Three Leaders

Chapter 5- Three Leaders

"Cora stay focused, you need to be one of the best, it's probably the only way-"

"They won't float me I know Alex."

"Then show it," he said aiming for her side, he impacted causing her to groan. He threw a few more and she dropped to the floor. "You can't bullshit your way through this Cora, you have to do better than everyone." She held her stomach with one hand using her elbow to hold her up along with her knees. "You not as easy to pardon as everyone else, your like the secret they locked away."

"So let me die, it's not like there's any use to saving me. I'm one life not that important," she felt pain strike through her body as she spoke. "I'm worthless Alex, no one wants to actually see me walk the halls again because no one know what the fuck it felt like. They all think I'm some petty little girl who misbehaved. My own mother won't even visit me, something about how I'm a disrespect to the Ark, that they shoulda killed me when they found me." She felt tears gloss over her eyes she pushed them back as she slumped against a wall, "I'm worthless," she mumbled bring her knees to her chest.

"Hey.. You're not nothing, you're a badass. You're not worthless Cora, you're one of a kind. Something the Ark needs. How many inmates have you talked out of suicide? Five? Ten?"

"Seven," she looked at him feeling the bruise form on her side. They sat in the empty workout room, it was around 2:30 in the morning and Cora preferred to practice alone.

"My point exactly you're amazing, you've proved it to me now prove it to everyone else." She nodded standing back up continuing the routine, ten push-ups every time she fell, twenty ever time he did.

In the hall stood a boy his back against the wall, his brown eyes filled with sorrow for the girl. It pained him to hear how hurt she was.

-

Cora awoke the next morning Charlotte lying next to her once more. She rolled off the bed-like-mattress slipping off her long sleeve keeping on her tight to body and her free flowing tank on. Standing up she grabbed her jeans pulling them up with a little jump. She laced up her boots, grabbed her jacket and walked out of her tent. Cora was greeted with the sight of Miller, Murphy, and Bellamy waking up people to work on the wall. Murphy started her way when Bellamy sent him a different direction, "Morning Scout."

"Hm- morning," she mumbled sliding on her jacket. She grazed her hands over her neck and flipped out her hair beneath the collar of her jacket.

"Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" He asked with a small smile.

"No, I got kicked out. You should know Mr. Older Brother Blake."

"Yeah," he paused patting down her mess of hair. "O used to kick me until I actually fell out of the bunk."

Cora smiled nodding, "That's because your kinda big and a space-taker-upper."

"Wow you know how to boost someone's confidence."

She shrugged, "what can I say I'm magical."

"Hey um can you help wake up some of the girls? They're not always pleased to see us first thing in the morning."

"So they get to see me instead. That's a sight I wouldn't want to wake up too," she chuckled putting her hair in another lose braid.

"Just go wake 'em up."

"Yes sir," she joked saluting him. She walked with him heading to other tents to wake up the other 100. She walked into Mat's tent and sat down next to him, laying her head on his chest she closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat. It was slow, steady, peaceful.

"Good morning," she heard a mumbling voice, she opened her eyes to be greeted by the same cheeky smile that he always had plastered across his face. "Finally come to realize you should be sleeping with mwa?"

She scoffed, "whatever pretty boy keep dreaming. I've been ordered by Sargent Big Boob Bellamy to wake people up to work on the wall."

"That sounds amazing," his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Oh I know right?" She asked rhetorically placing a small quick kiss on his lips. "Come on, you move to slow," She said getting up and leaving his tent.

"Hey Cora!" She turned her head to be greeted by Monty.

"Hola! What's up?" She asked smiling looking at the boy with decent hair.

"Octavia's gonna try to get Jasper out of the gates, it better work he seems to paranoid."

"Hmm, maybe he'll actually grow a pair he can wear," she chuckled feeling a hand around her waist.

"I'll see you two later," Monty chuckled walking off. Mat smiled and walked with her towards the drop ship. They didn't say anything just walked together. Cora liked the feeling of protection, it wasn't the same as when she was with Alex, but then again she wasn't occasionally making out with Alex. They exchanged a small quick kiss on the lips before parting to go do their part. Cora had been given instructions to tie something together with something else but she couldn't stop her mind from drifting back to Mat. He was so sweet, gentle with her, he was more worried about her safety than his. She continued to pretend to listen to guy who was handing her a pile of things, "-and this as well so pretty much your helping Charlotte and carrying logs later." Was all she got out of the conversation. She nodded walking off towards the girl who was wrapping wore around logs as Murphy barked orders, no one listened.

"Hey mini-me how goes things?" She asked setting down a pile of wires starting a new binding on a separate set of logs.

"Murphy is a pain in the a-butt," she corrected herself panting slightly.

"You need some water kid?" Cora asked raising an eyebrow.

"He won't give us any," she said quietly look over her should at the dickwad who couldn't be more dick-y-er than ever.

"Well I guess I'll have to fix that then," Cora smirked standing up. She walked towards the water bucket which happened to be past Murphy.

He stopped Cora in her tracks, "whoa, whoa, whoa, where do you think you're doing?"

"Well dick-face while you sit here and play leader I'm actually working, and I'd rather not pass out from dehydration so I'm gonna get some water," she said starting to push past him when he grabbed her upper arm pulling her back.

"No one gets water till this section finished, got that Scout?" He snapped putting a certain amount of hatred in the word Scout.

"I don't think I heard that right, punch you in the face? Oh sure gladly," she raised her first ready to bring the boy to the ground, another hand larger, stronger grabbed hers preventing her from harming the boy.

"Cora, isn't it a bit early?"

"It's never to early to punch an ugly asshat in the face, unless I missed that meeting," she responded turning to look at the freckle-faced boy dropping her hand.

"I guess I did too, but it's not necessary. Go get some water," he said looking at her then at Murphy as he crossed his arms giving a masterpiece eye roll. Cora smirked shoving her shoulder into his as she walked past. She smiled as she saw a very familiar face walking towards her.

"You look hot," she smirked grabbing a cup of water.

"Well thanks," Mat chuckled taking a drink of her cup. "Hey I wanna show you something," she smiled as he took her hand. Cora followed becoming aware of her steps trying on few twigs as possible.

"Where are we going?" She asked as they kept a hold of each other's hands.

"I think I'm gonna call it our garden," he stopped walked at the entrance of a field, it was quite random, just an open field right in he middle of the forest, it wasn't very large but it was filled with flowers and grass soft to the touch.

"How'd you find this place?" She asked looking around, she couldn't stop smiling. In the distance birds could be heard singing as the danced in the sky.

"I kinda just followed a little bird," she smiled looking at him. He walked towards her spinning her around and wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her in close their noses and foreheads touching. "Do you trust me?"

"Always," she smiled and pressed her lips against his. Her arms wrapped around his neck as their lips moved in sync. They moved themselves a bit before she found herself placed against a tree. She jumped up wrapping her legs around his waist as they kissed with passion and lust. His hands moved to her thighs, her placed them there gently. Cora pulled from the kiss her breath quickening and body tensing. "I- I can't," she choked out dropping down. She avoiding looking up keeping her head down in shame. "I'm s-sorry.-"

Before she could continue he cut her off, "hey hey hey, it's okay." He lifted her chin so that they'd lock eyes. "There's nothing for you to be sorry about, you're perfect," there was a small reassuring smile on his lips that tugged a small one at hers. "Come on we should get back," she nodded as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder she snuggled into him taking in the sweaty, dirty smell that she loved.

Cora returned back to camp while Mat left to beat her more logs. She handed Charlotte a cup of water and headed to the tent which she saw Bellamy walk in. She followed catching the last part of the conversation, "Get out of my way Bellamy."

"Trouble in paradise?" She joked earning glares from the four, "I guess so. What's going on?"

"Clarke be smart about this, look at what we've achieved, the wall, the patrol, like it or not thinking the grounders killed is good for us," Bellamy said his arms crossed looking down at Clarke.

"Okay someone explain what the fuck is going on," she butted in once more snapping Clarke's attention.

"Octavia and Jasper found this knife by Wells finger's. Somebody from this camp killed Wells," her voice was filled with vengeance, it almost scared Cora.

"Let me see that," she said snatching it from Clarke's hands. She looked at the knife carefully, she recognized it, it was the one she stole from him the first day. "There's no way this was found by Wells fingers."

"And why do you say that?" Bellamy asked turning looking at her.

"Because this is what I took from Murphy like the first day we were here, there's no way it was outside the walls," she said looking up at Bellamy.

"Then Murphy musta taken from your tent and killed him with it. Unless you did it."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Cora asked glaring her, "Clarke that's a load of horse shit, I wouldn't kill Wells."

"Then Murphy took it."

"Clarke," she paused amazed how the so-called smart-leader could be so butt-headed about something, "Murphy didn't take the bloody knife."

"I don't care," she pushed past Bellamy then Cora, they followed behind quickly. Cora for once didn't like the fact Murphy was being attacked because she knew he didn't kill Wells. Then the question sparked in her mind, if Murphy didn't then who in the holy hell did.

"You son of a bitch," Clarke confronted him.

"What's your problem?" Murphy snapped back looking at her.

"Recognize this?" She asked holding up the knife.

"That's my knife where'd you get that?" He asked looking at her brows furrowed together.

"Where you dropped it after you killed Wells," she said anger enraging her voice.

Cora looked at Bellamy, "Bellamy, you gotta know Murphy didn't do it, that was the knife I took from him. Clarke's not thinking straight, you gotta get her to stop."

Bellamy swallowed hard, "what the hell am I supposed to do about it?"

"I don't know maybe get one of your stupid inspirational speeches out and kick Clarke in the ass," she said looking at the boy. His face didn't burn with this guilt she would know, guilt was a face she had grown friends with much to quickly.

"Really? Bellamy you believe this crap?" He asked breaking their conversation, Cora's eyes pleaded for him to stand up for him.

Before he could say anything Clarke cut him off, "you threatened to kill him. We all heard you. You hated Wells."

"Plenty of people hated Wells. His father was the chancellor that locked us up," he defended himself glaring at Clarke.

"Yeah, but you're the only one who got in a knife fight with him."

"Yeah and I didn't kill him then either."

"Tried to kill Jasper too," Octavia butted in followed by a small peep form Jasper as his eyes grew wide. Cora grew restless she wanted to stop it, only way she could do that was well make Clarke stop talking.

"Come on, this is ridiculous I don't have answer to you. I don't have to answer to any of you," Murphy shouted back which caused a spark from Bellamy.

"Excuse me?" He questioned Murphy for his disobedience, as much as he hated it Murphy was Bellamy's subject he was pretty much the king.

"Bellamy, look, I'm telling you man. I didn't do this."

"They found your knife next to his fingers."

"It's the bloody one Cora took from me I wouldn't bother to steal that back I made a new one."

Cora looked over at the two, "he's not lying and if you don't stop Clarke then she's gonna have a black eye soon and I really don't wanna have to give her one. As much as I hate him, he's not lying."

"I already told you, I didn't kill anyone," Murphy said as they caught the last part of what Clarke was saying.

"I say we float him," Connor put in obviously annoyed by the fact he was pissed on by the guy being accused. That received a rumble of comment from everyone.

"That's-"

"Not a fucking option, he didn't do it," Cora interrupted hushing a group of people. "I get that he's a dick but he didn't kill Wells."

"Okay if he didn't then he didn't kill Wells then who did?" Connor asked. "Did you?"

"You really wanna test that theory?" She asked stepping in front of him. Connor backed off slightly before launching for Murphy. Cora was grabbed by a couple guys as he was pushed and beat to the ground. She fought one off by elbowing him in the nose, probably broke it too. She fought screamed and kicked. She stepped on one of their feet elbowing him in the gut. Slamming her fists to his face escaping their grip. She caught up to the rest and stood next to Bellamy seeing Murphy strung up. She pushed past him trying to stop it once more getting a blow to the face pushing her back into Bellamy.

He caught her lifting her up and examining her face, there were some dirt smudges along with a bruise forming along her cheek bone. She'd tried to launch at them once more but Bellamy pulled her back avoided her face getting another bruise, or worse. She could hear Clarke crying out telling Bellamy he needed to stop them. He snapped back at her saying it was her fault. Cora stood amazed at the two, instead of fighting they should be trying to stop it. Of course they wouldn't, Bellamy's name was chanted as they all wanted him to push the cart from under Murphy. Clarke pleaded for him not to, for him to change the groups mind, but he couldn't say no.

Soon the box was gone and the sound of Murphy struggling for breath rang in Cora's ear, everyone turned to see Finn and Mat coming up from the hill. They both had a look of 'what the hell?' plastered on their faces. Mat rushed up next Cora as she was pushed back once more from all the people in their excitement not even realizing who they were pushing now. Finn scolded Charlotte to get out of there as she stood in horror of the sight.

"Stop, okay? Murphy didn't kill Wells,.. I did," she choked out. Clarke ran for Bellamy's axe freeing Murphy. Cora's eyes grew wide as she looked at the guilty girl, she felt an utter disappointment surge through her body before she walked towards Charlotte and pulled her back to the tent the were previously talking before the scene went down. Bellamy and Mat followed close behind then Clarke and Finn.

"Cora, I'm sorry," Charlotte apologized tears glossing over her eyes.

"Why Charlotte?" Bellamy asked as Cora said nothing.

"I was just trying to slay my demons, like you told me."

Cora began to pace rubbing her temples, "What the hell is she talking about?" Clarke asked furiously glaring at him.

"She misunderstood me," Bellamy looked back at Clarke.

"Charlotte, that's not what he meant," Cora sighed squatting down next to the girl holding a bit of height on her.

"Bring the girl out now!" Murphy demanded outside the tent, his voice was engulfed in rage.

"Please don't let them hurt me," Charlotte pleaded her voice breaking every word she spoke. Her eyes were ready to spill over with tears.

"If you guys have any bright ideas, speak up," there was utter silence from the girl who had just blabed all over the place causing this mess. "Oh, now you stay quiet," Bellamy said annoyance filling his voice.

"Those are your boys out there," Finn defended.

"This is not my fault, if you-"

Shut up! Both of you!" Cora snapped standing up. "You're both idiots, one for kicking the box and two for just not keeping your fucking mouth shut," They stood quietly looking at the blonde who had mud smudges drying on her face. Murphy could be heard in the distance shouting to bring Charlotte out. "Clarke, you and Finn get her out of camp," she paused grabbing a knife and cutting a line through the tent so they could leave. "While Bellamy, Mat and I distract Murphy. Okay? Do not, let her out your sight." Cora stopped talking and looked at Charlotte, "You stay with them until you see mine or Bellamy's face okay?" Charlotte nodded silently, "Good." Cora said before walking out Bellamy and Mat following.

"Murphy," Bellamy called out.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to join us," Murphy said a sly smirk on his face.

"Dial it down and back off," Bellamy ordered.

"Or what? What are you gonna do about it? Ha-"

"Murphy shut the fuck up and get your ass back to work, we all have jobs and last I checked being a little bitch wasn't one," Cora interrupted glaring at him.

"Oh so Little Scout is giving me orders, if it wasn't your precious little bitch you'd probably agree with me, lets be honest we all know you like to cause pain," Murphy smirked.

"That's funny, want me to cause you pain I'd do it glad."

"Oh only after I pay you with some alone time." She snapped, Cora lunged towards him Bellamy grabbing her waist pulling her back, Mat grabbed on to her pushing her behind him.

"Murphy, I was just giving the people what they wanted," Bellamy glared at the boy he used to call a friend.

"Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea. Why don't we do that right now? So, who here wants to see the real murder hung up? All in favor?" Murphy paused receiving few hand raises, really only from his boys. "I see. So, its okay to sting me up for nothing, but when this little bitch confesses, you all let her walk? Cowards! All of you are cowards!"

"Hey, Murphy! Murphy! It's over," Bellamy said glaring at him. As Bellamy turned to walk away in a matter of seconds he was on the floor out cold as Murphy had hit him then punched Jasper in the face. Cora jumped to attack pushing past Mat tackling Murphy, he over powered her in rage and pushed her in the mud holding one hand to her neck straddling her waist. Cora choked out for breath reaching to grab a rock, Murphy had a fist raised as he smirked looking down on the girl. Mat had pulled him off her as she gasped for air rolling on her side. She looked over seeing Bellamy his face half covered in mud, much like hers.

"Cora, hey look at me your okay," Mat said pulling her up. She continued to cough looking at the two boys who were on the ground unconscious.

"We.. have to find.. Charlotte," Cora wheezed out leaning her head on his chest looking around.

-

Bellamy, Mat and Cora had all split up trying to find her, or Murphy for that matter. Cora ran through the woods keeping her breathing in short quick pluses. She used the moon as her source of light, also allowing her to see any fire light. Cora had found a track of foot prints, she followed them for a bit before turning a whole new direction seeing the light of a fire. She ran up to it cradling to a tree looking to the side she counted four or five people along with Murphy calling out for Charlotte. "Hey, Dickface!" Cora shouted snapping their attention. She stayed in the shadows avoiding been seen doing whatever it took to buy them more time.

"Well if it isn't Cora the famous," Murphy said in a taunting tone. "Go find her," he spoke in a more hushed whisper.

"What are you to scared I'm gonna hurt you? Because that's really not an honor scaring you, John." She smirked hearing him growl in anger. "You sound angry maybe you should go back to camp take a chill pill or two."

"You and me both C-" Murphy was interrupted by a scream, the pitch of which it was a little girl. "Come out, come out wherever you are Charlotte no need to hide," Murphy called out, Cora began to sprint towards the scream until she saw Bellamy and Charlotte next to a cliff.

"Son of a bitch," Cora mumbled then turning hearing footsteps come up from behind her.

"You two can't fight all of us off!" Murphy said his eyes hungry with revenge.

"Maybe not, but I guarantee I'll take a few of you with me," Bellamy said standing in front of Charlotte protectively.

"Murphy, stop! This has gone to far. Just calm down, we'll talk about this," Clarke said running out of the bushes.

"You know I am just so sick of your voice," Murphy said pausing before a few swift movements and a knife was being held against Cora's neck. She thought about fighting back but decided against it feeling the sharp metal against her skin.

"Let her go," Bellamy demanded as Mat came out of the bushes. Bellamy's face was filled with worry, his already tensed body grew more stiff. Mat had the same look of worry his body was tensed just not as much. Cora looked at Bellamy her eyes large realizing he was the only one who could possibly talk Murphy out of whatever he was thinking.

"I will slit her throat," Murphy threatened applying more pressure.

"No, please. Don't hurt her," Charlotte pleaded her eyes glossed over once more shinning in the light of the night sky and torches.

"Charlotte don't listen to him, he couldn't convince himself to do it. This isn't worth that much," Cora said sounding like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.

"Really Scout? Let's test that," Murphy said apply enough pressure to open a cut in her skin keeping the knife in the wound as blood spilled out. She bit her tongue closing her eyes quickly to avoid any expression of pain. "You know what I'll make you a deal, you come with me right now, I'll let her go."

"Don't do it, Charlotte. Don't do it, Charlotte!" Bellamy spoke loudly holding her back.

"No, no, I have too. I can't let any of you get hurt anymore, not because of me," Cora looked into her eyes as she noticed the shift in the girls eyes. She had known that look all to well that was the same look she had when she looked into the mirror breaking the glass shortly after. Taking a piece of the glass and dragged it up along her arm, hot tears fell as she lied down last thing she remembered was Alex trying to break down the door she had blocked with a chair. "Not after what I did."

"No," Cora said silently pushing out of Murphy's grip as he released trying to grab the girl before she jumped. "No!" She cried out dropping to her knees, Mat sat her down slowly holding her closely. He stared at the cliff in shock of what just happened. Cora felt hot tears stream down her face as she looked of the face of the cliff. She slowly turned seeing Bellamy on top of Murphy serving blow after blow, Cora stood up along with Mat. Her and Finn had the relatively same idea as they both tried to pry Bellamy off of Murphy. "Bellamy," she spoke softly her lips quivered as she pushed back another set of tears, "Bellamy stop." She didn't push him back forcefully or scream in his face she placed her hand on his chest applying a small amount of pressure looking up at him her cheeks stained with the trail of tears and asked softly.

"Why, he deserves to die," he snapped back looking as if he could break down at any moment and just weep over the girl.

"No," Clarke said standing next to the two, "We don't decide who lives and dies. Not down here."

"So help me god if you say the people have a right to decide-"

"No, no I was wrong before okay? You were right, sometimes it's dangerous to tell people the truth. But if we're going to survive down here, we can't just live by whatever the hell we want," Clarke said looking at Bellamy and Cora.

"We need rules," Cora said lifting her head up looking at the two.

"And who makes the rules huh? Her, you?"

"For now, we make the rules. all three of us. Okay?"

"So what then? Just take him back and pretend it never happened?"

"No," Cora said looking at the two then glancing at Murphy. She began to feel dizzy, she completely blanked on the fact she was bleeding. she gripped her neck feeling a great amount of blood.

"We banish him," Clarke said looking at Cora for approval, she nodded gripping her neck.

"Get up," Bellamy said pulling Murphy off the ground pushing him towards the end of the cliff.

"Bellamy, stop," Clarke demanded afraid he might through him over.

"If I ever catch you near camp, we'll be back here. Understand? As for the four of you, you can come back and follow me, or go off with him to die. Your choice," Bellamy said starting to walk into the brush. The walk back was deathly silent, no one said a word except for Mat checking to see how Cora's neck was. When the did arrive she stood tall next to the leaders.

She'd spaced most of the speech trying not to fall over and pass out, "..we have to know the truth. That's why we've decided to banish him."

"Anybody got a problem with that?" Bellamy asked, no one dared to test him and the crowd dismissed. Cora looked over at the other two seeing double. Her body began to wobble as she blinked rapidly, "Cora?" Bellamy asked looking at her. Her vision swerved as she moved to look around, her head was pounding and it felt as if she could feel every vien in her body pounding as the blood pumped though. Her legs collapsed from underneath her and Bellamy bolted to support her, he placed one arm behind her back and under her arms while the other went under her knees. "You're gonna be okay," Cora moaned before closing her eyes and passing out in his arms as he made his way towards the drop ship.

__

Hey so this was really hard to write, it was just so emotional and trying to describe everything I can't. The feels bro. I mean Cora attempting suicide on the Ark and then Alex (who we'll properly meet soon) struggling to save her life. Cora was kinda put in that position. Then the Coramy moments *extreme fangirling*

So the song(s) for this chapter are..[note they are NOT in order]

-Breathe Me- Sia// right around Charlotte's death, idek every time I hear that song I cry [currently crying] and I felt it perfect for that moment.

-Nothing Left To Say- Imagine Dragons// now this song has a second part to it (rocks) but purely just the first part is beautiful for Charlotte's death because there's nothing left to say.

-I Will Wait- Mumford and Sons// In the garden it's kinda Mat's promise that'll he'll always be there for her and he'll always wait.

-Young Volcanoes- Fall Out Boy// For the whole Murphy being hung. I know the song has a more happy beat to it but the 100 is like a group of young volcanoes and the could blow at any moment and all hell could break loose.

If you see anymore songs that you just know would be perfect for one part comment them right here...... Or in the text.

Oh the picture was my own edit, what'd you guys think? Sorry it took so long for an update it's actually really busy this time of year, who knew?

Let me know what you think of this chapter, characters and songs. Thanks for reading!