Experiment of Fate ~ A Bellamy Blake story

13 - Raven

The air in the cave was suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken grief and recent horrors. Shadows clung to the damp stone walls, as if they, too, bore witness to the torment Isla had endured. Every labored step she took toward the far side of the cavern was a battle. Her body screamed in protest, muscles trembling and wounds throbbing—a chorus of pain she could no longer silence. The rough stone wall pressed into her back as she sank to the ground, her breath hitching as she abandoned any attempt to mask her agony. It radiated from her in waves, a silent testament to the cruelty she'd suffered under Pike.

The others shifted uncomfortably, their low murmurs barely breaking the silence. Only Octavia moved, her boots crunching softly against the gravel floor as she crossed the cavern. Without a word, she lowered herself beside Isla, offering her shoulder as a silent anchor. Isla leaned into the warmth, her breath shaky and uneven. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to steady around her.

Across the cave, Sinclair, Monty, and Bellamy huddled near the entrance, their voices urgent but muted. They spoke of plans and possibilities, their words heavy with uncertainty. The dying sun painted the cave in hues of gold, its soft light a bittersweet reminder of the world outside. Isla allowed herself the smallest of smiles, a flicker of hope amidst the ache in her chest. Pike was gone. The nightmare he'd created was over, but the scars remained.

She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Octavia's presence and the fading sunlight lull her into a fragile calm. But the peace shattered when the radio crackled to life.

"Sinclair, do you copy? Kane? Monty? Anyone?"

The voice, desperate and familiar, sent a jolt through the room. Everyone froze, their breath caught in their throats.

"Jasper?" Monty stepped forward, seizing the radio. "Is that you? What's going on?"

"Arkadia isn't safe," Jasper's voice came through, strained and urgent. "Allie's taken over. She chipped everyone—they've gone mad. I have Raven and Clarke with me, but Raven's chipped. She said she knew how to fry it before Allie fully takes control."

Isla's pulse quickened, her foggy mind struggling to process his words. One name pierced through the haze: Clarke. She reached for the radio, her hand trembling, and Monty passed it to her.

"Jasper," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "It's Isla. Are you and Clarke okay?"

"Oh, thank God, Isla. You're alive!" Jasper's relief was palpable, but his tone quickly shifted. "Listen, we don't have time. Tell us where you are, or we're not gonna make it."

Isla handed the radio back, her thoughts spinning. The cavern buzzed with activity as Monty and Sinclair discussed coordinates with Jasper. Isla pressed her head against the wall, exhaustion pulling at her like an undertow. She was jolted back when Miller's firm voice cut through.

"We don't know what we're walking into," he said, his gaze steady. "Bryan, Harper, and I will handle security. Sinclair and Monty will help Raven. But we need everyone."

His eyes lingered on Isla's battered form. "Even you."

Isla swallowed hard and nodded. She tried to stand, her limbs shaking beneath her. Monty was at her side in an instant, his hands steadying her.

"I'm sorry, Isla," Monty said, his voice heavy with guilt. "I should've done more. I should've stopped him."

Isla pulled him into a hug, her voice soft but resolute. "Monty, you saved me. That's all that matters."

Before he could respond, Octavia stood abruptly, grabbing her jacket. Bellamy moved to intercept her, his voice tight. "O, don't do this. You can't just leave."