained on the movement happening within the large mass of a crowd. A trail had slowly opened and closed as whoever his soldiers had made spaced for came closer and closer to the front, where everyone could see.
The two warriors dropped two men to the ground until they were on their knees, their identities hidden under rags while they were locked with metal chains.
Brandi's breathing gotten heavier when the rags were removed.
Clarke took a quick glance at Monty, Brandi and Harper's side of the hill before looking back towards his men that had swords lingering by Bellamy and Kane's neck, incase of any wrong doings occur, a consequence would be known.
''Ten minutes,'' Clarke spoke. ''That's all I ask.''
The plan folded into play when Roan climbed off of his horse.
Brandi scoffed a cocky smirk. ''Hmm, maybe I should try to get on that list.''
''Not now, Brandi,'' Monty groans with a small roll of eyes.
''Guys,'' Harper calls. ''Who's still targeting?''
Monty spoke into his radio while squinting into the scope of his weapon, ''Damn it, what are you doing, Riley? Your target is the army. Clarke is negotiating with their king. Stop targeting, over. Riley, respond.''
Brandi kept furrowed brows as Riley counters, ''Negotiating with these people is a waste of time. We have the high ground and we have the guns. We should just take them out.''
Her thin brows arched, creating creased lines across her forehead as Brandi snatches the device from Monty's grip, mumbling a small ''Okay.''
She cleared her throat before speaking, ''Listen, Riley, I don't know who the hell you are, and frankly, I didn't even knew you existed till this very moment, but I would love to know by what you mean of these people? Cause you got one of these people living in your radar, buddy. But, let me tell you something, Riley. Considering that many upon many lives matter from this point, I'd rather not spend final days wasted by fighting to our death instead of trying to survive.''
''You're that Brandi Potter girl, aren't you?'' He questions. ''I've heard a lot about you. Sage Et Paix is what they call you around Arkadia. It's French for wise and peace.''
She felt her features soften as he chuckles lightly. ''You may not know it, but people look up to you as some sort of guide. There's always the; this is the best way to do it and the; this is what had to be done. Yet you bring the best of both worlds. And as much as I truly want to believe you, surviving is fighting to our death.''
''He shouldn't be here,'' Harper breathes out softly. Brandi study only a moment longer, his actions intact for her observations before looking back down at the scene.
''What's his deal?''
''The Ice Nation,'' Monty starts off with the shake of his head. ''They made him and farm station, their slaves.''
''So who the hell invited him?'' Brandi exclaims, looking back and forth between Harper and Monty with a cocked brow.
Harper hanged her head to the side sympathetically. ''He wanted to help.''
''And I still want to give Clarke a proper ass beating, that doesn't mean we always get what we want,'' Brandi mocked, mimicking her actions and tone of voice from her defense.
Monty juts out an index finger while he gaped, indicating his intervening on the conversation.''Not saying that she didn't deserve it, but-''
''It was entirely awesome to watch,'' Brandi grins and waves him off. ''It's no big deal guys.''
''Ugh,'' Harper groans. ''The wait is killing me.''
''Relax, they should be at the cave by now. Besides, it's not like we have another option. We have to give Clarke time,'' Monty assures.
''All units, radio check,'' David comes in through the radio. ''Unit One?''
''Unit One check,'' monty responds for the group.
''Unit Two?''
But there was no response.
''Unit Two?'' David repeats. ''Riley, where are you?''
''Damn it,'' Monty hissed as he reached for the radio again. ''Costa, you got eyes on Riley?''
''Went to take a leak,'' He briefly answers.
''How long ago?''
''I don't know. Not long.
''Did he leave his rifle?'' He continues to question.
''Negative. Took it with him. Left his radio, though.''
''Maybe he went home,'' Harper shrugged with a suggestive thought. But she wasn't convincing Brandi nor Monty.
''Or he's headed to that cave to execute the king of the people that made him a slave,'' He counters with a point look. ''Any other choices I'm missing?''
Brandi pushed herself off of the ground with a heave, alarming their attention.
''Wait,'' Harper blurts out. ''You'll never make it past that army. What are you doing?''
She turned back to the dirty blonde hair girl with her dark colored locks flicking over her shoulder, a smirk conquering her lips. ''Holding up my end of the deal.''
As she walked off, the radio went off like crazy, ''Monty, where is she going? Maintain your position. Repeat; maintain your position.''
She managed to make it down the hill without creating a new form of injury, but the arrows ready to be lunged in her direction shown this was not going to be easy.
''Oh, come on, there's one of me and how many of you?'' Brandi remarks when she saw all weapons aimed at her.
She continues to walk forward when Echo exclaims, ''Stop.''
She followed the order as soon as it came and waited to answer whatever was thrown at her.
''Brandi, what the hell are you doing here?'' Bellamy hissed as Echo gotten off of her horse, enunciating with full authority, ''Speak.''
''One of-'' She hesitates. Her mind goes blank on her next choice of words. Skaikru was her people, but in all technicality, she was born and raised as a grounder. She didn't want to be known as a traitor, but I guess it's a little too late to worry about that title now.
She clears her throat and repeats, ''One of our people has moved out of formation. And, we might know where he went and what his intentions are. Reasons to believe he's trying to kill your king.''
''Why are you telling me this?''
Brandi jerks back with wide eyes. ''Oh, I didn't have to let you guys know. I could have stayed comfy up on those rocks over there-''
''Who is it?'' Kane intervenes.
Her features fell flat, her mind suddenly going blank when simply forgetting the name.
''Randy?'' She shakes her head. ''No, it was-''
Bellamy stares at her borely as he fills in the blank, ''Riley. It was Riley, wasn't it?''
She grins sheepishly, ''Yeah, him.''
He shakes his head subtly, visible but very subtle and scolds, ''He shouldn't even be here.''
She slaps a hand against her thigh, ''That's what I said,'' She then turns to Echo. ''So I suggest if you want to save your king, we should get a move on.''
Echo returns to her horse, pointing to two of her men to follow her in her native language until Kane stops them, ''Wait! If our snipers see archers on the move, they'll open fire. Tell her.''
The brunette pursed her lips into a thin line, a sudden form of sense hitting hard. ''Those were the orders.''
Maybe she didn't have enough screws to be out on the battlefield either?
Echo looks down at him as if he had two heads. ''I will not allow my king to be assassinated.''
''He doesn't have to be,'' Bellamy assures. ''I know Riley. Let me come with you, I can stop him.''
Echo lets her head hang dull as she questions, ''Do you think me a fool, Bellamy?''
He cocks a brow. ''You'd be a dead fool if you step out of this kill box without me. Get Monty on the radio and let him tell them we're working together to find Riley, and they'll let us pass.''
''Monty!'' Brandi shouts. ''Let us through!''
She watches from afar as he spoke on the radio connected to armor without no hesitation and with just a moment later, he gave a thumbs up, indicating access was granted.
''Take off his chains,'' Echo orders to her men, instructions directed around Bellamy before adding on, ''And put it on her. If I'm not back before the sun goes past the trees, kill the hostages.''
While the transition was in process, Bellamy maintain the motioning eye contact with Brandi and she couldn't exactly tell the light in his eye that could have given away his emotion or thoughts.
But he instead, remained silent until he gotten up around the same time she was bound to be pushed to the ground, replacing his spot to ask, ''Is she alive?''
A corner of her lip twitched into a smirk, ''Why do you think I'm here?''
× × ×
Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach, maybe even further to the bottom of the abyss when the group had returned to Arkadia, Echo and Roan a tag along for company. There was fire running along every structure of their home, construction of the Ark colliding into a pile while burning down, people were screaming in urgency, running around for many reasons, mostly for safety.
Many would feel heartbroken for a home that will never be fully entitled as home again. Many would be scarce for loved ones who managed to survive the attack. Many would feel troubled, stressed on survival status based on the next wave of radiation ready to burn them alive.
And Brandi Potter was surely part of those many.
''How did this happen?'' Clark questions aloud, asking to anyone who could have possibly been close to an answer, but everyone was in too much of a frenzy to function how any of this could be going on.
''Where's Tristan?'' She mumbles under all the noise created around, low enough where no one could hear.
''Where's Tristan?'' She questions a lot louder, alarming the attention of those close by her. ''Where the hell is Tristan?''
Though Bellamy was looking around, in search for both his sister and Tristan, he reached out for her but she ripped herself away before he could even lay a finger on her.
''Where's Tristan?''
Nylah was quickly escorted out with an unknown person, the two managing Octavia in their grip on the way out.
''No,'' Brandi shakes her head. It seems that everybody got out, but Tristan. ''No, no, no.''
Before she could process a reasonable a smart way to handle the anxiety that's taken over, she ran towards the burning structure, but Bellamy was quick enough to wrap his arms around her torso and lunge her back.
''No!'' She yells, struggling in his tight grasp. ''I need to get Tristan! Please!''
''You can't!'' He yells back. FIghting against her squirming caused him to tighten his grip around her, the two slowly but surely going to the ground.
''I can't leave him!'' She cries out against his chest. ''Please, please don't make me leave him.''
Octavia drops pulls herself away from Nylah and towards Brandi. While she coughs out the smoke ignited in her chest, she reaches a hand towards the back of her neck and pulls her head towards hers until they were head to head.
''Brandi..''
Her bottom lip trembles as she shakes her head. ''No.''
Octavia nods her head. ''I'm sorry.''
''No,'' She whimpers.
''I got you.''
''No,'' She sobs, her shoulders bouncing from the cries wracking in her chest. ''No, this can't be true. I can't let this be true.''
''It is,'' She nods, not minding the salty liquid of her tears that dropped on her cheeks every now and then. ''It is and you're going to be strong about this. I know you, I know you will.''
She shakes her head vigorously. ''I left him for one day-'' She swallowed the saliva that pooled in her mouth and cries out a deflated, ''and now he's gone.''
Octavia exchanges no more encouraging thoughts, but instead let the devastated archer cry into her shoulder, pouring all of her sorrowful reaction out at this moment.
Since the beginning of his coma, Brandi could name and even count the times she would imagine and pan out the scenarios in her head dreaded upon Tristan's death. And throughout all of them, they were equally as upsetting.
But to have reality hit you with it's own twisted version, is a whole lot worse, and it was never going to settle on her conscience.
The girls jumped when they felt a hand land in between their lap. They looked down to see a person they didn't manage to survive a situation like this in such a condition.
''Tristan?'' Brandi breathes out. He laid on the ground, his body heaving large amounts of breathes needed to be taken. Yet she doesn't know, she never took the chance to believe in miracles until now.
''It hurts,'' He forced out with a hoarse voice. The girls, along with Bellamy who never left his place from behind her, took notice of his other hand on his chest. ''Right here.''
She chuckles out a faint smile. ''We're gonna get you help as soon as possible, I promise.''