Taming Chaos // J.M // The 100

Chapter 21

Ethan remembers Connor vividly.

He remembers the belt being tied, remembers feeling trapped because Derek was holding him back and forcing him down and all he could do was watch.

They had no clue what they were doing, screaming for punishment, no clue how horrible of people they were until it was Charlotte being put on trial. Things changed, and only because of who she was.

Connor steps up to him, face to face, his lackeys following. They lift their guns as if Murphy was in any shape to fight back at all.

"Step-" Ethan plants his feet, "-back."

Derek glares at him, stepping beside Connor to back him up, "What the hell is this? Bellamy banished him." He shrugs the gun Murphy's way.

"Bellamy's not here right now," Octavia says, and Ethan huffs in relief. "What happened?"

He lowers the hands he still had up in surrender and gives a warning glance to the boys when he turns, circling Octavia to crouch down beside Murphy. "The grounders." He pauses to send her a meaningful glance, "Seems you have a lot to tell me about that meeting."

She nods, and the way her shoulders slump tells him it's all bad news.

Then, her eyes widen, "Did he attack you?" She rushes to ask, glaring at Murphy.

"No." Ethan narrows his eyes, "You can blame your brother for that."

He turns his head to escape the fires glare, no doubt lighting up the bruising cut across his eyebrow.

He hooks a hand under Murphy's lax arm and gestures his head towards the other one.

"Wait, Bellamy?" She looks confused, but still rushes over, ducking under Murphy - who quickly smothers his pained noises. He's doesn't want to be weak, not in front of them.

"You have any other brother I don't know about, Octavia?" Ethan deadpans.

She rolls her eyes.

When they take a step forward, the lookout crew is there, blocking them off their path.

"Move," Octavia demands, glaring at the group.

Connor sighs and lowers his gun, stepping to the side to let them through. He knows there's nothing he can do against Octavia unless he wants to face Bellamy's wrath head-on. Either that or he doesn't have the balls to string Murphy up a second time.

Ethan flips them the finger on his way past.

Walking through camp, Ethan - much to his disdain - can feel all the eyes on them. Workers stop what they're doing to gawk and point fingers, the chatter causing Murphy to lower his head and shut his own eyes. It also means that when they do get to the dropship, to the one place they have medical supplies, people follow. They block the exit, crowding them like moths to a flame.

Ethan sees guns amongst the people. He doesn't like the way their fingers twitch.

With unasked help from Derek and Connor, he rests Murphy against the furthest wall. He curls into himself, tucked away in the corner to hide his bloody face, hands resting on his knees where his fingers won't brush against the scratchy fabric of his ripped shirt.

They watch him in some sort of sick fascination. Murphy's a shell of his former cocky, son-of-a-bitch self.

Ethan swipes a hand across his nose and calls out. "I need water."

No one moves. A few by the front roll their eyes.

He gets it.

This is Murphy they're talking about.