Experiment of Fate ~ A Bellamy Blake story

Chapter 7 - Search

The claustrophobia in the rover was suffocating. Isla sat huddled in the corner, knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. It had been hours, though time seemed to blur between anxiety and boredom. Her mind kept racing, and she tried to distract herself by humming quietly—a soft melody that only she could hear. But Bellamy noticed, his eyes darting toward her every few minutes, his concern growing.

"It's been three hours. What are they waiting for?" Bellamy's voice broke through the silence, pulling everyone's focus.

Isla snapped back to reality, her eyes shifting to the small window beside her. The darkened woods surrounding them were thick, the branches clawing at the edges of the rover like an ominous force. She spoke softly, barely audible. "Even with the light, I can't see anyone."

From the driver's seat, Monty turned, an edge of desperation in his voice. "I say we make a run for it."

"No," Kane and Indra said in unison, their voices steady. Indra added, "That's exactly what they want. They can wait longer than us."

Kane turned toward Isla and Bellamy, his expression serious. "Bellamy, get in the turret. Cover us. Once we reach the ridge, we'll cover you." His words were sharp, commanding. It wasn't a suggestion.

Bellamy glanced at Isla before nodding. "Copy that. Run fast."

He stood, pushing the hatch open. Isla watched him as he pulled himself up, gun in hand, ready to face whatever was waiting outside. But then, he froze.

"They're here," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper, but it cut through the tension like a blade.

The world seemed to stop. Isla's heart pounded in her chest as her mind screamed at her to move, to run, to hide, but she was frozen. The next voice was loud, cruel, and filled the air with dread.

"Everyone out, or the boy dies!"

Isla's panic spiked, her head jerking up to see Bellamy outside, vulnerable. She acted on instinct, her voice shaking as she shouted, "Okay, okay, we're coming out! Please don't hurt him!" She tossed her gun to the floor, following Kane and Monty out of the rover. But the moment her feet hit the ground, she was grabbed roughly and thrown to the cold earth. Pain shot through her ribs as a heavy knee pressed into her back, pinning her down.

She struggled to breathe, each inhale sharp and painful. Around her, she heard the others being subdued—Kane, Indra, Bellamy. There was a grunt of pain from Bellamy nearby, and Isla twisted her neck, desperate to find him. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before he was dragged back, struggling fiercely against his captors.

"All targets secured!" a voice barked, and Isla's mind spun with confusion. Whoever was speaking... they were speaking English.

A beeping sound followed, and someone called out, "Found it!" Monty's voice cut through the chaos. "Hey, that's mine! Give it back!" His panic was palpable, and Isla craned her neck, trying to see what was happening.

"Monty, let it go!" Bellamy shouted, his voice strained.

But then a single word hung in the air like a sudden shockwave. "Monty?"

The grounder that had spoken stepped forward, and recognition passed over Monty's face like a ghost from the past. "Mom?" His voice cracked, disbelieving.

Everything slowed. Isla watched, wide-eyed, as the grounder—Monty's mother—pulled her mask off and wrapped her arms around him. The reunion was both surreal and heart-wrenching, Monty's shock mirrored on everyone's faces.

"Farm Station, stand down!" someone else commanded. Slowly, the tension lifted, though Isla and the others remained on the ground, still restrained. They watched as Monty's mom helped him to his feet, and soon after, Kane's familiar voice cut through the confusion.