ATARAXIA • BELLAMY BLAKE

[ 6 1 ]

"It's just over there," Miller says as he guides the way through the trees to where a narrow cave opening can be spotted in between foliage.

"We don't have much to eat, but we'll make do," Harper explains, gaining Kane's attention.

"Nonsense," he says, immediately tuning back into Chancellor-mode. "Sinclair and I will go try to forage something. It's the least we can do." Sinclair nods in agreement.

"No way, you don't know the area and we're already too close to the blockade," Miller argues. "If you cross that boundary—"

"I'll go with them," Harper offers. "To make sure they don't."

"Me too," Bryan says.

Kane nods decidedly and shares a look with Sinclair before turning to leave, Harper and Bryan right behind them.

"Wait," Octavia's steady voice calls from next to me. The others stop their walk and look over the shoulder. "I'm coming too."

Octavia hands the reigns to her horse over to Miller and casts a distracted look my way, muttering "I'm not going in that cave" under her breath as she walks to catch up to them.

I send a confused look Jaime and Miller's way, but only Jaime mirrors my expression. Miller, however, directs his eyes to the ground before tying the horse's reigns to a branch on a nearby tree.

I feel Jaime lay and arm around my shoulder and he pulls me to his side, squeezing my arm gently. I return the gesture by wrapping my arm around his waist, and we walk up to the cave entrance together.

"Thanks for saving my skin," tell him as we step inside. The cave is much larger than I would have expected.

"Any time," he replies as Miller guides us around a corner to a more open space.

I halt my walk when met by the sight of Bellamy sitting on the stone floor, hands bound together by a chain that connects to the ground.

I pause.

"What is he doing here?" I ask no one in particular, although I suppose it could only have been aimed at Miller.

Bellamy's head snaps around at the sound of my voice and he immediately stands up.

The rattling of his chains triggers a brief shot of fear going through my chest. I suppress the feeling, separating myself from Jaime in order to better catch my breath.

"The others?" Bellamy starts, looking behind us expectantly to see if they'll walk in too.

"Looking for food," Miller answers.

Bellamy looks relieved, although he shouldn't be. I suddenly understand why Octavia had needed to go with the others, knowing who awaited her in the cave.

Miller walks over to drop his things by the wall and slumps down against it. Jaime copies him and shrugs his jacket off before settling on the ground. The two start a low conversation, though it's obvious they're only doing so to try to ease the tension in this cave.

"Are you okay?" Bellamy asks me when I finally move from my spot to drop my gun off to the side. He follows my every movement with his body, constantly facing me.