We Are Grounders

3,427 words

"Come on, these foxholes aren't gonna build themselves." Bellamy ordered the tired campers as they dug their shovels into the ground.

"No offense, Claudia," Jasper called out to me as he and Raven were crouched on the ground, in the process of creating landmines. I looked down at him once I heard my name, "but your boyfriend really needs to chill." He glanced over to Bellamy who held a stern expression as he walked over, Jasper growing quiet.

"These landmines better work." Were the first words out of his mouth. "With all the gunpowder we're wasting we could be making more grenades."

Raven paused irritably, sighing before speaking, "You wanna come over here and test one?" She said snarkily.

"Cute." Bellamy replied, unimpressed. "I need this entire section mined by tomorrow morning. Then you finish the south field."

I turned to him with knitted eyebrows, "I thought we agreed to go after Finn, Clarke, and Monty in the morning."

He glanced over to me before grabbing my arm, pulling me aside momentarily, "Claudia, we can't have anybody leaving camp. It's not safe."

I pulled my arm away with a scoff, "I don't care, Bellamy. We can't just abandon our people." I insisted and he rolled his eyes at my stubbornness. "What if it was me out there, hm? Would you leave me, too?" I challenged with my eyebrows raised.

"Never." He answered quickly.

"Ditto." I responded, "So why is this any different?"

He stood in silence for a moment before a loud gunshot pierced the air causing everyone to gasp and duck simultaneously.

I turned in the direction it came from, seeing a startled camper on watch sit up quickly, fumbling the rifle in his hands.

"Hey!" I marched over to him, walking up the hill until we were face to face, "What the hell? You could've killed somebody!"

"I-I'm sorry, Claudia. I fell asleep." He stuttered through his words. "I've been on watch all day."

Bellamy appeared from behind me, grabbing onto the camper by his collar, "We've all been on watch all day!" He growled, "That bullet was one less dead grounder."

"Bellamy!" I pulled him away from the camper with furrowed eyebrows.

"You're scaring them." Octavia commented from a few feet away.

"They should be scared!" Bellamy snapped before turning to the campers at the bottom of the hill, "The bomb on the bridge bought us some time to prepare, but that time is up!" He shouted as everyone listened intently in silence, "The grounders are out there right now, waiting for us to leave and picking us off one by one when we do!"

The campers exchanged glances as I sighed, watching as he continued to lecture them, "Clarke, Finn, and Monty are gone, probably dead." I glanced over to Jasper who had heartbreak in his eyes when Bellamy mentioned his best friend, the same with Raven when she heard Finn's name, making my shoulders slump as Bellamy kept going without realizing, "And if you want to be next, I can't stop you. But no guns are leaving this camp! This camp is the only thing keeping us alive!"

"Bellamy, enough!" I told him, making him stop what we was saying as he turned to me. I felt the eyes of the campers watching us in anticipation before I turned to face them, "Look, I know you're all tired and scared. I am too, trust me. But we can't let that stop us from what's important, and right now that's survival. The grounders may be coming but believe me when I say we will not go down without a fight. And we will not let them take our people. We will find Finn, Clarke, and Monty, I promise. But right now, we work, okay?" I finished, looking over all the scared faces of the campers before some began to nod slowly before continuing their tasks.

I nodded once, taking a deep breath as Bellamy walked over to me, "You can't promise them that." Bellamy shook his head, "You're giving them false hope, we have no idea where they are- we don't even know if they're alive!"

"They're alive!" I cut him off, causing him to sigh in frustration as I bit my lip nervously glancing up at the sky, "They have to be."

...

"Hey."

I glanced up at the delicate voice, smiling slightly when I saw it was Octavia. "Hey." I said back before tapping the seat next to me in front of the fire.

She tucked her hair behind her ear before sitting down next to me, "Everything okay with you and Bell?" She asked as I stared into the fire.

I furrowed my eyebrows, hesitating before I answered, "Yeah. Things are fine." I replied, elaborating, "I just think all this shit really gets to his head, you know?" I turned to her, "He just feels like he has to do what's best for the whole camp without thinking about who gets hurt in the process." I sighed.

"Trust me, I know." Octavia chuckled dryly before turning to me, "But that's why he has you, Claudia." I turned to her when she said that, tilting my head, "You're good for him, really. And you mean so much to him. He really loves you, I can tell."

I looked down, smiling widely at her words before taking a deep breath, "Yeah I love him, too." I whispered before a loud clanking sound erupted.

My head shot up instantly as I watched the dropship door begin to rise slowly from the ground before it met the top, closing it completely.

I watched as Bellamy sprinted over to the door with his walkie-talkie in hand, shouting, "Murphy! Murphy!"

I got up, along with Octavia, walking over as a crowd gathered around the dropship, "What the hell is going on?"

"Murphy's got Jasper trapped inside with him. I think he has a gun." A girl from beside me informed me making my jaw drop immediately.

"What?!" I exclaimed with furrowed brows, before turning to the closed dropship door, "Murphy, open the damn door!" I yelled.

"You try to be a hero, Jasper dies!" He shouted from the other side.

...

"What the hell do we do?" Octavia asked nervously, glancing between Bellamy and I.

"The mine on the south wall done?" Bellamy dismissed her question making me glance at him as if he had two heads.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Our friend is in there with a killer."

Bellamy turned to me, "Claudia, look around. No one's working. If the grounders attack us right now, we're all dead."

Octavia shook her head, marching over to the closed door, "Murphy! If you even touch Jasper, I swear to god you're dead!"

Bellamy pulled her back, "Octavia, I got this."

She separated herself from him instantly, "Really? Because it doesn't look like you're doing anything about it."

Bellamy sighed, looking at his younger sister in frustration before Raven walked up to the three of us with her hands in the pockets of her jacket, "Bellamy," She began, "you were right."

I turned to the brunette, "Right about what?"

"There's a loose panel on the back." She replied, "If I can pop it, we can get in through the floor."

"Good. Do it." Bellamy instructed her before she nodded softly, leaving.

Octavia stood guiltily, glancing over to her brother before whispering, "Sorry."

Bellamy gave a forgiving nod before she left as well, leaving him and I.

"We can't afford to lose anyone else, Bell." I spoke lowly with my arms crossed as his eyes stared into mine, "Especially not Jasper."

"I know." He said back, glancing down to the floor before he removed the walkie talkie from his pocket, bringing it to his mouth before speaking into it, "Murphy, I know you can hear me." Bellamy began, "All our ammo and food is in the middle level. You know that. You're leaving us vulnerable to an attack. I can't let that happen."

There was a momentary pause, Bellamy glancing over to me, until the sound of static could be heard before Murphy's voice projected from the tool, "Yeah, well in case you haven't noticed, you're not exactly in charge right now."

Bellamy froze as I watched to see what would be his next move, "Come on, Murphy. You don't want to hurt Jasper. You want to hurt me."

Murphy didn't reply which made me realize what was happening.

"So what do you say?" Bellamy continued, "How about you trade him for me?"

My heart began to race as I grabbed the walkie talkie from Bellamy with furrowed eyebrows, "What the hell, Bellamy? Have you lost your mind?"

Murphy finally replied to Bellamy's offer, "How?" He questioned with interest.

Bellamy reached over to my hand, trying to take the walkie talkie from my grasp but I pulled away instantly causing him to sigh.

"Claudia, please. This is the only way." He spoke quietly.

I shook my head lightly, "No." I whispered, "No, he'll kill you. I won't let you."

"Claudia.." He placed his hand on the side of my face, looking into my eyes.

He leaned forward, placing his lips onto mine lightly. I closed my eyes as he placed his free hand over mine, moving his lips against my own before grabbing the walkie talkie out of my hand and disconnecting our kiss.

He spun around so that his back was faced towards me, speaking into the tool, "Simple. You open the door, I walk in, he walks out."

I took in a deep breath, running a hand through my hair anxiously as we all waited for what seemed like forever for some kind of response.

Just then, the loud sound of the dropship door's creaky opening erupted- causing all of our heads to turn in the direction.

Murphy's yells were heard in the distance, "Just you Bellamy- unarmed!"

Bellamy turned back to me, handing me the walkie talkie, "I can handle Murphy." He told me, ridding himself of any weapons.

"10 seconds- or I'll put one in Jasper's leg!" Murphy exclaimed before he began to count down.

"Bellamy-"

"Get everyone back to work." He said, as Murphy counted down- getting to 5 seconds. "I love you, Claudia."

I stood stunned, as his hand tucked a stray hair behind my ear, placing a kiss on my forehead before he turned to the dropship, making his way over. "I'm here!" He called out to Murphy.

I wanted to tell him I loved him, too. Before he went in- and maybe never came back out. But I was frozen- and it killed me that I couldn't say it now. But it killed me even more when I saw him run into the curtain, disappearing behind it before I even got the chance.

Just seconds later, Jasper came tumbling out- his hands tied behind his back with a gag over his mouth.

"Jasper!" I managed to finally move from my frozen position, crouching down next to him on the floor, untying his restrictions as the dropship door began to close once again.

My heart raced once it reached the top, gaining this heavy feeling on my shoulders once my mind created a thousand scenarios in my head- each one ending in Bellamy dead.

I shook my head, shaking off the thoughts as I helped Jasper off the ground.

...

I paced back and forth in front of the dropship anxiously. Jasper had gone with Raven to figure out a way through the dropship but my patience was wearing thin. Every second that passed was another agonizing moment for me not knowing what was going on in there.

I jumped at the sound of a gunshot, instantly reaching for the walkie talkie Bellamy handed me before he went in, "Bellamy?" I spoke into it with concern.

My heart was pounding harder and faster with each second that went by without a response, "Bellamy?" I said again, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." He answered finally, "Just a misfire." He reassured.

I sighed in relief, closing my eyes slowly with gratitude. I heard the steps of somebody approaching, turning to see Octavia.

"Now stop worrying about me and get back to work, all of you.. and tell Raven to hurry her ass up." Bellamy said.

"Shit." I mumbled to myself, feeling panic take over my entire body. I knew, however, that seeing me in this state wouldn't help the other campers in any way- as they were already worried about Clarke, Finn, and Monty. I just felt so helpless as a leader. I had no idea what to do.

"Hey," Octavia placed her hand on my arm, snapping me out of my train of thought, "I know this is terrifying. Trust me- I'm just as worried as you are for my brother. But we have to have faith."

I scoffed at the word, "I've been running a little short of that these days." I continued "I don't know what to do, Octavia." I whispered weakly, "Everyone here- they're depending on me. I'm supposed to be this tough leader who always has a plan but my boyfriend is in there and I'm so... weak."

"Weak?" Octavia questioned with a shake of her head, "Are you kidding me? You're the strongest person here. Claudia, you're the most badass person I know." She spoke with a small smile, "If anyone can get us through this it's you."

I wrapped my arms around her, engulfing her in a hug before whispering, "Thank you, Octavia."

"Of course." She hugged me back before I pulled away and turned to the campers who were all mumbling worriedly amongst themselves.

I took a deep breath, putting on a brave face-- even if it was a false one, "Hey," I began, "We will not let Murphy win, you understand me?" I rose an eyebrow, scanning over each face in the crowd.

"I swear to you, if Murphy hurts Bellamy in any way- I'll kill him myself."

I was interrupted when Jasper came running out from behind the dropship, rifle in hand, "Claudia!"

I turned around with furrowed eyebrows, watching as he ran up to me, "Claudia, Raven's about to open the dropship. I don't know how much time we'll have to get in there- but I know at least one person can make it. And it has to be you, Claudia." He handed me his rifle- catching me off guard.

"What-"

"We don't have much time. Get ready." He instructed as I simply nodded, tying my hair up into a ponytail before checking the ammunition of the rifle- seeing that it was full.

My head snapped up at the sound of the heavy metal door beginning to open again. I ran over to the entrance, not having enough patience to wait until it reached the ground. I jumped, grabbing onto the lowering metal door and slinging myself over, rushing into the dropship.

I rose the weapon in my hands, aiming it- and fully prepared to use it.

"Bellamy?" I called out as I walked through the curtain, gasping when I saw the brunette hanging from the ceiling- losing consciousness with every second that passed by; Murphy nowhere to be seen.

"Oh my god." I mumbled, running over to the root of the ties that bound the restraint around his neck- pulling out my knife to cut them.

As soon as I did, his body dropped to the ground- Jasper catching him in a knick of time as he, Octavia, Miller, and a few other armed campers entered the dropship. I heard Bellamy gasping for air- thanking God that he was alright.

I heard the sound of footsteps above us, realizing Murphy was on the third floor.

"I'm gonna kill him." I muttered, climbing the ladder quickly- pushing the lid of the entrance to the floor but struggling when I felt it was being blocked by something. "Damn it!"

I reached for the gun slung around my body- removing the ties that kept it tethered around me- using the bottom of the rifle to bang on the lid with all my might but not having any luck.

I grew frustrated, "Murphy-"

I was cut off by a loud explosion that came from the third floor. I froze instantly, remembering the rest of the gunpowder was up there. I pushed against the lid once more- it opening instantly this time.

I climbed up to the top floor rapidly, seeing one of the walls was blown open. I rushed over to it, looking out and seeing him running away before he stopped in his tracks- looking back with a smirk.

"Should we go after him?" I heard Jasper's voice from beside me, just then realizing I wasn't alone.

"No. The Grounders will take care of Murphy." Bellamy answered from my other side as I turned to him, wrapping my arms around him instantly in a tight hug.

"Don't ever do that to me again, you hear me?" I mumbled into his neck.

"I'm sorry." He said back, his arms wrapping around my waist in a strong grip as if he were afraid to let me go.

I pulled away eventually, looking into his eyes, "So what now?"

"We're going after Clarke, Finn, and Monty." He answered, looking over to Jasper whose eyes began to light up, before looking back at me, "You were right, Claudia, we don't abandon our own."

I flashed a small smile before the walkie talkie in my pocket began to go off, "All gunners! We got movement outside the south wall!"

Bellamy, Jasper, and I didn't waste a minute as we all rushed down the ladder of the dropship, reaching the second floor before we ran out in unison.

I squinted my eyes at the bright light we were greeted with at first hand, my eyes adjusting once I saw the multitude of campers with guns in hand, rushing over to the wall.

"Wait! Hold your fire!" Miller shouted as he looked over the wall, "It's Clarke and Finn! Move the gate!"

I ran through the crowd as they opened the gate, Clarke and Finn running through the camp together- out of breath.

"Hey, we heard an explosion, what happened?" Clarke asked as she tried to catch her breath, glancing around.

"Murphy happened." I answered shortly.

Jasper rushed over, hugging Clarke before pulling away, "Where's Monty?"

Clarke glanced at him in confusion, "Monty's gone?"

I shook my head, "You didn't know?"

Finn interrupted, "Clarke, we need to leave, now. All of us do." He turned to face all of us, "There's an army of Grounders, unlike anything we've ever seen, coming for us right now. We need to pack what we can- and run."

"Like hell we do." Bellamy opposed immediately, "We knew this was coming."

I nodded in agreement, "Bellamy's right. We're not going down without a fight. We've been training for this moment."

Octavia objected, chiming in, "We're not prepared."

"And they're not here yet." Bellamy fired back, "We still have time to prepare. Besides, where would we go? Where would we be safer than behind these walls?"

"There's an ocean to the East." Finn answered, "People there will help us."

Octavia stepped forward, her eyes staring into Finn's, "You saw Lincoln."

Finn nodded softly.

"You expect us to trust a Grounder?" Bellamy asked in detest. "This is our home now! We built this from nothing with our bare hands! Our dead are buried behind that wall in this ground! Our ground!" He exclaimed, "The Grounders think they can take that away? They think that because we came from the sky, we don't belong here. But they're yet to realize one very important fact: we are on the ground now. And that means we are grounders!"

"Yeah!" The crowd cheered simultaneously at Bellamy's speech. Other clapping and throwing a fist into the air with pride.

"Grounder's with guns!" A voice in the crowd yelled out.

"Damn right!" Bellamy agreed, "I say let them come!"

I watched him as he spoke passionately clapping in agreement with a proud smile from beside him.

Clarke chimed in, continuing, "If we leave, we may never find a place as safe as this. And God knows, in this world, we could be faced with something even worse tomorrow. But that doesn't change the simple fact that if we stay here, we will die tonight. So pack your things. Just take what you can carry, now."

"Help me!" Raven's weak voice cried out as she limped through the crowd.

"Oh my god, Raven!" I ran over to her side, along with Bellamy, Clarke, Jasper, and Finn.

"Murphy shot me when I was working from the first floor." She explained weakly.

"Get her into the dropship." Clarke said as Finn scooped her into his arms without a second thought, rushing her into the dropship.

She was just about to follow before I grabbed her arm, "Clarke- leaving here is a mistake."

She listened closely before shaking her head, "The decision's been made."

"Crowds make bad decisions." I defended, "Just ask Murphy." I whispered, "Leaders do what they think is right."

She nodded, breathing deeply,

"I am."

-

A/N:

Whew, this chapter took me so long to write because a lot happened. There's one more episode left to write and I am nottt ready for this book to end omg. Most likely going to be making a sequel because I love Bellamy and Claudia way too much so I have some things to figure out. But if there's anything you guys would like to see in the next book- or even the next chapter- please let me know! I'm definitely open to your suggestions!