Weight of Living // Bellamy Blake

Maunde

As the door rattles again, I remind myself to stay quiet. Pushing myself as far back as possible, refusing to be in the same position as Bellamy. The stupid boy. His constant need to play hero would get him killed. I refuse to be a part of it.
Dark, frizzy hair peaks through the door and is accompanied by pale skin seconds later. She stares at us. Her ill eyes filled with disgust. I find myself confused; was she disgusted at what her people are doing, or just us? I assume the latter. These people were incapable of sympathy. They bleed mine without a single care. Without even a regard that my people were human too.
They called us savage, but were we really the savage ones?
I think not.

There were better ways to go about this. If they needed our blood, why didn't they just ask? Our elders did it regularly. In turn, they could educate us on their technology. Their guns, their energy resources. My people could easily donate blood. Of course there would be some against it, but plenty would do it in a heartbeat. My people were reasonable.

The pale girl walks over to the cages, her eyes squinted as if looking for something; someone. Her eyes lock with mine, before he attention turns back to Bellamy. She grabs something from the neighboring table, continuing to stab it into Bellamy's leg. I flinch slightly, but refuse to show any other reaction.
With a deep breath, the boy starts fidgeting. Fighting to become loose.

"Stop. Who are you?" She questions him, staring into him, "You're from the Ark, aren't you?" He nods at her slightly,"You know jasper?"
"Maya?" He he struggles, and she echoes his nod. The girl begins to pull wires from his chest. Though it is cut short by the all too familiar beep of the door.
"Play dead," She whispers to Bellamy.

Seconds later, the guard strolls through the door. A confused look washes over him as his eyes land on the girl.
"Lovejoy." She smiles at him, and my breath hitches. If anything happened to Bellamy, it would be on my shoulders.
"Maya, you're not supposed to be in here." His tone is serious.
"I know," She struggles to find a sentence, "I just wanted to see what was so special about him."
The girl shrugs, flashing an innocent smile at the man.
"He's dead," She gestures to the lifeless-looking Bellamy hanging beside her.
The man furrows his brows, making his way over to the grounder.
"I guess he is." The guard grabs hold of a remote, beginning to lower Bellamy to the ground. Once done, he crouches down beside him as he starts to unchain his feet, "You're a brave girl coming in here-"
The man is cut off by Bellamy's foot connecting with his face. Whilst the guard is down, Bellamy continues to free himself.
I watch in fear as the guard towers over him once more, gun now in hand.
The pale girl fidgets next to him, conflicted on how to act, she grabs a syringe and stabs it into the guards neck. Thankfully causing him to drop his weapon. Bellamy scoots away, finally bringing himself to his feet. Regaining his balance, the guard lunges at Bellamy. Pushing him hard against my cage.

"Stop!" Maya shouts, the guards gun now turned on him.
"They'll hear!" The guard's voice rings out as he attempts to scare the girl. She shakes, struggling to know what to do. How to react.

Bellamy and the guard struggle for dominance. Tired and drained, Bellamy eventually gives out. As he falls to his knees, the guard pulls his head back. Lifting his arm, ready to slash his throat. Without a moment to think, I grab the mans wrist. Giving Bellamy enough time to gather his energy. He leaps to his feet, pushing the man's back further into the cage. His hands make their way around his throat, and I close my eyes. Refusing to watch, but refusing to let go of the guards arm.

The arm goes limp. Everything is silent.

My eyes make their way over to the shell shocked girl, who stands unable to make a sound.
Bellamy pushes himself to his feet, struggling for breath. His attention turns to me, his hands clutching onto the metal surrounding me, his eyes connect with mine. Terrified eyes meet relieved.
"Thank you," He attempts. Sincerity dripping from each word. He continues to lock eyes with mine as I struggle to find the words to say.

Defeated, my eyes fall to the floor, and his fall to Maya.

"Alright?" He mumbles to her, though he can see her hyperventilating. She doesn't respond, and so he makes his way over to her, careful in his path.
"Hey?" He cautiously touches her shoulder, causing her to jump slighlty, "Are you okay?"

"Fine." The girl is unable to keep her eyes off of the lifeless guard in front of her.

    The girl stands shaking as Bellamy shimmies into the guards clothing, tossing the body down the waste chute. He looked strange. Without scuffed, bloodstained clothing and dirt around him, Bellamy was barely recognisable. I wonder if this is how he'd dressed in the Ark. If he pushed his hair back like this. If he looked so.. presentable.
He strolls over to me, a cocky smile covering his nervousness.
"How do I look?" He leans against the cage, the corners of his lips turned up in his vanity.
"Wonderful," I roll my eyes at the arrogant boy and he flashes me a playful smile.

"Hey, uh," Maya awkwardly interrupts us, "We need to go. Now."
Bellamy nods, slipping the guards gun into its holster. He hops up from the ground and begins towards the door.
"Shei," he turns on his feet, a serious look present on his face, "I will be back. I won't leave you here."
I keep a calm face, but on the inside I'm panicking. If Bellamy got caught, I'd be stuck here. I'd be treated like cattle and drained in the process. My eyes lock with his, "Hurry."

***

I lean back against the bars, shivering in the process. It has been hours. Maybe even a day since Bellamy left, and I was now beginning to worry. Surely, he would've been back by now.
Why hadn't he come back yet? I tap my fingers on the metal, nervously fidgeting. I just wanted to be out of this stupid box.
"Shei," Echo's disgruntled voice nudges me, "Calm down."
I huff. I couldn't calm down. How could I? Bellamy could've been caught. He could be dead. That's on me, I let him come. Why didn't I stop him? Why did he have to play hero?
I kick at the cage door, willing it to open. Even though I knew it wouldn't.

The door opens and once again I am silent. Not much older than myself, a boy walks over the threshold. By his stance and styled blonde hair, I assume he's a guard. He strolls over to the cages, looking carefully at each grounder. I can't help but feel ill. We're we like cattle to them?
He stares intently at Echo before turning his attention to me. Shit. He fiddles with the lock for a moment before unlocking it. Breath, I tell myself. I wouldn't go down without a fight. As the cage door opens, I push myself out, pouncing at the boy. He crashes to the floor leaving him dazed long enough for me to grab the sharp metal still on the floor.
"Wait!" The boy shouts, stopping me in the process. "Shei?"
I nod carefully, confused that the savage knew my name.
"Maya sent me," I loosen my grip on the boy, allowing us both to stand, "I'm supposed to bring you to a safe place."
"Oh," I swallow, feeling guilty for attacking him, "I'm so-"
"It's fine." He cuts me off, searching through his satchel, "Put these on, you need to fit in."
I nod as the boy hands me a heap of clothing.