The 99

Chapter Twenty One: Clarke

Sorry this chapter took longer to update. It's Christmas week, so I thought I'd give myself a little vacation. Plus, I started reading a book series and was able to fit all 2,000 + pages worth into a week and a half, so now my distraction is gone (*insert post-series crisis here*). And honestly, I wish my chapters here were shorter. But they can't be. But I don't feel like anyone is disappointed by that XD

Clarke didn't feel like she was in her body. It was as if a piece of her had drifted upwards, watching herself from an objective viewpoint as she stepped towards the guards.

The movement caught the attention of one and they turned, eyes focusing on her. Recognition dawned on him, quickly followed by surprise. And then, action.

The guards were around them in a second. As soon as a firm grip found her hands, twisting and pinning them tightly behind her, Clarke snapped back into her body. Hot pain coursed up her back and knocked around her skull.

Like the first the rest of the guards placed her faster than they did Bellamy. But when they did, only a breadth later, three of the four guards took him down much more harshly than they had her, nearly tackling him and shoving his face into the floor. Cuffs were slapped onto his wrists and Clarke felt the metal of another pair bite into her own skin. as Bellamy was pulled up. Two guards stood at his side, the third still gripping his arms, regardless of the cuffs.

Bellamy cast her a sideways glance and Clarke saw the flicker of panic there. She felt herself, the spark threatening to grow and engulf her, but she refused to let it. Instead, she tilted her chin up, hoping she wore an expression that held some semblance of confidence.

"We have information for Jaha," she said, but it was hard to be heard over the movement of the guards and their own chattering as they informed others via comm. Her throat still ached from earlier and Clarke could still feel the ghosts of fingertips, pressing into her flesh, seeking to kill.

Despite being cuffed, she clenched her hands. "We have information for Jaha," she repeated, raising her voice. "It's about the bombing!"

That drew some of the attention from Bellamy and onto her, but it wasn't exactly welcomed. There was a different look in the guards' eyes when they looked to her. She saw the distrust, the incredulity. But it was drastic in comparison to the look they gave Bellamy, reserved for the lowliest of people.

That grated on her nerves, but Clarke didn't let it show. Instead, she met the guard's gaze unflinchingly. "Believe me," she said. "He's going to want to hear it."

The guard still holding Bellamy pulled him closer, as if planning to whisper something in his ear, but his words were directed at her. "I have no interest in the wants of fugitives, especially this one." He shoved Bellamy forward, still holding onto him as the guard herded him down the corridor. Clarke's guard was quick to follow, pulling her alongside him.

"I wasn't responsible for the bombing," Bellamy bit out, but all that earned him was another rough shove, as if the guard thought he could physically shake some kind of confession out of him.

"He had nothing to do with it!" Clarke said, dismissing the pain radiating from her temples. "He never wanted to shoot the Chancellor-his objective was getting on the dropship. One of yours helped him." She was careful not to give too much information away, just enough to snag interest. "How else do you think he got the gun to do it?"

The closest guard, her guard, glanced at her. But if he believed anything she said, his face didn't give it away. "I respect your Mother. I'm surprised she'd breed such treasonous company."

Fury flared inside her. If only this man knew. Though Clarke didn't want her mom floated, she didn't confuse that with forgiveness. Abby Griffin had done treasonous acts of her own, not against the Council, but against the people who loved her. And that was worse, because those were the things treasonous against one's heart and soul.