Bygones

~{Chapter 30}~

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Flashback

The room was silent and filled with heat. My father had just yelled at Daniel and I, mostly Daniel. He never dared to touch us with his hands nor our mother. However this time he really blew up, face flushed, and he tried to put one on Daniel, but I intervened. Just them my mother came in from a long day at medical. She rushed to as soon as she saw Daniel holding me as I held onto my bruised face. She then ordered him to take me into the bedroom as she gathered the fist aid. My father just stood and watched everything, shocked at himself, not moving an inch.
"Baby are you okay? How bad is it?" she gently lifted my chin and examined it intently.
"It's not that bad. Just a bloody nose..."
She didn't say anything else as she cleaned and patched me up.
I looked to the corner where Daniel was sitting at, looking guilty.
"It wasn't your fault," I quietly said to him.
"I should have done something to stop him. It's my job to protect you and I didn't do it right. I'm sorry..."
My mother opened up her arms to the both of us, "Sweethearts, everything is going to be fine when I talk to your father. Now, tell me what happened."
I spoke first, "He said that Dan can't quit his daily training. But Dan doesn't like fighting."
She nodded understandably as Daniel continued for me.
"Training just... isn't my thing. It's dad's thing. Like how your thing is saving lives and S's is making metal contraptions. Plus all this training is useless and it's wasting oxygen."
"I started to think the same thing about the whole situation," she calmly agreed.
As they continued to discuss, I dozed off holding an ice pack to my swollen face.

"I will talk to them and I will explain everything," I heard my father said as I woke up.
The room was dark except a thin crack of light peering through the bedroom door.
"You better keep your word this time. They're just kids Shean. One is ten and the other one is eighteen. Don't you think it's ridiculous that we are hindering them back when we are supposed to be encouraging them to experiment and grow?"
Hearing that, I slipped through the doorway.
"Hey, sweetheart. How you feeling?", my mom welcomed me with open arms.
"Better," my voice was quiet.
"Go and get your brother, Sloan. Us three need to have a talk," my father attempted to be soft, but ended up being stern, as usual.
With out another word, I climbed out of my mom's warmth and went to the vents. As I was going to enter, Daniel popped the screen and climbed out.
"You seem less puffy, that's good."
"Dad wants to talk to us."
He froze for a few seconds.
"I think he wants to say sorry," I said.
He smiled as if it were to wipe away his fear from his face and took my hand. We went into the kitchen and each took our own seats at the table.
"Daniel. Sloan. I want to apologize for... being angry at the both of you. I didn't... mean for Sloan to get in the way and I didn't mean to want to hit you Daniel."
"I didn't get in the way by accident," I said not looking up.
He sighed, "I know I just- It was all of a sudden and it kind of shocked me... But anyways, I am sorry. I promise this will never happen again, okay? Can you two forgive me?"
Again he was stern, but I don't blame him for the terrible apology. At least he tried, right?
"It's okay, dad," Daniel half smiled.
I nodded in agreement.
My mother stood up, "Good. Now that everything is clear and settled, it's time for mass. Lets go before the good foods are gone."
Our parents got to the door first as Daniel and I lingered in our seats. We glanced at each other, sending thoughts of uncertainty, and then joined them.

The promise didn't last. A week after the incident, my father struck Daniel and that time I wasn't there to interfere, which made me even more angry because I hated seeing Daniel harmed. My father then became abusive to himself for lashing out at us. Him and my mom didn't dare to talk about it when we are awake, at least when they think we're not awake. My father would over work himself in training and not eat for a few days straight. He did this until he almost didn't survive his many sicknesses. After that, he resorted back to being angry at Daniel and I. Often I would climb into the vents and cry or go to Raven and Finn. I have never seen Daniel shed a single tear about this whole situation. Either that or he's just a good hider.
"I just don't get it! He promised us! He said it will never happen again! He lied and I hate him for it! I will never forgive him!" I sobbed to Raven and Finn.
They held me in their arms and tried their best to comfort me. I have never felt so betrayed in my life. To have my own father do something so hurtful to Daniel and I. Something that broke me on the inside.

Flashback end

"You..." I spat, "How dare you come back here?! After all the things you've done, you still have the nerve to show your face?!"
I was breathing heavily from the boiling rage. He didn't respond as I stood there looking like a mad man filled with fury.
"Sloan..." he finally croaked.
His familiar, haunting voice went through my body and signaled my hand to forcefully meet the side of his face.
"Back away from the Grounder, Miss!"
I didn't budge. Tears of resentment pooled in my eyes as guards stepped between me and him.
"Hey," Bellamy came up and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, "We should go. Leyla needs us."
I followed him to the medical and every stretcher was filled and the others were whispering. We finally reached Leyla after passing by many limp bodies.
"Feeling better?" I smiled and sat down next to her stretcher; Bellamy sat on the opposite side.
"You were brave out there, Leyla," he reached for her hand.
"What happened? How did you end up in that camp?" I asked.
"I saw a butterfly, a blue one, just like the ones we used to see. I followed it because there was so many of them. They led me to a water fall and we played there for a little bit. Then I got tired so they led me to the camp. The man outside let me in and asked me if I knew someone named Sloan. And I said that's my mommy. And then I stayed there. There were other kids there too."
Both Bellamy and I were a little stunned.
She yawned, "I'm tired."
"Okay, get some rest," I pulled the blankets over her and tucked her in, "Just call if you need anything."
She nodded and Bellamy gave her a kiss of the forehead. Another side I have never seen of him before and it made me warm of the inside.

"What happened out there?" Bellamy asked as soon as we got out.
"I guess you can say it was a lot of resentment bottled up for too long. And once I saw him... I exploded."
"All this time and you knew that the necklaces found were his...?"
"I couldn't admit anything. I could barely think of the name in my own head."
"Sloan!" Raven called out from the MT and notion for us to come.
"What is it?" I entered.
Across from me and the main table was my father, studying the map that laid in front of him. Kane and Abby were on either side, Clarke on the other side of the map, and Finn near the entrance.
"He wants to talk," Kane stood as he saw me.
"Then talk."
He look down at my father, looked at Abby, then looked at me, "He requested to talk with you."
Everyone started leaving. I grabbed onto Bellamy's sleeve just before he exited and whispered over my shoulder, "Stay... Please. I don't know if I can handle being alone with him."
He nodded and resumed his position next to me. It was now just me, Bellamy, Kane, and my father.
"Bellamy," Kane called to him as he walked to the entrance.
"He's with me," I said.
"He won't talk unless Bellamy leaves."
"He said he wanted to talk to me. He never said anything about not having anyone here."
"Don't worry," my father spoke, "I'm all tied up. I'm not going anywhere any time soon."
Bellamy took my arm, "You'll be fine. Just remember to breathe."
I nodded. He lingered a bit, looking at my father, as if he were to warn him that he'll be right outside. Then both him and Kane exited, leaving my father and me to talk.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly.
"Sit," he said gently as he looked at the chair on the opposite side of the table from where he was.
I stayed where I was. I knew if I got any closer, it would be bad for him.
"Tell me, were you planning to keep Leyla? And not give her back? Because you blame me for what happened to Mom and Daniel, huh?"
"I didn't know what to do when I saw her. She looks so much like you. And I wanted to know her more so-"
"So what? So you can use her to convince me to accept you apology?!"
"Sloan just hear-"
"No. I've had enough if this! And you!"
I was getting ready to exit as he called out.
"Wait! Lets talk about this another time."
"There will be no other time."
"About the negotiation, I can help."
I slowly turned around, "How?"
"My people can join with yours. Together we can fight against the Grounders. They're afraid of us."
I didn't trust him one bit, but the people were in need.
"How do I know this isn't a trap you're luring me into so you can get revenge for Mom and Daniel?"
"I don't blame you for what happened, Sloan. I blame myself."
"You say that now..."
"I hurt every time I see your mother and brother's faces in my memories. Nothing I do will every make up for what had happened-"
"Stop. I came here to talk about the war. Not your mistakes. I will discuss this with Clarke and the counsel."
I walked out without saying anything else.

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