Fallen

Chapter Fifty: Until Death

Ash stands in the corner of the room, trying to keep a calm demeanor. Bellamy walks over to her.

"Are you alright?" he asks her.

"I should be asking you that."

"Best we can do is hope."

Gaia looks at the clans. "The first two champions have fallen."

She says their names and clans as their respective candles are put out. Trikru is out of the running. Ash looks towards Indra. No reaction. Maybe the leader is also holding out hope for Octavia. Or maybe just wants to keep a stoic expression. Which is the opposite of her daughter, who looks sadden by the deaths. Gaia walks over to her mother, removing her hood. The young girl hugs Indra, surprising her; though the leader quickly return the hug. Kane walks over to Bellamy and Ash.

"That means Octavia and Roan are alive," he tells them. 

"Octavia's good at hiding," Ash points out. "Gives her an advantage on the field."

"And Roan is good at fighting," Bellamy adds. Kane just looks at the two as they try to find someway to comfort one another. The two had grabbed each other hands without realizing it. Almost out of habit and comfort.

"My queen," an Azgeda warrior calls. Ash squeezes his hand and the two separate. She walks over to her subject. "Echo has requested I keep an eye on you."

She lets out a long sigh. She knows this young girl is just doing as ordered, so she can't blow up on her.

"Roan doesn't need a guard. He's fighting right now actually. So do I?"

The girl looks almost ashamed. "Forgive me. I was-"

"Just following orders?" The young warrior nods her head. "I know. And that makes you a good soldier. But if you want to rise above, you need to think for yourself."

"But what about Praimfaya?"

Ash lowers her voice. "There is a chance of your survival as long as Skaikru and Azgeda have a chance, we have one as well."

She nods her head. It's clear that this girl is scared, but trying not to show it. Ash spots Clarke in the distance. The blonde sees her and smiles. She walks over to Ash and the three stand there. While the young warrior backs up, the two start talking. They end up standing by the back wall, leaning on it. Soon, more and more warriors start dying. 

Time seems to drag on as they wait. But not once has one of their warriors have died. But neither has Luna. And that is the cause of concern. After so long, Ash realizes she can't see either Bellamy or Echo. If those two are doing something fucking stupid, she will strangle them herself. 

Ash acts like she lost her balance, leaning on Clarke. She whispers her observation in the blonde's ear before standing up right. Clarke nods her head before excusing herself. Ash walks over to the balcony to watch with the warrior next to her. As night falls, she sees Echo sneaking back into the room. Four soon are all that remain. 

Then just three. Just Roan, Octavia, and Luna. Thunder rumbles over head and rain starts pouring down. 

"Black rain," Ash calls out. She looks at the others as they hurry inside. Echo pulls her to the side as they wait. After a minute, Gaia looks at her.

"Roan kom Azgeda is dead."

His candle is put out. Ash stops herself from sobbing. She pushes past Echo and head straight to the corridor as tears start to run down her face. That was her friend that she lost. Not just her king. Shit. That was her husband. Though it was a political move, they did care for each other.

A cloth is pressed against her face and a familiar smell enters her nostrils. Before she can fight, the world starts to spin before darkening. She soon pass out, unable to fight the chemicals.

*****

The pounding in Ash's head to keep her from opening her eyes. Voices start becoming clearer and a source of warmth is next to her. She slowly force her eyes open to see she's in an office. It's unfamiliar. Standing at the desk is Clarke and next to her is Bellamy, who also seem out of it. There is a sense of both relief and concern in her. Then everything starts rushing into her system.

"What's going on?" Bellamy asks. 

"We are guaranteeing our survival," Jaha says as he walks in.

"I must have missed the election that made you chancellor again," Bellamy snaps. "Octavia still had a chance. There are only four."

"Two," Ash managed. They look at her, seeing the shock she's in. "Octavia and Luna. Just two."

"Octavia can win this," Bellamy snaps.

"And what if she doesn't?" Jaha asks. 

Ash looks at Clarke as Bellamy asks the blonde, "Did you know about this?"

Ash quickly reads her reaction.

"She planned this. That's why we're here."

Abby hurries in, looking confused.

"Did we win?"

"We don't know," Bellamy tells her. Abby looks around.

"Where's Marcus?"

"We didn't get to him in time," Jaha informs her. "The plan was to get Ash, Marcus, Bellamy, and Octavia."

"I need a walkie," Abby states. Ash spots the system on the desk. She stands up, walking over to Clarke.

"Please," Ash manages. "There is a chance Octavia won."

Clarke looks unsure what to do. Abby and Bellamy take this opportunity to rush to the system. They fidget with the system while Ash stands between them and the other two.

"Hello. Is anyone there?"

Octavia's voice clear as day. She had won. Clarke looks at Ash with pleading eyes.

"We can't open the doors," she tells her. "I can't lose you."

The last words sound broken. Defeated almost. Before Ash could respond, Jaha electrocutes her; causing her to fall on the ground. Bellamy goes to attack Jaha for Clarke to knock him out. Jaha summons a couple guards, who drag the two out of the office. Ash is too weak to fight back. They take them to a room where they attach chains to a railing. They are locked there as Bellamy starts waking up. The door closes and Ash start rubbing her wrists against the rough metal cuffs. It stings as it starts digging into her flesh.

"What are you doing?" Bellamy asks.

"We need Abby," Ash mutters. "She won't let my dad die."

"Ash-"

"I will not lose him too."

"Ash. Stop."

"I can't!" she snaps. At this point, she can feel fresh tears roll down her face. "They are alive and I can't lose someone else."

"Let me," he tells her.

"What?"

"I can get her attention. You won't lose anyone else. I promise."

With that, he starts twisting his wrists in the cuffs and screaming. The sight of him like this terrifies her. Blood starts running down his arms. Soon the door flies open to reveal Murphy.

"You need to stop," he orders. Bellamy keeps struggling and freaking out. Murphy looks at Ash. "You need to stop him before he seriously hurts himself." Ash looks at him, spitting in his direction. "Very mature. Keep this up, Bellamy, or I will call medic to knock your ass out."

"You haven't changed once," Bellamy tells him. Murphy looks at the two.

"You have no idea how I have changed."

With that he leaves and Bellamy starts the plan once more.