"Rich?" Faye ran up to him as he turned to face her. She hugged him tightly until she finally pulled away. "Where's Nia?" Faye asked with a hopeful smile.
"She died." Rich said with his head hung. "Abby said it was a genetic illness." He told her.
"What?" Rich pulled Faye in and let her cry on his shoulder.
When Faye finally thought she had found a moment of silence to herself, she heard Bellamy approaching the top of the crumbled building.
"Rich told me what happened." Bellamy said when he saw Faye's red eyes. He sat next to her and pulled her close.
"I don't know what happened down there. I wasn't there for her. I didn't get to say goodbye. I'm never there to say goodbye." Faye said, beating herself up about everything from the past. Everything that happened long ago, it all came flooding in.
"It's not your fault." Bellamy hugged her tightly.
Even as he was right in front of her, Faye missed him. She missed every moment she couldn't have with him for 5 years.
- - -
Faye found Indra and the two walked through the city together.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down." Faye heard Bellamy say. "Where are you going?"
Faye left Indra's side and walked towards Clarke, who was heading after Miller.
"Wish I could tell you, Bellamy." Miller said.
"Octavia told you not to?" Bellamy asked.
"They're going to Shallow Valley." Faye said. Faye stormed off. She was on her way to find Octavia.
"Faye. Faye!" She ignored Miller following her. He grabbed her arm and stopped her. "You can't do whatever the hell you want here."
"One day out of the bunker and you think you or Octavia can tell me what to do." Faye scoffed.
"I'm guessing you're moving ahead of the army, to scout forward terrain." Clarke said. "Which route are you taking?"
Miller didn't answer.
"It's sandstorm season. The wind moves in a predictable path. We've made the trip dozens of times. Trust me. You need our help."
Clarke and Faye walked towards a building where Octavia was planning for war.
"I'm not helping Octavia lead my people to war." Faye whispered to Clarke.
"I'm not either." Clarke told her.
"What are you thinking?" Indra asked as the group walked in.
"My question exactly." Clarke said.
"Miller, your orders were to go--"
"I know my orders." Miller interrupted the woman as he took down his hood. "I think we should listen to what Clarke and Faye have to say."
"You can't take the sea route." Clarke said.
"Why? Faye said the sea is gone." Indra pointed out. "Is it passable or not?"
"Yes, maybe. But you have to understand--" Clarke started.
"Maybe's good enough for me." Octavia cut her off. "Let's move out."
Faye grabbed Octavia's arm to stop her and was met with everyone in the room raising their weapons at her.
"O." Bellamy grabbed Faye's arm and stood between them.
"Stand down." Octavia glared over Bellamy's shoulder at Faye.
"Please, O, just hear us out." Bellamy pleaded.
"Octavia, we're all on the same team." Clarke said. "No one wants to get to that valley more than me and Faye. It's our home. But this way is too risky."
"Risky how?" Indra asked.
"Show me." Octavia said.
Clarke walked over to the map. "You chose the shortest route, which makes sense, but the dry seabed is hit by almost constant sandstorms." She explained.
"We have the tents from the second dawn." Octavia said. "Sand won't be a problem."
"It's not just sand." Faye said. "Some of it crystallized in Praimfaya. Shards of glass like razor blades. Your tents will be torn to shreds and so will you." She explained, even when Octavia seemed to stop listening.
"Bloodreina is right. Besides, we can only carry rations for 7 days. The sea route will take 6. The next shortest path adds 50 miles. That's two days if we're lucky." Cooper said.
"How do we know there won't be sandstorms on the longer routes?" Indra asked.
"Enough." Octavia said. "We're doing this. The hydrofarm is barely feeding us now, so if this is the last living valley on Earth, then it should be ours." She looked Faye in the eyes, daring her to try and fight for control.
"Diyoza thinks the same thing." Bellamy said.
"And so we fight."
"You will lead everyone to death." Faye said.
"They should be so lucky to face a warrior's death." Octavia snapped.
"A pointless one, you mean." Faye said. "What kind of queen will you be when your people are all slaughtered?" She asked rhetorically.
"Move out." Octavia ordered, ignoring Faye's words.
"Your sister needs you, Bellamy." Indra said when they were all gone. "I'm glad you're here for her." Indra went towards the door, stopping just before Faye. "And our people need their Commander."
Faye watched Indra hold out her hand. Faye grabbed her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Indra let go and went to the door. "There are packs with rations here by the door." She said and left.
"Am I crazy or were they gonna kill you for getting in her way?" Bellamy asked, placing his hand on Faye's shoulder.
"What do we do?" Clarke shook her head.
"Raven and Murphy are in trouble. I have to go with them. Six-day hike through sandstorm country gladiator cults! What could go wrong?" Bellamy offered a pack to Faye.
"After you." Clarke grabbed her own and let them both walk out.
***
Sorry this is so late. Work and softball have really beat me up, but I'm glad to get back to Faye and Bellamy.
YOU ARE READING
Atlantis
Fanfiction"I'm sorry, I just can't pretend to be something like that." "But you are something. You are Worheda." Faye kom Trikru will have to put her past behind her to save her future and people.
