SOLDIER
book one
It's been 97 years since a nuclear explosion radiated life on Earth and life support on The Ark is now failing. In a desperate attempt to grant the citizens of the SpaceCraft more time, 100 juvenile delinquents are sent down to the...
Chapter thirty-five: Contents Under Pressure (Part 3)
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
REACHING the bottom step of the ladder, Vivienne froze mid-motion, her breath hitching as her eyes locked onto the scene before her. Clarke hunched over Finn, her hands steady despite the tremor coursing through her body, carefully working the knife free from between two of his ribs. Finn stirred weakly, a low groan escaping his pale, sweat-soaked face.
Clarke's own face mirrored his exhaustion, her lips pressed into a tight line, her brow furrowed with determination as she drew the blade out inch by agonizing inch.
Just as the final edge of the blade slipped free from Finn's chest, a deafening crash erupted outside, followed by the splintering sound of large trees collapsing against the dropship. The impact jolted the entire structure violently, sending everyone inside collapsing into one another.
Vivienne instinctively gripped the ladder, her left arm slamming against the cold metal with a sharp pain that shot up her elbow, a dull ache already promising a deep bruise. Beside her, Octavia lost her footing and stumbled, nearly colliding with the floor. Reacting swiftly, Vivienne's right hand shot out, catching Octavia's arm and pulling her close, steadying the younger girl against her chest.
As the ship stilled from the jarring impact, Clarke rose shakily to her feet, the bloodied knife clutched tightly in her trembling hand. Finn lay on the cold floor beneath her, his pale face twisted in pain as he glanced up at her, his chest heaving with shallow breaths.
•••
With Finn lying unconscious on the table once again, his wound finally stitched up, Vivienne quietly approached Raven. The girl sat vigilantly at Finn's side, her back hunched with exhaustion and the back of her hand resting gently against his sweat-soaked forehead.
"How is he?" Vivienne asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she came to stand beside Raven. Her gaze lingered on Finn, his chest rising and falling weakly with each labored breath.
Glancing up at Vivienne, Raven let out a tired sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Abby says he'll pull through, but..." Her voice trailed off as she moved the back of her hand across Finn's forehead, lingering before sliding it down to his chest. The concern etched into her face deepened, her brows knitting together tightly.
"...he's burning up," she finished, her voice tinged with worry. "Something's not right." Her hand hovered over his chest for a moment, as though willing him to stabilize, before resting it on the table beside him.
Leaning forward, Vivienne cautiously placed her hand on Finn's chest, her palm meeting the slick, feverish dampness of his skin. His chest rose and fell in erratic, shallow heaves, each breath sounding more labored than the last.
Then, without warning, Finn's entire body seized. His muscles tightened violently, his arms and legs straining against an invisible force as tremors overtook him. Foam began to bubble at the corners of his mouth, his eyes rolling back as Raven shot to her feet in alarm."He's seizing!" Vivienne exclaimed, her voice sharp with urgency. She straightened up quickly, moving around the makeshift table to Finn's other side.
After a tense moment, Finn's body finally settled, but the foam in his mouth began to pool, obstructing his airway. "Help me turn him on his side, now!" Vivienne raised her voice.
Without hesitation, she slid one hand beneath Finn's head, cradling it gently, while the other gripped his upper arm. Raven, panic etched across her face, scrambled to support his back, mirroring Vivienne's movements. Together, they carefully rolled him onto his side as his body convulsed violently beneath their touch.
"Clarke!" Raven's voice rang through the dropship, desperation slicing through the air. "He was seizing!"
The echo of her cry barely faded before Clarke descended the ladder in a flurry of motion, her boots clanging against the metal floor with a sharp thud. She hurried over, brushing past Vivienne to kneel at Finn's side, her medical instincts kicking in immediately. Raven moved back, her arms wrapping tightly around herself as tears pooled in her eyes. She looked helplessly between Clarke and Finn, her face pale and stricken.
"Get my mother on the radio now," Clarke ordered, her tone sharp and commanding, though her hands stayed steady on Finn.
Raven stood frozen at the foot of the makeshift bed, her worry anchoring her in place.
"Raven, now!" Clarke's voice cracked, desperation spilling into her words as her gaze snapped to the other girl.
"The radio's dead!" Raven shot back, her voice trembling, panic rising. "Interference from the storm!" Her hands fidgeted at her sides as tears welled in her eyes. She glanced at Finn's pale, convulsing body before her voice softened to a broken whisper. "Please," she begged, her voice quivering. "Please, don't let him die."
______________________________
A/N: sorry this one is a bit shorter but I hadn't uploaded in a while so wanted to get something out. :))
