Adventures from Space to Earth

Earth Skills Part 2

Ash's P.O.V.

     I wake that evening and there is a lot of commotion going on outside. When I step outside I see people building a wall around the dropship. I then remember what Clarke said about the grounders. Instead of helping, I go to hide on the fourth level of the dropship but when I reach the second floor, I spot Monty working in the corner. He looks up and our eyes meet. I look away and get off the ladder. I sit across the room from him but watch intently because I have always been interested in learning, I just haven't ever been taught anything other than medicine. Clarke used to come once a week to teach me in solitary but that stopped when I turned 16 and Clarke had been arrested herself.

"I won't bite," Monty says looking at me. I make my way closer but still keep my distance. 

"You're Ash, right? You were the girl in solitary for seven years?" I just nod my head. 

"That's why I've never seen you before. My name is Monty." I scoot until I am sitting opposite of him. 

"What did you do?" Monty asks. 

"Hit a guard," I whisper, my voice still not working fully. 

"Really? Solitary for seven years just for that?" I pull my knees to my chest, not really wanting to talk about it. Monty holds my gaze for a couple of seconds, waiting on a response. 

"So, what are you working on?" I question, testing my voice. Even though I am not much of a talker, I still don't like awkward silences. Before he could answer, Octavia Blake climbs up and a boy follows her only to be pulled down by Atom. 

"Nobody's bitch, huh?" Octavia says to him. 

"Maybe one of these days, you'll realize you can't control me." 

"You know, that guy you were with? Did you know he was in for murder?" Octavia looks a little stunned. 

"You want to know something funny? I'm actually protecting him from you," Atom says. He then climbs down the ladder and locks all three of us up there. Octavia yells until Monty gets her attention by asking her to keep the volume down. 

"I'm trying to concentrate," he says. She joins us. 

"Who are you?" she asks me. 

"This is Ash. She doesn't talk much," Monty says. Monty then begins explaining what he is doing. After about half an hour, Monty begins talking about Jasper. 

"He may not be my real brother, but he's always been there. Every memory I have, there's Jasper." He looks up at both of us. 

"I should be out there." 

"You're not gonna cry are you?" Octavia asks jokingly. 

"Shut up," Monty says as he smiles. They laugh a little but I feel like the odd person out. Monty has really connected with Octavia and I have just been sitting there awkwardly for the last few minutes. 

"Are you sure about this? Your brother wouldn't approve of you helping us contact the Ark." 

"He's not my keeper. Let's just do this. Let's do it." Monty picks up a makeshift crowbar and flips Octavia's hand over. Octavia yelps when the bracelet breaks off. I instinctively reach for my wristband, realizing that it still hurts from when they put it on. He apologized then holds the bracelet up to the light. 

"Dead. Damn it," he sighs. 

"If we can't even take them off then how do you expect to turn them into a radio?" Octavia asks. Before Monty could give an answer, the door swings open to reveal Atom. He looks at all of us but his eyes linger on Octavia. She looks back at Monty. 

"Go on. I've got work to do." She smiles and leaves the dropship. I stand up and make my way to the ladder. 

"Where are you going?" he asks me. 

"Out. Need some air," I whisper. I make my way back to the ground and relax a little to see that no one is paying me any attention. I walked right past all the people building and out into the forest. I don't know where I am going, but I don't plan on making my way back any time soon.