𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐍 | the 100

24 | Biological Warfare

"Only for you."

‧ ✩ ｡ ✭ ° ☆ ･ _______ ･ ☆ ° ✭ ｡ ✩ ‧

They're screwed. Amber wakes up with nausea to the camp in hysterics after Bellamy and Clarke snuck off with a group a few hours earlier to reach some kind of agreement with the Grounders. Amber has no idea whose idea it was, but now they're instead at war. Everything would have been fine if they'd just drunk themselves into a hangover like everyone else.

And then there's the Exodus ship, the dropship that was supposed to be the first of many sent from the Ark with doctors, guards, and supplies. It would have been their long-awaited rescue, if only it hadn't mysteriously crashed on the way down while their contact with the Ark simultaneously disappeared. So not only are the 100 in more danger than ever, they are also completely on their own again. Amber still refuses to touch a gun, but she makes sure to always carry a hidden knife in her pocket.

She's unbraiding her hair for an early night, exhausted, when suddenly the tarp of her tent is jerked aside. Ant pops his head inside with wild eyes.

"Amber," he snaps. "Guess what they just found scurrying around camp."

"Don't say a vengeful Grounder," she begs.

"No, worse." A smile tugs at his lips. "Murphy."

Everything stops.

"What?" She must have misheard.

"Yeah. Apparently he's all messed up, but they brought him inside."

"He's here?" she blurts out and stands up while the sudden information ricochets in her mind as she tries to decide whether to believe it or not. Before Ant can respond, she demands, "Where?"

"Zeph said they took him to the dropship."

The moment she has her answer she hurries past him, but then a horrible thought hits her and she halts and looks back.

"What about Bellamy?"

"I don't know." Ant shakes his head, surprised by her reaction.

"Shit." She should be thrilled with joy to have Murphy back but instead she's frenzied with worry. She has to get to him before Bellamy.

Despite the late hour, the atmosphere among the camp's delinquents is charged with tingling curiosity, which means that the news has spread like wildfire. A cluster of people has gathered outside the dropship and just when Amber is about to push past them, Jules steps in her way.

"Amber." She struggles for the words as she glances at the people around them, apparently still willing to keep the alliance between Amber and Murphy a secret, but it's clear what she wants to say. Don't go to him. It's dangerous. Don't risk your neck for Murphy, of all people.

"Let me through." She's already risked more than her neck for him.

Jules opens and closes her mouth, but Amber doesn't give her time to form an argument and slips through. There's more people inside, all standing by awkwardly with assault rifles in their hands. They're in a hesitant, hushed discussion, but she instantly pushes them all aside to reach the inner wall of the dropship. There she stops.

Huddled in the corner is Murphy, a frail ghost of who she left in the forest. Tangles of hair cover his eyes as he sits with a bowed head, staring at his lap where his hands lie and echo something terrible with every finger twitch. His body is a tapestry of wounds and scars etched in blood across his skin.

She sinks to her knees beside him and he finally lifts his chin. His clenched mouth falls open at the sight of her.

"Amber," he whispers weakly. The word almost breaks his voice.