Since Day One

Part 63. The Dark Year

2 years after Praimfaya:

"Ok kids, that's enough training for today, go back to the room." I said after Nadia took down Ethan.

Nadia helped him up and they both followed Octavia and I.

They walked in front of of us talking and playing whatever game they were playing, "When was your last mind control thingy with Malachi?" Octavia asked me quietly.

"It's been stopping, it barely happens anymore, I guess Lexa's been fighting him off pretty well." I said.

"It's not weird,to have multiple people in your head." Octavia asked.

"Not really, I've had 5 years to get used to it." I told her.

"Well I guess that's good right, you know Ethans been advancing." She said sort of proud.

"So have you. Soon you may even be able to take me alone." I joked.

She smiled a little, "Maybe I could take you now."

"Ok, let's go, training room." I suggested with a smile.

"Let's go." Octavia smiled, before we began running, we heard Miller's voice from behind us.

"Bela, Octavia, where the hell have you been, I've been looking for you everywhere." Miller said out of breath, I turned around to see him panting as he stopped running, the kids laughed with Octavia and I.

"Meeting in the office, Indra says it's urgent." He finally explained after catching his breath.

I rolled my eyes and looked back to the the kids, "Ok, you two head back to the room, O and I will catch up later."

"Miller, make sure they got there safe." I ordered, Octavia and I began making our way to the office, "Guess we'll have to leave that training session for later." Octavia said.

"Don't lie to yourself, your pretty glad you don't have to go against me, again." I joked.

"Whatever you want to say to yourself." Octavia said in a sing songy voice.

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"But you said we had 5 years, we've only been down here for two." I said to Cooper as she explained our problem in the office.

"I've done everything I could think of, short of eradicating the infected plants. For now the fungus is contained to the soybean crop, but it won't be for long. I've salvaged a few of the healthy plata to use for seeds..." coope tried to explain but Indra interrupted her.

"...How long?" She asked.

"One year. Less with some luck." Cooper answered.

"One year. Without a protein source?" Kane asked shocked.

"We all know what the answer is." Abby said from a corner. We do know the answer, I just didn't want it to be true.

"Abby..." Kane said.

Any turned around to look at us, "If we don't get at least 10% of our calories from protein, over that amount of time, we'll starve to death. I'm sorry Marcus but that's a fact. There is only one potential source."

We all stayed silent, knowing what she meant, it made me feel disgusted that we were even considering this. "The fighting pits." Indra said.

Octavia gulped and looked at me, trying to hide her fear, "Will it be enough to last a year?" She asked Abby.

"It should be once the crime rate increases, which it will." She answered.

"Are we seriously talking about this?" Kane asked in disbelief.