GRIM REAPER¹, bellamy blake

016 ━━ cows to the slaughter

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"WHAT IF we run into real reapers? Won't they wonder where you've been?"

"All they see is red. Once you're taken... nothing else matters. Nothing has meaning anymore. All that matters is how you'll get more.," Lincoln says quietly.

Iona thinks she hears a twinge of guilt behind his coated words.

Bellamy stills, "How much do you remember from when you were on it?"

Lincoln stared at him blankly, eyes devoid of emotion, unblinking. His gaze flits over to Iona, who, despite all odds, can't help but be curious too, and she stares at him with that mysterious look of hers that gives little knowledge into what she's thinking.

"Everything," Lincoln murmurs.

After the long silence settles between them, he grabs a large tree branch with chains attached and nods to Bellamy. "Turn around," He orders, and chains Bellamy's hands to the wood over his shoulders.

Darkness has become them and their surroundings, coating every branch, every shred of grass, every glint of green eyes, into nothing but black.

Iona is used to hunting in the dark, let alone traversing the dark land in general, and finds little issue adjusting her eyes to the lack of light. From the corner of her eyes, however, she notices Bellamy squinting, trying to make out the figures before him.

With Lincoln up ahead of them, searching through the trees to make sure nothing was there, she found her opportunity to speak.

"Close your eyes," Iona says, tugging on Bellamy's jacket. He comes to a halt once she steps in front of him, a suspicious look on his face. "Just do it."

Finally, with one last glance at the woman, he closed his eyes.

"Do you see the neon behind your lids?" She questioned, closing her own eyes. "The alignment of blinding stars?"

Bellamy nodded slowly, "Yeah, kinda. Why?"

Iona was about to tell him to rub his lids, but once she remembered his bound hands, sighed. Taking her thumb, she gently pressed against Bellamy's eye, making the boy jerk back, instantly opening his eyes.

"You messed it up..." She muttered.

He rolled his eyes, taking a hesitant step away from her, "Messed what up? You touched my face, how was I supposed to react?"

Iona shrugged, beginning to walk forward again. Seeing this, Bellamy started again too.

"Lexa always told me that if you're afraid of the dark... to just close your eyes. You'll always see a little bit of colorful light," Iona smiled to herself, remembering the memory from when she was a child, "And she practically made me a night owl with this one trick."

"If you can't see in the dark, you just close your eyes and press your lids so the color intensifies. And then when you open your eyes, it's like those lights stay there- and then you can see."

Iona glanced back over at Bellamy who wore a thoughtful look, "It's stupid and I doubt it really works, but it's always tricked me into thinking there was light."

The next time she looked at Bellamy, his posture seemed to slightly soften, and his eyes were closed.

And, despite herself, Iona slightly smiled.

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"How cozy," Iona said sarcastically. Glancing around the dark mine entrance, she felt a twitch in her hand that practically screamed to be satiated by the hilt of her katana. "Must've really enjoyed your stay here, Lincoln."

"Truly," He muttered distastefully.

Once they stepped past the threshold, Lincoln began to exhale shakily, whilst Bellamy attempted to give him reassurance.

Iona could see the pain his eyes hid, and she sighed, reaching for her katana.

At the fear he might break down and be incapable of fighting, she had to prepare to handle the situation herself.

Finally, the three of them stepped into the darkness. Their feet hit stone causing the sound of gentle clicking of boot heel against the surface to ring out and reverberate against the walls. A satisfying tap followed suit, courtesy of Iona's slightly raised work boots.

They fell into rhythm following this tune and explored deeper whilst still cautiously watching the shadows.

At a certain point in the mine, the darkness subsided, giving into dim lamps overhead. The track beneath them made a loud clang with every step, and the endlessly winding turns gave plenty of opportunities for the reapers to catch an edge on them.

The three turned suddenly at the sound of distant yelling. Lincoln and Iona shared a look, both reaching for their weapons simultaneously whilst Bellamy gulped, his hands restricted against the wooden beam.

Staring at the pathway they'd taken through the mine to get to where they were, Iona took a deep inhale, twirling her dagger around her finger.

To be honest, Iona believed herself to be the strongest person she knew, so for her, this experience was new; she'd never felt like prey before. She was always the predator, but not this time.

No, this time, Iona might actually be the hunted, not the hunter.

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