Winwolfa (A Roan x Female OC Fanfic)

Chapter 37

*TW-Torture, suicide*

Astrid fought tooth and nail despite the four men who held each limb. Rope dug into the fresh wounds along her wrist. Even as they tied her wrists to the large wooden 'X', she still managed to land a solid kick to one of their faces. They didn't hesitate to lay a right cross against her face and sent her head reeling. Stars blinded her vision, but her focus refused to move from Tilda.

Until she saw two masked men drag a limp body, blood trailing behind them. Astrid didn't need to see who lied behind those dark, earthy locks. 

Another wave of panic surged through her as she watched them throw Roan to his knees before her feet. Blood was leaking from his shoulder from the gunshot, and he had been beaten black and blue. His face was nearly unrecognizable with the amount of blood across it. And he was dancing with death just as Astrid was. His eyes fluttered open to meet the Queen in front of him, growing wide in shock.

"Astrid... No..." He whispered out as he stared upon her tied to the crucifix. Even during all their training, he had never seen so much endurance come from one woman.  The Mountain Men, playing assassin, Ontari's fury. She had survived it all. In his eyes, Astrid was the pinnacle of strength.

Astrid could hear the heavy footsteps behind her but couldn't place the origin of it. Tilda was pacing around her cousin, contemplating the next move. "The King and Queen. Both equally stubborn, if not for themselves, then for each other."

Astrid shook her head frantically as she looked upon Roan. "Whatever they do... don't do it. Have faith in Clarke."

"Take the chip." Tilda told Roan in a stoic, robotic voice. Astrid ground her teeth.

 This couldn't be happening. This was all wrong. She still couldn't comprehend how ALIE had gathered complete and utter control of so many people, controlling every thought, every muscle, every fiber of their being.

There she was, nearly identical to the last moment Astrid saw her. Soft orange curls cascaded down her back and framed her pale face. Pastel blue robes flowed down her body. Despite the gloominess of the city around them, her cheeks were still pink tinged. Her smile was almost Tilda's. Almost, if there wasn't that robotic component to it.

Roan managed to look up to her, rancor heavy on his voice, "You'll have to kill me before I take the chip."

Tilda shifted her eyes from Roan to Astrid. There was a different kind of emptiness within them. Artificial. While Astrid was in the basement of her mind, unable to fully comprehend what was happening, Tilda's soul was peering through the windows. Aware and alert, yet... gone. Everything in the world froze. It was a nightmare coming to life. A fake smile rolled upon her face as she stared upon the white-haired Queen.

"I know, Cousin." Though the comment was met for Roan, Tilda was facing Astrid, "But it is not your death you should offer so freely. It is hers."

Terror surged through Roan like a sickness. Once feeble, he was now fighting against the guards that held him against the stone floors. His body was weak, teetering between consciousness, but he was willing to die before he let them hurt Astrid.

He had promised she would be safe. Promised that everything was going to be okay. Not only did he break his promise, but he was forced to watch.

"Take the chip, Roan." She told him in that same monotone voice as the others. "All the pain, all the suffering you've been through, since birth. Your mother's words will no longer hang over your head. It can finally be over once you join the City of Light."

"Don't do it." Astrid called out weakly from the crucifix. "Please."

Astrid didn't care what she had to do or what pain she'd endure. Pain was all she knew. All the suffering from her parents and the torture on the Ark, living with Azgeda, then being hunted or hunting during the majority of her time on Earth. Hell, Ontari had given a new definition to pain she had never known existed. Pain and sacrifice allowed her to see the beautiful moments in life. 17 years on the Ark helped her cherish the memories she made on Earth.