Fallen Angel [Bellamy Blake]

Chapter 31: a mask

BELLAMY AND I GATHER AS MUCH OF THE SUPPLIES as we can carry from the depot.

It takes longer than it should.

Not because there isn't enough—but because something between us has shifted, and neither of us knows what to do with it.

For a while... we don't even try.

We stayed down there longer than necessary. Longer than was smart. Sitting against cold concrete, catching our breath, piecing ourselves back together in silence. At some point, that silence turned into something else—something softer.

Closer.

I don't remember who reached for who first.

Just that we ended up there—wrapped around each other, like letting go would somehow undo everything we had just survived.

He cleaned the blood from the back of my head with careful hands, quieter than I'd ever seen him. I did the same for him, wiping dirt and dried blood from his face, my fingers lingering longer than they needed to.

Neither of us said anything about it.

And now—

Now it follows us.

His fingers brush mine as we gather supplies. Not accidental. Not entirely on purpose either. Just... there.

He leans in close when reaching past me for something, his shoulder grazing mine. Walks just a little too close on the way back to camp, like he's making sure I'm still there.

Like he needs to.

I don't know what this is.

I don't know what I feel about it.

A few days ago, I thought I hated him.

Now—

Now I don't know anything.

By the time we reach camp, though, whatever this is... it shatters.

The air shifts instantly.

Heavy. Tense.

Wrong.

The second we cross into the clearing, Bellamy steps in front of me without hesitation, his body angling just enough to shield mine. My chest tightens at the instinct of it—but I don't have time to think about it.

Everyone is gathered at the center of camp.

Too many people. Too much noise. Panic hums through the crowd like something alive.

Miller pushes through as soon as he sees us, breathless, frantic. "He's gone. The Grounder's gone!" His voice cracks. "What if he comes back with others? What if they—what if they kill us all, or worse?"

The fear spreads like wildfire.

But Bellamy—

Bellamy doesn't hesitate.