Book 1: We are grounders - The 100 (Raven Reyes x reader)

Episode 5 - Twilight's last gleaming

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The camp was a flickering sea of torchlight, casting long shadows against the trees as night fully claimed the sky. Riley sat among the scattered embers of their temporary home, absently running her fingers through her frayed brown hair, damaged from the unrelenting chaos they'd endured. The cool breeze tugged at the strands, but her attention remained fixed on the sky. Octavia stood beside her, silent but present, as they both stared upward, their shared gaze locking onto the stars. For a moment, Riley thought she had glimpsed a shooting star—some fleeting hope to hold onto—but it wasn't. The shape had been too deliberate, too metallic. It was a pod, not a miracle.

Around her, murmurs of hope sparked through the camp like wildfire. The others believed the Ark was sending help, that salvation had arrived. But Riley felt an unease settle deep in her chest. She wasn't convinced. Glancing across the campfire, her eyes caught Bellamy's, and she could tell he wasn't convinced either. His expression, normally so stoic, was tight with a fear he couldn't disguise.

Inside the tent, Bellamy was speaking in low, hushed tones to one of the boys. Riley hovered outside for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. Octavia slipped in after her brother, always the protective sibling. Bellamy, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, barked his orders like a battle-hardened soldier.

"No one is going anywhere, not while it's dark. It's not safe," he said, his voice carrying the weight of command. "We'll move at first light. Pass the word."

As Octavia and the boy exited the tent, Riley darted inside before Bellamy could slip out. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, her sky-blue eyes betrayed the fear she had kept buried deep. She couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I know I'm not in your top five favorite people list, Bellamy," she said, her voice trembling, "but when they get here, they'll kill me. I know it."

Bellamy's expression softened just a fraction. He stepped closer, his hand already reaching out to pull her to her feet. "Don't worry. I've got a plan. We can't stay here. We'll talk in the forest."

Without another word, they bolted from the camp, the trees quickly swallowing them in their vast, dark embrace. Hours blurred together as they ran, the heavy silence broken only by the rhythmic pounding of their feet against the forest floor. When the first rays of dawn broke through the canopy, Riley finally spoke, her breath coming in short gasps.

"So? You've been quiet this whole time. What's the plan?" she asked, her frustration spilling out with the question.

Bellamy slowed his pace for the first time, dragging in deep breaths. "I did something, Riley. Something bad. They'll kill me if they find out."

Riley shot him a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. What could be worse than being branded one of the Ark's most dangerous criminals? After all, they had both danced too close to death, barely surviving long enough to even set foot on the ground. "What did you do, Blake?"

Bellamy ran a hand through his hair, his voice dropping to a low, guilt-ridden rasp. "I shot the chancellor."

The words hung heavy in the air between them. For a moment, Riley could only stare at him, trying to process the gravity of his confession. Then, against her better judgment, a grin tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Well, that took some guts," she said, sizing him up. "I guess it wasn't for nothing."

His eyes darkened as he glared at her. "This is serious, Riley!"

They fell silent again, their footfalls echoing through the forest as they resumed their pace, carefully dodging fallen branches and jagged rocks. The tension between them was thick, but before Riley could say anything else, a familiar voice broke through the early morning haze.