After the End [ The 100 ]

24. Trigger happy buddies

day trip

[eiden]

We've walked for hours to the coordinates. Despite this, it's too cold for sweat. I'm only warmed by Clarke's proximity to me, but that's only because she's just sped up.

Through the tall dead grass, I follow after, just as she softly calls out, "Over here. I found a door."

Sitting in the pale, mostly clearing, is what I can't believe Clarke recognizes as a door. It's deep underground, embedded in foliage, and two black handles stick up from it. She and Bellamy crouch down beside it, and he lets Clarke do the honors.

She's way too confident in trying to open it, because it doesn't budge and she moves a bit backward. I'm there with my hand at the small of her back, sending a chuckle and smile her way.

"Bellamy?" I request while putting my hand on it.

We give each other a long look, and Bellamy and I count down from three with our eyes before tugging on the handle. Thankfully it worked.

With my hand on the cool metal, I gesture inside. "After you."

Clarke rolls her eyes. "My knight in shining armor. What would I do without you." Her voice drips sarcasm, and I resist laughing.

"Careful down there Princess," Bellamy adds, and it just feels like the cherry on top.

The pang of annoyance is familiar with Bellamy, but the newfound jealousy is uncharted territory. As weird as it is, I follow behind Clarke down the concrete steps.

She shines a flashlight at us despite the afternoon light glaring through the opening.

I narrowly avoid the wall someone could easily crash into.

"Emergency Aid Depot," Clarke tells me, still shining her light so Bellamy doesn't hurt himself.

I've already read the words and smiled. "Yes, Clarke, I did make it through first grade."

She turns her attention to Bellamy, and they talk as we walk, eventually coming to another height of stairs.

"Watch your step," she warns.

Laying in a crumpled position is what she warned us about. My eyes easily glide over the clothed skeleton just a few centimeters from my foot. Who would sleep on the stairs? My disinterested eyes only lift to watch where I'm going.

We reach what should be a goldmine. Even though I try to make myself useful, it's obvious nothing down here is. "Place said number twenty-three. Maybe there are others nearby."

"Jaha would've mentioned it," Clarke sighs. She shakes her head and walks away from me, off to find something else. "They must have distributed most of the supplies before the last bombs went off."

"Yeah. To depots one through twenty-two," I add a tad bit sarcastically.

"Except these. Blankets," she turns and holds them up.

My eyebrows lift along with the corners of my mouth. I mean, winter's coming. Nights are cold as it is. The tarps easily stick with sweat, and honestly we should be using them for rain protection.

"Excited about a couple of blankets?" Bellamy goes, and my face falls.

"You don't have to use them Bellamy," I say exasperatedly without turning to him. "When you find what you're looking for, you let us know."

"It's something. We'll use them," Clarke says. I know it's her way of keeping the peace.

"How about a canteen or a med kit or a decent fricking tent?"