✓ 2. SHADOW HUNTER ᵇᵉˡˡᵃᵐʸ ᵇˡᵃᵏᵉ

24. ontari

-ONTARI-
If this doesn't kill her, then surely Trikova is immortal.

##

"Move, move, move," Bellamy whisper-shouts as he leads the way through the tunnels, his voice urgent but controlled. Sairah and the others, all except for Clarke and Roan, follow closely behind him. "Come on. Let's go."

After Clarke decided to go with Roan as his prisoner, she and Bellamy had a heated conversation that lasted longer than Sairah liked. They wasted precious time arguing until Bellamy finally agreed, and Clarke and Roan left for Polis. This left Sairah and the others to navigate the labyrinthine tunnels on their own.

The group moves swiftly but cautiously through the narrow passages. The air is damp and cool, and the walls are lined with ancient roots and vines that have long since taken over the underground network. Every sound seems amplified in the confined space, making stealth crucial.

It takes the group a few tense minutes to reach a section of the tunnel where a small window, barred with rusted grates, is the only feature breaking the monotony of the stone walls. Bellamy stops and signals for the group to halt.

"Get these grates open," Bellamy orders, giving Miller a pointed look.

Miller nods and quickly sets to work, pulling out a toolkit and working to pry the grates loose. His hands move with practiced efficiency, the metal creaking as he applies pressure.

Sairah takes the opportunity to remove both her gladius swords from their hip holders, her grip firm and steady. She takes a deep breath, her eyes scanning the tunnels for any sign of movement. The silence is oppressive, broken only by the faint sounds of Miller's efforts and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.

"Sairah?"

The girl turns her head, her eyes connecting with Bellamy's as he walks over, stopping just a few inches away from her. "Can we talk?"

Sairah looks up at him, her brows pulling together in question before she gives him a slight nod.

Bellamy gently grabs her wrist, pulling her to the side and out of earshot. "How are you feeling?"

Sairah raises a brow at him, giving him a skeptical look. "Seriously, Bellamy? We don't have—"

"Yes, seriously," Bellamy interrupts, giving her a pointed look. "How are you feeling, Sairah? You were shot just a few days ago and you're already on your feet." He reminds her. "I'm allowed to be worried."

Sairah takes a step back, her expression hardening. "Worried? Really?" She raises another brow, rolling her eyes at him before walking past him, muttering under her breath. "You should've worried about me when you were killing my people."

Bellamy sighs deeply, his head rolling back as he grapples with the weight of their fractured relationship. It's his fault, it always is, but he's been trying to learn from his mistakes.

When Bellamy returns to the group, he catches the tail end of Miller and Bryan's conversation. Bryan, gazing down at his gun, asks, "Are we ever gonna be done fighting?"

"Hell yes," Miller sighs, his tone filled with weary determination. "We're gonna build a house on a lake..." He trails off, the hope in his voice a stark contrast to their grim surroundings.

Sairah lets her mind drift, picturing the scene Miller describes. Surprisingly, the image in her mind isn't just of a peaceful lake house—it's of her and Bellamy living there together. The thought catches her off guard, stirring feelings she hasn't had the luxury to explore amidst the chaos.