Fallen

Chapter Seventeen: The Truth

Clarke wanders out of the building to see people from the Ark wandering about. Her and Anya managed to escape Mount Weather only for Anya to be killed. The guards had been dragging her back when her mom noticed it was her. She had soon passed out afterwards, only to wake up in a camp. 

Bellamy, Octavia, Monroe, and Mel pass through the gates, looking worn out. Clarke hurries over to them and embraces each one.

"We were looking for you," Octavia states.

"Finn is still looking for you," Bellamy corrects. "Where have you been?"

"Mount Weather," she tells them. "There are people in there. They have our people."

"How many?"

"Forty-seven of them," she states. The group break to find those in charge to let them know. Clarke grabs Bellamy's wrist, knowing he needs to hear this. "Ash is alive. She's in there and she will protect our people."

Relief flashes across his face before getting serious once more.

"Let's make sure they don't have to wait much longer."

*****

Ash watches as Jasper tries to convince the group to donate blood. Maya had been exposed to radiation and he had volunteered for his blood to be transferred into her. Apparently it was more effective than their normal treatment, whatever that is.

"I'm not having a needle go in me," Ash states, crossing her arms. Others stand by her, not wanting to volunteer. Jasper sighs as others go back to other activities. 

"Ash, they will follow you," he tells her. "If you donate some of your blood, they would do the same."

"And where will it stop?" she asks, before lowering her voice. "They told us a couple days ago Clarke had torn her stitches and we haven't seen her since. Isn't that a bit odd to you?"

"Ash is right," Monty adds. "We don't know these people enough to trust them."

Maya walks in carrying a notebook.

"Hey guys," she smiles, holding up her notebook. Written across it is 'Act normal. They're listening'. "It's pizza day." She flips the page. 'Follow me'. "Want to get a slice?"

Ash tries to fix her posture to seem like nothing is wrong. A fake smile paints itself across her face.

"Sure," she responds. The two girls with Jasper and Monty exit the room. Maya leads them down the hallway into a storage room. They go in the back of the room and she motions to the ventilation blinds. Ash and the guys look between the panels. Ash's hand covers her mouth in shock at the sigh. Cages upon cages of Grounders kept. There is one hung upside down with tubes coming out of him.

"Who else knows about this?" Jasper asks.

"Everyone," Maya answers, "but no one talks about it. We learn not to ask questions." She notices the looks on the three faces. "Look, without the treatments, we'd die. What do you want us to do?"

"Die," Monty snaps back. Ash collects herself before speaking.

"Why are you showing us this?"

"Because I am afraid you're next," Maya states, her eyes welling with tears.

"We need to leave, now," Ash states. Maya shakes her head.

"They have increased security since Clarke left."

Ash thinks this through some more. 

"We donate blood and keep them satisfied for now," she tells them. "All the while, we come up with our plans."

*****

People filter in and out of the hospital ward. Ash walks over to the stereo system.

"Love this song," she smiles before turning it up. She sits with Miller, Monty, Harper, and Jasper. Monty deals her some cards. 

"How long do you think we can keep this up?" Miller asks as he lays two cards down to be exchanged.

"Not long," Ash bluntly answers. "We just need to hold out long enough till Clarke is back."

"We can't keep waiting for her," Monty points out.

"He's right," Jasper answers. "We need to act soon."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Harper asks.

"By being who we are. Criminals."

The smirk he has makes it clear he is excited about the idea.

"I don't think me tackling a guard will be much help," Ash points out.

"But you already been to the president's office," he points out. 

"True. Just the five of us. Don't need to risk anyone else at the moment."

They all agree before heading towards the office. Most of the guards just ignore them. They have 'free reign' of the area as long as they don't cause trouble. Once they get to the office, Ash spots Dante in his office. She stops the others before he could spot them.

"You wait around the corner and I'll distract him," she tells them. Taking a deep breath, Ash goes straight into the president's office.

"Miss Kane," he smiles, standing up. "How may I help you?"

"I just have a few questions if you don't mind," she smiles. 

"Of course," he responds, glancing at a clock. "I do have to meet Dr. Tsing soon in medical. Would you care to walk with me?"

"Of course."

The two exit the office. 

"Now what is it you needed to talk about?"

"The group of us are grateful for everything y'all have done for us," she starts. "But I know everyone is curious if you have found any surviving members from the Ark."

"We haven't yet," he tells her. "But once we do, we plan on bringing them here."

"That would be amazing," she smoothly lies. She decides to give some truth to what she is saying. "I honestly hope my dad and grandma made it. I already lost my mom and I can't imagine if you guys never find them."

"I understand the feeling of losing family," Dante tells her. "I only have my son now. But I will make sure we keep searching. Hopefully we find them before Grounders do."

"Then do you think it is possible for me and a couple of the other forty-seven to join in the search. We know the area fairly well and we won't need to worry about hazmat suits tearing."

"You know I can't let you do that. Most of you are children and I will not put you at risk. Now excuse me."

With that, he enters medical. There is a common thought Ash is noticing among those older both here and those from the Ark. Everyone still sees them as their children or too weak to deal with things. But with the shit they have been through, they are far from that. Ash turns on her heels and heads back towards the others. Jasper, Monty, and Miller meet her part way.

"They found our people," Monty states. The group starts walking to the dorms, keeping their voices low. "They are alive. Clarke. Raven. Bellamy. Octavia. All alive and with people from the Ark."

"They're on the ground," she sighs in relief. Then something hits her, causing her to stop. "Where's Harper?"

"We don't know," Miller states. "She was standing guard, but when we left, she was gone."

Ash's heart starts racing, quickly picking up her pace again.

"We need to figure out where she is and a way to communicate to our people. A coordinated plan from both sides will be the best course of action."

"On it," Monty states.

Let's hope they pull this off in time.