Hopeless - (Bellamy Blake - Book 2)

Chapter 27.

"They're back!"

My head turns as those words reach my ears, and I look towards the gate to where a few people run over.

I move as fast as I can with the crutches, forcing myself to put a little extra weight on my right leg. I'm never gonna get better if I don't learn to live with the pain.

Clarke, her mom, Finn, and Raven enter through the gates with a few guards and...Chancellor Jaha?

What the fuck? I thought he was left in space?

Shocked gasps and whispers run through the crowd that quickly starts to form, and I suddenly find myself being pushed to the side.

"Hey!" I call out, grunting and wincing in pain as I realign myself. "Move," I grumble, trying to push past people.

I sigh when I realise I can't get any closer, and opt for heading to the side to wait. A few minutes later, I perk up when Abby and Jaha are escorted inside the Ark, and I rush to follow a familiar brunet.

"Finn!" I call out. He turns at the sound of my voice and visibly relaxes when he sees me hobbling towards him. "Hey, what—"

I'm cut off from saying anything further as Finn has wrapped his arms around me tight, engulfing me in a bone crushing hug.

"Chris. Thank god you're alright."

I close my eyes and hug him back, only letting go when he does. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen." He looks down at my leg.

"It's okay, Finn." I nod at him, watch him warily. I know better than to ask how he's doing, but I want to know.

"Don't look at me like that." He says to me, but there's no harshness in his tone. He just sounds...defeated.

"I'm not." I shake my head. "Trust me, I'm not one to judge." He nods at me, and I take his hand in mine. "I'm here for you, whatever you need. If you want to talk, we can. If you don't...that's okay, too. But I'm here, Finn. I'm not gonna let you go through this alone."

He slowly nods at me, and I offer a small smile. "What happened today?"

Finn sighs. "A lot. We found the radio tower but didn't destroy it, Raven managed to find Mount Weather's frequency, so we're gonna listen to them. Find a way to use this against them."

"Good plan."

He watches me. "Bellamy isn't with us, he and Octavia went to find a way inside the mountain. I'm sure they're fine."

I nod, biting my tongue, and watch as Finn shifts uncomfortably. "What is it?" I ask.

He looks away from me. "Grounders are coming, Chris."

My heart sinks.

"What?" I ask, suddenly breathless.

"Jaha was their prisoner. He was let free with a message from their new Commander." Finn looks at me with a sour, painful expression. "They'll be here in two days. We can either leave, or face them in a slaughter."

A nauseas feeling settles in my stomach. We've been here before. Run, or die by hand of the Grounders.

And it didn't end well for us last time.

*

It isn't long before this message is distributed around the camp, and everyone starts to gather at the entrance to the Ark, waiting for Abby and Jaha to emerge and tell us what the hell is going on.

Finn and I join them, watching as the pair walk out, and the voices around us quiet, but an uneasiness still settles around us.

I turn my head as Clarke comes to stand between us.

"By now, you've all heard the rumour." Abby begins. "And unfortunately, it's true. The Grounders are coming." Whispers run through the crowd. "We have a difficult decision to make. Thankfully, Chancellor Jaha has found his way back to us, and we're discussing all options."

I shuffle on my feet as Jaha steps forward. "But to be safe," he says, moving to a higher position so all can see and hear him, "you need to pack. Now. Whatever you can carry. We may need to leave at a moment's notice."

"Where will we go?" Someone in the crowd asks.

"I don't know," Jaha shakes his head, "is the answer."

Gee, some answer Chancellor. I shake my head.

"But, I heard of a place." Jaha continues. "A City of light. It's across the Dead Zone." He points to the distance, and I frown.

"City of light?" I whisper to Clarke and Finn, who look at me with equally confused expressions.

"What makes you think we'll make it there?" Someone else asks.

"Because we made it here. I have faith." Jaha says. "And right now...given the alternative...that's good enough for me."

"Not for us." Clarke steps forward, determination on her face.

A few people in the crowd mumble and turn to look at her—at us.

"If we leave here, what happens to our people in Mount Weather?" She asks.

"As your mother said," Jaha announces, "that is a very difficult decision to make. But the time has come for each and every one of us to ask, is this how the story of our people, ends? Did we come all this way, just to die tomorrow? Because if we're not gone by the time that sun rises, that is exactly what will happen."

I clench my jaw as Abby says, "No decision's been made. In the meantime, please report to your station supervisor and gather emergency supplies."

The crowd murmurs and starts to disperse, and I watch a knowing look pass between Clarke and her mother.

I step towards her, at the same time someone comes barrelling through, grabbing Clarke's arm.

"Bellamy?" She looks up at him. "Where have you been?"

My body stiffens at his sudden presence and closeness, and I take a step back. Bellamy glances sideways at me and I try my best not to scowl at him, focusing on keeping my anger in check instead. We're in a public setting, after all.

He says to Clarke, his voice low, "In the Dropship. You need to come back with me, right now."

"Why? What's happened?" Clarke asks.

"I'll explain on the way. Bring a med kit. Meet me at Raven's gate." Bellamy turns, locks eyes with me and hesitates...before disappearing in the crowd.

I resist scoffing and look to Finn as he steps towards us.

"This is my fault." He says. "The Grounders are attacking because of me."

Clarke steps closer to him. "The Grounders are attacking because that's what they do."

I watch them, but have to look away, suddenly feeling like I'm prying on a private moment.

Finn looks down and shakes his head. "Go with Bellamy. Your mom said no decision has been made. If that changes, I'll let you know."

Clarke nods at him and then turns to me. I bring my eyes up again to look at her. "You'll be okay here?"

"Do I have a choice?" She gives me a serious look. "Fine," I say blandly, then add, "be careful." She puts a comforting hand on my arm as she moves past me.