It's the End of the World as We Know it (Silent Moments Series: Book 4)

Chapter 24

 Bellamy's anger was palpable, his words laced with a mix of betrayal and desperation. "How could you do this?" he snapped, his frustration boiling over. "There were only four warriors left. Octavia was one of them! She might have won!"

Jaha responded with a calm that contrasted sharply with Bellamy's turmoil. "And she might not have," he said evenly, his voice the epitome of pragmatic leadership.

"You were right, Bellamy," I interjected, trying to bridge the chasm of understanding between us. "Octavia had a fighting chance. But so did Luna. If Luna won, it meant the end for all of us. No one would've survived. We had to consider the worst-case scenario."

Bellamy's irritation was evident in his voice. "I get it, okay? I understand that you think this was the only way. But how can I just stay down here, not knowing what happened to Octavia?"

Jaha's response was a stern declaration, "We are not opening that door, son!"

Bellamy's frustration turned towards Jaha. "You know what? I don't remember voting you back into power," he retorted sharply.

The tension was interrupted by the creaking of the office door. My mother entered, her expression one of concern. "I was setting up the infirmary and heard voices. Is it over? Did we win?"

Bellamy responded with a helpless shrug, "We don't know."

The anxiety on my mother's face deepened. "Where's Marcus?" she asked, her worry growing.

I exchanged a glance with Jaha, who gave a subtle nod. "He was in the tower with Bellamy and Octavia. We could only retrieve Bellamy in time. I'm sorry," I said, the words heavy with regret.

"Give me your radio," my mother demanded, grasping at straws. "Marcus has his."

"The radios are useless down here," Jaha replied, his tone a mix of sympathy and finality.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, I walked over to the desk and pressed the button to open the control deck. Jaha's warning tone was sharp, "Kegan!"

"I'm allowing them a chance to say goodbye," I retorted, my eyes narrowed with resolve.

Jaha's voice was a mixture of caution and sorrow. "You need to understand, there's nothing but pain waiting on the other end of that line. The radiation is worsening; those outside are already suffering. Once they realize we've taken the bunker, it will be chaos. Opening that door invites that chaos inside."

My mother's response was a fierce growl, "I understand. Now get out of my way."

Bellamy's hands moved with a practiced ease as he adjusted the computer, his fingers deftly setting the walkies to 21.5 megahertz. "Can anyone hear me? Over," he transmitted, his voice a blend of anxiety and anticipation.

The static-filled reply crackled through the speaker, a beacon of hope amidst the tension. "This is Octavia. Can anyone hear me, damn it?"

Relief flooded Bellamy's expression. "O! It's me! Are you okay?" he exclaimed, his voice quivering with a cocktail of relief and worry.

"I'm alive. I won," Octavia's voice came through, strong yet weary.

Bellamy's relief quickly turned to concern. "What did you do, Bell?" Octavia's voice was laced with confusion and apprehension.

"It wasn't me, but I'll make it right," Bellamy promised, his tone resolute, determined.

Octavia's response was urgent, her words rapid and critical. "I've decided to share the bunker, a hundred from each clan. Kane is coordinating outside, and Gaia has locked down the temple with the scouts. But if they learn Skaikru seized the bunker, we're all doomed."

"I'm heading out now," Bellamy said decisively, ready to take action.

Jaha's voice, authoritative and stern, broke the moment. "Turn off the radio," he commanded, entering with guards at his back. His sudden appearance caught us all off guard; neither I, Bellamy, nor my mother had noticed his absence.

"Thelonious, there's a chance to save them," my mother implored, desperation in her voice.

Ignoring her, Bellamy continued, "O, I need time to—"

But Jaha abruptly silenced Octavia's voice, yanking the wires from the speaker.

Bellamy's frustration erupted like a volcano. "Did you hear her?" he yelled at Jaha. "The Grounders might listen to Octavia now, but that won't last forever. I am opening that door."

Jaha was unyielding, his face a mask of resolve. "Our people are safe now. We cannot jeopardize that."

Bellamy's stance hardened. "Then you'll have to kill me to stop me."

I stood frozen, a storm of guilt and remorse raging inside me. If only I had stayed silent, continued with my mundane tasks, none of this would have happened. Jaha's words had been a poison, leading me to betray my own.

"Easy, Bellamy," Miller tried to reason, his voice strained as he and the other guards advanced.

But Bellamy, fueled by desperation and love for his sister, made a bold move. He tackled a guard, a brief glimmer of hope shining through, only to be quickly subdued by Miller and another guard. Just as he almost reached the door, a guard jabbed a shock lasher into his back. He collapsed to the ground, a groan of pain escaping his lips.

He turned his gaze to me, eyes filled with pain and accusation, and I could hardly bear to meet his stare. The crushing weight of my actions, the dire consequences they had brought upon us all, was almost too much to bear.