Love to Hate [1]

There's miles of land in front of us.

Song: March to the Sea // Twenty One Pilots

Nessa's POV

The storm had passed, Finn had survived - but at a cost. Bellamy, Clarke, and Raven had all taken turns mercilessly torturing the Grounder to get information about an antidote to save Finn. Raven had even gone as far as to electrocute him. Nothing had worked until Octavia stepped in with a different tactic. She used the poisoned knife on herself, thinking the Grounder wouldn't let her die. She had been right, he had pointed out the antidote almost immediately and they got it to Finn in the nick of time. Raven didn't seem affected by what she had done, and Clarke looked at least slightly guilty. But Bellamy was a different story. I saw the haunted look in his eyes. Or maybe I just thought so because I had heard his confession beforehand. Whichever it was, I knew he felt terrible. It was eating at him. He had thought he was doing what was best for everyone, he really did. I saw that now. But he had no idea what he was doing, no more than the rest of us did. 

After the storm had passed Raven had been able to strengthen the communication with the Ark. There was even video now, not just radio. Kids were taking turns talking to their families. Others were breaking the news to families that their kids had died. I was glad I didn't get that job. People skills were not my strong suit, and I definitely wouldn't know how to deal with someone who just found out their child had been killed. I also didn't have anyone on the Ark to talk to, so I asked Clarke to patch me up again and instead spent some time where they were holding the Grounder. As much as I despised them, they also fascinated me. How had they been able to survive down here for so long? We had only just now thought that the ground was livable, but obviously we had been wrong. I looked through his leather book at the drawings - they really were quite good. I also found the drawing that had caused Bellamy such distress. It was of Octavia. I guess the Grounder had a thing for her or something. Gross. 

Bellamy also had his followers taking turns guarding the Grounder. At the moment, however, he was the one on duty. Even though he had ordered everyone else to keep out of the area, especially Octavia, he didn't seem to mind me being here. We sat in silence, not really comfortable or sure what to say to one another. Instead I watched him, trying to understand him more. I had glimpsed a whole new side to Bellamy the other day, and I wanted to see that side of him again. Not the gruff, dickhead exterior he liked to portray in front of everyone else. I watched him stare at the Grounder, but instead of his usual hatred I saw the haunted look in his eye again. The guilt at what he had done, the welts that stood out red against the Grounders skin and the blood caked on his face. Both of us were broken out of our reverie as Miller opened the hatch and climbed up the ladder. 

"Did you talk to the Ark?" Bellamy asked. 

"I told Diggs' mom the news. John's dad. Supposed to talk to Roma's parents later," Miller responded hoarsely. He looked drained from having to break such terrible news to so many people.

"Thanks for doing that," Bellamy responded. "I owe you."

Miller nodded and then looked at the Grounder. "Telling all these parents that their kids were murdered by Grounders. I just wish I could say we were getting some justice."

"We're not killing him," Bellamy said firmly. 

Miller sniffed, clearly pissed. He turned and grabbed something, then walked up to the Grounder. I saw Bellamy tense, wary of what Miller was going to do. "You were a lot scarier when you had that facepaint on," Miller whispered, smearing something on the side of the Grounder's face. He didn't respond at first, but then suddenly gave Miller a vicious headbutt. Miller collapsed, groaning. I let out a snort and Bellamy shot me a look.

"What? The asshole was asking for it," I defended myself. Bellamy rolled his eyes. 

"Alright, Miller, I hope you've learned your lesson. You're up." Bellamy stood and made his way to the ladder. I stood up to follow him. I had no desire to hang with Miller and a silent Grounder for a few hours.

On the ground floor we ran into Octavia, who was stubbornly sitting there waiting for her brother to let her up to see the Grounder. As they argued - again - I started to exit the drop ship but instead ran into Clarke. 

"Hey, actually I wanted to talk to the two of you," she said. 

"The two of - who? Me and Bellamy?" I asked incredulously.

"The answer is still no, Clarke, I am not talking to Jaha," Bellamy interjected. 

"Relax, that's not why I'm here," Clarke responded. "The Ark found some old records that show a supply depot not too far from here," she explained.

"What kind of supplies?" Bellamy asked.

"The kind that might give us a chance to live through winter," Clarke answered. "I was going to go but there's too much I need to do here. I want you two to go check it out, see what you can find, report back." 

"Why us two?" I demanded. Just because I didn't hate Bellamy's guts anymore didn't mean I wanted to go on a daylong excursion with him.

"Because, since Finn is healing, you two are the only ones capable enough of handling yourselves on your own out there," Clarke explained. Fair enough. "Can I count on you guys?" she asked.

I sighed. "Yeah, sure. Not like I have anything better to do." Clarke smiled, thanked us, and walked out. I turned to Bellamy who had a wary look on his face. Obviously he wasn't thrilled on spending the day adventuring with me either. "So, when do we start?" I asked, feigning excitement.

Bellamy didn't respond for a moment. He seemed to be staring behind me at Octavia, lost in thought. Finally he spoke, "I'll get my stuff. Meet me at the front gate in ten." Then he walked out.

Oh, this was going to be fun.