Fallen

Chapter Thirty-One: Repeating Pain

By the time the Rover pulls up to the Trading Post, it is already dark outside. Apparently some AI bitch named A.L.I.E has been taking over people from Arkadia in order to 'take away their pain'. And Raven turned out to be one of them that have been taken over. The person needs to take a chip in order to let her in, but the AI, with the help of Jaha, is now forcing people to do so. The only relief for Ash is that she knows her father is not at Arkadia. 

Everyone but Raven get out of the vehicle. Raven is still sedated, but won't be for much longer. Ash makes sure that the binds around her wrist and feet are tight and puts a blindfold over Raven's eyes. Best if she doesn't where they are at if she wakes up. From the sounds of it, A.L.I.E creates a hive mind with everyone she controls. So there is a chance someone being controlled could recognize where they're at. 

Jasper and Monty come over and pick up Raven. They take her inside the Trading Post and into the back room. Raven slowly wakes up as they set on the bed, thrashing and screaming for them to let her go. Sinclair and Ash hurry to tie her down. Not only to protect them, but her from hurting herself. The group leave the room s she keeps screaming at them.

"How are we going to get that thing out of her head?" Sinclair mutters. Clarke goes to talk to Niylah. Bellamy is already over there, holding his gun. Ash heads outside, keeping watch. After a couple minutes, Niylah storms off past her. Clarke in tow. Ash looks back in through the closing door to see Bellamy standing alone. 

Turning away she watches the woods. Clarke goes back in after a couple minutes. Not long afterwards, Monty and Octavia leave in the Rover. She hears Jasper calling out for help. Quickly running inside, she can see Raven had dislocated her shoulder. Everyone rushes around, trying to stop her.

"I need bandages," Clarke yells. Ash, knowing where some stuff in the store is located, hurries tp grab some. By the time she runs into the backroom, Raven has calmed down and tied up more. Ash hands Clarke the bandages so she can help her. 

"We need to keep an eye on her," Ash points out. "Just until we get A.L.I.E out of her."

"We'll take turns," Clarke decides. "I'll go first."

"You're not in charge anymore!" Jasper snaps.

"Take a break," Bellamy orders. Jasper quickly leaves the room with Bellamy behind him.

"He's still upset you killed his girlfriend," Raven tells Clarke. The blonde looks at Ash.

"Can you please get me a bowl of fresh water," she requests. Ash nods her head before leaving the room. She does as asked and grabs a bowl, heading to the stored water outside. She removes the cover to the water source before filling the bowl up. So much seems to be happening at once. Every time she turns her head, something else seems to happen. Closing back the lid, she heads inside to see Bellamy bandaging Clarke's arm up and Jasper sitting near them.

"Well I missed something," Ash mutters. "I'll go watch Raven this time."

"She is going to try to get to you," Bellamy warns.

"I can handle it." She looks at Clarke. "Did you finish bandaging her wrists?"

"I think so."

Ash nods her head before setting the bowl on the table. So Clarke had sent her to get water in order to get rid of her. She heads in the back and sits down in the chair near Raven's bed. 

"So they send you in now," Raven muses. "The little politician's daughter." Ash ignores her and looks towards the fire. "You know, I've been meaning to ask, how was my sloppy seconds?"

"If you're talking about me sleeping Bellamy, it would take more than that to bother me," Ash informs her. 

"Right," she responds. "There isn't much to talk about there. Though you for some reason keep going back to him." She pauses for a moment, chuckling. "You know this on and off thing you two have going on is actually annoying to the rest of us. And the one time he tries to move on with someone else, you didn't save her life."

Ash sighs, looking away from her. Trying hard not the let her get the satisfaction of Ash's reaction. 

"You could have saved so many people, actually," Raven continues. "How many friends did you let die in Mount Weather?"

"I did what I thought was right."

"And you failed. You have become a hypocrite. You talk peace and learn to fight. You accuse people of failing at ending wars while secretly planning battle strategies. Your mother would hate what you turned into."

"It would actually hurt if it was actually Raven saying these things," Ash chuckles, lying to her.

"But it is me. The same person who was shot trying to save you and Bellamy. I was in constant pain because of you."

"Because of John Murphy."

"Because of you. Bellamy probably would have never gone in there if you had hid just a little bit better. Instead you had been caught and everything spiraled from there. But that's the nice thing about taking the key. You don't have to feel it any more."

"Are you trying to convince me to take the chip?" Ash laughs.

"The pain would stop. The constant buzzing in your head. All the screaming. The smell of corpses. All that would stop with the pain. All you have to do is tell me where we are and A.L.I.E can help you."

Ash looks at her hands, processing the words. A fake smile plasters itself on her face as she looks up at her.

"Tell A.L.I.E to get bent," she responds. A hand places itself on her shoulder and she turns to see Bellamy.

"Ah the knight in shiny armor," Raven smiles, looking away from them. "Ash and I were discussing all the fun times we had with you earlier. Though, that was a short conversation."

"I got it from here," he tells Ash.

"I'm fine," she responds, lying to him.

"What would your mother think about the monster you became?" Raven continues.

"Same old tired trick?" Ash asks.

"The difference is while your mother was killed by another person, he killed his own. Practically pressed the airlock button himself. Just had to take little sister to her first dance. Well, I guess you had assisted in it as well." Ash stands up, making sure she is in between Bellamy and Raven. "Are you trying to protect him now? You two against the world it seems. Doesn't matter who gets hurt."

"That's enough," Ash responds, trying to protect him some. He, however, just seems to endure it. Holding on to every word Raven says.

"I guess you're right. Don't want to get Bellamy mad. Who knows who will die this time? By the way, does it hurt knowing people give Clarke all the credit for the deaths in Mount Weather?"

"I was trying to protect our people," he pipes up.

"Right. You're also not accredited for the Culling. How many died in that? But you were trying to protect others. Oh wait, you were just trying to protect your own ass. The only time you actually led. You are just a soldier. Clarke is back one day and you follow her blindly into battle. Then again, you do make decisions if Ash's life is in danger. If only you were just as devoted to Gina. But you did avenge her, right? If it makes you feel better, she died before the explosion. All because the person you are actually devoted to left before it happened."

"That's enough," he finally tells her.

"Is it? Because you killed a bunch of Grounders for Gina."

"They were going to starve us out."

"After you followed Pike with a gun and slaughtered innocent people who were trying to protect us."

Niylah storms in, ready to fight Bellamy.

"You need to take this out of here," Ash snaps. Jasper and Clarke run in.

"Too late," Jasper points out. Niylah and Bellamy quickly.

"We won't have much time before they get here," Ash points out. "I'll stand watch outside until we're ready to leave."