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────「COMMANDER」────

     Once I got back to camp it was pitch black except for the torches of the Grounders who were then surrounding us. Well, I guess it's too late to run away now. I hope Clarke convinced her mom. I got to the doors, hoping that Clarke had convinced her mom, raising my hands as the guards pointed their rifles at me until they realized I wasn't a Grounder, allowing me inside as I rolled my eyes, wondering who any was still alive if they thought someone like me could be a Grounder. I wondered if they comprehended who the Grounders were. I doubted it. Probably talking from what they have heard from others, making their own images in their heads. Meanwhile I, an untrained civilian, had to have dealt with them first hand. The irony.

As soon as I was inside, I started looking for Clarke and Finn because I was certain they'd be together, finally being informed by a guard that they were talking with Abby and Jaha inside. Jaha, the last person I ever want to see, great. I mentally prepared myself for what was to come, walking to the room I knew they would be in and standing outside for a second to understand what I would have to be dealing with.

-    "Let me talk to the Commander." -Clarke's voice was the first that I caught- "She was Anya's second, maybe she'll listen."

-    "We don't even know if the Commander is here."

Yeah, cause we would come here with an idea that isn't really an idea; alright Jaha, thanks for your input.

-    "Yes, we do. Nyko told us." –Finn backed Clarke up- "You have to at least let her try."

-    "Abby, we're wasting time. Give me the authority. Now."

I had been there for less than 2 minutes and I was already fed up with Jaha's attitude so, before he could pretend for one more second that he was an eminence in Grounder matters, I opened the door and walked inside, all their eyes landing on me

-    "Jaha." -I eyed him, speaking before he could- "Always a pleasure."

-    "Sam, thank God you're back."

-    "I don't mean to be pushy," -I glanced at Clarke, cutting whatever this reunion was short- "but we should get going."

-    "We?"

-    "You truly didn't think Clarke was going alone, right?" -I grinned at her mom- "I'm going with her and we are leaving now. We don't have time to lose."

-    "Hold on a second. Clarke told me Lincoln is going through withdrawal."

-    "I'm no expert on the medical field but I trust Clarke knows what's up."

-    "We don't know what he's withdrawing from; the detox alone could kill him."

-    "The more reason to do this fast, get inside Mount Weather and figure out what they are using."

-    "Not saving Lincoln is not an option, mom."

-    "Wait, we're risking everything on a bluff?" –Jaha questioned, again, his voice alone made my brain hurt- "Abby, we have an out, we have a way to save the lives of our people."

-    "Always so ready to run away from trouble, right?" –I turned to him, trying to stay calm but that didn't mean I'd keep my mouth shut- "Do you honestly think you have a way out? They are already here and they won't leave until we are all dead. Leaving was never an option to begin with because my people are inside Mount Weather."

-    "We would come back for them!" –Jaha yelled standing up from his chair.

-    "I highly doubt you ever had the intention to save them or any of us for that matter. You sent us all here to die and now you are just trying to save yourself by leaving them behind."

-    "Abby, this has gone on long enough." –Jaha ignored me- "If you do not give the order to begin the exodus, you are killing us all."

I glanced at Abby. I trusted she'd be the adult with the brain in this situation just like I hoped she'd do what Clarke asked out of fear of losing her again. That fear was enough to push Abby to do what we all knew was right. We couldn't run away; for starters, where would we go? The Grounders had been living on Earth long enough to know every little place we could find so what exactly made Jaha think we could escape was beyond my reasoning abilities.

Jaha and Abby kept going back and forth, being a nuisance as far as I was concerned, wondering how bad it'd be if I exited the room and the camp all by myself. We were just wasting time. However, it all solved easily as soon as Jaha attempted to step over Abby, asking the two guards in the room to incarcerate Abby, but they didn't move, their eyes on Abby and only acting when she spoke. Watching as they took Jaha one by each arm and pulled him out of there and towards lockup was a new level of satisfaction I thought I'd never reach.

-    "I'll send the guard with you." -Abby turned to Clarke after she thanked her.

-    "No, they'll see it as a threat. I have to do this on my own. Plus Sam will be with me." –she glanced at me and I nodded- "Finn will take you to Lincoln."

-    "If you're wrong all of us are gonna die."

I was certain they'd have a few loose ends to tie so I offered to wait for Clarke at the door but reminded her to hurry for each second we weren't on our way to the Commander's, we were losing precious time. Once I was out of the ship, and knowing I had time, I went straight to find Raven. Luckily, she was in the middle of the camp, probably looking around for something to mess with, making me smile as I gained her attention.

-    "Oh, God!"

- "You don't have to call me that, Raven, we're well acquainted."

- "Shut up!" -she hit me on the upper arm as I stood in front of her- "I was so worried about you. When Clarke came back and you were not with her and she told me about your mission with Bellamy and Octavia and the acid fog..."

-    "I'm fine. A little hard to kill, remember?"

-    "Oh, yeah, sure thing."

She asked me about what been going on since I left so I quickly put her up to date, her choosing to walk me to the door, having her all caught up by the time we reached the camp's exit and Clarke found us. Raven's eyes moved from the to Clarke and behind her before they settled back on me.

- "You're going alone? Just you both?"

-    "Also unarmed, Sam." -Clarke glanced at me as I furrowed my eyebrows- "We don't want to be seen as a threat."

-    "Us a threat to them? You're hysterical." – she gave me a look so I rolled my eyes, reluctantly agreeing and taking my knives from their hiding places- "Here, Raven, for you."

-    "I'll keep them safe until you're back because you both are coming back."

-    "We will." –Clarke reassured her, squeezing her shoulder- "Sunrise. Time to go."

Clarke walked past us towards the outside as the door opened. I looked at Raven, seeing the worry in her eyes, promising to be back in one piece and hugging her or, more so, reciprocating her hug. Once we got to the door, I realized a couple of Grounders were waiting for us halfway to where the Commander was. I find it amusing how it is us who need not look like a threat and can never have weapons but they sure come in all geared up.

     Two Grounders received Sam and me before arriving at their camp. I was going over everything I had to say, glancing at Sam from time to time, realizing she was taking this more as a leisure trip than anything else, considering how she was looked around us. Amazed and excited. I wished I could be like that.

-    "Imagine how hard these people train, they look awesome, don't you think?" -she met my gaze- "Like, imagine being that strong, wao."

-    "Sam, focus, we have a mission."

-    "I'm sure you're gonna be doing all the talking and I should stay quiet and make no sarcastic remarks, sharp comments nor threat anyone." –she enumerated with her fingers- "I'll try my best."

-    "Thank you." -I smiled- "I'm glad you came."

-    "I mean, someone has to keep an eye on the princess, right?"

Before I could speak any further with Sam, we arrived in front of the biggest tent there and another tall and strong Grounder came to us.

-    "If any of you so much as look at her the wrong way, I will slit your throat."

He turned around as Sam looked at me; I knew she was biting her tongue which I appreciated endlessly. I entered the tent followed by Sam and the Grounder, who held the tapestry covering the entrance for us to come in.

-    "Well, thank you." –Sam spoke as I looked at her- "What? I was being polite, relax."

I sighed, focusing back on the inside of the tent but not seeing much as my eyes settled directly on the woman sitting on a throne in front of us. She looked threatening, even if she didn't look much older than Sam and I were, probably because of her war paint and the knife she was playing with. Before I could speak, she did, not even moving her eyes to look at us.

-    "You're the ones who burned 300 of my warriors alive."

-    "You're the one who sent them there to kill us." -my comment made her look at me.

-    "Not to be rude or anything but I'm the one who your very massive and brute friend Brutus, a very fitting name if you don't mind me saying so, was taking here for you to get answers." –Sam pointed out as I shoot her a deathly look which she ignored.

-    "You must be Samantha." –the Commander spoke glancing at her- "Anya told me about you after your meeting at the bridge."

-    "Yeah, nice meeting you..."

-    "You'll refer to her as Commander."

-    "Commander, right." -Sam eyed the woman beside her- "But we're not here to make friends, not right now at least."

-    "I understand." –the Commander looked at me- "Do you have an answer for me, Clarke of the Sky People?"

-    "I've come to make you an offer."

-    "This is not a negotiation."

The woman next to her spoke in their language while looking at us as if she were ready to kill us, but the Commander raised her hand and she stopped talking.

-    "I can help you beat the Mountain Men."

-    "Go on."

-    "Hundreds of your people are trapped inside Mount Weather, kept in cages. Their blood is used as medicine."

-    "How do you know this?"

-    "Because I saw them. My people are prisoners there too; I was one of them."

-    "Lies." –the woman beside her spoke again- "No one escapes the mountain."

-    "I did. With Anya. We fought our way out together."

-    "Another lie. Anya died in the fire, you killed her."

-    "Won't you listen for just a second?"

Sam rose her voice, making the woman look at her like she'd kill her in two moves but Sam didn't look scared. Of course not. But we didn't need to fight. I looked at Sam and shook my head as she rose a questioning eyebrow, sighing and rolling her eyes as she understood, crossing her arms over her chest and motioning with her head for me to proceed. I took a piece I had cut from Anya's braided hair from my pocket and handed it to the Commander.

-    "She told me you were her second. I'm sure she'd want you to have this."

-    "We don't know it's hers."

-    "Anya was my mentor before I was called to lead my people." –Lexa spoke after saying something to the woman in their language- "Did she die well?"

-    "Yes, by my side. Trying to get a message to you."

-    "What message?"

-    "The only way to save both our people is to join together."

-    "Those who are about to die will say anything." –the woman spoke again, poison in her words.

-    "I'm still waiting for an offer, Clarke."

-    "The Mountain Men are turning your people into Reapers. I can turn them back."

-    "Impossible."

-    "I've done it with Lincoln." –I interrupted the woman again as she started speaking with their Commander in their language.

-    "That traitor is the reason my village was slaughtered by your people."

She moved towards me, knife in her hand, threateningly but before I could react, Sam placed herself in front of me, between the woman and me. Sam had no weapons and no way out of the position she had put herself into and yet, she did. The Commander shouted at the woman and she moved back as she rose from her seat, walking towards us and looking at Sam who moved beside me again, leaving me facing her as she spoke.

-    "You say you can turn the Reapers back into men?" -I nodded -    "Then prove it. Show me Lincoln."

Everything was going according to plan. We just needed to get to the dropship and, hopefully, my mom would have been able to help Lincoln through the withdrawal. Because, if she hadn't, we were all dead. We walked towards the dropship with Sam leading the way. I walked closely behind her, followed by the Commander and a couple of her guards but eventually, I caught up with her as I realized she was starting to slow down.

-    "I was thinking," -she eyed me as I walked beside her- "maybe the dropship is not the best place to bring them; after all, there is all that ash from the fire and bones and, well, you know..."

-    "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

-    "I'm just saying maybe we should get in as fast as possible so that they don't have time to give it a second thought."

It didn't take us much longer to get to the dropship, my stomach turning upside down as I saw the pile of ashes and bones, trying to remain calm, watching as Sam walked straight to the dropship and got inside without giving it another thought. I stopped to look behind me to the Grounders.

-    "This way."

I signaled where Sam had just disappeared through, walking after her, knowing the Commander and her people were right behind me and the moment of truth was waiting at the upper-level of the dropship. As I moved up the stairs, I heard someone sobbing, seeing Octavia sat beside Lincoln who wasn't moving as I entered the level with Sam and Bellamy each at one of her sides comforting. As I walked toward them, my mom rose from beside Lincoln as everyone but Sam turned to look my way, quickly understanding what had happened. Bellamy slowly started moving his hand to pick his rifle from next to him as Sam rose covering Octavia. I turned my head in time to watch the Commander nod her head at the woman that had definitively been dying to kill us all.

-    "Kill them all."

Each Grounder took out their blades and pointed them at us as Bellamy pointed his rifle at them and my mom took the shock baton in her hand. Sam had no weapons but she stood still in between Octavia and the Grounders, even when one of them placed their blade to her neck.

-    "Please, you don't have to do this."

-    "You lied and you are out of time."

As I ran out of ideas, my mom took the baton and hit Lincoln's chest with it. That was it. She hit him two more times with it and Lincoln finally gasped for air. The Grounders lowered their weapons as Octavia started caressing Lincoln's face and he rose his hand to hers. I sighed relieved, looking around the room; the majority having their eyes on Lincoln and Octavia but Sam's eyes were on me, her hand to her neck, rubbing her skin and nodding at me. We had done it. I glanced at the Commander and nodded as she put her sword away.

After that, the Grounders and I went back to their camp so that we could discuss the details of our truce. This time Sam chose to stay with Octavia and I didn't oppose, although I saw the Commander looking at her with particular interest. Once we were back at her tent, her guards left us in it alone.

-    "I must say, the recovery of Lincoln was impressive. No one's ever survived such a fate before."

-    "It's not complicated really: we just have to keep them alive long enough for the drug to leave their system. I know we can do the same for others."

-    "You may have your truce."

-    "Thank you."

-    "I just need something in return." -I nodded, hoping, whatever she wanted, we could concede-    "I want Samantha."

-    "For what?"

-    "I wish to speak with her in private."

-    "I'll see what I can do, but ultimately the choice is hers."

-    "Good." –she agreed with a smile- "Deliver me the one you call Finn too; our truce begins with his death."

I felt a pang inside my chest like it had been pierced with a fine blade. I hoped it wouldn't come to it. We couldn't do that. But she didn't need to know. After ending the conversation with the Commander, two of her guards accompanied me back to the camp. I spent my time on the way back going over all the possibilities, of how we could save Finn. There had to be a way.

-    "Hold your fire. She's back."

I heard Bellamy from the inside of the gate as they started to open it for me to enter, rushing inside and walking as far as my legs allowed me from the gate, being met by Finn much sooner than I hoped I would.

-    "Are you okay?"

-    "Shut the door!" –I screamed at the guards before facing Finn- "You can't be out here."

I took him by the arm and pushed him towards the middle of the camp where my mom came to meet us, quickly asking for what the Commander had said. Before I could answer, people had formed a circle around us, eager for answers, Raven showing up followed by Sam.

- "Is there a chance for a truce?"

-    "Yes..."

-    "Hey," -Finn stood in front of me- "what's wrong?"

-    "What does she want, Clarke?"

-    "She wants you." –I answered Sam, terrified on the inside as I faced Finn- "Both of you."

-    "For what?" –Bellamy stood next to Sam- "What does that mean?"

-    "If we want a truce, we have to give them Finn and Sam."

-    "What the hell are you talking about?" –Raven asked me, the rage in her voice was palpable- "Why?"

-    "That's their offer."

-    "That's not an offer!"

-    "No, it's a punishment."

-    "For what happened at the village." –Sam ended for Finn- "We knew this was a possibility."

-    "That's insane."

-    "Blood for blood, that's what they want." –Finn reminded us of their words- "But why would they want you too?"

-    "I was there too, remember? The more of us they get down now, the fewer worries for them later; makes sense."

-    "And Murphy?" –Finn asked and Sam shrugged her shoulders.

-    "She wants to talk with you first, Sam."

-    "Well, why didn't you begin with that?"

My mom started to question what refusing the offer would mean as Raven threatened both Finn and Sam not to think we'd settle for this, Bellamy backing her up. But soon, our conversations were taken over by shouts around us, things I'd rather not have to hear. They were cheering for us to hand both Finn and Sam over. To bring them to the Commander like sheep to the slaughter. A man tried to grab Finn but Raven was quick to shove him away, Bellamy pushing Sam behind him as she protested.

-    "Back off!"

-    "Raven, Raven!" –I screamed for her- "Listen to me, nothing is gonna happen to Finn, I promise, okay?"

Everyone around us got closer, starting small fights between those in favor and those opposing the terms for the truce.

-    "I'm not dying because of him." –another man came straight towards us- "Spacewalker burned three months of oxygen from the Ark. He should have been floated a long time ago."

-    "Throw him out."

Raven punched the guy in the face and everything got wild in a couple of seconds. She also punched Byrne which got her locked up faster than I saw it coming. Suddenly, two gunshots were heard, making everyone stop and turn around to see Sam holding a gun in her hands.

-    "Alright, that's enough." –she screamed- "Three months of oxygen would have done you no good, so suck it up and move on. This is not the Ark and all of you need to understand that; we don't float people just because we don't know how to deal with our fucking problems."

Everyone went quiet, the fights stopped as Sam's anger exuded from her. I'd not be the one to raise a hand against her. She had every right to be angry but I was glad she had used it to break the fights and not to start one of her own.

-    "I'm going to tell you what we are going to do. First, you will all mind your business and leave Finn alone; you don't know shit about what all of us, the 100 kids you sent down here to die, had to do to survive. Second of all, if I see any of you so much as to look Finn or anyone defending him the wrong way, I will kill you. And finally," –she handed the gun back to Bellamy who was looking startled at her- "I'm leaving to talk with the Commander right now so no one do any dumb shit while I'm gone. Now everyone, back to your places."

The crowd remained silent, looking at each other, almost uncertain of what to do. I was too.

-    "I said leave." –Sam ordered with a deadly look in her eyes, making everyone start moving in fear as she turned to face us- "Now, Finn get inside the ship and don't come out; Clarke, Bellamy think of something while I'm gone and keep Finn alive; Abby please take care of Raven," -she smiled- "I'm sure her knuckles felt that punch."

-    "Wait." –I took a step toward her- "Sam..."

-    "You said she asked for me, so I'm going to see her. Besides, if she wanted to kill me straight away, she would have told you. No offense but she had no problems telling you they want Finn dead."

-    "Sam," –Finn cleared his throat as he moved to her- "I should go with you, they want me."

-    "That's exactly why you are staying here."

-    "I don't want to hide."

-    "You're not hiding, you're are staying alive."

-    "Samantha, this is dangerous. You can't go alone."

-    "With all due respect, Chancellor, I haven't taken orders from anyone since I landed here and I'm not about to start now. You've got Clarke back, so take care of her and boss her around."

My mom didn't say anything else. I wasn't sure if it was because she agreed with Sam or because she couldn't find words to keep her in the camp. Sam looked at us one more time, nodding myself at her as she crossed glances with me. Raven pleaded her not to go, to stay and figure this out but Sam shook her head, taking Raven's hands in her and asking her to keep an eye on Finn before he did something stupid.

-    "Sam, please," -I recognized the undertone in Bellamy's plead, looking at the floor as I realized I could lose Finn but I had a chance to keep him safe whereas Bellamy's chances of losing Sam were much higher just because of how Sam was- "don't do this."

-    "Walk me to the gate."

     I hated how things were turning out. I couldn't lose Sam and, as I watched her stand in the middle of the mob and take command like I hadn't seen her before, choosing to go to the Commander, I realized she'd walk straight to the fire if it meant giving us time. And I hated that. I should've grabbed her and locked her up in the room until this passed but, as she eyed me with a soft gaze and asked me to walk her to the gate, I could only comply.

- "I know you are scared but this is what I have to do so please don't make leaving any harder than it already is." –she smiled, stroking my cheek as we came to a stop, waiting for the door to open- "Just think of something and take care of these little kids while I'm out."

-    "I hate this, Sam, I hate how I'm always on the verge of losing you."

-    "I will come back. She doesn't want to kill me."

-    "But what if they want, the Grounders, and she can't control them? What if she chooses to take you instead of Finn?"

-    "Bellamy, listen to me. Whatever happens, I'll always be with you. I like to think I've left some type of mark on everyone in here so that way a little bit of me lives in every one of you."

-    "But I want you, Sam."

-    "Bellamy, I love you but this is what I have to do for us, for our people."

I looked at her, knowing that she was right, as she always was when it came to hard decisions like this one. I looked outside the gate, at the two Grounders waiting just outside and then back at her, into her eyes, to her lips, and to her eyes again. She closed the space between us and held me close. The possibility of picking her up and running into the ship crossed my mind but I knew she'd hate me for it and the thought of Sam hating me was worse than letting her go. I didn't want to control Sam, I just wanted her to be safe.

-    "I'm not letting you kiss me goodbye because this is not goodbye."

I hugged her tightly after her murmur, kissing her cheek and letting go of her as much as all I wanted was to take her in my arms and lock her inside the ship with me.

-    "Tell O I love her and check on her and Lincoln for me, alright?" –I nodded- "Oh, also, don't kill Murphy, he is really trying this time, keep an eye on him for me."

-    "Fine." –I smiled- "But how am I supposed to tell him I let you go?"

-    "You're a clever guy, you'll figure it out. Besides, Murphy knows me, he won't be surprised."

-    "I hope so." –I chuckled- "But you have to come back soon or he will be the one killing me."

-    "I think he likes you a little more now than when we landed, I'm sure he won't hurt you too much."

She winked at me and got out of the camp. I watched her walk next to one of the Grounders as they looked down at her.

-    "I'm Samantha. I believe the Commander asked for me."

The Grounders looked at each other and spoke a few words in their language. After that, one of them offered Sam a hand and she took it, not a trace of hesitation in her actions. The Grounder pulled her up on the horse and they left, leaving the other Grounder just outside our door as it closed. She'll be alright Bellamy, she'll come back, she always does. She always keeps her word. Then something clicked in my mind. She didn't promise. She isn't sure she'll come back.