BROKEN BONES • THE 100 [3]

iv. ARCADIA

ERICA FELT dizzy walking towards the rover, telling Kol about the events that had just unfolded as Koda trotted behind them.

The purple sky hovered over them, a flock of birds flying overhead. Twigs crunched under their boots.

As they approached the rover, Pike stepped out in front of them, blocking Kol from the vehicle.

"No grounders," He spoke.

Erica gritted her teeth. This man didn't understand anything.

Kane stepped approached him. "Pike, we trust him," He lowered his head, placing a comforting hand on Pike's shoulder. "He's a friend, as are many of the grounders."

Indra followed closely behind Kane, standing behind him. Clearly she was waiting for a moment where she may need to attack. She was itching for it, shifting in her place.

"We can't trust any of these people." The man scoffed.

Erica nudged Kol backward, sizing up Pike. "I have spent far too much of my time on Earth answering to adults from the Ark who think they know what they're talking about. You know nothing, you are still new. These people have lived their entire lives on this planet. You will not show up out of nowhere and try to dictate where they can and cannot go."

"Skaireina," He smiled, though Erica didn't believe it to be genuine. "You really are something,"

Erica deadpanned, giving him no reaction to his words. "Kol, get in the rover."

The ride back was quiet. Octavia leaned her head on Erica's shoulder as she pet Koda, who stood at their feet. They had really missed one another, their sleepovers and horse rides together were some of the things Erica had missed the most.

She felt a sick, queasy feeling in her stomach. Guilt. Selfishly, she had abandoned those who loved her, those who needed her. Coming back and facing them all would either heal her or hurt her more.

Looking over to Bellamy, Erica scanned over his face, lingering on his big brown eyes, which were now surrounded by purple dark circles. He looked nothing like himself.

The Blake hadn't said a word, he was still processing the loss of his girlfriend, as Octavia had explained to her quietly.

The rest of the ride was bumpy, quiet.

Tensions were high, everyone was seemingly walking on eggshells. The feeling didn't help Erica's nerves.

When they returned, Arcadia looked just as Erica had remembered it. Monty, Harper, and Raven stood at the gates, waving at them as they arrived.

Erica's eyes watered and she exhaled, her breath shaky. As the rover parked, Kol opened the door.

Erica stood there for a moment, taking in the view of her friends. Her heart was pounding, she wasn't sure how to react. She wasn't sure if they still wanted her.

Gravel crunched beneath her feet, wind ran through her hair, which was now clean thanks to the bath she'd taken at Polis, complete with flower petals at Lexa's request.

She looked better on the outside, but her friends saw that she was worse within.

Monty brought a hand to his mouth, pressing his lips into a thin line. He started towards her, opening his arms as he came close.