Cloaked Heart (Silent Moments Series: Book 3)

Chapter 24

 Raven's assault, manipulated by ALIE, was merciless and unyielding. Her opening salvo, tinged with sarcasm and hidden truths, targeted Bellamy with a venomous precision. "Just you and me, huh? Oh come on Bellamy, we've had our fun together, haven't we?" The insinuation in her tone was clear, aimed at destabilizing him by dredging up a painful past.

As she continued, each word was like a knife, expertly crafted to hit where it would hurt the most. "Does it bother you that you don't get any credit for the genocide at Mt. Weather? Kegan gets to be the Commander of Death, but you murdered all those people too and you're forgotten about." Raven's words were a brutal reminder of Bellamy's part in the tragic events, a past he struggled to come to terms with.

The accusations intensified, becoming more personal and cutting. "You just had to take your little sister to her first dance. You might as well have just shoved Aurora out of the airlock yourself." The mention of his mother, Aurora, struck a deep chord, bringing forth a tumult of guilt and grief.

Bellamy's identity and actions were dissected and ridiculed. "You're a follower. Kegan's been back for one day and you're already taking orders. The good little knight by his king's side." Raven's mockery of his loyalty and role within the group was a calculated blow to his sense of self-worth.

The mention of Gena was the final, cruel twist of the knife. "It's too bad you were never that devoted to Gena," Raven concluded, her laugh a chilling echo in the tense atmosphere.

Cass, who had silently listened, was suddenly thrust into the emotional fray at the mention of the Grounder slaughter. "My father," she mumbled, the revelation of her loss voiced in a tone filled with pain and disbelief.

Bellamy, visibly shaken, turned to Cass, his expression one of sorrow and regret. "Cass," he sighed, his voice laden with unspoken apologies.

But Cass's grief erupted into anger. "You killed him!" she shouted, attacking Bellamy with a raw, visceral intensity. She struck him repeatedly before I managed to pull her away.

"Cass, you can't be in here," I said firmly, aware of the danger Raven's knowledge posed now that she had seen Cass's face.

Lexa, ever analytical, assessed the situation with a grim realization. "It's too late, Raven's already seen her face," she stated, her tone indicating the potential consequences of this exposure.

Bellamy, overwhelmed by the confrontation and Cass's accusations, retreated outside for respite. Cass, driven by her newfound anger and grief, followed him, her steps echoing her turbulent emotions. As I watched them leave, a sense of helplessness washed over me. The psychological warfare we were engaged in with ALIE was tearing at the very fabric of our group, exploiting our deepest fears and sorrows. The sudden appearance of headlights outside the cave brought a new element to our already fraught situation. The outside world, with its unknown intentions and challenges, was intruding upon our precarious haven. In that instant, the cave felt like a battleground not just against ALIE, but against the shadows of our own pasts and the internal demons that threatened to fracture us from within.

The cave was charged with a palpable sense of urgency as Sinclair issued his command. "Everyone, let's go," he ordered, his voice a mix of determination and apprehension.

Monty, equally focused, added his confirmation, "Everything's good to go," indicating the culmination of their meticulous efforts.

Sinclair quickly outlined the final step, "All we have to do is connect her and activate the electromagnet," but his words were cut short as Raven began to violently thrash on the bed.

Reacting instinctively, I tried to hold her down. "Raven!" I shouted, my voice echoing against the cave walls, filled with both fear for her safety and determination to help her.