XX
[PREVIOUSLY: Octavia, Lincoln and Aidan travel to TonDC. Upon their arrival, Octavia is recognised as one of the enemy. Indra orders for her to be bound up and taken before the commander].
It didn't matter how hard I struggled or how loud I protested, I didn't have a chance against those grounders.
My sword was forcibly removed from my side and I was pushed and shoved as I was searched for any further weapons. Once the grounders were satisfied, they threw me to my knees and held a knife to my neck as my arms were forced behind my back. Thick, scratchy rope was bound around my wrists and dug sharply into my skin, exposing red, raw flesh. A dirty gag was tied around my mouth and my throat shrivelled up into a dry, cracked mess as it brushed the rough material.
As I was dragged to my feet, I cast a sideways glance towards Aidan and Lincoln, who were in deep conversation with the dark-skinned warrior known as Indra. Their backs were turned to me and their demeanours represented ones of careless boredom. They didn't even try and stop what was happening to me.
They had stabbed me in the back.
"Indra, em ogud," called out one of the grounders holding me down.
Indra cast a quick glance in my direction and scowled, "Ban we em Heda."
I was shoved roughly forward and forced to fall in line behind a huge, burly grounder ... one that was even bigger than Lincoln. The sharp tip of a newly-polished sword was pressed against my back, making me comply with the demands set before me. I knew that if I refused to do as I was told, I would be killed on the spot, no doubt about it.
Well, I'm not dying today, I vowed to myself. I'm a Blake. We don't give up.
I was taken through a high, ivory arch leading into a large and majestically decorated room. A big, scarlet-cushioned throne was in the centre of the huge, airy space. Upon the throne sat a robed and war-painted woman, a thick leather band around her head and a deadly look in her dark flashing eyes. There must've been at least a dozen warriors encompassing her on every side.
I was forced down on my knees before her.
"Bak op gon we," the woman spoke to the men holding me down.
Reluctantly, they released me and stepped aside.
Gasping for air, I glanced up towards the woman, watching as she stood up and approached me.
I tried to back away from her but I was stopped in my tracks when I felt the hard point of a spear digging into my neck.
"I should kill her now, Heda," the thick, stoic voice of Indra bounced around the room. "No doubt she is a spy sent by Skikru."
I shook my head, panic and fear washing over me. Who the hell was Skikru? And why did the grounders think they had sent me?
"No," Heda answered as she gazed intently at me. "They would not send a spy as - as gullible and weak as - this ..."
My brow furrowed and my eyes flashed with anger. How dare she call me weak! She had no idea what I'd gone through in my life! I was not going to have suffered for sixteen years just to end up on the tip of one of those grounders' spears! I had to escape!
"Remove her gag," Heda ordered. "I want to get some answers."
Indra reached over my head and yanked the material out from in between my teeth. I had to stifle a sudden cry when a wave of pain began throbbing throughout my mouth. I swallowed hard, trying to push some saliva down my sore throat.
"What's your name?" Heda demanded as she unsheathed her sword and pointed it towards me. "What are you doing here? What does Skikru want?"
I licked my chapped lips as I gazed up at her. For a moment I didn't respond, but when the point of Indra's spear dug deeper into my neck, I yelped, knowing I had no choice but to answer. "There's not much for me to say!" I shot out bitterly. "I helped two of your men escape from my camp so I could come and see you."
"See me?" Heda raised her eyebrows suspiciously. "Why? Are you conniving a plot to end my life?"
"W-what?" I spluttered. "No! No, it's not like that! I - I've come to ask if you - er - will consider ..."
"Consider what?"
"Giving my people a second chance," I stammered. "They - they had no choice in coming here. They were forced. They are all criminals and therefore considered expendable. T-they're only kids! You must not go and mass slaughter them! That'd be genocide!"
Indra let out a furious snarl. "Heda does what she pleases and she does not take orders from the likes of you!"
I winced, feeling a trickle of blood drip down my neck. "P-please ... just consider making a treaty with them ... or - or something. They don't understand you. So make them understand! Show them that you're not savages and people they can respect. Once you ally with us, we will not break your trust."
"And so says every unfaithful ally," Heda guffawed, her brow darkening. "Listen to me very carefully, Octavia kom Skikru ... we have heard of your exploits and we do not consider them brave; we consider them foolish. You were very unwise in coming here. Did you think, for one moment, that I'd even think about giving Skikru an alliance?"
I shook my head. "No. But at least you can see that I am not afraid to stand up for my people. This may be foolish, but it was also noble."
"Says you," Heda shook her head disbelievingly, her dark and piercing eyes trailing over me. "Take her away. Throw her into the pit." She turned around and made as if to walk away.
"Wait!" I shouted. "Wait! If you don't listen to me another of your grounder villages will fall!"
Heda stiffened as she swung back around to face me. "What did you just say?"
"I - I ..." I stuttered upon seeing the look of absolute disgust on her face. I gulped. "There is a plan ... a plan to ravage one of your villages. I do not know which one, but I do know that if you don't stop the raid, more of your people will die."
Heda hesitated as she shared a knowing look with Indra, who was standing behind me. "Octavia kom Skikru, you have just given us the perfect oppurtunity that we need - to defeat your people, once and for all. And this time, this time, you shall see all of your people die! Ban em we!"
I was grabbed and lifted to my feet. I was dragged from the room and shoved down a dark, dingy passage leading off of it. I was forced through a series of twists and turns. I was thrown into a earthen dungeon and my wrists were chained up to the wall.
The entire time Indra was standing nearby, giving her approval just by her ever-lingering presence.
As the cell door slammed shut in my face, Indra spat at me from the other side of the bars and whispered, "Natrona." Then, she whirled around and stormed away, the other warriors that had helped bind me, following her out of the room.
A few salty tears rolled down my cheeks as I vented my anger out in a series of screams. The echo bounced off the walls, mocking me with this helpless feeling, this trapped feeling, this feeling that - once again - I had been stowed away ... beneath the floor.
Maybe that's all that I'd ever amount too, maybe that's all that I'd ever be remembered for: the girl under the floor.
"You know, you're not the only one suffering in here so why don't you shut it?"
I gasped and recoiled back against the cold, earthen floor, my eyes sweeping the room for the source of the noise.
The huddled form of a boy in a far corner of the cell met my weary gaze. It was so dusky, however, that I couldn't make out his face.
"W-what ...? W-who - who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling with fear.
"I think you know who I am," the boy returned nonchalantly. "Octavia."
My eyes widened in shock when I realised who he was.
Murphy.
Gif: Octavia as she is brought before Heda.
XX