Fallen

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Echo

Marcus rushes in the throne room to see his daughter sitting on the steps. He goes to embrace her, glad she is okay.

"I'm so sorry," he tells her. She looks up before hugging him.

"It's not your fault," she promises. "It's over."

He glances over where Bellamy and Clarke are, mouthing a thanks to them. He releases his daughter before going to talk to Abby. She is probably going to need help with all the injured. 

Ash finally gets to her feet, looking out the window. The pain had returned at once. All the years worth of pain hitting her hard. She remembers what she did in the short time being controlled. She tried to kill Bellamy and was convinced Clarke needed to die. Her head is pounding. And she knows it was Roan who was shot.

A hand places itself on her shoulder before pulling her into a hug. Soon she realizes it's Clarke.

"I was afraid I was going to fail," she tells her. "I'm glad you're okay." 

This shocked Ash a bit. Yes they are friends, but never been this close. They just work with each other to help others. She never thought Clarke would be worried about her well being. 

"Thank you," Ash responds, though part of her longs for the moment of no pain. There was no memories from the Mountain. No pain from losing her mother and her grandmother. But also the other part of her knows A.L.I.E needed to be stopped. Pain is what defines a person. What either makes them stronger or breaks them. 

Bellamy joins the two of them and they head out of the building. There are injured everywhere. A few are still sitting there, not reacting. A woman goes over to one of them before crying out. The person is dead, but no visible injuries.

"He's one of the people Lexa killed in the City of Light protecting me," Clarke mutters. Ash just tries to brush past the idea of Lexa being in the City of Light. It is possible part of her consciousness is alive in the Flame, much like how the consciousness of the dead was uploaded via the Key. But the downside of being connected that way is the now clear idea of dying in the City of Light kills you in the real world. Soon people start to pull themselves together just enough to yell at Skaikru. To shout on how it is their fault for bringing A.L.I.E to them.

A mass of Azgeda warriors march forward with one woman leading the group. She heads straight for the trio, looking determined. Her light brown hair falls free and unlike the other warriors in Azgeda, she has no scars on her face. Most likely a spy for the Ice Nation.

"What is going on, Echo?" Bellamy asks her. 

"I am acting on behalf of King Roan until he wakes," she calls out. Ash feels some relief, knowing now that there is a chance that Roan will live.

"Let me see him," Ash requests. "Abby, Clarke, and I can help help him." 

"It was one of yours that shot him."

"I was his Second. I have the-"

"Keyword 'was'," Echo sneers before focusing on everyone else. "Skaikru has until sunset to leave Polis or they will be hunted down."

Bellamy tries to argue, but Ash pulls him away.

"We need to get all our people," she tells him. He still looks at Echo angrily. "Now!"

He nods his head before whispering, "Meet in the tunnels."

She subtly nods her head before going to find as much people as possible. Everyone is scattered about. There are a mix of those fine, injured, and dead. There isn't even enough time to properly help the dead. Any injuries are wrapped just enough to get the person up until Abby can look at them. They work to get everyone into hiding. A secret tunnel system only a couple know about. Once they are sure everyone is in, the barricade the main entrance into the city. The Griffin family, Kane family, Blake family, and Indra move into a corner to talk. 

"We need to get everyone out of here," Abby states.

"We need to stop a war also," Marcus adds. 

"So save Roan," Ash pipes up.

"How?" Clarke asks. Ash tries to think of everything that happened.

"Has anyone taken Ontari's body to her people?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Indra states.

"We have someone deliver a wrapped body of similar height and build, and they can let Abby and me in to help."

"It's suicide," Bellamy tells her.

"Then have you and a couple trusted people with guns just in case."

Abby pipes up. "I agree with Ash on this. We need to get in as quickly as possible."

Clarke looks between everyone processing this.

"Then I'll be the body."

"You'll be too obvious," Indra states.

"Then I'll do it," Octavia volunteers. 

"Then I will still go in the building with Ash and Mom," Clarke states.

"I still don't like this plan," Bellamy mutters. 

"Neither do I," Marcus finally states.

"What choice do we have?" Ash responds, honestly trying to think of another plan. 

"Then who should we use to carry the body. Seems like Echo won't let any of us near them."

Ash's eyes scan the crowd before settling on one particular person.

"The same person who would feel remorseful for bringing this onto everybody."

They all look in the direction is staring, understanding who she is talking about. Hopefully they can have just one plan work without something going wrong. Just once.