I Know Places

III

"Watch his back." Bellamy orders Murphy, handing him a gun. He seems shocked that Bellamy would even trust him with this. Especially with their history. Murphy nods at him, helping Mel up, carful not to knock her bad arm.
    Finn and Murphy would carry on with their original mission, whilst the other Sky People would head back to their Camp. With two people needing medical attention, it was the best option. Monroe's injuries were too severe to carry on with the mission. Lia had already concluded that the arrow was covered in poison; without proper treatment, the girl would die.

    Murphy gathers his supplies, throwing the pack over his shoulder. He needed to prove himself to the group. He needed to show them he could be trusted. The boy holds the gun firmly. It had been a while since he was trusted with one of these.
"What about her?" His eyes fall to Lia, who sits quietly on a log. They couldn't exactly treat her like a prisoner again, she'd risked her life to save one of them, but they couldn't just leg her go. She knew exactly where the village was, she'd be able to warn them way before the boys even got close.

John Murphy hated treating Naalia like this. Whilst being on earth, Lia was the only person to show him true kindness. She was the only person to care for him out of their own goodwill. Hell, that didn't even happen on the Ark. The last time it did, his father was floated. Murphy sighs, trying to shake the thought.
Lia showed him great kindness, and in return, he showed her great disservice.
"She's coming with us," Finn states coldly, "We use her as leverage."

****

    "I count 26." Finn whispers. The three perch at the edge of the village. Hidden by the large trees and foliage.
"I got 28," Murphy sighs. This wasn't anything like the camp he'd been held at. It didn't look like at all like a warrior camp. There were no weapons in sight. "These people don't look like warriors. There's kids, Finn, and elders. There isn't anything big enough to hold our people."
Because they don't have your people, Lia sighs to herself. She wanted to warn her people; to run in and tell then to leave. But that would be impossible, Lia was their prisoner. She looks down at her hands, once again bound.

As night draws, the boys sneak into the village, setting light to the villagers' food supply. With the grounders attention now on the fire, the two would be able to scope out the village. Lia takes this chaos as an opportunity to run. She had to find Nyko. She knew he would be here. He nearly always was.

She stumbles towards the village, trying to find his tent. Though her exhaustion made it difficult. It felt like she hadn't been here in years. Things looked different. Nyko's home wasn't where she'd remembered.
"Naalia?" She's thankful when she hears the healer's voice.
"Skaikru." She exhales, stumbling towards her old friend, "They think we have their people."
Nyko hurriedly unties her hands, disgusted that they would do this to such a gentle soul. Lia is relieved to see him. A familiar face among the chaos.
When Lia had become despondent as a warrior, Nyko had trained her to be a healer. Lia was always better at helping  than hurting. She was conflicted when forced to fight; her natural instinct being to help.

"Skaikru!" A panicked shout comes from inside the village.
Lia panics. She didn't want anyone to be harmed. The people here were innocent. They weren't warriors, they were peaceful, unarmed villages. Finn pushes the grounder boy forward, his gun pressing into the boys back.
"Where is your leader?" His voice bellows. Demanding that the commander makes his appearance. The villagers stand scared and confused, unable to understand the language Finn used. Only warriors were taught the old language.
Nyko steps forward, addressing the bloodthirsty boy; "The commander isn't here. Neither is your group."
"Then you won't mind if we take a look around." Finn states maliciously, commanding Murphy to round up the grounders.