Her Weakness

Chapter 22

I am frozen as I stare at Clarke. She is wearing the same plain clothes that we used to get into the mountain.

Her chest scarcely moves as she takes a ragged breath and I feel unshed tears glisten in my eyes. She is alive. They did not kill her. She is not dead.

Her head is turned to the side and it looks as though she is unconscious. The pool of blood is slowly growing and turning her hair a rusty red. I am no healer, but I believe she was shot in the shoulder. The pain of that combined with all of the bruises she has from those bastards is enough to cause the toughest warrior to faint.

I may not be a healer, but I have been treated for so many wounds that I should at least know the basics. I grab a stray rag and press it against her wound. She flinches, even though she is unconscious.

She did not leave me to that beast to die. I will not stand idly by as she dies.

Octavia sneaks in behind me. "She's alive," she whispers in relief.

"Barely," I murmur.

While her blood has stained the ground, her heart is as stubborn as she is and refuses to stop or even falter. She truly is stronger than I am. Though I will admit that to no one but her.

"We should probably wake her up. If she stays unconscious in this state she might not wake up."

"Do you know medicine?" I ask, though I am not completely sure why I care. Clarke is possibly bleeding out and I am asking her friend questions? It is most likely because she is Clarke's friend that I take any interest whatsoever in her personal life. Or anything about her.

"Not much. Lincoln taught me a little in case I ever need to patch myself up. Clarke? Clarke, wake up. We need to move you."

I reach down and lift up her head so she is no longer resting in her blood. She squirms and moves so she is closer to me. She must think I am someone else.

"Clarke," I say gently. Her head twitches slightly in my arms. "Clarke."

Her eyes open slowly and Octavia lets out an annoyed huff. "They'll be back soon, Commander. We need to get her out of here."

"Lexa?" Her voice is almost soundless and raw. She shifts and groans quietly. "Damn, did I really get shot?"

"Yes, you did, Princess. Now can we move?" Octavia's eyes are focused on the door as though she is expecting them to burst through at any second.

Clarke sits up and tries to stand. Her legs are shaky and she has lost a lot of blood. I sling her arm over my shoulder. She does not look happy that she needs help, yet she shoots me a grateful look.

"If you love birds could not give each other heart eyes, that'd be great," Octavia says as she slips out.

I help Clarke through the hole, making sure her arm is not jostled. She stands up and I follow soon after. They will find out she is gone soon.

Her forehead is matted with sweat and blood and she is weaving back and forth on her feet. I do not think we will be able to get far.

I hear an alarmed cry right behind us and know they found out too quickly. Clarke, despite her "I'm fine, Lexa"s will not be able to move fast enough to get out of sight before the alarm rings out.

We will have to fight.