Book 1: We are grounders - The 100 (Raven Reyes x reader)

Episodes 1 & 2 - The 48 & Inclement Weather

Riley had been in the white, sterile room for what felt like an eternity, though she had no way of knowing the exact time. The isolation was nothing new—just like her days in the skybox back on the Ark, a prison of cold metal and silence. She busied herself with push-ups, her body moving in a steady, controlled rhythm. She didn't count them. She never did. She simply pushed until her arms gave out, which wasn't happening anytime soon. The room was cold, almost icy, but the exercise kept her blood pumping, her muscles warm. Beads of sweat barely formed on her skin; the chill was relentless, numbing.

Her clothes were cleaner than anything she'd worn in years, a stark contrast to the grime and grit she'd lived in. The white shorts and tank top she wore clung to her, revealing the scars of her past battles—long-healed wounds, and some newer ones that had just begun to fade. Every mark told a story, a chapter of her survival. Her skin, pale from years in space, seemed to glow under the harsh fluorescent lights. She didn't know how long she had been there, but suddenly, the door opened, the silence shattered.

Two towering men stepped in. They looked like guards, though their appearance was different from what she remembered from the Ark. They wore plain, dark sweaters—uniforms, but not the kind she was used to seeing. Their presence was commanding, and Riley instinctively backed up a step as they entered, taking positions on either side of the room. They were strong, solid, and their gazes never wavered from her. Then, a third man appeared.

He was older, with an air of authority that radiated from him before he even spoke. His movements were deliberate, controlled, and there was a weight to him that only came with leadership. Riley straightened, her icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him, taking in every detail she could. She knew she needed all the information she could gather if she was to help Clarke and the others. The man stopped just in front of her, close enough that she could smell the faint scent of something clean, clinical.

"Jasper told me your name is Riley," the man began, his voice calm, but with a sharp edge that betrayed his power. "You were a leader alongside Clarke, were you not?"

Riley held her tongue, her heart pounding in her chest. She had learned long ago to give nothing away, to reveal nothing. Do not let them know anything about you, she reminded herself.

"No need to be so guarded," the man continued, his tone shifting slightly as if he could sense her inner resistance. "You're safe here." He extended his hand, a gesture of peace, but Riley hesitated before she reached out and clasped it with a firm grip. His hand was cold, surprisingly so.

"Strong too," he noted with a smile, as if he was appraising her. "Like a soldier."

"Where are my people?" Riley's voice was firm, though inside she was a storm of worry. She thought of Jasper, of Clarke, of Raven. She needed to know they were safe. The man, who introduced himself as Dante Wallace, nodded as if he understood her concern.

"I am the leader of Mount Weather," he said, his tone almost apologetic. "You are the last to be released. You're much calmer than Clarke," he added with a hint of amusement, as if recalling her friend's fiery nature.

"Riley Kane," she stated her name coldly, not trusting this man, though she didn't reveal it on her face. He didn't know her. He couldn't understand the hell she had survived. His smile widened slightly, as if he were making a connection she didn't see.

"We have more in common than you might think," Wallace said, but Riley remained silent. She didn't believe him. How could he possibly understand what she had been through?

"Welcome to Mount Weather," he continued, the formalities returning. "We'll get you into some real clothes and then reunite you with your friends."

Riley's stomach twisted. This place was too clean, too perfect. It felt like a cage dressed up as safety. The two guards flanked her, and Wallace gestured toward the door, indicating for her to follow. As they walked, her mind raced.