Fallen

Chapter Thirteen: The Hanging

Bellamy tosses the rope over the banister before tying it.

"Do you want an apology?" Bellamy asks. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let them get out of hand and try to hang you."

"I don't want an apology," Murphy states. "I want you to feel what I felt. And then die."

"And how is that going to help in the long run?" Ash pipes up. "Temporary sadistic joy and then what. Without Bellamy, we're more likely to be destroyed by Grounders."

"Don't have to worry about that when I leave camp," he responds. 

"You were caught by Grounders the last time you lived outside of camp."

He turns back to Bellamy, ignoring what she said.

"If you end this now, we can forget about all of this," Bellamy states.

"You think the others will forget?" he snaps. "They don't trust me for what I did before."

Ash tries to work the knot around her wrists. Murphy brings over a crate and orders Bellamy to stand on it. He carefully stands on it and Murphy puts the noose around his neck. Ash's heart starts to increase speed, causing her to work harder at untying the knot. It's a lot more difficult than she thought it would be. 

"You're so brave," Murphy taunts. "Thinking your friends will come and rescue you. Well what are you thinking now, Bellamy? Hmm?"

Bellamy doesn't respond, only briefly locking eyes with Ash. Murphy, not liking the lack of response, pulls on the rope, tightening the noose. Ash start getting one piece loose, pulling on it to undo the knot. 

"You know, I got to hand it to you Bellamy," Murphy says, pacing a bit. Ash stops what she is doing. "You got them all fooled. Even her." He turns to motion to Ash. "They all look up to you like Clarke. But we know the truth. You're a coward. I learned that the day you kicked out the crate from beneath me. What was it you said? That you were just giving the people what they wanted?"

"I should have stopped them," Bellamy mutters.

"Yeah. Well it's a little late for that now."

"Do you think they are just going to let you walk out of here?" Ash asks, drawing his attention away from Bellamy some.

"Well I think the Princess is dead," he tells them, before turning back to Bellamy. "And soon so will their King. So who will lead them? Huh? Me. And yeah I may have to kill your Grounder pounding little sister and your little whore if need be."

Bellamy goes to kick him, but he moves out of the way quickly. There is a yelp below them. "That's her right now."

He shoots at the ground several times before kicking the crate away. Bellamy tries to grab at the rope around his neck, gasping for air. 

"Using you hands are a cheat," Murphy sneers. "Remember, mine were bound."

Ash gets the rope undone before going straight to tackle Murphy away from him. He turns and knocks her over, pinning her to the ground. She manages to kick him in the stomach, getting him away. Ash quickly rushes over to untie the ropes. The doors open and Murphy hurries up to the next level. 

"Bell," Octavia shouts, rushing in. Her and Jasper help lower him down as he gasps for air. "Breathe Bellamy. Breathe."

He quickly gets up and onto the ladder.

"There's no where to go Murphy," he calls, banging on the closed hatch. There is an explosion above and Bellamy gets the hatch open. Ash and Jasper follow him up. A giant, gaping hole is on the side. Jasper is the first to speak.

"I'll get a group of men-"

"No," Bellamy interrupts. "We are going to look for Finn, Clarke, and Monty. We don't abandon our own. We have lost a day and our gun powder."

Jasper hugs Bellamy, thanking him before leaving. Ash goes straight up to him. He quickly starts to talk.

"I'm just glad you're-"

Her arms go around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. He pulls her close, kissing her back.

"Let's get our people back," she states, pulling away. She grabs a couple knives sitting on the table, placing them along her belt. The two head out of the dropship to see Clarke and Finn entering camp. 

"We need to leave," Clarke calls out. "Grab your stuff and prepare to go."

"Where will we go?" Ash asks.

"There is an ocean east of here."

"You talked to Lincoln," Octavia concludes.

"There is a massive army coming here to wipe us out."

"We were expecting this," Bellamy states. 

"This nothing like what you've seen," Finn pipes up.

"There is no where safer than behind these walls," Bellamy argues. "This is our home. That is our people buried by the wall. Buried in our ground. The thing the Grounders didn't expect was us landing. Since we have landed, we have survived. We are Grounders."

"You're right," Clarke shouts. "And it is a rare thing to have somewhere safe on this planet. But it is better to live now and find a new place tomorrow than die today. So if you are with me, gather your things and prepare to leave."

People hurry around. Raven stumbles pass the dropship, clutching her side. Finn hurries over and picks her up. Clarke, Bellamy, and Ash hurry over to them.

"Murphy shot me," she states. "We got lucky. If he had hit the fuel, it would have killed all of us."

"There's fuel?" Clarke asks.

"Enough to build a hundred bombs."

"Get her inside and get some people to build a carrier for her."

Finn carries her into the dropship while Clarke goes to help her.

"Get your stuff," Bellamy tells Ash.

"Are you going with all of us?" she asks, looking him in the eyes. "Because I almost lost you in there and I can't have that happening again."

"I will," he promises. "Now go."

*****

Marcus sits with the rest of the survivors. The plan is to separate the Ark and make it down to Earth. His fingers clutch a chain with his wife's ring on it. He is ready to see his daughter once more. He looks over at Abby as Sinclair counts down. Nothing. Not a single thing happens.

"What happened?" Jaha asks over the intercom. 

"It needs to be manually launched," Sinclair answers. "I can't fix it from here."

Marcus stands up, heading towards the exit. Just as he is about to open the door, the Ark shifts and the thrusters turn on.

"What happened?" Abby asks over the ear piece.

"I fixed it," Jaha responds. "You and Marcus need to make it to the ground. Your daughters are waiting for the two of you."

Marcus quickly returns to where he was, strapping back in.

"We'll see Ash and Clarke soon," he tells Abby. 

"Soon," she repeats.