When Songbirds Fly | Bellamy Blake

Chapter Eighty-Two: Mind-killer

TW// Gore, gross carnivorous worms

—

The tent is quiet now. I drift aimlessly in and out of sleep, seated beside Bellamy with my head in his lap. I find myself stirring at one point until his soft murmurs lull me back into darkness.

This time I wake slowly, quietly. A hand absentmindedly strokes through my hair. Clarke is still tending to an unconscious Obika. She barely looks up as she speaks, 'Octavia's not the only one who's changed, you know.' Bellamy's touches halt but I decide to remain still, eyes closed. 'You could've killed those prisoners in cryo, but you didn't. Diyoza would've killed me if not for you. Madi would be alone. You got that bunker open.'

A quiet, bitter chuckle shakes us slightly. I nuzzle into Bellamy's touch, deciding to feign sleep so as not to interrupt. 'Who knew it would turn out to be Pandora's box?' he sighs, returning to his gentle playing with my hair.

'Bellamy, I'm serious. The heart and the head.'

I can't help the weak smile that pulls at my lips at the mention of our last proper conversation with her.

'The heart and the head,' he echoes.

'I think I can tell where your heart is right now. I'm glad to finally see it. So, what does your head say about two armies fighting a war in the only green place on Earth?'

I feel him shrug. 'Same as yours.'

Another shout sounds from the distance, followed by panicked mutterings. Freezing, Bellamy shakes me awake and helps me to my feet. We stumble out of the tent, immediately met by the sight of dark clouds on the horizon. Lighting strikes, a sulphurous yellow. It's getting closer.

I know what it is before Clarke can say it. 'Sandstorm.'

'It's blocking the way back.'

'Can we outrun it?' Indra asks, coming to a stop beside us. Eno follows soon after and edges between Bellamy and I.

We all look to Clarke, hoping for some kind of solution. Fear fills her eyes. 'As long as it keeps moving laterally from east to west, we shouldn't have to. But if the wind shifts—'

'The wind hasn't met Wonkru.' Turning, Octavia regards us with that same piercing glare. 'Now there's no choice,' she snaps. 'We keep moving.'

'Keep moving?' Bellamy finally speaks up against her, incredulity and hurt battling for control over his voice. 'Thanks to you, we're stuck between razor-blade winds and burrowing, parasitic bugs.'

She is quick to fire right back at him, as harsh as ever, 'Thanks to you, we're at war, Bellamy.'

He shakes his head. 'Only if you insist on fighting it.'

'Fight or die, that's all there is. You don't understand. I get it... because you're not one of us.'

Eno's hand grasps onto mine and I find myself squeezing back. It only takes one look to realise that she is terrified of Octavia — of all of them.

Her other hand can be seen reaching for Bellamy's but he takes a step towards his sister. 'Is Obika one of you? Hmm? Because you're about to end his life like he means nothing. I understand that.'

Seeing Cooper start towards him, I quickly move to block her way. Her glare is unsettling — so determined, so harsh. I hope that she won't try anything but if she does, I can feel the sheathed knife that hangs from my belt. My free hand slowly inches towards it. 'Show some respect,' she growls.

Octavia remains unfazed. 'I'd stop if I were you. Your girlfriend's already taken it too far today. Don't think I'll tolerate any more.'

A scream splits through the tense silence.