17 - DECISIONS

[ DECISIONS ]

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   When Clarke returned from speaking to Heda, Sayah could tell something wasn't right. Maybe it was the way she held her hands clenched at her sides or the way her gaze fell on the ground.

   Sayah just knew. Something was wrong.

   People crowded around her, waiting for an answer. "What'd she say?" Abby questioned Clarke. "Is there a chance for a truce?"

   "Yes." Clarke responded.

   "What's wrong?" Finn questioned, recognising the crestfallen look on her face.

   Clarke was hesitant to answer but turned to him anyway. "They want you." She paused. "If we want a truce, we have to give them Finn."

   "What the hell are you talking about?" Raven knitted her brows.

   "That's their offer." Clarke explained.

   "That's not an offer." Raven argued.

   "It's a punishment." Finn met Sayah's eyes. "For what happened at the village."

   "Jus drien jus daun." Sayah nodded. "Blood must have blood."

   "That's insane." Bellamy shook his head.

   Sayah looked at him apologetically. "It is our way."

   "If we refuse. . ." Abby began.

   "They will attack." Sayah nodded. "No hesitation." Clarke confirmed her words, nodding in agreement.

   "I say we give him up!" A voice yelled.

   More joined in. "Get rid of him!"

   "Easy, people." The blonde guard, Byrne, tried to calm them.

   "Give him to the Grounders!" A man stepped forward. Raven turned to him, an angry expression on her face.

   "Back off!" She shoved him away. Sayah smirked at her protectiveness. She admired it.

   The man tried to retaliate but Bellamy pushed him away as Clarke pulled Raven away. "Raven! Raven. Listen to me." Clarke held her shoulders. "Nothing is gonna happen to him. I promise, okay?"

   Sayah watched as the crowd around them grew more furious, guards pushing them away as they drew closer.

   "I'm not dying for him." Another man spoke up loudly, taking a step towards them. "Spacewalker burned three months of oxygen from the Ark." He pointed at Finn. "He should've floated a long time ago. Throw him out!" The man shoved Raven a little and Sayah moved quickly, shoving him back angrily. "Hands off her," She ordered.

   The man snarled and went to punch Sayah but Sayah ducked in time. He growled in annoyance. "Why are they even letting a Grounder stay here?! Disgusting savage! Give them both up!" The man spat. Before Sayah could do anything, Raven stepped forward and punched the man in the nose.

   Byrne pulled Raven back quickly. "Stop! Reyes."

   Raven didn't like that apparently because she turned and punched Byrne too. Sayah's lips turned up slightly at the action. Then suddenly, Raven was being grabbed by two guards and pulled away. "Let me go." Raven ordered.

   It was chaos as Sayah shared a glance with Clarke.

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   Sayah went against a part of her that was still mad at Finn as she went over to join him as he sat alone. He didn't object as she sat beside him.

   "I am sorry, Finn." She spoke up. "This fate of yours, I never would've seen it."

   Finn turned to look at her. "What do you mean?"

   "I knew you before all this, to some extent." Sayah told him.

   "Yeah, and what did you think of me then?" He scoffed.

   "A peacemaker." Sayah smiled a little.

   Finn glanced at her sadly. "I never wanted to hurt those people. I never wanted to kill anyone."

   "I understand." Sayah frowned, looking away. "But you did. And my people do not forgive easily."

   "You were a good person, Finn." Sayah added. "But what you did, it is unforgivable."

   Finn didn't reply and Sayah is glad he didn't so she could stop talking. She knew that Finn had been a good person. He was when she had met him. But people change.

   "Sayah, I've been looking for— Oh." Murphy's turned a corner to find the two sitting together. He glanced between the two of them before taking a seat beside Sayah.

   "Byrne actually gave me a gun." Murphy spoke up. "Guess we really are screwed, huh?" Sayah rolled her eyes at Murphy's words as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders comfortably.

   Bellamy and Clarke soon approached them. "Hey," Bellamy greeted the trio. "We're reinforcing our defenses. Doubles on the perimeter. No one's getting past that wire." Bellamy explained.

   Finn stood up. "I'll see where they're thin."

   "No, you should head inside." Bellamy told him, "B Corridor will be easier to defend, if it comes to that." Clarke nodded in agreement.

   "I'm not gonna hide." Finn argued.

   "Right now, we have to think about keeping you safe. I'm going to talk to Lincoln." Sayah's head turned up at the name. Clarke glanced at her quickly. Sayah read the look in her eyes.

   "Come on, Finn." Bellamy urged and Finn hesitantly followed.

   As they turned to leave, Sayah stood up and followed, wanting to pay a visit to her brother also. "Hey, any orders for me, Princess?" Murphy called out to Clarke. Sayah raised an eyebrow at the nickname.

   "Stay away from me." Clarke simply told him.

   Sayah frowned. "Clarke—"

   "I'm just trying to be helpful." Murphy cut Sayah off, directing his words to the blonde.

   Clarke narrowed her eyes. "You were with him at the village."

   "I tried to stop him." Murphy argued, taking a step forward.

   "Not hard enough." Clarke replied, turning to leave.

   "You know what? You wanna start blaming people, Clarke?" Murphy began causing Clarke to stop.

   "Hey. That's enough, John." Sayah began.

   Murphy ignored her and kept talking. Sayah rolled her eyes. "He was out there looking for you." Clarke didn't reply, only kept walking.

   Sayah turned to Murphy. He just looked at her. "I was trying to be nice—"

   "I know." Sayah cupped his face. "She has her reasons to be mad. And so you do. Just. . . go easy, okay? This is tense for everyone."

   Murphy sighed and Sayah smirked.

   "I feel like a mother," Sayah raised her brows.

   Murphy scrunched up his face at her words. "You're so weird."

   "You love it." Sayah kissed his cheek softly. "I'll see you later, yeah?" She began to back away and Murphy pulled her back into him.

   "Meet me at our spot later?" He murmured in her ear. Sayah felt her skin tingle.

   "Guess you'll have to wait and find out." Was all she said before heading off to see her brother. Murphy watched her, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

   He'd never get over how perfect she was.

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   Sayah's brows furrowed at the sight of Lincoln still restrained to his bed. "Why does he still have them on?" She questioned, a hint of annoyance in her tone.

   "Calm, Sayah. I want them on." Lincoln sighed. Sayah furrowed her brows but didn't question it any further.

   "So just tell us," Abby spoke up, glancing between the two siblings. "Is there a way to make peace?"

   Lincoln's gaze moved to Sayah. "Did she leave riders behind?"

   "Two, just outside the gate." Sayah answered confusedly, before it clicked. "They're waiting." She sighed.

   "Waiting? For what?" Abby questioned.

   "For Finn." Lincoln responded.

   "That means you don't have much time to decide." Sayah pursed her lips.

   "She can't expect us to just hand over one of own people. Would she do that?" Octavia leaned towards Lincoln.

   Sayah clenched her jaw. "She wouldn't let the rest of her people die to protect a murderer."

   "Sayah is right." Lincoln spoke up. "If you don't do this, she will kill everyone in this camp."

   "There has to be something else that we can offer." Abby crossed her arms.

   "Finn took 18 lives." Lincoln stated. "The commander's offering to take just one. Take the deal."

   "How can you say that?" Clarke spoke up. "Finn was the first person to come to you to offer you peace. He's your friend."

   "He massacred our village," Lincoln gestured to Sayah quickly. "Some of the dead were my friends— Sayah's friends." Sayah glanced down to the floor.

   "But that wasn't Finn." Clarke argued. "You know that's not who he is."

   "It is now." Sayah spoke up, loud and clear. She met the eyes of Clarke. "I knew him before this too. I knew he was good. But the boy who murdered 18 innocents," She narrowed her eyes. "He will be punished. There is no other way around it. I'm sorry, Clarke."

   "We've all got a monster inside of us, Clarke." Lincoln told her. "And we are all responsible for what it does when we let it out."

   "What will they do to him?" Abby asked softly.

   "Fire." Lincoln replied. Clarke glanced at Sayah with confusion.

   "Because he killed the innocent, it starts with fire." Sayah explained.

   "Starts?" Clarke repeated, glancing between Sayah and Lincoln.

   "They'll take his hands. His tongue. His eyes. And anyone who grieves will have a turn with a knife." Lincoln explained. "Sunrise, the commander will handle it with her sword. . ."

   "We've never known anyone to survive until the sword." Sayah mumbled, eyes locked onto the ground.

   "He killed 18. He will suffer the pain of 18 deaths. Then we can have peace." Lincoln stated.

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   "Personally, I think this plan is ridiculous." Sayah spoke up as her and Murphy made their way to dropship to meet Finn, Clarke, Bellamy and Raven.

   "Yeah, well, they're hellbent on saving him." Murphy replied.

   "And are you?" Sayah asked, stopping in her tracks.

   Murphy stopped as well, turning to face her. He stumbled over his words. "Well, are you?"

   "I asked first, John." Sayah raised her eyebrows.

   "I asked second." Murphy smirked, approaching her.

   Sayah furrowed her brows, turning serious. "Do you want to save Finn?"

   Murphy bit his lip. "It's. . . Well, yeah. The guy is crazy, we know that but, he's still kind of my friend."

   "He killed 18 innocent people." Sayah reminded.

   "I know that." Murphy grabbed her hands. Sayah shot him a look. "Sayah, I know that." He repeated. "But do you really want him to die?"

   Sayah knitted her brows. He had to die, that was the way it was. Blood must have blood. It was her people's way.

   But was it hers?

   "I—" She clenched her jaw. "He should be punished for what he did. And if he were to live, I would never forgive him." Sayah explained, shaking her head.

   "So, what? You're fine with it either way?"

   "Well, when you use the word 'fine' it sounds ridiculous." Sayah argued.

   "My bad." Murphy raised his hands in surrender, looking around. Sayah paused to stare at him. She couldn't believe this was real. They were out here, walking together, almost free. . .

   But once again, a war was rumbling and looming overhead them like a thundercloud.

   She cupped Murphy's cheek, turning him to look at her. His soft eyes met hers and she felt herself melt when he leaned into her palm.

   Then reality struck her.

   "No good standing here admiring eachother. We need to keep moving." Her voice turned sharp as she dropped her hand and brushed past them. Murphy smirked and turned to follow her, intertwining their fingers.

   "Ooh, can I admit I've always liked when you're demanding? We just missing the chains and the cave—"

   "Shut it, John." It was hard to hide her blush.

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   When they reached the dropship and pulled apart the make-shift curtains, Murphy immediately had déjà vu.

   "Why is someone always pointing a gun at me in here?" Murphy questioned as he raised his hands. Bellamy sighed at the sight of the couple.

   "Murphy. And Sayah." He spoke, lowering his weapon. "What are you two doing here?"

   "I believe I was invited." Murphy pointed to Raven.

   "I thought we could use an extra gun." Raven explained to Bellamy. Sayah eyed her suspiciously. She was sure that Raven despised Murphy. It was strange she had asked him to come.

   "Might be a good idea." Bellamy added.

   "And y'know, wherever I go, Sayah goes—" Murphy began.

   "Quiet." Sayah rolled her eyes. "Where are Clarke and Finn?"

   "Finn should've been right behind you two," Raven explained.

   "Don't worry. The spacewalker is gonna be fine." Murphy reassured her.

   After a few minutes, Finn entered with an unconscious Clarke in his arms. "Hey, what happened?" Bellamy asked as Murphy and Sayah moved out of the way to place Clarke down.

   Murphy moved a blanket down to use for Clarke."Put her here," Murphy ordered. Sayah smiled at his kindness.

   "I need a bandage, a wrap, anything."  Bellamy rushed out. Sayah eyed a rag and threw it to Murphy. "Here, got it." Murphy said, handing it to Bellamy.

   "Hold her head." Sayah told Murphy as they crouched beside her.

   "Clarke? Can you hear me?" Bellamy questioned. She groaned quietly. "Clarke? Clarke." Sayah glanced between the two leaders. Bellamy's face held a deep expression of worry as he stared at Clarke. Interesting.

   "You're gonna be fine." Bellamy reassured her gently as Clarke groaned, her eyes fluttering open a little. "You just need to rest."

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   "You were really great in there," Sayah smiled to Murphy. "Helping out." He, Bellamy and Sayah all stood outside to take watch while Clarke rested with Raven and Finn in the drop ship.

   Murphy scoffed. "You act like it's new." Sayah raised her eyebrows at his words. He only grinned teasingly.

   Sayah didn't look away when he did. She, as per usual, stared at him. Really, looked at him. John Murphy was hers. And she was his.

   They had each other even through all of the conflict. She didn't want to let him go. She wouldn't ever let him go.

   She caught Bellamy's eye who stood a few metres away from them. He smirked at her, glancing between Murphy and her. She narrowed her eyes in a way that said "Shut up," But teasingly.

   Bellamy's smirk turned into a smile and he shook his head, looking to the ground. Sayah hid her smile.

   "We got company!" Bellamy suddenly yelled, pointing to the wall. Sayah narrowed her eyes, searching for anything outside. They were here. Finn, Clarke and Raven rushed out of the drop ship.

   "Hey, get down. Grounders." Bellamy ordered them. They did so quickly. Murphy raised his gun as Sayah took out her sword.

   "We're surrounded." Clarke whispered to no one in particular as they scanned to see Grounders; lots of them.

   Sayah shook her head slowly. "We don't stand a chance,"

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   As Bellamy peeked outside, Sayah sighed, running a hand through her hair. She paused, remembering it was in a braid and sighed.

   Murphy stood up and peeked outside the dropship too, pulling away the make-shift curtains. "They're not moving any closer." He stated.

   "They're waiting." Sayah clarified. "They'll be waiting until its dark."

   "If we hit them now, we take them by surprise." Murphy suggested.

   "We don't know how many of them are out there." Clarke argued.

   "They could just be a warning group. Something small first then something big." Sayah thought aloud. Then she shook her head. "No, that's stupid, the Commander would do something better than that." She was thinking of Anya's plans. This wasn't Anya.

   "I'm not hearing any better ideas, Clarke." Murphy replied to Clarke's previous comment.

   "We'll give them something." Raven suddenly spoke up. Sayah furrowed her brows.

   "All they want is Finn." Bellamy told her.

   "Finn wasn't the only one at the village." Raven stated. Sayah's gaze snapped to her.

   "What are you talking about?" Clarke questioned Raven. Sayah gripped Murphy's wrist tightly.

   "Raven, hold on." Bellamy began.

   "Woah, woah, woah. Raven, I came here to protect him. You were the one who wanted me to come. You. . ." Murphy stopped.

   Sayah let out a scoff, her previous suspicions being proven. "She brought you here to hand you in."

   "That's why you asked me to come along?" Murphy questioned, betrayal evident in his tone.

   "Enough Grounders saw him at the village. They'd believe he was the shooter." Raven explained sternly.

   Sayah shook her head, unamused. Betrayal seemed to happened everywhere when it came to John Murphy.

   "You sick bitch." Murphy spat to Raven.

   "Raven, you don't mean this." Clarke shook her head.

   "You know what they do to people." Bellamy tried to reason.

   "They want a murderer. We'll give them one." Raven glared at Murphy. Sayah pulled Murphy away from Raven and behind her protectively.

   "Over my dead body." Sayah seethed. Raven cocked her rifle and pointed it up at them.

   "Move, Sayah. I don't want to shoot you." Raven ordered. Sayah didn't budge.

   "If you want him, you'll have to kill me first." Sayah spoke so seriously, so deadly, everyone in the room felt tense. Her tone was venomous.

   "Move." Raven ordered once more.

   "No." Sayah stated determinedly, taking a step forward.

"Sayah." She heard Murphy's quiet voice behind her.

   "Raven, put the gun down." Clarke said to Raven gently. "Like it or not, Murphy and Sayah are one of us." Raven ignored her.

   "I won't ask again: Move."

   Sayah tilted her head ever so slightly, daring her to do something. Just as Raven was about to snap, Finn jumped in.

   "Stop! Stop." He ordered, putting Raven's gun down. He stood in front Sayah. "We're not doing this." Raven's strong facade broke as she ran a hand across her face.

   "They've got us surrounded. The only thing we can do, is stay and defend this place." Finn told them.

   "I'm with you." Bellamy nodded. Clarke nodded as well and Raven sighed before copying.

   "Murphy? Sayah?" Finn questioned.

   "Yeah." Murphy answered, stepping forward. Sayah noticed his eyes were slightly glazed over. Her hand clenched into a fist at the sight. Finn glanced to Sayah, waiting for her to agree or not. She inhaled deeply, pausing for a moment. Then she finally nodded slowly.

   Finn glanced between Murphy and Sayah. "You two, go upstairs. Watch the rear. I'll take the lower level. You three," He glanced at Bellamy, Clarke and Raven. "Take the front gate."

   "That's the plan, alright?" Finn clarified. Everyone agreed and Murphy took Sayah's hand in his as they headed up to the next level.

   As soon as they reached up there, Sayah turned to Murphy who stared at the ground.

   "Hey, look at me." Sayah walked over to him, cupping his face. "You think I didn't see those tears in your eyes? John, look at me." He finally met her gaze. And she was right. His eyes were a little red and small tears filled them.

   "Come here," She pulled him into her arms and he didn't hesitate to lean into her. She felt his body slightly shake. She hated when he cried. She hated when he felt pain.

   "I would've never let her touch you, do you hear me?" Sayah murmured, pulling away. She placed two hands on the side of his face and wiped away the tears with her thumbs. "Never," She whispered.

   "All I did was try to help—" His voice cracked. Sayah hated hearing the pain in his voice.

   "I know, my love." Sayah rested her forehead on his. "I know."

   "Yet they still treat me like nothing but a murderer— a monster." His words turned sharp. He was growing angry. He always grew angry when he was upset.

   "Shh," Sayah pulled him a little more. He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You are not a monster, John. Not to me. Never to me. If you are, then so am I."

   "You're far from it." He mumbled. "You're an angel."

   She chuckled lightly. "Whatever you say, Sky boy."

   "I'm yours." He whispered, meeting her eyes. She glanced up to look back at him with soft eyes.

   "And I am yours, John Murphy."

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   Sayah and Murphy stood a few distances from Raven and Clarke as they watched the Grounders prepare for Finn through the wired fence.

   Turns out, Finn's whole plan, was a plan inside itself. He had turned himself over willingly while everyone was distracted.

   "What is that?" Raven questioned as they watched them place and hammer the giant pole down into the soil.

   "It's for Finn." Clarke replied. "They want us to watch."

   "We're gonna get him." Bellamy spoke up, remaining optimistic. "We'll get in close, and we'll hit them hard." He turned to Kane.

   "Son. . ." Kane spoke. "There are thousands of them. Even if we could kill hundreds, they'd still wipe out this camp and your friend would still die."

   "It's too late." Sayah stated, eyes staying forward.

   "We have to try," Bellamy argued.

   "Abby," Raven turned to her. "Abby, we have to do something."

   Abby shook her head. "No, Raven."

   Raven turned back to the front, tears filling her eyes.

   Suddenly, after a moment, Sayah spotted a familiar figure walking down towards the Grounders.

   "Is that. . ." Sayah began.

   "Clarke." Abby breathed out, rushing forward. "What is she doing?"

   Kane stopped her, "Wait. Abby, we've got to let her try."

   They watched as Clarke walked through a crowd of Grounders who made a path for her. "What is she doing?" Raven questioned.

   A guard, Sayah could tell it was Indra, stopped Clarke, holding out a spear. Clarke didn't even flinch.

   "Let her pass," The voice of the Commander bellowed. Clarke approached her before suddenly shouts and calls grew loud. Sayah glanced over to see Finn being taken to the pole.

   They tied him to it as Clarke glanced between him and the Commander. Sayah's gaze stayed locked on Clarke. She narrowed her eyes. What was she trying?

   Then suddenly she was walking over to Finn.

   "What is she doing?" Raven repeated, confused.

   Clarke embraced him for what felt like was forever. She was saying goodbye. But there was something wrong.

   The Grounders beside the Commander moved forward, ready to attack but the Commander stopped them. Sayah moved her gaze over to Finn. Then she saw it, a blood wound in his stomach.

   Clarke had killed Finn, in order to save him.

   "No!" Raven screamed out in pain, dropping to the ground. Bellamy caught and held her tightly as she continued screaming. "No! No!" She sobbed in his arms.

   Sayah glanced down, intertwining her fingers with Murphy's. "May we meet again." She heard him mumble quietly.

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a/n

i kinda still got sad during this scene. raven poor baby.

lemme know if there are any mistakes! im sure they will be, there always is with the way i type

^ everyone when they listened to finn's 'plan' when he actually just wanted to hand himself over

^ sayah when raven was trying to give murphy away