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OCTAVIA BLAKE'S (18) head sticks to the cold car window as corn fields blur past the glass. Airpods lodged in her ears, punk music screaming at her brain. Her face has little emotion, just the slightest slump in her bottom lip.
Then, a hand shakes at her shoulder and forces her out of her transfixion. She pulls the pods out of her ears and looks at the man in the driver's seat. Her brother, BELLAMY BLAKE (23).
"What?" she asks with detest in her voice.
Bellamy masks a smile, taking one hand off the steering wheel to point ahead.
Her eyes follow his finger, landing on a large sign made of wood that read: NOW ENTERING ARKADIA. Population: 3,027.
"I talked to the Mayor this morning, he said we're a part of that number change now," Bellamy grins, returning his hands to the wheel. "Isn't that cool? A small town... Wow."
Octavia shakes her head. "A small town, in the middle of nowhere. It's probably full of hillbillies and truckers."
Bellamy sighs, his face forming to be a little more serious. "Look, I know you don't love the idea of moving here, but this job I was offered, it's really gonna set us up good, O. I know it."
Octavia puts her Airpods back in. "Whatever you say, Big Brother."
The car passes the welcome sign, sending leaves flying with the breeze.
The further the car moves, the more Octavia can see...
A big, single-shot road straight through the center of town, with smaller roads lining off of it, going to neighborhoods and facilities. A bunch of shops, small businesses, and a diner to the left. A police station, a fire department, a medical unit, and a traveler's hut to the right. Several people walking up and down the roadside.
Bellamy steers off in front of the traveler's hut. A dark wooden shack with postings of maps on the outside bulletin.
His head looks at Octavia, watching her silently for a moment before resting his palm on her shoulder. "Can you put on a smile for me just this once? Please."
Octavia takes a deep breath, then unbuckles her seatbelt. Her airpods fall to her hands, then her pockets. "Okay, but if even one of these old wrinkly men give me an eye, I'm snapping!"
Bellamy nodded. "That's fair."
They both step out of the car and slowly approach the hut. Bellamy takes a breath, then brings his knuckles to knock, but the door swings open before he can make contact.
A man with a bright smile stands in the doorway, like he was waiting for the right moment to open it. "You must be the Blakes."
Bellamy waves a hand, "and you must be Mayor Thelonious."
The Mayor (55) swats a playful hand, "just call me JAHA. It's easier on the tongue." He looks behind himself, toward the inside of the hut. "Come on inside, let me give you the rundown."
Jaha walks forward as the Blakes linger for a moment. Bellamy leans down to Octavia's ear and whispers, "see, he's nice."
Octavia raises her brows. "One nice man means nothing."
They enter the hut.
To the right, sits a small bench and a display of brochures, plus a plant on a table. To the left, is the welcoming desk and a young man with a name patch that reads: WELLS (18).
Octavia's eyes stick to him for a moment, until his eyes catches hers and she looks away.
Jaha comes walking past them, nudging his head toward Wells. "That's my son, Wells. If I'm not around, he probably will be. Follow me to my office."
YOU ARE READING
Cold Window (The 100 AU)
FanficWhen Bellamy Blake is offered a job in a small town, he and his reluctant sister, Octavia, are forced to move in. They learn the ways of the community and the routes of the roads, but one thing they didn't think they'd have to figure out is... WHO K...
