Heartless ~ Bellamy Blake

Chapter Eleven

Pain makes people change.

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I wake up in my tent in a good mood. I actually got some sleep and was happy for the day. I hope no ones ruins it. I throw my long hair into a ponytail and walk out. It was early like very early. The sun hadn't even risen yet.

I walk in without a second thought. I see Ryker making bows for his arrow. My feet shuffling causing the cave to echo makes my presence now known. Ryker stands up quickly but sits back down once realizing it was me. "Ready for that sword lesson?" He laughs and puts everything down.

"No, well I mean yes." I shake my head. " but I came for your help actually." I say as I walk closer to him. He looks at me with concerned eyes.

"With what?" He questioned. I now have his full attention as he stares at me.

"Lincoln. He helped Octavia and my people took it the wrong way and I don't know what to do, Ryker," He stands up now coming face to face with me. "Tell me everything."

"Lincoln stabbed one of our people and my people tortured him for the antidote." I pause as Ryker open his mouth to say something but he closes it quickly and nods for me to continue.

"He's okay right now, I just can't get him out without being seen." I finish.

"That's where I come in?" He asks.

"That's where you come in." I agree.

"Do your people pick the nuts from the nearby trees?" He questions after a long pause.

"Yea I mean, there collecting them, but what does that have to do with---." I'm cut off by Ryker moving to a table picking something up.

"Like these." He asks. I nod my head yes and he smiles. I raise my eyebrows at him in confusion.

"It's almost winter, these are jobi nuts. There only safe to eat in the fall." He says and hands me one. I examine it before handing it back to him.

"What happens if you eat them now?" I question.

"People see things, some have a good reaction, some bad."

"Like Hallucinations." I mumble to myself. "This could work." I say looking at him. "If Octavia can get him out of the dropship, will you help him back?" I ask.

"Yes but how will you keep your leader away?" He questions. I look up at him a smile. He quickly gets the hint and smile and nods.

"Now we have that figured out." Ryker says walking over to a corner in the cave. "Here, Happy early Birthday" He smiles putting a blade in my outstretched hands. I smile and admire the detail and look up at him. "You remembered?" I ask. I had told Ryker my birthday was gonna be soon the first time I met him. We had talked about the ark and the laws of execution. Tomorrow it was my 18th Birthday, I would've been floated. On Unity day of all days.

He chuckles and nods "You ready?" and I nod my head excitingly.
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Ryker and I have been at it for hours, it seemed like every ten seconds he was fixing my form or I was pinned down by his sword. It felt like I was going no where with this. I was now frustrated and tired. I stop fighting. "Am I getting any better?" I question him and he laughs. Which only fuels my frustration more. He circles around me as I stand still.

"It's only day one, King. But yes you're a natural." He says and I nod. I feel him lift his sword to strike and I quickly turn hitting mine against his. He kicks one of my feet out from under me causing me to fall on one knee. His blade and my blade pushing against each other for control. I muster up all the strength I have and push off causing him to stumble into the wall of the cave. I stand up quickly before clinking my sword against his and it fling out of his hands. I smile and there's a silent mutual agreement that were done. I pick up his sword and hand it to him which he accepts and nods.