The Space Between Us / The 100 Fic

The Reunion

Good things don't last. Not for long, at least. And I should have known that our landing would raise arguments among the 100. Chancellor Jaha gave the group specific instructions, but they were forgotten as the kids anticipated the drop down to Earth. Nobody wanted to listen to directions, not when they've been locked up by the same people that threw them through space in a dropship. And it wouldn't be long before people started to choose sides.

I gave the area a quick sweep, making sure no fights were starting, keeping a careful eye on the woods. Preoccupied, I hadn't noticed Wells Jaha make his way into the dropship until his arm brushed against my jacket.

I turned around, catching him as he was preparing to climb the ladder to the second floor.

"Hey, what are you going up there for?" I was suspicious. I've known Wells to be a well mannered kid, but his position as the Chancellor's son definitely made we wonder if Jaha told him something, something he hadn't shared with the rest of us. But I kept my tone light.

He looked down at me, already halfway up the ladder. He looked upset and disappointed all at once.

"Two kids hadn't made it to the ground," he said with a steady voice. I felt my breath catch in my throat. Losing people had been expected, but the reality of the possibility was always overlooked. I refused to believe that it would actually happen. That someone would actually die.

And now death was staring me in the face.

And I stared back.

It was odd because this was the first time I had seen a dead body. The first time I noticed color wash out of a person's face in such a permanent way. The first time I had seen eyes that hollow and empty. I stood there on the second floor, with Wells at my side. We both looked at the bodies. One lay in an awkward position against the railing that surrounded the center of the dropship, and the other was on his side, leaning against the seats.

With a quick breath, Wells left my side and walked towards to opposite end of the dropship, fiddling with the wires that attached to the television.

"I need to check to see if there's any way of contacting the Ark," he said, seemingly to no one in particular.

I looked up then. I had been observing the bodies carefully, willing them to spring to life with my mind. Of course, they didn't.

"Yeah, do that. I'll take care of the bodies," I said, really to persuade myself to take on the task.

He looked at me curiously, as if he were wondering if I were serious. I was. But I knew what he saw. He saw a small girl that was scared instead of determined. I wasn't confident or brave or feisty. I was terrified and nervous and quiet. And those traits didn't really help anyone.

But I knew nobody wanted to bury the bodies. They didn't want to take in the reality of the situation. That although they all survived, two of us didn't. Two of us didn't get to cheer or hug or yell out in excitement. And nobody wanted to be reminded of that.

But I didn't mind. The two lifeless bodies didn't really bother me. They just reminded me of how serious our situation was. And I rather be the one to bury them, because I knew I had the will to do it.

I flashed him a small smile, and it seemed to convince him because he started his descent down the ladder.

I turned my back to him, looking down at the two kids again. They were boys, a year or so younger than me. I knelt, placing my hand gently on the face of the first kid. He didn't move against my touch, and I felt my heart drop. Slowly, I reached over and closed his eyelids over his hollow eyes. I brushed a hand through his hair before getting up to close the eyes of the other boy.