13th Clan

Carl Emerson

Clarke POV

"What happened?" Lexa tone was filled with worry.

I wanted to keep enjoying her presence. I was relieved to see her okay. To know that I succeeded in preventing her death. However, I know they would try again. If Lexa was truly to be safe we needed to defeat them.

I briefly filled her in on what happened. And we walked to were the prisoner was kept. He was still tied to the pole outside. I expected to see him battered from a beating but nobody touched him except for a rag that gagged him. He was awake and aware of his surroundings. However, if he was scared he wasn't showing it.

Lexa was talking to Ryder in trigedasleng. They spoke quickly and quietly that I couldn't understand them. I cursed silently to myself wishing I knew the language better.

Lexa approaches him and rips off his gag. "You attempted to murder me yes?" Lexa voice is threatening. The prisoner did not answer. His face showed no fear, no emotion. "You will suffer for this crime but first you will answer my questions." She grabs his face harshly and makes him look her in her eyes. He still shows no emotion. She smirks.

It's been an hour since she started interrogating him. The only thing he says is his name and rank. "Carl Emerson, Mount Weather security detail." He has multiple cuts covering his body and his face is bloodied from the hits he was received. Lexa is passed annoyed at his resilience to being tortured. I wanted to stop her. She will kill him before he talks.

"Lexa," I lightly grabbed her arm and she stepped back after another hit. "He's not gonna talk."

"I know." She huffs. "He will die for his crimes then."

"Wait. Maybe he won't talk but his blood could." She looks at me confused.

"We have the technology to test his blood. It could explain how he is outside with no suit. Something changed his body to react to the radiation like us." I tried to explain but she still looked confused.

"Tell me what you need." She sighed.

"My mom."

Lexa sent a messenger to Arkadia while Nyko and I patched up Emerson enough to not bleed out so we can transport him. I left Nyko with Emerson to talk to Lexa. When I entered the tent I saw her digging his dagger into the wooden table as she stared off, lost in thought.

"Lexa" I whispered to bring her attention to me as I approached her. She looked at me with a light smile that didn't make it to her eyes. Worry filled them instead. I cupped my hand on the side of her face. I wanted to reassure her but words could not form in my mouth. Instead I rubbed my thumb across her cheek and gave her a light kiss.

After a moment of comfortable silence I broke it. "We are about to leave." Lexa nods. "I will travel with you this time" I wanted to protest against her decision but I knew nothing I could say could stop her.

-----

It didn't take us long to reach Arkadia. It was dark and Abby immediately started working to get results. I yawned, realizing how exhausted I am. Today has been an eventful day. I led Lexa to a private room with a bed and laid down. We cuddled as we both drifted asleep.

A knock on the door startled both of us awake.

"Clarke." Abby called out from the other side of the door. I rushed to open the door knowing she had the results.

"What did you learn?" I demanded.

"We found genetic marker anomalies that can only come from someone who was born on the Ark." As she spoke my blood boiled. It all made sense. We knew Jasper and the others were in trouble. We sent Bellamy to find out what exactly. More and more of the 47 trapped in Mount Weather were disappearing as time passed and we should of seen the signs. They are bleeding them dry. They are killing my people so they can walk outside and kill Lexa and her people.

"Clarke!" I felt arms grab me to stop me. "What are you doing?" Lexa's voice pulled my attention away from my thoughts.

"I'm going to kill him." My anger poisoned my voice. I forced myself out of her arms and continued to his cell. I heard my mom's voice but I couldn't understand her words. Rage was all I could hear. As I approached his cell I reached for my gun. I realized I did took it off when I laid down with Lexa. It was still in the room. I quickly scanned the room to see if there was another weapon I could use. I will not let the lack of my gun stop me from killing this monster. How dare he drain my friends of their blood and then try to assassinate my love. He doesn't deserve to live.

Panic washed over me as I noticed nothing of use to use against him. The anger left me and instead was filled with sadness. I felt my legs grow uneasy underneath me. Am I going to become a murder? Can I do this?

Once again I felt Lexa's arms as she held me steady. "It's okay. He will pay for his crimes. Our people will receive their justice. Blood must have blood."

Hearing her say that last sentence broke me. Blood must have blood is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. I can't murder him.