History

3069 words

Everything was a blur. The trees of green began to fade into nothing as I ran. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me- we all did. Our heavy breathing and the sounds of our shoes hitting the ground was the only sound that could be heard.

I heard a thud from behind me so I stopped in my tracks, turning around instantly. Monty had tripped over a branch but he continued to lay on the ground, frozen from what was directly in front of him. I walked over, reaching for his arms, seeing that what he was staring at were human bones.

I had no time to contemplate over the discovery, "Monty, come on." I tried to pull him up but it was difficult since he wouldn't cooperate. Octavia and Finn rushed over, helping me and lifting the boy from the ground. "We got to keep moving."

Just as we were ready to sprint back to the dropship, a loud scream pierced through the air making my eyes widen. Clarke's head turn as she let out a mumble, "Jasper. He's alive."

She took off without another word, disappearing through the trees while we followed behind, coming to the border between Mount Weather and where we were. But Jasper was no longer where we left him. "Where the hell is he?" I breathed out worriedly.

"He was right there." Finn muttered while his eyes searched around frantically.

"Where is he?" Monty asked with concern for his best friend. Clarke shook her head with a frown, "They took him."

...

The walk back to the dropship was a painfully silent one. We were all worried, probably coming up with thousands of theories in our minds for what just happened.  'Always expect the unexpected.' Shumway used to repeat to me. I was looking for someone to blame, always coming to the conclusion of myself, but there was no way of knowing others had inhabited the Earth.

As we edged closer to our quarter, we heard whoops and yells. I furrowed my eyebrows, quickening my pace, passing the others, and seeing that the yells had come from a circle of people surrounding Wells who had Murphy in a headlock, both of them holding knives.

"What the hell is going on?" I called out, gathering the circle's attention. I marched down the hill, breaking the circle once I entered. I looked over to Murphy who's nose was bleeding. "Let him go." I told Wells. He hesitated, but threw down the boy which only made him more angry.

He charged over to Wells but I pushed him back, "Knock it off before somebody gets hurt." I warned him with a glare and he tilted his head, twirling the knife between his fingers.

"Stay out of the way and you'll be fine." He retorted.

I scoffed, glancing away before I turned back to him, "I was talking about you." Murphy scowled at me and I simply rolled my eyes. I looked around the circle, seeing that most of them weren't wearing their wristbands. I was just about to question it until Bellamy pushed through the crowd, immediately heading over towards Octavia to check on her.

"Where's the food?" He asked, his eyes glancing between all five of us that had went out on the expedition.

Finn sat down with a defeated expression before answering, "We didn't make it to Mount Weather." Bellamy turned to him with knitted brows and an angry look.

"What the hell happened out there?" He continued to interrogate gruffly. "The six of you had one job."

"Could you maybe back off?" I snapped, "We were attacked." I answered and he finally shut his mouth for the first time.

"Attacked?" Wells repeated with a raise of his brows, "By who?" 

Finn shook his head, "Not who. What." He corrected with a swallow before elaborating, "It turns out, when the last man from the ground died on the ark, he wasn't the last grounder."

Chatter erupted from the people around me, mumbling to each other in worry and panic for what was out there. Clarke silenced them before adding, "It's true. Everything we thought we knew about the ground is wrong. There are people here- survivors. The good news is, that means we can survive. Radiation won't kill us."

"-the bad news is, the grounders will." Finn said and that struck a nerve in our peers, who's conversation of theories on how to survive became so loud I couldn't hear myself think. Wells' eyes trailed over the five of us- realizing that one of us was missing.

"Where's the kid with the goggles?" Wells' voice stood out above them all.

"Jasper was hit." Clarke broke the news, "They took him."

I furrowed my eyebrows, counting the wrists that weren't wearing a bracelet- discovering that it was well over a quarter of us without them on, "Where are your wristbands?" I asked the large crowd.

Wells glared at Bellamy, causing me to look over towards him as well, "Ask him."

"How many?" Clarke asked the brunette angrily.

Murphy answered for him with a sinister smile, "24 and counting." He said with pride.

"You idiots." Clarke muttered to herself, capturing my attention. "Life support on the ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever is out there."

"Wait a minute." I held up my hand with a shake of my head, "You lost me- why the hell should we care what happens to the ark?" I crossed my arms, "They dumped us here, on a planet they didn't even know was survivable or not for some experiment. They don't give a shit about what happens to us- why should we them?"

Bellamy stepped forward, agreeing, "Besides, we're stronger than you think." He spoke to the crowd, "Don't listen to Clarke, she's one of the privileged. If they come down- she'll have it good. How many of you can say the same?" He raised his brow, looking around at the people who had no guarantee they would be treated just as well. "That wristband on your arm makes you a prisoner- and we are not prisoners anymore!"

The crowd cheered and clapped and I couldn't help but do the same while the boy continued, "They say they'll forgive you for your crimes- I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The grounders should worry about us."

"Yeah!" A voice yelled out and I cracked a smile.

Clarke stormed off like a child who hadn't gotten her way. Bellamy turned to me with a half-smile, walking over slowly. "Let's get that bracelet off, shall we?"

...

"Ah!" I let out, rubbing my wrist after Bellamy had pried off the bracelet with a sharp-edge. I licked my lips, cracking a small smile, "Take that, Jaha." I mumbled and Bellamy smirked.

"I'd hate to be Jaha." He teased and I let out a small chuckle, examining the red mark on my arm the metal had left. I looked up, seeing that Bellamy had been staring at me the whole time. I knitted my eyebrows together, immediately becoming defensive, "What?"

"Why do they call you that?" He squinted his eyes as if trying to figure me out, "Crazy Claudia?"

I took a deep breath, laughing slightly at the memories of my screwed-up childhood, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me." He said almost as soon as I finished my sentence causing me to raise my eyebrow with a 'really' look. He shrugged, "Maybe I like a little crazy."

I cracked a smile staring into his brown eyes before glancing away, knowing whatever possible-friendship that could develop would be over soon as I told him what I'd gone through. He'd never believe me, and even if he did- I was a murderer regardless. "I'll save it for another time." I lied, knowing that I would much rather keep it to myself.

Just then, Clarke walked by with her backpack on with Wells by her side, like they were ready to take off. I stood up quickly, following the duo, "Hey, where are you going?"

She looked down at my wrist, seeing my bracelet was gone before looking back to me, "To save Jasper. You coming or not?" She spoke coldly making me want to return the grudge but I refused to stoop to her level. So much for a do-over.

"Of course I'm coming." I said without a doubt in my mind. Jasper was now my friend, and I wouldn't hesitate to save him if I had the chance.

Her eyes wandered over to something behind me. I turned, seeing that Bellamy stood listening to our conversation. With her eyes fixed on him, she said, "I hear you have a gun."

Bellamy lifted his shirt, revealing the weapon tucked into his waistband. My mouth opened slightly at how casually he carried around the firearm- but who was I to judge.

"Good." Clarke nodded in approval, "Follow me." She trailed off into the woods along with Wells.

"Murphy-" Bellamy called, getting the boy's attention. "You're coming with me." 

Of course he was. 

Murphy nodded, his eyes trailing over to me, "Stay out of my way, crazy Claudia." He bumped my shoulder as he passed me. I closed my eyes shut, refraining from kicking his ass right then and there.

Bellamy threw on a jacket, adjusting his gun while I watched taken aback. He took notice in this and began to speak, "Don't look so surprised. You keep a dagger in your shoe." He glanced down at the sharp-edge that peeked out of my boot.

I looked down as well before looking back at him, "A knife is different than a gun  in so many ways but- whatever helps you sleep at night." 

...

Clarke wasn't wasting anytime with her fast pace and honestly- neither was I. It haunted me knowing that if we stopped for even a second, Jasper could be suffering.

"Hey, what's the rush?" Bellamy asked with a crooked smile, throwing his hands in the air and waving his loaded gun like it were a toy. "You don't survive a spear through the heart."

He brought up a good point but I held onto the ounce of hope that I had for my friend.

"Put the gun away, Bellamy." Wells said to him in a serious tone, pointing out the fact that the gun could go off and seriously hurt somebody if he continued to misuse it.

Murphy stepped forward with a challenge, "Why don't you do something about it?" Murphy shoved him back.

I grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back and shoving him to the ground. I leaned down next to his ear, "Lay a hand on him again, and the consequence will be much worse than a twisted arm." I pushed him down, releasing him and standing up with my arms crossed.

Wells gave me a small nod of thanks that I returned with a small smile. Murphy sprung up, dusting himself off, shooting me a glare and reaching for his knife but Clarke intervened.

"Knock it off, all of you." She lectured like a stern mother, glancing between the four of us, "Jasper screamed when they moved him. If the spear struck his heart, he'd of died instantly. It doesn't mean we have time to waste."

Clarke turned but Bellamy grabbed her arm forcefully, "As soon as you take this wristband off, we can go." 

Clarke squinted at him before speaking through gritted teeth, "The only way the ark is going to think I'm dead, is if I'm dead. Got it?" She rose her eyebrows, making sure he understood so they wouldn't have this conversation again.

Bellamy released his grip on her skin, "Brave princess." He smirked.

"Find your own nickname." A sixth voice spoke in the distance. Finn emerged from the trees, revealing himself making me sigh in relief. Thank god for him, otherwise we wouldn't make it through this journey without going at each other's necks.

"Finn!" I called out.

He came to a stop once he reached us, "You call this a rescue party? We got to split up, cover more ground. It'll be easy to divide since we have an equal number of people. Clarke, Wells, you're with me." He said before shooting me an apologetic look.

I sighed but nodded, knowing if one of us would have to take one for the team and stick it out with Murphy, it might as well have been me. Besides, I'm capable of handling myself, thanks to Shumway.

Murphy scowled at me, "Touch me, and you're dead." He warned, trailing behind Clarke and Finn but on a different trail. My eyes followed him with a glare until he disappeared into the green.

I forgot that I wasn't alone when Bellamy cleared his throat, "You should probably keep your distance." He advised.

I squinted at the male before scoffing. "I think he's the one that should be a little cautious." What I really wanted to say was that I knew how to make him wish he were never born in at least 20 different ways. "Tell your lapdog to stand down." I warned, pushing past him and following in Murphy's footsteps.

...

"How do we know this is the right way?" Murphy questioned after Clarke and Finn had alerted us after finding rocks covered in blood and Jasper's goggles.

"We don't." Bellamy answered, looking over to Finn skeptically, "Spacewalker thinks he's a tracker."

"It's called 'Cutting Sign'. Four-year earth skills. He's good." Wells educated the two leaving me to glare at all of them.

"Do you guys want to get killed?" I rose my eyebrow at the three, glancing between them. "Shut the hell up." 

Bellamy stood with the expression that seemed like he was impressed but I couldn't tell with him. I broke eye contact with him, glancing down at the ground and seeing a stained rock. I bent down, Finn watching with curiosity as my fingers trailed over the painted rock. I glanced at my fingers, seeing that the red marked my fingers. Blood.

As if on cue, Jasper's moans of pain could be heard in the distance causing all of our heads to snap up. I wasted no time in following to where his sounds were coming from, ducking through the trees, worried a spear would shoot through my chest just like it had done with Jasper.

"Claudia, slow down!" I heard Clarke's voice warn behind me but I didn't listen. I continued weaving through the tall plants until I saw an opening a few feet ahead. I came to an abrupt stop when I saw Jasper tied from the top of a tree, shirtless and bloody.

"What the hell is this?" Bellamy mumbled to himself, walking towards the tree. Clarke passed him quickly, falling into a trap covered by leaves that revealed a drop into a pile of pike sticks. Bellamy quickly grabbed her wrist before she could fall to her death.

He was paused in his movement, eyeing her wristband. I quickly raced over along with Wells, Finn, and surprisingly Murphy, helping to pull her up.

She panted, brushing herself off before glancing up at Jasper, "We need to get him down."

Finn spoke up quickly, "I can climb the tree and cut him down." He said surely, turning to me, "You; can you keep up?"

I nodded, and he smiled, "Good. You're gonna help me carry him down."

"Yeah, right." Murphy objected, "Why don't you let someone who is actually capable take that responsibility." He looked over to Bellamy for support but he stayed quiet.

I moved my foot across the ground swiftly, kicking his feet out from under him and leaving him to fall on his back with a thud. I let out a quiet laugh while Finn watched in amusement. "Okay, let's go." He began to climb and I followed in his footsteps, grabbing onto a branch and pulling myself up to rest my foot on another, repeating the action and making my way to my friend quickly.

I steadied myself, making sure I wouldn't fall before I pulled out my dagger, beginning to cut the vines that strung Jasper up- Finn doing the same on the opposite side.

"Hurry, guys." Clarke rushed from below. Just after she said that a low growling was heard in the distance.

"What the hell was that?" Murphy questioned with fear. I turned in the direction of the animal noise and witnessed what looked like a panther crouching down in the plants before leaping towards the group.

Wells pulled out the gun that he must've stolen from Bellamy when none of us were paying attention. He shot at the animal, missing as it ran around quickly. It disappeared, leaving the rest of us to glance around frantically until it jumped out, reaching for Bellamy when Wells shot it in mid-air.

I cut the vines that restrained Jasper quicker, motivated by that near-death experience to get the hell out of here.

...

I sat on a log near the fire, watching the others hungrily dig into the animal that Wells had killed earlier. They were all so happy and content; I smiled at the sight. How they remained so optimistic, I didn't know. I began to think about my past, what I was. A killer. I could never take it back, any of it. I could only decide what I would do now, in the present. I watched as some kids lined up to get their wristbands taken off. I glanced down at my empty arm. Was I doing the right thing?

Bellamy walked over with two sticks of meat on them. He looked over to the seat beside me and I scooted over, indicating he could take it.

He sat down, offering me one of the sticks which I accepted thankfully. I began to eat in silence, as did he, watching the flames as I was just doing.

He turned to me after a while, "We're different people now. Whatever you've done in the past- it's history."

I turned to him, wanting to question why he was saying this but I didn't bother. It's all I needed to hear and for that I was grateful. I cracked a smile with a nod.

"History."