The Lost Grounder

Chapter 4

When Clarke woke she was dressed in white in a room coloured in only white. She instantly pulled the wires from her arm and walked around the room to the door where there was a small round glass window. She was greeted by the sight of Artemis in the room opposite her.

"Clarke!" She shouted slamming her fist against the glass.

"Artemis it'll be alright" she called helplessly knowing that she couldn't hear her. "It'll be alright" she said to herself hoping that she might believe it.

When Clarke woke she went to the window and was horrified to see that there was someone in a radiation suit in Artemis' room, but Artemis wasn't there. She broke the glass and opened her door, cutting her forearm in the process. It was a girl around a similar age to herself but that didn't bother her. She sharply pressed the glass to her neck,

"who are you people?" She asked, "answer me!" She demanded pushing the piece of glass against her throat when the girl didn't answer. "How many of us are here? Where are they? SAY SOMETHING!" The girl continued to sob frightened for her life. The elevator beeped and the doors opened, Clarke pulled the girl against her, the glass against her neck. This was it, she was about to find out what had happened to her friends.

     Artemis had resisted them, terrified of where she was. Jasper had managed to calm her down and had explained that they were in a building and what everything was. Monty weighed in and told her that she was safe here, he also said that if she panicked they'd start to realize that she was a Grounder and not one of them. She managed to compose herself enough so they let her stay with Jasper and Monty and not take her away for fighting back like they were in the process of doing when Jasper stepped in to help.

     They were stood in a large group listening to a woman who was explaining all the different floors when Clarke walked in. Artemis ran to her and threw her arms around her.

"I'm so glad you're alright" Clarke exclaimed hugging her tightly.

"Clarke" Jasper and Monty said in delight moving in to hug her as well. Clarke was relieved to see that they were all unharmed but there was something about this place that put her on edge.

Artemis and Clarke were sat opposite each other next to Jasper and Monty who were stuffing themselves with food.

"You should eat, it's good stuff." Jasper said with his mouth full of cake. Artemis shook her head,

"no thank you, I'm fine." She looked to Clarke as the two boys had a discussion about desserts. "You're not eating" she remarked.

"Neither of you" Clarke replied. "There's something off about this place. It's too good."

"I don't like it here Clarke" Artemis said. Clarke nodded,

"me neither. Come on" she said rising from the table. Artemis didn't question her, just followed.

After poking around and trying to get out they found themselves in President Dante's office. He explained to them that they were safe here but neither of them could believe him. They were prisoners here, unable to leave, how were they safe? He talked and talked but Artemis stopped listening in favour of looking around his office. He eyed her suspiciously at first but after a moment or two let her wander around, confident that she was fine.

"The ground doesn't look like this anymore" Artemis said pointing to the painting.

"It did once upon a time, though you wouldn't know. You haven't been here very long."

"Yes I have" Artemis said. She suddenly realised that she shouldn't have said that, the dropship hadn't been here long-that's what he had meant.

"Who are you?" He asked eyeing her careful, there was something different about her.