The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 120

The Reaper grins at us, it's teeth stained with blood.

"Float me, that's creepy." Raven murmurs. "We're allowed to kill those things, right?"

Lexa and I exchange a look. Neither of us particularly want to have dead Reapers on our hands. They were once people and I'm hoping that someday soon we can find a way to get them back. But now, we can't just knock them out and hope for the best. They could blow everything we have worked so hard for.

"Yes," Lexa says finally. "We can kill them. But I would prefer that you don't do so unless they attack first or if you feel like someone's life is in danger. They used to be like us before the Maunon got to them." Raven nods along to Lexa's words soberly. "Okay?"

"Okay. Got it." She confirms.

"I wouldn't shoot in this cave if you can avoid it." I say before Raven can aim at the Reaper studying us with hungry eyes. "The loud noise will let the other Reapers and possibly the Maunon that we're here."

"Yeah, alright. Sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about." I shake my head. "We just have to be extra careful while we do this. Now, let's keep moving. If it attacks, we fight back. If not, we don't. But either way we have to keep an eye on it."

We slowly move forward and it's once ravenous expression turns cold and calculating as it growls at us like a rabid dog. We pause and the we all (except Raven) draw our swords, ready to fight. It draws a rusty, bloodied mace and runs towards us.

Octavia and Lincoln step forward while Lexa and I stay near Raven. They dodge it's first attack easily, watching how it moves. Lincoln attacks first, thrusting his sword forward to test it's defenses. It just growls at bats his sword away with its hand, seeming like it doesn't kind getting injured.

Lincoln steps back again and they wait for it to come to them. It does pretty quickly, evidently not very patient. It swings over-eagerly, perhaps too excited by the prospect of us being it's next meal (ew) to focus clearly. Octavia dodges the strike and she moves forward alongside Lincoln in a practiced flurry of blades. Even Lexa looks impressed by how in sync they are and how they almost effortlessly work together.

In the end, the Reaper ends up stabbed right in the heart by Lincoln's spare dagger that he pulls out. Blood drips from it's mouth and it stares vacantly at us. I swear it's lips twitch up into a relieved smile as it closes it's eyes for the final time.

After Lincoln pulls our his dagger, the Reaper falls to the ground, dead.

"Yu gonplei ste odon (your fight is over)." Lincoln says.

Raven, Lexa, and I approach them slowly. Lexa puts her hand on Lincoln's shoulder. His head is bowed as he looks down at the person he just killed.

"Does it ever get easier?" He murmurs.

"Does what get easier?" Raven prompts.

"Taking a life," he says softly.

"No," Lexa answers.

I look over to her in surprise. That's not an answer I would expect from her. I listen more intently now, excited by the prospect of getting to see another side of her.

"We can only learn how to deal with it better." Lexa continues. "Taking a life is never an easy thing to do, and should never be taken lightly. You and Octavia did good. And did you see him in his final moments? He was smiling." I knew it! "He was relieved. He knew he would no longer be trapped in his own mind, enslaved by the Maunon. You did good," Lexa repeats.

"She's really good at this comforting thing," Raven whispers to me.

I nod in agreement, looking at my girlfriend lovingly. She seems to feel the weight of my gaze on her and turns to look at me, offering me a soft half-smile.

"Mochof Heda (thank you Commander)." Lincoln whispers, then nods to himself and raises his head. "I am alright now."

Lexa takes her hand off of his shoulder and takes a step back so she's back beside me. I reach over and squeeze her hand for a second, allowing my touch to linger for a bit longer than I probably should in a tunnel of nightmares.

Lincoln gives Octavia a gentle smile and then we get moving again, silently making our way through the dark tunnels. Luckily, there are some alternate routes that Lincoln knows. On more than one occasion, we hear what sounds like a large group of Reapers. That's when Lincoln takes us into some smaller tunnels that go past them.

The tunnel system seems endless. I can't tell how long we've been in here. It must be a while, though. Especially since Raven even asks to stop or slow down sometimes.

The first time, she's really reluctant to make us stop because of her leg even though we can all tell she was in a lot of pain. As a compromise, she lets Lincoln carry her. She just doesn't realize he meant bridal style. Which ends up being hilarious and just the comedic relief we need in this stressful time. Her shocked expression makes Octavia burst into stifled giggles and even Lexa laughs.

"Sorry, Raven. I would carry you on my back if I thought it would not hurt your leg." He apologizes with a small smile.

"That was really considerate. Thanks." Raven says earnestly. She leans her head back so she's looking at Octavia upside down. "O, your boyfriend is a giant sweet teddy bear. I approve."

"Thank Rae." Octavia replies, amused. "I like to think of him more as a bear with the heart of a teddy hear. He's too ripped to be a teddy bear."

Raven pokes his chest and her eyes widen. "You're so right."

And Lincoln carrying her happens a few more times when Raven's leg starts hurting too badly for her to keep up. She's a lot less reluctant to let us know, seeming to enjoy being carried around like she weighs less than a pebble.

The last time he carries her, he ends up having to put her down. There's a group of Reapers in our way and there's no hidden tunnel, no safe passage. We're going to have to fight.

"Octavia, you stay with Raven." Lexa orders in a whisper as Lincoln sets Raven down. "Lincoln, you stay on the edge of the fight. Try to make sure no one gets over to them. Clarke and I will be in the middle of the fight." Lincoln looks like he wants to argue. "Okay?"

"Okay," he confirms with a nod.

With that, Lexa and I draw our swords and make our way towards the group of Reapers who haven't noticed us. Yet.

Whoo! A slightly longer chapter! Hopefully that makes up for me posting this whenever I do, because it definitely won't be early in the morning like usual. I'm writing this in the car and I don't know when I'll have wifi to post this... Anyway, I couldn't get the idea of Lincoln carrying Raven out of my head (maybe I'm just sleep deprived but it was hilarious in my mind). And props to the couple of people who saw the Carmilla reference last chapter ;) I saw the opportunity and could resist! Next chapter, they fight Reapers! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!