Love At First Sight (1)

Chapter 4: Loose Cannons

Following the map was a job given to Finn, who led the group through the woods without stoping for a break once. Mackenzie thought since leaving Camp Jaha that the one person she couldn't trust here was Murphy, but her green eyes never left the back of Finn's head. She kept picturing the dead grounder back at the bunker, the one he had no mercy on. She had known Finn since they landed, and he's always been the first one to stop fights that broke out. He even was the first to try for a peace treaty, despite it going horribly wrong. Mackenzie never thought she's see him shoot a man they held captive because he might escape.

The thin trees shifted through the whistle of the wind. It offers no coolness due to the hot sunlight radiating down on them. Mackenzie had still kept her jacket on, not hot enough, but Murphy seemed to be. He had been behind her, alongside Monroe and Sterling, panting with sweat shining on his forehead and damping his hair, "Everyone, eyes peeled" Bellamy announced, "We're in grounder territory"

"Everything is grounder territory, alright?" Murphy snapped breathlessly, coming to a stop. Mackenzie paused, her hair flying to the other side as she looked at him over her shoulder, "I can't keep running. We don't even know if the guy Finn killed was telling the truth!" Mackenzie hated it, but she couldn't help but agree. She sent a helpless look to Bellamy.

Meanwhile, Finn marched past them. He grabbed Murphy by the upper arm, hauling him forward with a shove, "Keep moving" He ordered with no emotion

"We can give him a minute" Bellamy cut it, holding up a hand

"No, we can't!" Finn shouted in protest, "You heard what the grounder said. They'll outlive their usefulness" He quoted

A dark look crosses Bellamy's face, "I heard what he said when you had a gun to his head" He fires back. Mackenzie's eyes flickered to Finn, waiting for an explanation. He hadn't said a word their entire journey, only continuing like nothing had happened.

Finn's eyes squint with an expression of disbelief, "Look, you think wanted to do that?" He questioned, " He would have told his people we're coming, and by the time we got there, out people would be dead. Maybe that's something you can live with, but I can't!" His voice raised. Mackenzie reminded quiet, letting the argument continue, knowing she couldn't choose a side. They both had points, but she felt guilt knowing it was possible they didn't have a choice.

"Hey!" Bellamy brought his hand to Finn's shoulder, stopping him from walking past, "You did what you think you had to do, but you are not yourself right now. And I can't be out here with another loose canon"
"Guys" A new voice speaking up catches Mackenzie's attention. She snaps her head to the side, being that Monroe had wandered off a few feet from them. She shortly jogs across the trail, catching up with the others, but she stumbled to another stop. Eyes widening, Mackenzie's jaw fell open, observing the sight with shock. There's one human body that definitely doesn't look like a grounder is hidden in the tall grass, his black jacket with The Ark's symbol stitched on the arm showing prominently, but he's not the only one. Mackenzie can tell by the smell.

Gun cocked, Bellamy took the lead, "Fall in" He commanded. Mackenzie followed, notice the smell grow so much more rancid as they walk. She labeled it as rotting flesh when they delved deeper, only seeing more bodies strewn everywhere. Scrap metal accompanies the corpses, sticking out of the ground, and causing Mackenzie to step over more carefully. She's sick at the sight but swallows it like a lump in her throat. There's nothing they can do for them now, but it didn't stop her from wondering how they got here.

"Where the hell did they come from?" Murphy breaks the silence, closely looking at another male they pass

"The Ark" Mackenzie answered, voice slightly wavering. She clears her throat, nodding in the direction of the body, "Look at his jacket. It's one of the guards"