3. HUNTING SHADOWS ᵇᵉˡˡᵃᵐʸ ᵇˡᵃᵏᵉ

1. echoes

-ECHOES-
"But traditions change, and so does blood, apparently."

##

Sairah steps out of the tower of Polis, the heavy doors closing behind her as she pauses at the sight before her. Bellamy and Clarke follow closely, but she's already lost in the scene unfolding around them.

Dozens of her people lay scattered across the courtyard, some dead, others wounded, their pain etched in every line of their faces. The aftermath of defeating Alie was more brutal than she had imagined. She knew there would be consequences, but the reality of it—the wounded clutching their injuries, the elders cradling fallen loved ones—hit her harder than she'd expected.

"Oh, God," Sairah whispers, her voice trembling as her wide eyes take in the devastation.

Clarke's voice breaks through the haze, her tone gentle as she notices the tension in Bellamy's posture. "She'll be okay, Bellamy. Octavia can take care of herself."

Sairah furrows her brows and shifts her gaze to Bellamy, who's scanning the crowd with frantic eyes, searching for his sister. "That's not what I'm worried about," he mutters, his voice tight.

"She won't be charged," Clarke reassures him, her voice steady. "Everyone will say Pike had it coming."

Sairah nods in agreement, turning to Bellamy with a determined look. "And if it ever comes to that, I'll say it was under my orders." She offers him a small, reassuring smile. Bellamy shakes his head, but pulls her closer, his arm wrapped protectively around her as they both return their attention to the suffering around them.

Sairah sighs, her gaze troubled. "How do we tell these people that the world is ending after everything they've been through?"

"We don't," Bellamy replies firmly, his eyes locking onto hers. "Not until we know Alie was telling you the truth."

Sairah meets his gaze, the weight of the situation settling heavily on her shoulders. "It was the truth."

Bellamy holds her gaze for a few seconds, then nods slowly. "Still, keep it to ourselves until we know what we're dealing with and how to stop it."

Sairah watches Bellamy closely, noticing how his eyes dart anxiously around the scene and how his brows knit together in worry. "You're afraid of how people will react," she finally breathes out, her voice soft yet understanding.

Bellamy meets her gaze, sighing deeply. "Yes," he admits. "And besides, I could use a break from keeping you alive."

Sairah squints at him, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips despite the gravity of the situation. They both know she's more than capable of keeping herself alive. "You gave them back their pain, Sairah," Bellamy continues, his tone serious. "Let's not add to it by telling them they're going to die in six months."

Sairah sighs, the weight of his words pressing on her. After a moment, she nods, first to him and then to Clarke. "Once your people are safe, go home and get to work. Find a way out of this. Neither your people nor mine have survived this long just to let a little radiation take us out."

As her words hang in the air, a woman's piercing scream shatters the tense quiet, pulling them all back to the harsh reality around them. Sairah exchanges a quick look with Bellamy and Clarke before rushing toward the source of the scream. Her heart skips a beat when she sees a woman kneeling beside a man's lifeless body, her cries filled with anguish.

Sairah's breath catches in her throat as she recognizes the man—the same one she saw in the City of Light.

"He didn't fall," Bellamy mutters beside her, his voice low and strained.