SOLDIER
book one
It's been 97 years since a nuclear explosion radiated life on Earth and life support on The Ark is now failing. In a desperate attempt to grant the citizens of the SpaceCraft more time, 100 juvenile delinquents are sent down to the...
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A shrieking wail tore through the trees, echoing around the woods as Vivienne's legs finally gave out underneath her. Murphy's body hung limply from the branch above, struggling against the tightening rope. Tears flooded uncontrollably from Vivienne's eyes, her nails digging into the dirt ground beneath her. Her chest tightened, a physical ache gripping her heart.
The mob around them cheered, a twisted sense of pride coursing through each and every one of them. Bellamy turned away after kicking out the platform from beneath the defenseless boy, but he couldn't escape the haunting cries of Vivienne.
Bellamy forced himself to tear his eyes away from Vivienne's horrified expression, seeking out Clarke instead. "This is on you, Princess!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with accusation as he pointed a trembling finger at her. "You should've kept your mouth shut!" With forceful intent, he pushed her back slightly, causing Clarke to stumble, though she remained fixated on Murphy as he choked.
"What the hell are you doing?" Finn's voice rang out from the back of the crowd as he emerged from the woods."Cut him down!" He pushed his way through the crowd towards Murphy, only to be intercepted by Connor, Mbege, and Myles who held him back.
Tensions escalated quickly, devolving into a chaotic scuffle among the boys. Mbege revealed a makeshift knife, threatening Finn with it held menacingly at his face. Just as the conflict threatened to spiral further out of control, Charlotte's voice pierced through the uproar.
"STOP!" Her cry was desperate, echoing with hurt as she noticed the anguish etched across Vivienne's face. "Murphy didn't kill Wells! I did!"
Vivienne's tears abruptly halted, her breath catching in her throat as the entire camp fell into an eerie silence, all eyes fixated on one of the youngest members present. With unsteady legs, she rose from the ground, still shaking, and stared at Charlotte, her mouth slightly ajar and a mix of disbelief and resentment in her reddened eyes.
"Oh my god," Clarke panted, swiftly snatching Bellamy's axe and slicing through the rope that held Murphy. With a solid thud, he collapsed into the dirt, caught by Finn who bore most of his weight. Yet Vivienne didn't spare him a glance; her eyes remained locked on Charlotte. The girl she had vowed to shield. The girl who had taken a life and let an innocent man take the blame.
Vivienne could hardly recognize the young girl standing before her now.
•••
Still trembling, covered in flaky mud and tender bruises, Vivienne soothingly rubbed her thumbs over her temples, trying to drown out Murphy's threatening shouts from outside the tent. She let out a shaky breath. "Wh-why, Charlotte? Why would you do something like this?" she questioned, struggling to comprehend that Charlotte had actually killed someone.
