ATARAXIA • BELLAMY BLAKE

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I climb up the ladder to the second drop ship level to see Finn stirring what I guess to be a mixture of medicine and water. Clarke is dipping down a cup to fill it with the mixture.

She must hear me walk over, because she casts a glance over her shoulder. "Good. You're here."

I settle on the ground next to Jasper and Clarke rests the cup on his lips, his head being held up by Octavia. He drinks from the cup, a few drops of medicine dripping down his chin, but Octavia is quick to wipe them away.

"I'm sorry about Atom, O," I tell her, the hoarseness of my voice betraying the careful tone I had intended. This makes Octavia flinch slightly, and she looks sadly my way. "I know you liked him."

Octavia stays silent for a few seconds, holding back tears, and I reach a hand out to lightly squeeze her arm.

"I guess we're gonna have to get used to people dying down here, aren't we?" she says. I don't dare answer. "But not you, you hear me?" She looks down at Jasper. "You're not allowed to die."

We sit in silence for some time, all of us exhausted and restless all at once, and then Clarke suddenly stands up. My eyes follow her as she gets to her feet and walks towards the ladder, before climbing down it with no further explanation. Those of us who remain on the level share concerned looks with each other at her sudden exit.

"Uh," Monty then speaks up awkwardly. "I think we could use some of this." He gets up to go fetch a bottle from the drop ship floor.

My eyes widen at the sight. "Is that—" I start way too excitedly before getting cut off by my own coughing. I groan at the pain it shoots down my throat.

"Whisky," Monty finishes for me, handing the bottle over. I gladly accept it and take a big gulp.

"Woah there, take it easy," Finn snickers as I swallow the booze with a dull expression. It burns my throat in a much different way than I have grown used to the past many hours, and it's a sting I don't mind in the slightest.

"How'd you get this?" I ask, twisting the bottle in my hand. Monty doesn't answer but merely nods his head over to where Finn is sat.

"Found it in a automobile," he explains with a smirk.

My eyes shoot wide open yet again. "Shut up—no way! An automobile?" I can't help but exclaim, earning a laugh from Finn as he nods with a grin. I'm too excited at the revelation to even care that the pain in my throat feels three times worse after I practically yelled out those words.

"Yup," he says, and I let out a content sigh.

"Awesome," I say under my breath, sitting down next to him and handing the bottle over.

"So are you gonna tell me what the hell happened to your face or what?" Octavia asks accusingly. I cut her some slack, keeping in mind how affected she still is by what happened to Atom.

"A Grounder happened," I explain for what feels like the thousandth time.

Everyone pauses. The look Octavia sends me is one mixed of horror and anger. "And your voice?" she forces out.

"Bastard strangled the living shit out me," I say with much annoyance. "Give me that."

I grab the bottle back from Finn and take another big gulp before handing it over to Monty.