14 - INSANITY

[ INSANITY ]

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  "Are you sure they won't kill me?" Sayah raised an eyebrow.

   "We won't let them." Octavia replied sternly as they approached the front gate of their camp, helping Sayah carry Monroe. Sayah glanced at Bellamy for his opinion on the matter. Bellamy pursed his lips.

   "Thank you for keeping my sister safe." He nodded. "So yes, I'm with Octavia." Sayah couldn't fight the appreciative grin that spread across her face. She nodded in return.

   "Open the gate!" A voice called and a loud buzz was heard as they drew closer. Sayah flinched at the sound.

   Guards circled them, weapons pointed up cautiously. Sayah felt several eyes on her and she ignored how a guard seemed to scan her body suspiciously. A woman approached Bellamy who held a injured Mel. "I know you," The woman said. "Factory station."

   "Where are the others?" The woman questioned.

   Mel hesitantly replied. "There are no others."

   "We found her a day from here, no survivors, lots of supplies." Bellamy explained. The woman nodded and then glanced over to Octavia and Monroe. Then her eyes landed on Sayah.

   Just as Sayah was about to speak, a guard's voice spoke up. "She's a Grounder!" He yelled, eyes widening at the sight of her sword. The other guards quickly moved towards her, grabbing her harshly and pinning her down. Sayah clenched her jaw, grunting at the sudden force as she met the ground.

   "No! What are you doing?" Octavia called out, moving towards the guards. Some guards pulled her and Bellamy away.

   "Stop! She helped us!" Bellamy tried to reason, turning to the same woman who approached them. "Abby, please. She's not a threat."

   The woman, Abby, glanced between Sayah and the two Blake siblings. She sighed. "Take her to the holding cell. Do not harm her." She ordered. Sayah was lifted up harshly and she glared at the guards.

   "Abby!" Octavia protested, trying to pull away the guards who held Sayah.

   Sayah shook her head, stopping her tracks. "No, Via. It's fine." She reassured. Octavia stared at her, a concerned expression across her face. The guards shoved Sayah away despite Octavia's protests with the Abby woman.

   On the way to wherever they were taking her, Sayah met the eyes of Clarke. Clarke's blue eyes widened at the sight of her. "Sayah?" Her gaze then moved to the guards.

   "Hey! What are you doing with her?" Clarke approached them. Sayah stared back at her confused. If she was here, then Finn and John were out looking for. . .

No one.

   "Chancellor's orders." The guard simply replied, pulling Sayah away. Clarke furrowed her brows.

   "I'll get you out, Sayah!" Clarke yelled finally before they took Sayah inside some giant building-machine(?). She glanced around, eyeing her surroundings. Strange.

   They brought her down a hall and then they reached a door. It opened with a loud hiss.

   "In ya go." A guard grumbled, guiding her in and restraining her wrists to a pole. She didn't reply; didn't even look at them. They left without another word.

   Sayah sighed loudly, resting her head on the pole behind her. "Seems our roles have been switched, John Murphy. Now I'm the prisoner." She mumbled beneath her breath.

   Her mind travelled to how he kissed her forehead lightly before he left. He had never done that before. Her lips turned up slightly at the memory.

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   "I count 26," Finn whispered as he and Murphy eyed the village through their scopes, hiding in the bushes.

   "I got 28." Murphy frowned. "These people don't look like warriors, Finn. Just kids, old people. There's nothing big enough here to hold our friends."

   "They could be underground." Finn suggested. Murphy controlled the urge to roll his eyes, looking back through his scope.

   "We wait till dark. Then we go in." Finn sighed.

   "We go in?" Murphy questioned. "Finn, we don't even know if our people are here yet."

   "They're here. Or they were when that Grounder took Clarke's watch." Finn replied.

   "And what if we're too late, huh?" Murphy asked. "I mean they're probably already dead—"

   Murphy didn't get to finish before Finn grabbed his shoulder harshly. Murphy glanced down before looking back up to Finn. "Take it easy."

   Finn let go hesitantly and looked back through his scope. Murphy was beginning to regret even agreeing to come with him. He should've been with Sayah. They could be at camp right now, safe, sound, together.

   "How much ammo do we have?" Finn suddenly questioned, turning to Murphy.

   Murphy sighed, shifting in his spot and rolling his shoulders. "Y'know, I think I liked you better as a peacemaker."

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   "You captured John Murphy." The blonde guard spoke. "Did you torture him too?"

   Sayah wanted to spit in her face. Who did she think she was? Sayah wanted to laugh at her, taunt her, tell her she was stupid because she had it all wrong.

   But she didn't.

   She kept her mouth shut and her gaze forward. The blonde guard grew restless. "Answer the question!"

   Sayah didn't move once. This is how it'd been for. . . she didn't even know. The blonde guard had come in, and asked her questions over and over again. How many of you are there? What's your battle strategy? Who is your Commander? It was ridiculous. Sayah just thought the guard was making a fool of herself.

   Although, she could tell the guard was becoming more than just annoyed with Sayah's lack of cooperation as she eyed how the woman's hand twitched over so slightly, hovering over the small weapon holstered at her waist.

   "Answer the question!" She repeated. "Did you capture and torture John Murphy?"

   Suddenly, the doors to her cell opened up with a hiss, and the familiar woman from before walked in. Abby, Sayah thought her name was.

   "Byrne, that'll be all. I'll speak with her now." Abby ordered. The guard glared once more at Sayah, who looked up at her with slight amusement in her eyes, before stalking off.

   Once the doors shut, Abby sighed and sat down beside Sayah. Sayah simply furrowed her brows. "My name is Abby." She introduced.

   "Bellamy, Clarke and Octavia tell me you are not the enemy. Your name is Sayah?" She questioned softly, like a mother would to a child. Sayah did not respond. Then Abby chuckled softly, gaze still on her. "You look so young, similar age to my daughter, Clarke." Her gaze fell to the floor.

   Sayah didn't hide her realisation. This was Clarke's mother. The one who wrote the message on the ship.

   "Do you have a mother?" Abby questioned softly.

   Sayah clenched her jaw, giving into the soft, motherly tone of her voice. "I used to." She answered quietly. Abby's gaze flickered over to Sayah in surprise, not expecting her to talk.

   "She left when I was younger." Sayah explained. She couldn't help but blurt it out. She never talked about it that much. Not even with John. "Then a boy named Lincoln took me in. He is—" She paused. "Was. . . my brother." She added sadly.

   "I'm sorry." Abby gave her a sad smile. Sayah didn't reply.

   "You were the one who captured John Murphy, is that right?" Abby asked. Sayah wanted to scoff. How sweet of her to ask the caring questions first then get straight to the point.

   "Yes." Sayah replied truthfully.

   "Did you. . . hurt him?" Abby questioned quietly. Sayah's gaze snapped over to Abby. It was hard and deadly, and Abby couldn't help but be taken aback by its intensity.

   "I would never— I could never hurt him." Sayah spoke clearly, her gaze never faltering. "I protected him, kept him alive, kept him safe." She admitted.

   Abby took a moment to respond, remembering that Octavia and Bellamy had mentioned that her and John Murphy were close. Closer than they had all thought.

   To Sayah it felt like forever as she watched the gears turn in Abby's head. Then Abby looked up, something unrecognisable in her eyes.

   "Why?" She questioned, and Sayah was confused on if Abby genuinely wanted to know or if she wanted to confirm an assumption. Sayah wanted to ask her, 'Why do you think?' But instead she answered:

   "I think you already know why."

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Sayah felt like she couldn't breathe after the interaction with Abby.

Abby had said one last thing to her, a fact, something Sayah had denied for too long, before having to leave to perform surgery. Sayah had just stared at the floor emotionlessly.

She had finally come to terms with it.

A familiar hiss of the cell doors opening caught her attention. She turned her head to see Octavia entering, a determined expression on her face.

"Via?" Sayah furrowed her brows. Octavia didn't respond, just knelt down and cut her restraints.

"We have to be quick." Octavia muttered, offering a hand to Sayah as she stood up. Sayah took it. "Did they hurt you?" Octavia asked, her tone hinted with concern as she scanned Sayah's body.

"No." Sayah replied. "What's going on?"

"Bellamy and Clarke are planning to sneak out to get Finn and Murphy. We're going with him." Octavia explained as they left the cell.

Sayah chuckled. "Exciting."

They snuck out easily without being seen, Octavia handing Sayah her sword the guards had confiscated earlier. Octavia led them over behind a building of some sort where Clarke, Bellamy and some girl Sayah didn't recognise stood.

"Did you find Octavia?" Bellamy had asked Clarke.

"No. We found you." Octavia caught the trio's attention. "I'm not letting you leave here without me."

"Octavia—" Clarke began.

"Finn and Murphy are headed for Lincoln and Sayah's village. Sayah knows it like the back of her hand," Octavia gestured to Sayah. "And I've been there too. Have you? Has she?" She gestured to Clarke.

"You done?" Bellamy questioned with amusement.

Sayah met the eye of the third girl. She glanced towards her leg. "You must be Raven,"

"Who are you?" Raven questioned, brows pulled together in suspicion.

"This is Lincoln's sister, Sayah." Octavia answered protectively. Sayah smiled a little at her words.

Sayah pointed to Raven's leg. "John did that to you?" She frowned. Raven gave her a look before her lips parted.

"You're the mystery girl," She concluded then scoffed. "Got Murphy wrapped around your little finger, huh?"

Sayah stared back at her with a blank expression. Bellamy glanced between the two girls. "She's a friend, Raven." He reassured. Clarke nodded and added, "She saved Finn and I's lives before."

Raven shared a look with Clarke before looking back towards Sayah. Sayah stared back at her, waiting for her to speak. Raven simply nodded to Sayah, letting out a sigh.

"We don't have time for this," Bellamy suddenly spoke up, handing Octavia a bag.

"What's this?" Octavia questioned.

"Your pack." Bellamy told her with a small smirk. He looked between Sayah and Octavia. "Lead the way."

Octavia began to approach the wires but Raven stopped her quickly. "Not so fast, Pocahontas." She tapped her walking stick lightly on one of the wires and it zapped loudly with a bright spark. Sayah flinched at the action.

"I thought you said it was handled." Clarke whispered to Raven.

"It is." Raven replied, pulling out a radio. "Shut her down, Wick." She spoke into it. After a few seconds, Raven tried again, poking it with her stick. Nothing happened.

"Fascinating," Sayah mumbled.

   Raven smirked at her. "Handled." She concluded to Clarke.

Octavia went through the wires first, turning to grab Sayah's hand as she went through. Then came Bellamy and Clarke.

And they were gone.

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"She is incredibly strong," Sayah spoke up to Bellamy as they sat around a small campfire later that night. "Octavia." She clarified, glancing towards the young girl sleeping. Clarke was asleep as well.

"Yeah well, she's been through a lot." Bellamy replied lowly.

"And you are a good brother." Sayah told him. Bellamy glanced at her before his gaze moved back to the campfire. He mused over her words, as if trying to remind himself.

"I'm sorry about your brother," Bellamy finally said. "He helped us, helped Octavia, kept her safe." He shook his head lightly.

Sayah nodded sadly. "He truly was good." She swallowed hard. "And because of him, I have grown attached to Octavia." Sayah admitted. "Like one would. . . to a sister."

She turned to Bellamy nervously, waiting for his reaction. He didn't look angry, but he didn't look ecstatic either. He simply nodded.

"But, Octavia is undeniably stubborn." Sayah tried to joke, hoping it would calm the tense atmosphere a little. Bellamy chuckled and Sayah claimed that as a win.

"Octavia told me a little about you," Bellamy admitted. "And so did Murphy." Sayah didn't respond as Bellamy continued. "I saw the way you two are around eachother." He paused. "I've never seen Murphy so. . ." He struggled to find the right words.

". . .So unlike the Murphy you know." Sayah finished. Bellamy didn't reply but his silence was enough confirmation.

Suddenly, Clarke shuffled a little and her eyes opened, meeting Bellamy's. Sayah glanced between the two. Their dynamic was something more than just two leaders. Sayah wondered if they were aware of it.

Sayah looked away, feeling as though she was intruding on a private moment. She shifted in her spot, getting comfortable before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

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"What are you doing? This isn't part of your plan." Murphy whispered to Finn who grabbed a long branch with a flame on it for light.

"I'm changing the plan." Finn whispered back as he snuck through the village. Murphy bit his lip but followed him anyway. The reached a building where Finn stopped.

"This is their food." Is all he said before he threw the stick into the small window of the building. They ran away to hide as the inside of the building burst into flames.

Soon, there were yells and villagers were rushing around, grabbing pots and filling them with water in order to put the fire out or at least get it down.

"Distraction. Not bad." Murphy admitted as they hid behind some clutter. Finn glanced at him before moving. "Let's go." He whispered.

Murphy followed him, pausing on his way to take a look at the fire. Suddenly, he was pulled away by Finn. A Grounder ran past them. That was close.

They snuck around another corner and hid behind some scrap metal as some more villagers run past them. Suddenly, a voice yelled out something in another language from behind Murphy.

Murphy didn't hesitate and hit the man quickly with his gun. The man fell back. "We need to run." Murphy rushed out, backing away.

"We can't. They'll kill our people." Finn argued, grabbing the man who was half conscious.

"They'll kill us!" Murphy spat back. Finn didn't reply, only carried the man forward by his collar. He reached a clearing and fired his gun towards the sky. The villages gasped in fear and backed away.

"Who's in charge here?" Finn yelled, pointing his rifle at the man in front of him threateningly. No one answered.

Finn dropped the man to his knees. "I'll ask again."

Murphy glanced over to him nervously. He was insane. Finn was insane. "Who's in charge?" Finn repeated.

A large man stepped forward. Some people in the crowd protested but he raised his arm to them and called back something calmly. He approached Finn and Murphy.

"Our leader isn't here." The man said. "You can deal with me."

"Nobody has to get hurt." Finn told him. "We just want our people back."

The man shook his head. "We don't have your people."

Finn clenched his jaw. "Then you won't mind if we have a look around." Murphy let out a small sigh of annoyance.

The man said he didn't have them, that means he didn't have them. They should just leave.

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Murphy watched as Finn sprinted around the village, checking every hut and building. He moved away to approach Finn but one of Grounders that were herd up in a circle like cage, moved slightly.

Murphy's head turned to them. The man from before spoke up. "I told you," He said. "We don't have your people."

Murphy wanted to tell him he understood, that he would try to get Finn to give up and leave, that he was just doing what he was told.

But he didn't.

He swallowed hard. "Stop talking." Was all he ordered.

Murphy watched as Finn came out of a building and then looked around it. And then Finn stopped and walked forward. Murphy narrowed his eyes. "You find something?" He called. Finn didn't respond. Murphy tightened his grip on his weapon. "Finn!" He called out his name. Still nothing.

"Finn, answer me. Are you alright?" Murphy yelled once more, moving towards Finn a little. A young Grounder boy saw this as his chance to stand up. Murphy quickly faced him, pointing up his gun.

"Hey, on your knees. Down. On your knees now." Murphy ordered aggressively. The man pulled the boy back down quickly, speaking loudly in another language.

The boy complied, staring back up at Murphy. Murphy clenched his jaw before speaking very lowly. "I don't want to hurt you." He ignored the curious stares from them at his words.

"Finn!" Murphy called out once more, growing tired. Suddenly, Finn was running towards them, something other than a gun in his hand. A jacket.

He jumped over the fence that held the Grounders in it and held the jacket above the large man's face. Then he threw it to the ground. "What have you done with them?" Finn yelled at him. The man didn't respond.

Finn grew more angrier and pointed his tip of his rifle up at the man's head. Murphy's eyes widened. "Hey, Finn. Finn! Come on." He put out his hand cautiously toward Finn.

"They're clothes are here!" Finn turned to Murphy. "They were here. They were here!" He seethed.

Murphy glanced away. Bellamy was right: Finn was not himself.

Finn cocked the gun before pointing it up at the man's head once more. Murphy shook his head. "Finn." He warned.

"You killed them." Finn panted, gaze locked on the Grounder. Other Grounder's began to stand up but the man put out his arm. "No!" He ordered them. He added something else not in English. The Grounders listened to whatever he said and backed down onto their knees again. Finn shook with rage.

"Your friends were not here." The man spoke calmly. "I saw one, Octavia, but she was with one of ours, Sayah. That was it."

Murphy's head turned to the man. "Sayah?"

The man turned to Murphy. "Yes." He replied slowly. Murphy shook his head at Finn. "These people are scavengers, Finn, okay? This is Sayah's village, these people could've just found that stuff."

Finn didn't reply once again and just pushed a woman to the muddy ground. She yelled slightly in fear at the sudden force. Finn pointed his gun now at her. Murphy moved quickly, grabbing Finn's arm. "Hey! Hey, Finn, stop! Listen to me."

Finn shoved his arm out of Murphy's grasp. "Get off me!" Murphy watched as Finn placed a foot on the woman's back, pushing her into the mud even more.

"Finn, don't do this." Murphy spoke to him. "Man, let's just walk out of here while we still can, okay?"

Finn shook his head, biting his lip. Murphy leaned in a little. "Finn." He spoke gently, softly. "Please."

Finn, after a moment, let go and stepped away from the woman. The large man helped her up and pulled her away, beside him. He shared a look with Murphy, who swallowed nervously.

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"Be careful where you step," Sayah ordered as she, Octavia, Bellamy and Clarke approached her village. The reached the statue and Sayah paused.

"This is it." Bellamy spoke. "Which way to the village?" He asked.

Sayah didn't reply, only stood and stared ahead. Octavia must've felt it too because she sighed shakily.

"O?" Bellamy questioned, glancing between her and Sayah.

"The Reapers came from there." Octavia spoke up and pointed. Sayah looked at the ground, avoiding Clarke's concerned gaze.

"I couldn't save him, Bell." Sayah heard Octavia whisper and Bellamy pulled her into his arms. Sayah stood silently, and Clarke watched her, unsure on how to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Sayah." Clarke whispered as she turned away from Bellamy and Octavia. Sayah's gaze moved around quickly, hoping that would stop the tears that began to well in her eyes. Sayah felt a hand on her forearm, she glanced at it. It was Clarke.

Sayah met her sad, blue eyes. She nodded slowly, painfully, and Clarke nodded back reaching down to squeeze her hand.

Perhaps the Sky People were all she had left.

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"Look, just because their clothes are here, doesn't mean anything." Murphy told Finn as they stood away from the Grounders.

"He told us our friends were here. Why would he do that?" Finn questioned.

"The Neck Tattoo guy?" Murphy furrowed his brows. "Maybe because you had a gun to his head, Finn."

"Neck Tattoo?" The large man spoke up suddenly. Finn pointed his gun up at him as he stood up slowly, hands raised in surrender. "You saw Ekon. A snake. A thief. He and his men were cast out. You are his revenge."

"It makes sense, Finn." Murphy nodded. "Okay. We need to go, now." He turned away. Finn didn't move. Murphy, growing extremely tired of his BS, grabbed his shoulder. "Now, Finn, we need to go."

Finn lowered his gun and turned to leave but suddenly there were calls and shouts. Finn turned behind him to see a Grounder running away. He didn't hesitate. He fired. The man dropped instantly.

"He was just trying to get away!" The large man from before yelled. Murphy let out a shaky sigh, eyes darting from the body of the Grounder back to Finn. He grabbed Finn once more. "Come on," He urged him.

But it wasn't enough. Another Grounder — a young boy — jumped the fence. Finn fired once more. The boy dropped.

"Finn!" Murphy screamed.

Chaos. Villagers tried to escape, crying and screaming at the sight of one of their one — a child — dead on the ground. The large man held them back, trying to stop them from getting themselves killed also.

"Finn! We need to go!" Murphy yelled, eyes darting from the two now dead Grounders. "Look at me! We need to go now!"

But Finn wasn't looking at him. He was watching as another Grounder jumped the fence. And Murphy watched as he shot that one down too. "No! Stop!" Murphy yelled.

Another Grounder. Another round of bullets. Another drop. Another yell of "Stop!".

He wouldn't stop. Murphy kept yelling. "Finn! Finn!" Over and over again but it was no use. Finn wouldn't stop shooting. Why wouldn't he stop shooting? Murphy gripped his back, Finn wouldn't move. "Finn, come on! We need to go!"

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When they finally reached the source of the gunshots, Sayah felt her heart drop once more.

Sayah sprinted through as Nyko jumped over a fence they were keeping her people in and dropped to her knees at the sight of a young boy.

Artigas.

   She had known him since he was a young child. The boy would visit her and Lincoln regularly, pulling on her jacket, pleading with a small voice: "Sayah, one spar—one quick fight."

   Sayah would laugh, sharing a look with Lincoln before she would sprint outside with the young boy and they would play together with long sticks.

   Sayah had always let him win.

"No. . ." She breathed. "No, no, no," She gripped his chest tightly and rage blew up inside her. Rage and pain. So much pain.

She glanced up meeting the eyes of John and then Finn. Her body shook and she stood up. "Sayah—" John began but she shoved him. He stumbled back, eyes wide.

"He was just a child! How could you! How could you—" She screamed, her voice breaking. Murphy dropped his gun to the ground instantly, stepping towards her.

"Sayah, it wasn't me— I didn't do this—" John rushed out, trying to grab her.

"I did." Finn mumbled quietly, not even looking at them. His eyes were glued to Clarke. Sayah turned to him, eyes dark as her body shook even more. And she couldn't even move. She couldn't even shove him and cause him pain. Not that Finn cared. He took a step towards Clarke. "I found you." He breathed out. Clarke took a step back in fear, and shook her head.

Sayah sunk to the muddy ground, tears in her eyes. She sobbed slightly. John dropped beside her and took her in his arms hesitantly.

Sayah was broken. She wanted to push him away, ask him why he had let Finn do something so horrible. But she couldn't. Her limbs were dead and all that filled her was pain. Pain and loss. John stared at the ground in guilt as she sobbed in his arms.

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a/n

finn. goddamn it.rewatching s1 n i was like finns nice, wanting peace n all that then rewatching season 2. . . boy ill whoop you .he was crazy, thinking he did all this for clarke ???

phat sigh

anyways. what a chapteri hope you enjoyed n lemme know ifyou find any mistakes

^ murphy the whole time at the village