This Side of Paradise

Chapter 4

They had all run from the spot where Jasper had fallen—his scream still echoing in Aspen's ears—and now, breathless and shaken, they stood at the edge of the forest, staring back at where he'd once been.

"He was right there," Clarke said, shaking her head in disbelief. Her voice trembled.

"No. Where is he?" Monty panted, the pain in his voice plain as day. His eyes searched the trees, desperate.

"They took him," Clarke whispered. Disbelief laced every word, and even Aspen felt her stomach twist at the sound of it.

Aspen tilted her head, still staring toward the blood-soaked clearing. "So we go find whatever creature took him and make them wish they were never born."

"Look," Finn said, stepping forward, his voice maddeningly calm. "Aspen, we don't know what's out there. We don't know what they're capable of. We need weapons. Or at least something."

Aspen rolled her eyes and turned to Octavia. Her best friend's face was pale, but determined.

"Although I don't agree with Finn's pussy thoughts," Aspen said, flashing a quick grin, "Octavia needs to get back to camp. Girl, you're honestly so badass for making it this far on that leg. I would've been bitching non-stop."

Octavia huffed and crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "I'm fine. But I think we should go get my brother—he has a gun."

Everyone turned toward her.

"Well," Finn said, crossing his arms, "that would certainly help."

His expression was carefully unreadable, but Aspen could tell the idea of bringing Bellamy into anything didn't sit right with him.

They began walking back to camp. Aspen and Monty took turns helping Octavia along, and Monty kept blushing whenever one of them joked. Aspen filled the silence with a half-finished story.

"So this one time my father had to go to a meeting with Kane, and I was left alone and—" Her words were cut off by sudden screaming and cheering in the distance.

They were close to camp.

Aspen met Monty's eyes. Without a word, he adjusted his grip on Octavia, taking more of her weight so Aspen could run ahead. She sprinted toward the noise, her heart pounding.

She arrived just in time to hear Clarke's voice ring out.

"Wells!"

Aspen shoved past Finn and came to a dead stop.

Wells had Murphy in a chokehold.

The sight made her blood boil.

"Wells, I swear to God, if you don't let go of him, I'll end you here and now," Aspen growled, stomping forward with fists clenched.

Clarke stood between them but didn't try to stop her. "Let him go, Wells. She will kill you—and I'll let her."

Wells exhaled sharply and released Murphy. He stumbled free and didn't even look at Wells—his eyes were on Aspen.

He came straight toward her, his hands landing on her shoulders, grounding her. Aspen didn't look at him at first, still watching the others, but she was hyperaware of his presence—his touch, his gaze, the way he hadn't moved away.

Then came Bellamy's voice.

"Octavia."

He was halfway down the hill already, rushing to his sister's side.

"Are you alright?" he asked, eyes scanning her as Monty helped her limp forward.

"I'm fine," she said, though her weight leaned into her brother's side. Bellamy helped her the rest of the way down and turned to scan the rest of the group. Murphy's right hand was still on Aspen's shoulder, fingertips ghosting along her skin, and his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.