44 - PROBLEMS

[ PROBLEMS ]

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Sayah could feel the waves lapping beneath her feet from where she stood. They had to find Becca's lab, on the island where she knew Murphy had been trapped, on the island where Alie had waited, on the island where Jaha had taken Alie from, on the stupid island where apparently the girl Murphy was with saved him.

"Where are all the boats?" Sayah heard Murphy ask from outside. She ignored the response from the girl—Emori, was her name—and turned to Luna.

   "So from what you've told me, I'm surprised the girl John is with isn't dead yet." Luna said, a small smirk on her face.

   "Yes, well, I have to wait until John explains it—whenever that will be—but until then, I have to control myself." Sayah snorted.

   "And can you? Control yourself?" Luna questioned her strangely. The way Luna had said it made it sound like it had a double meaning. Sayah's tongue darted out to wet her lips and Luna waited patiently for an answer.

   "Doesn't matter." Sayah simply replied before going serious. "Listen if we find the lab, and you don't feel comfortable doing any of the tests or anything, you tell me and I'll—"

   "Little Sayah," Luna drawled, a small grin on her face. "Always the protector." The title made Sayah feel a little nervous—even as children she was on watch for Luna, making sure none of the more confident natblida's and such were teasing her. Luna could handle herself, that much was true, but Sayah was always there, grinning in victory with bruised fists and making sure to mock the small whimpers of pain. Luna had to beg the flamekeepers to allow Sayah to watch training, promising them she wouldn't 'interfere', although she liked the fact Sayah would stand up for her.

   "How dare you disrespect your future commander?" Sayah would ask them before she would swing. Luna would pull Sayah off, giggling in her ear. The sound would make Sayah's heart warm.

   Sayah rolled her eyes, brushing the memory away. "I'm serious."

   "I know." Luna nodded, taking Sayah's hand. "And you know I can handle myself, don't you?" It was the same thing she'd say while examining Sayah's bruised fists.

   "Then why must you hold my hand every second, Lu?" Sayah cocked her head, brow raised. She wasn't complaining, it was nice. But she was curious.

   Luna grinned, lowering her head to hide it. When she looked back up to speak, her words were soft. "Makes me feel a little better."

   Sayah pursed her lips, letting the silence welcome the two girls like old friends. Luna stared at her for a beat too long that had Sayah clearing her throat and heading to the door. "Come on then," She led them out of the small lower room that was on the ship and squinted her eyes at the much brighter light from outside. The warmth made her skin tingle.

   "According to Theolonious' map," She heard Abby say. "The lab is in the middle of the island, five miles straight ahead."

   Sayah and Luna made their way off the boat and onto the pier. Murphy was standing there already, Raven behind him as he stared up at the island. "Never thought I'd be here again." Murphy said.

   Sayah wondered if he knew she was behind him. She stood up a little straighter. She wanted his attention, even if she didn't exactly know why.

   "Ah, you shouldn't have come." Raven stopped beside him, squinting her eyes in the sun as she glanced at the boy. "You're not fooling anyone, Murphy. You're still a dick."

   Sayah snorted at that, catching Murphy's attention as he turned around. Her heart stuttered strangely, in only a way he could make it do. His eyes fell on her first and then dropped to her and Luna's connected hands. Sayah thought he'd speak up about it but his eyes were back on hers in seconds, something unrecognisable mixing in with the strange blue. She noted how they didn't quite match the blue of the sea beside her like she thought they would. But they seemed to keep her still, in place, and it felt like it was just them.

   Murphy's jaw clenched, in the way it would when he was irritated, Sayah knew, and he knew that she knew, because he bit the inside of his cheek before facing the front and continuing to walk, following after the Emori girl.

   Only then could Sayah breathe, the smell of the sea hitting her at the same time the feeling of Luna's soft hand in her own did. If only he knew what he seemed to do to her.

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   As they made their way across the beach, Emori leading the way. Sayah's eyes fell down to the ground beneath her as she trudged along, staring at the shells littered across like stars in the sky—not arranged, but somehow looking like they were meant to be. None of them would feel like the one she held, Sayah knew that, but nonetheless, they all looked the same as her own. Sayah's attention was brought away from the shells as suddenly Emori stopped, staring at some pole that stood tall in a line, several others beside going each way, like a barrier.

"What's wrong?" Abby questioned the girl, wondering why there was a delay. The woman was eager to see the lab and run tests on Luna, Sayah could just tell.

"Alie's rules—no frikdreina past this line. I've never crossed it." Emori explained, swallowing nervously. Sayah's eyes were on Murphy, who stood a little behind Emori, and she suddenly wanted to step a little closer. Why was he so close to her?

"Frinkdreina?" Jackson repeated, confused.

"Mutants." Emori translated.

Sayah sighed, walking forward, Luna's hand falling out of her own in the process. Luna followed her anyway as Sayah passed by Emori, staring at her. She scolded herself in realising the movement only made Emori scoot a little closer to Murphy. She clenched her jaw. "You gonna let an AI tell you what to do?"

Emori's lips parted at her words as Sayah walked past the 'line' without hesitation. Murphy hid his smirk at Sayah's words. "I've never met a line I didn't cross." He said before crossing over as well. The others began to follow, wanting to reach the lab just as desperately.

"Alright everyone, lets go." Abby urged them all on. "We have a long walk ahead of us."

Sayah furrowed her brows as she watched Murphy stay put, staring at Emori. Murphy offered out a hand to Emori, which she took and crossed the line as well. Sayah felt something grow angry inside of her at the sight. What, she can't walk by herself? She needs someone to hold her hand?

   Sayah's lips parted as she glanced down to Luna's hand in her own. Oh. She was doing the exact same thing.

"Still not going to kill her?" Luna's voice was in her ear and Sayah could feel her breath hit her neck. She nearly shuddered. She opened her mouth to speak but the words died in her throat as Murphy's eyes met hers.

   And Sayah couldn't believe it—she really thought she was dreaming—because she watched Murphy's lips turn up into a taunting smirk.

   The bastard knew what he was doing.

"Tempting," Sayah murmured to Luna, her voice sounding awfully lost and monotone as she watched a clueless Emori attached to a victorious Murphy make their way over to the group. Sayah bit the inside of her cheek as her and Luna followed after them.

The group made their way up a small hill, where suddenly a loud buzzing noise could be heard. "What is that?" Miller asked.

"Drone?" Murphy questioned, hand slipping out of Emori's as he glanced up towards the trees. He was right, a drone hovered above them, beeping strangely.

"We should run." Emori said quickly, eyes darting around nervously as she almost seemed to bounce on her toes, ready to move if need be. Sayah assumed that was second nature to her; being ready to run at a moment's notice.

"Why? What's the penalty for crossing the line?" Raven questioned, voicing everyone's thoughts. But no one had time to answer before one of the guards were shot in the head. None of the group hesitated and began to sprint. Sayah felt Luna's hand in hers and the two girls rushed along with the others.

"Cover Luna! Cover Luna!" Sayah heard someone yell but she didn't turn to see who. Her mind and her heart raced as gunshots sounded. The drone shot in between the group, causing them to split up. Luna, Sayah and Nyko went one way while the others went another.

They ran before the drone was suddenly in front of them and Sayah's eyes widened. "No!" She heard and suddenly she was squished in between Nyko and Luna. She heard multiple gunshots and suddenly the drone was down—Sayah couldn't tell if it was falling or just flying away but she didn't care, because Nyko had fell to the ground, blood coating his chest and lips.

"No, no, no—" Sayah rushed out as her and Luna crowded him, shaking him. "Nyko!"

"Sayah, Luna, take cover!" Sayah could hear yelling and maybe that was Miller shooting—she only watched as Nyko's eyes fluttered closed. "Sayah!" She knew that was his voice but she didn't look away from Nyko's still body in front of her. "Get off of me! I'm not letting her die out there—" The voice was faint as Sayah watched a trickle of blood race down Nyko's cheek from his lips.

"No!" Luna was shaking him and Sayah couldn't breathe. Not Nyko. He was part of her family—he had always been there, he couldn't go. He couldn't leave her like Lincoln did. "No, no— Please—"

"Sayah," Luna was close to her and suddenly Sayah was being lifted on her feet, arms were around her waist, and she was moving. She was leaving Nyko laying there, alone and going cold like some forgotten meal. It was Luna, she could tell by the way she held Sayah's body so gently.

"We have to get out of here." Luna's hand was back in hers.

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"I can't let you leave! We need you." Sayah heard Raven say from behind them. They had to leave. Sayah had to get Luna out of here. Luna needed to leave. The boat was just there—they were so close.

   "I've heard that before." Luna replied and suddenly a gunshot rang out beside Luna and Sayah pulled the girl towards herself quickly.

   "Raven," Sayah scolded, turning to the brunette who held her handgun high, her face stern, determined.

   "You know she can't leave, Sayah." Raven argued, shaking her head.

   "Yes, I get that it will save us all but we can't make her stay." Sayah shook her head. "We have to find another way, if Luna doesn't want to do this, I'm not making her do it."

   "There is no other way!" Raven fired back before directing her words to Luna. "Your blood can save us—everyone."

   "Do you really think you deserve to be saved?" Luna asked, brows pulled together in a tight line as she stepped forward, away from Sayah—too far away. Sayah stepped closer to the girl. Careful, be careful.

   "I know how you feel, okay?" Raven spoke, still pointing up her gun. "I get it, but it won't always be like this. You just have to keep fighting."

   "What if the fight is all we are?" Luna questioned, shaking her head. "We kill, torture, betray. We pretend we're more than that just to make ourselves feel better, but it's a lie."

"What about the child—Adria?" Raven asked her. "Was she more than that?" Sayah took a small step forward, closer to Luna as her fingers brushed lightly against the girl's wrist.

"Adria is gone. They're all gone." Luna shook her head sadly.

"But she was good, wasn't she?" Raven asked her. "There are others like her out there. Don't you want to give them a chance?" Raven paused, eyes drifting to Sayah. "You understand you're killing Sayah as well?"

Sayah furrowed her brows in confusion. She couldn't seriously be guilt-tripping her into it? "What are yo—"

"Without her blood, none of us will survive. None of us, and you know it." Raven explained to Sayah before looking back over to Luna. "Don't you want at least Sayah to live?"

"I'm right here," Sayah let out a humourless laugh, looking over to Luna. "Luna, if you want to go, I'm not stopping you. We'll find another way."

Luna was silent for a moment and Raven slowly put the gun down. "You're not a prisoner, Luna. You have a choice."

Suddenly loud gunfire rang out. It was a drone. "Raven, we can't get to the beach." Miller's voice crackled out the radio. "Taking fire in the north woods. Jackson's hit. I'm low on ammo."

"What do you mean 'Jackson's hit'?" Abby's voice questioned out of the radio. "Is he okay?"

"I think so. He took one in the arm, we're pinned down." Miller replied.

"We're on our way." Abby responded.

"Luna's the priority!" Miller yelled. "Nothing's more important than her."

"We need to help them, Luna, please." Raven begged. "I know what to do, but my leg—Look, I can't do it myself." She paused. "Sayah?" She looked over to the girl hopefully.

Sayah didn't hesitate, glancing at Luna once. If Luna wanted to leave, then she could. But Sayah was not letting her people die by some pathetic drone. She nodded, eyes stern. "What's the plan?"

"What do we have to do?" Luna added in quickly and a proud grin broke out on Sayah's face.

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"Are you sure about this?" Luna questioned Raven as she stood beside Sayah.

   "I'm sure." Raven nodded. "If you two—or even one of you—can get it, I can hack it."

   "Alright, I'll go—" Sayah didn't get to finish before Luna was sprinting off past the line. Sayah's eyes widened.

   "Luna! What the hell!" Sayah yelled out, hands clenching and unclenching at her sides as she watched Luna race towards the broken drone. Raven fired shot after shot at the drone that followed Luna quickly. This plan sucked.

   "I should go in—"

   "Don't." Raven stopped her, pulling her back. "Luna's got this. The trees, Luna! Use the trees!"

   Sayah let out a shaky breath as Luna raced through the trees and Raven continued shooting. Then suddenly, Luna was making her way back towards them, the drone following closely behind her. It fired several times just as Luna grew close and Sayah pulled her in the first chance she could reach her. She landed tightly in Sayah's arms.

   Sayah grabbed the drone and placed it down on a rock—more important matters—before pulling Luna into her arms. "I swear to God, you ever do that again, I'll kill you myself." She let out a sigh of relief.

   "Good luck catching me," Luna replied, pulled away with a grin. Sayah shook her head at the girl, eyes wide but soft, before turning back towards Raven.

   "Still taking fire," Miller's voice came through.

   "We're almost there." Abby's voice responded.

   "Save your friends." Luna said to Raven and Raven got to work.

   "I just need to access it's core programming." Raven said as she fiddled with things Sayah didn't fully understand. She hoped she'd never have to do a lesson on how it all worked—she'd probably fall asleep or go insane. "The drones are protecting Alie's facilities like guard dogs." Raven remarked as she pressed some keys on what looked like a small computer.

   "Can you stop them?" Sayah asked the girl.

   "We need you, Abby." Miller's voice cut through the static.

   "Yeah, there must be a way." Raven answered.

   "We can see you," Abby's voice replied over the radio.

   Raven fiddled some more and a loud beep was heard. A grin spread on her face.

   "The drones just fell out of the sky." Abby's voice crackled. "What happened?"

   "I happened." Raven replied smugly through the radio. "Now get your asses back to the boat; Luna and Sayah are both here. Over."

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   "We getting close, Dr. Griffin?" Miller questioned Abby as she held up the tablet in her hands that showed the map on it. Sayah eyed the sky for a moment, brows furrowed.

"It's just through there." Abby replied confidently.

"Let's go." Miller ordered and Sayah and Luna began to follow after him. Abby caught up beside them.

"I'm sorry about Nyko." Abby said sadly.

"Us too." Luna simply replied as they continued walking. Abby nodded and the group trudged through the forest before reaching a clearing where a huge bunker entrance stood tall.

"Uh, quick question." Murphy spoke up. "Alie had a security system to protect this thing, right? Any idea what she was protecting it from?"

"Careful, John." Sayah turned her head to look back at him, a small smirk on her face. "You might summon them."

He snorted and Sayah smiled at the sight of his smile—one she knew not everyone got to see—ignoring Emori's eyes burning into the side of her head. She turned away, continuing on forward. "Just in case, Raven, get those drones back into the sky." Abby ordered.

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"Auxiliary power initiated." A robotic voice sounded and suddenly lights began to switch on around them. They reached a railing where Sayah and the others looked down to see a large area with all type of technology. Sayah didn't bother asking questions.

"Not bad, Becca." Raven mumbled, lips turning into an impressed smile. This was probably heaven to her.

"This'll definitely be interesting." Sayah remarked, eyes scanning around the room. Her eyes met Murphy's—he had been staring. This time, there was no taunting smirk, no challenging eyes, no, no this time he stared at Sayah like she was the only person in the room, eyes soft in a way she wished he showed to people more often.

   She quickly changed her mind. No, he shouldn't show them. People might fall in love with him as quick as I did.

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a/n

interesting... very interestingcan't believe we're actually like on season 4 rn. like remember when murphy n sayah would talk in the cave because murphy was sayah's prisoner n the 100 were just the 100 n finn was alive n lincoln was alive n the ledge OMG THE LEDGE oh god

in the next ep im pretty sure there are no scenes for me to fit sayah in soidk if you guys will like the next chapter😳😳

ALSO WHEN YOU READ THE SMIRK SCENE WITH MURPHY BC HE TOOK EMORI'S HAND ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THE SONG EYES ON FIRE PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND LMAOOOO

^ sayah n murphy during the end being just cute n familiar with eachother n theyre totally fine w it bc they know theyre in love n their whole attitude is just "it iz what it iz" LMAOOO (used this one already but ITS SO GOOD)