Experiment of Fate ~ A Bellamy Blake story

Chapter 14 - Hello Experiment Zero

The engine hummed gently as the rover glided through the dark, deserted landscape, its headlights slicing through the shadows. The weight of exhaustion settled over everyone, and one by one, they'd drifted into sleep. But Isla lay awake, listening to the steady beat of Bellamy's heart beneath her ear. His fingers traced soothing circles on her back, lulling her into a quiet peace she rarely found these days.

Only the gentle sway of the rover reminded her of how far they still had to go, both physically and emotionally. Her mind kept replaying moments of pain and betrayal, questions about trust and forgiveness twisting inside her. Could she really allow herself to be happy with Bellamy after everything?

Up front, Monty stifled a yawn, his eyes struggling to stay open as the road stretched endlessly before him. Isla noticed his head bobbing forward in exhaustion. She shifted carefully out of Bellamy's arms, moving to the front seat.

"Hey, Monty," she murmured, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you get some sleep? We'll take over from here."

Monty shot her a weary smile, gratitude softening his face. "Thanks, Isla," he whispered. He pulled the rover over, slipping out of the driver's seat as Bellamy moved up to take his place. Monty gave them a nod before curling up in the backseat, asleep almost instantly.

Isla settled into the passenger seat, curling her legs beneath her. The quiet of the night and the rhythmic motion of the road made it feel like they were the only two people left in the world.

Bellamy glanced over at her, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't have to stay up, you know. You can sleep too if you'd like."

A blush crept up Isla's cheeks as he leaned over and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. She smiled softly. "I'll try," she replied, though she doubted she'd be able to. There was too much on her mind. She looked around, checking on the others sprawled out asleep in the back, before resting her head against the window.

The rover moved through the night in silence, a stark contrast to the chaos that often surrounded them. It was almost too peaceful, a calm that left Isla unsettled. Despite her joy at the progress she and Bellamy were making, doubts gnawed at her, memories of past betrayals pricking at her heart like thorns. She wondered, briefly, if they were doomed to repeat old mistakes.

She turned to look at Bellamy, noticing the tension etched into his face. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw set as if he were fighting off a storm within himself. His eyes remained fixed on the road, a haunted look reflecting memories he couldn't shake.

He must've felt her gaze on him because he took a deep breath, as though he wanted to say something. But instead, he looked out the window, the silence between them deepening. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke, his voice soft but filled with a raw honesty.

"When you told me that you didn't think anyone could love you... because of your scars, your pain," he began, "I didn't understand it. I didn't understand how someone as perfect as you could blame yourself for every horrible thing in your life, even the ones you had no control over. But then I realized... I do the same thing."

His words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Isla listened, her heart tightening.

"Earlier, before I found you in the forest... I went into the house. Jasper told me what Raven said—that you deserved everything that happened to you in Mount Weather. That someone like me could never love someone broken... someone twisted like you." His voice broke slightly, the pain evident. "And how... how you blame yourself for everything I did. For Gina, for Lincoln."

A tear slipped down Isla's cheek. It hurt to hear the fears she kept hidden, the insecurities she tried to bury, spoken aloud by the person she loved most.