silence and sound → the 100 ²

[ 008 ] changing of the tides.

— CHAPTER EIGHT,
changing of the tides.

RUBY WAKES GASPING FOR AIR.

Near her, Abby Griffin jumps at the sudden sound of Ruby's gasping. She springs out of her seat when she realizes that Ruby is awake. She rushes over to the young woman and grabs her arms. "Ruby, hey! You're okay, you're home."

Ruby's eyebrows furrow in confusion as she looks at Abby. Then she looks around, taking in her surroundings. She begins to calm down when she realizes where she is.

Med bay.

"What happened?" Ruby asks as Abby gently lets go of her arms and sits on her bed. "Why am I in Medical?"

"You don't remember what happened?" Abby asks, concern and confusion in her eyes. "Nothing?"

"No," Ruby shakes her head in response. Her head starts to pound as she tries to remember what happened. "I can't remember anything past leaving to warn the Grounders."

Abby takes a deep breath before she tells Ruby what happened to her at the village, "you were knocked out. The Grounders tied you up, they crucified you. They nailed your wrists to a board and tied a rope around your waist. The acidic tree sap put two degree burns all over your neck and shoulders. They were going to kill you."

"Octavia?" Ruby sits up in the bed. "Where's Octavia? She was with me."

"She's missing." Abby informs her. Ruby's heart falls to her stomach. "Do you know who saved you?"

Ruby shakes her head.

"Bellamy did." Abby says. She watched as Ruby's entire demeanor changes at the mention of Bellamy. Abby continues, "Pike. . . he wants you locked up, Ruby."

"He can't." Ruby tells her, "the Grounders tried to kill me. There isn't enough evidence that I actually did warn them."

"Pike knows there's traitors in this camp, Ruby." Abby whispers, grabbing Ruby's hand and squeezing it tightly. "He knows you're one of them. Eyes are everywhere. Ears are everywhere. You need to be careful. Do you understand?"

Ruby nods. "Luca? Is he okay? Ryland?"

"Both are okay for now. Luca has eyes on him all the time. Ryland, however, is managing to get past all of Pike's guards and suspicions." Abby tells her.

"I gotta go," Ruby states, throwing the blanket off of her legs. "I need to change clothes."

"Here," Abby says as she stands. She grabs a rack of clothes to hand to Ruby. "You need to come back every three hours so I can check your burns and your wrists."

"Thank you, Abby. Really." Ruby says with a fake smile as she takes the clothes from Abby's hands.

Before she can walk away, Abby grabs her arm. Ruby looks back at Abby, "what is it?"

"Do not tell anyone about your blood," Abby drops her voice to a low whisper. "No one, do you understand?"

Ruby nods. "I understand."

Abby releases her and Ruby leaves the med bay. She walks down the halls with her new clothes clutched in her hands.

Several minutes late, she stands outside her old home. She takes a deep breath, then she opens the door. As soon as she does, Ryland springs up off of her couch.

Before she knows it his arms are wrapped around her tightly. She wraps her left arm around his torso, careful of her bandaged wrists.

"Are you okay?" She asks as they pull apart.