Her Weakness

Chapter 12

"Clarke. I knew you'd come."

"Of course I did. Now get up and out of that cage." Clarke smiles. Her eyes sparkle as she helps him out. Does she like him? Why am I so jealous? She tosses me the keys.

I snatch them midair and begin unlocking all the cages except the Mountain Man's, of course. A girl I recognize as Reyna? Raine? Raven. The smart girl that fixes things. She is worse for wear, but with a stony look of determination, she stumbles into the arms of an older man with blonde hair.

"Kyle," she rasps.

He hushes her and pulls her tighter against his chest, lightly kissing her forehead. He seems to be relieved that she is all right, aside from the bruises and cuts that litter her visible skin. "You're safe, you're safe." He repeats it as if if he says it enough times it will become true. It succeeds in calming her down and she relaxes in his arms.

I glance at Clarke, who is tending to her people and looks like someone just gave her the greatest gift ever. The tension of sneaking around with her leaves me as I watch her converse with her people. She is good to them, kind. A better woman than I could ever be.

"How long have you loved her?" Someone murmurs in my ear.

I tense and turn to see the one she called Monty looking at me with gentle eyes. I try to make myself seem taller and more threatening, but the effect is not the same as it would be if I were wearing my war paint. I miss it, it makes me feel stronger. It is a mask for my pain and emotions, and without it, I feel as vulnerable as a newborn child.

"I do not know what you are talking about." I say, but both of us know that is not true.

"Whatever you say." He claps me on the back and whispers, "Good luck." And then he moves on to embrace an awkward, scrawny kid.

I run a hand through my hair and make my way over to Clarke once I have somewhat calmed myself down. "Sorry to break up the reunion, but someone could notice at any moment that they have escaped. We should move."

Clarke considers my words for a moment before nodding.

"Why is the Commander here?" Raven croaks, interrupting whatever Clarke might have been about to say and glares at me. "I don't trust Grounders."

"And I have given you no reason to. I made a mistake the last time I came here, and it could have cost your lives. It certainly made me lose what little trust we had from the Sky People. I have come here to help, and I will do so with our without your trust."

Clarke gives me a smile that melts my heart. "Lexa can be trusted. She came here for no reason other than to get you all back safely." I came here for you. "Now come on, we're still in the enemies' compound. Any ideas on how to get out?"