𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 | the 100¹

31 | One Life

"You're scaring me."

‧ ✩ ｡ ✭ ° ☆ ･ _______ ･ ☆ ° ✭ ｡ ✩ ‧

White beams of light glide over the cave walls and the clutter that they contain, throwing long shadows into a disoriented dance. Amber isn't sure what the box they're searching for looks like, but she rummages through everything anyway.

Until she spots a shape in the dark of the tunnel they came from, drawing nearer.

"Finn," she snaps. The boy looks up, but relief washes over his expression when he sees what she's noticed.

"Lincoln," he exclaims. "You made it."

The figure leaves the shadows, revealing himself to be the tall man they once held prisoner. Amber steps back, but he ignores her instinctive apprehension and marches further into the cave, lowering the dagger in his hand.

"I told you to leave."

"We tried. The scouts were already there," Finn explains.

"Sterling, do you copy?" Bellamy's voice crackles from the radio in Finn's belt.

"What is that?" Lincoln asks. Finn hands it to him and he observes it cautiously, while Amber observes. He doesn't bother giving her a second glance and she can't tell if he remembers her involvement in his interrogation or not. Either way, she's grateful she can stick to the background, both too ashamed and afraid to look him in the eye.

"Why are you not there?" he asks Finn, lowering the radio.

"Raven was shot. We need medicine to slow the bleeding."

He frowns with disapproval and takes a step forward. "You came to save one life?"

"We came to save Raven's life," Amber snaps, finally provoking an irritated glare from the Grounder. To her surprise, she stands firmly under his gaze, too angered by his dismissal of Raven's life to feel any of her former guilt.

"There's no time to explain," Finn says, much more moderate in his stressed tone. "Do you have the medicine?"

"I have it," Lincoln responds, backing into a corner of the cave without letting his eyes leave Amber. He tosses Finn a wrapped package. When the radio streams out a jumble of panicked voices, his look changes to one of determination and he shifts his focus to Finn. "I'm going with you."

Before anyone can protest, he turns towards the cave's exit. Finn follows, but his boot hits something on the ground and he abruptly stops to see what it is. It's a book, its pages open and scattered.

"Finn, come on," Amber prompts, not wanting to lose sight of the Grounder in the darkness, but Finn kneels to pick up one of the loose pages.

"Hold on," he says, examining a drawing that's very similar to the one Amber was shown earlier when he and Clarke explained how they escaped the Grounders. It's a sketch of what they called a 'Reaper'. Deep in thought, he mutters, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

"Let's move!" Lincoln calls, turning around with frustration at the delay.

"How far did the Reapers chase you?" Finn asks, standing up suddenly.

"They'd still be chasing me if I didn't lose them. Why?"

Finn swallows. "I have a really bad idea."

"Great," Amber sighs. But they've survived every terrible idea so far. "Let's hear it."