Hope {The 100} [6]

Chapter 9: The Head

A groan was heard coming to the left of us. Echo quickly and quietly made her way around a large tree. I of course followed her and what we saw was nightmare-inducing.

A man wearing a Sactam Guard uniform was lying against a tree that seemed to be claiming his body. Vines stretched over him, trapping him against the stump. The vines looked as if they were growing from inside of him. 

There was no releasing this man. There was no way of cutting all the vines aware without causing him an immense about of pain and blood loss. 

I covered my mouth at the sight, not sure of what to say or do. No amount of training could have prepared me for this moment. 

Echo bent down next to the man, just as shocked as I was.

"We're gonna get you out of here." she took a moment to assess the damage before calling me over. "Help me trying to pull him out."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked.

She nodded, "Now!" she yelled.

Together she and I pulled at the man's leg. He didn't budge. 

"Please. Mercy. They're inside me," the man choked out. 

It was true, the vines had berried themselves in different places all over his face. A few flowers were even growing alongside them. 

I looked to Echo for what to do next as the man continued to moan in pain. Echo nodded, getting up and walking around the stump, looking for something. 

"Echo?" I called out to her. "What are you doing?"  She didn't say a word as she picked up a large rock that was almost the size of my head.

She walked back over to the man and this is when I realized she was going to put him out of his misery. Echo lifted the rock over her head, I covered my eyes so I wouldn't see the impact. I waited for the sound of the rock hitting bone but was instead met with the guard who was sent to look after Clarke, jumping out of nowhere and stopping Echo.

"Stop!" she yelled, jumping right in front of her and holding out her staff to block if Echo continued. 

Echo glared at the women and lowered the rock. "You were in the Tavern. Why are you following me?"

The woman, Jade, gave a vague answer, "I have my orders. Let's go." She just expected us to follow her back. No way.

The man groaned again. 

"He's in pain, we can't just leave him like this," I protested. 

"Not that it's any of your business, but he chose this path."

Why would someone choose a path of nothing but pain and suffering?

"Jade..." the man groaned out in pain. The woman bent down next to him, holding his hand. 

"You're strong. You can do this," she whispered to him.

"Join me."

"I would, my friend," Jade's  voice cracked, "but I have another charge." 

"You know him?" Echo asked.

The woman nodded her head slightly. "He's the guard who lowered the shield that let your ship in the night they took Rose. He blames himself for her death. He should blame me," she stood up and turned to us, "Now let's go."

"Mercy," the mana begged again.

This time Echo was going to go through with it. She lifted the rock over her head again and Jade went to attack. 

"I said no!" she screamed. I jumped in front of her, dodging the hit of her staff, and landed a punch right across her face, causing her to fall to the ground and hit her head.