I'll be the Bad Guy

Chapter 19: Heavens Will

The warriors are ready to leave, and the tents have all been packed up. I look back to the field and stare at a bare stretch of green grass and dirt.

The warriors prepare to march and some ride horses pulling large wagons with tent materials and food in it.

In the front of the group, the Commander wears her traditional armor and warpaint and effortlessly mounts a large black horse. Her posture is tall and confident as she speaks down to a warrior below her in her other language.

Indra is in heavy conversation with Octavia, and they are sitting next to each other on their horses. Octavia rides a large black and white horse while Indra rides a brown one. Anya rides past me on another brown horse, making her way beside the Commander.

Raven and I look at each other worriedly due to our lack of riding skills.

Soon after, two riders pull their horses next to us, signaling for us to hop on.

Raven takes a few seconds, but she manages to pull herself up and in front of the warrior. She does so not very gracefully but she makes good time. I look up at the large white horse standing before me and cringe on the inside. It is time to leave, and the Commander watches me, waiting for me to get on before she signals to start marching.

I feel the burn of her, Anya's, and everyone else's stare as I struggle to get onto the horse.

My first attempt leaves me short, dropping back down. A second time, I pull myself up but drape myself headfirst over the other side of the horse. A third time, I manage to get on but fall off the other side immediately. I'm sitting in the dirt, embarrassed ready to try a fourth time when I feel a pair of strong hands lift me off the ground and twist around my waist, pulling me up and onto the horse easily as if I were weightless. I turn to thank the warrior and see long brown hair, intricately braided turning in the wind as the Commander walks back to her horse casually.

I gulp down my embarrassment and pray that the warrior sitting behind me can't hear my heartbeat. Raven stares at me, eyes wide and mouth gaping open. I blush and look down at the reins of the horse.

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Monty's POV-

I lick my plate clean of the remnants of the cherry pie I finished, only to be handed a second slice.

"I assume you have many questions." Dante speaks.

"Oh. Yes."

"I'm all ears." He laughs, watching me dive into the 2nd slice.

"Where are we?" I ask mouth full of crust.

"We are inside Mount Weather. There are 384 residents living here. 184 men, 174 women, and 26 children." He smiles.

"Why did you take us?"

"We didn't take you, we saved you." He redirects.

"We couldn't have you outside living in tents with those savages."

"The grounders?"

"If that's what you call them. Yes."

"I guess you're technically grounders, too." I laugh, finishing my pie again.

They do not laugh, but Dante musters a diplomatic grin.

"So why are we here?" I repeat.

"I'll be frank. We want to offer you a place to live. You have something we need."

"What's that?"

"Your blood."

I laugh as if this is an odd joke, but I'm met with blank stares back.