When Songbirds Fly | Bellamy Blake

Chapter Forty-Seven: Klir Skai, Klin Woda

TW// Alcohol, talk of addiction, blood, violence, death

—

'Everywhere I looked there were fins and teeth and blood. I knew if they saw me I'd be next, so I just floated there, waiting, praying they'd swim on. But they didn't.'

The room we sit in is mostly dark, illuminated by candles and lanterns. Dozens of people gather around us to listen to the girl's story. They are completely enraptured by her tale, hanging on every word.

I hug myself tightly, bringing my knees right up to my chest as I listen. The sickness has mostly passed now.

At the creaking of a door, Clarke and Bellamy rush to where Luna enters. I hear them argue briefly. She approaches us, immediately looking to Octavia. 'We need to talk.'

'That's our cue,' Jasper whispers, pulling me up to my feet.

He remains nearby to catch the rest of the story but I cautiously make my way over to the others. 'So? How'd it go?'

Clarke sighs wearily, shaking her head. 'Doesn't look good. She wants us on the next boat back.'

'And we can't find a way to persuade her?'

She sinks down onto one of the small boxes on the floor. We do the same. I wince, stretching my leg out in front of me.

'She's done fighting. They all are. I don't think we can convince them otherwise.'

—

Time goes by and yet we remain where we are, silently watching Luna's people go about their day. Octavia joins us, sitting right beside me. None of us speak.

'Jasper's actually smiling.'

Following Bellamy's gaze, I see that he and the storytelling girl are chatting, even laughing. I look back to him with a small nod. 'Yeah.'

The others don't respond. Sighing, he pulls his legs up against is chest and begins to fidget with the threads that fasten his bracelet. 'Clarke, let it go.'

She reluctantly looks away from Luna with a frown. 'We can't just leave.'

'It's not like we have much of a choice.'

'Maybe we do.'

The three of us exchange confused glances. Bellamy shifts himself a little closer to the small fire in front of us. 'What are you talking about?'

Her glare hardens, her lips pursing in a determined scowl. 'I'm talking about putting this into her head without asking.'

Freezing, all I can do is stammer as I try to figure out what I can say. Octavia sums it up pretty well with a shocked whisper, 'No way, Clarke. This isn't like Emerson. He was trying to kill us.'

'You don't think I know this?'

'Clarke,' Bellamy sighs, 'we don't have to do this. We can fight and go back to Arkadia. We arm up.'

She scoffs incredulously. 'Fight who? It's an army of our own people. I don't like this any more than you do... but if Raven's right and the code on this thing can stop ALIE—' A few unintelligible shouts come from the group of Grounders sat nearest to us but they do not show any interest in us. 'Give me a better idea.'

Another comes to mind. I know it's not one that they would want to hear, so I remain silent. Giving up isn't an option.

Bellamy's eyes dart between Octavia and I. 'We'll stay here. It's the only way they'll leave you alone with her.'