The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 133

Lexa pulls the lever and Cage's eyes fill with horror. The droning whirring sound of the fans moving slows until it halts.

"You... You actually..." He breathes out. "You've killed us all."

"Bell? How's it holding?" Octavia speaks into the walkie talkie.

We wait with bated breath for his answer. "The seal is holding."

I let out a relieved sigh and everyone in the room relaxes.

"What does that mean?" Cage questions.

I look up at him, frowning. "How are you still alive? You don't have any boils or anything. Raven, did it not work?"

Raven clicks a few things and then her screen shows Maunon civilians, groaning on the ground of a floor. They're covered in blisters and bumps, their skin red. The screams some of them let out sound almost inhuman.

"It worked." Raven remarks, her voice quiet and subdued, her expression horrified.

"I think I'm going to be sick." Octavia says, turning away from the screen.

Lincoln goes to her side and speaks to her in a soft tone as he gently guides her away from the screen.

I move closer to Lexa, who watches the screen without flinching. There's a deep sadness in her eyes but I know she doesn't regret pulling the lever. I reach out and take her hand in mine. Lexa startles at the touch, evidently not expecting it. She looks at me with wide, surprised eyes for a moment before almost mechanically turning back to the screen.

Less people are moving now, only a couple people are flailing or even just twitching. I'm relieved that their suffering is over. I make a mental note to get Raven and Lexa help me find all of their names so I can draw them. They died for us, for our people. And I grieve for them, the ones we couldn't save. I want to draw them in one large painting, to show how they were. They deserve to be remembered.

But Lexa, she keeps staring at the screen, only turning away when the last limb no longer twitches. It's almost like... Like she was forcing herself to watch, despite everything in her wanting to look away. Like she forced herself to see what her decision, what her action had done.

"Yu gonplei ste odon (your fight is over)." Lexa murmurs to the screen before turning to face me. "I will make sure they all get a proper funeral pyre."

"And I'll paint them all to show the future generations what was lost in order for us to win." I say back in a low voice.

Lexa gives me a smile. It isn't quite fake, but there's no mistaking the sadness in it. "That is a good idea, Clarke. Please, let me know what I can do to help. But first, we have quite a few things to do."

"Yeah," Raven chimes in. She turns off the computer screen and looks up at the television screens. "Um. First of all, what the heck? Douchebag of the year over there is still alive."

Lexa and I look up. Sure enough, Cage's ugly mug is still scowling at us.

"How are you not dead?" I ask, perplexed.

"I had Dr. Tsing take some of your bone marrow while you were unconscious. You, Clarke, are the reason why we know it works. We tested it on me. Sadly, there was only enough for one person."

Lexa gestures for Lincoln to come over. He hesitates for a moment, waiting until a still nauseous looking Octavia gives him a nod before walking over to us.

"Heda?"

"Lincoln, Raven will tell you where Cage is." Lexa says. "I want you to bring him there." She gestures to the blank screen in front of Raven and he understands immediately. "We will meet you there. We have a few things to take care of first."

"Yes, Heda." He bows and leaves the room.

"Raven, you know what floor to start up the fans on, right?" I ask.

"Yes, I do. Restarting now." Raven scoots over to the computer next to the one she was using and taps away on the keyboard. "That floor will be safe for them, but they should probably stay in the sealed place just in case of leaks."

"O? Can you please tell Bell that?" I ask.

"Yeah, nice manners Griffin." Octavia teases with a shaky smile, still not having recovered from seeing so many innocent people be killed.

She walks away and starts talking into the walkie talkie. 

"What's next?" I muse aloud.

"Well, there's always the rocket." Raven says. "Which, you're welcome, went boom and didn't kill anyone. Next up is unlocking the first level. Hang on, do we have another walkie so we can make sure everyone outside knows it's us?"

"No," I answer.

"Oh well." Raven sighs. "I can do this the old fashioned way, which is more fun."

She grabs a microphone and hooks it up to the computer, typing for a minute before tapping it to see if it works. The feedback squeals and Raven winces.

"Oops. That was my bad." Raven says, then leans forward to speak into the microphone. "Hello ladies, gents, and others! It's your favorite awesome person, Raven Reyes! Now, I'm unlocking the main door so you can all come in. Make sure to bring some healers, we're going to need them to complete Plan Daedalus. Make sure not to go to the fourth floor without going through a decontamination thingy. If you're confused about that, ask Abby Griffin. Anyway! Welcome to the home of the Maunon."

"Why did we have to name it Plan Daedalus again?" Octavia asks, amused. "I get that Bellamy is a history nerd, but you guys could have vetoed that."

"Because it fits," I answer. "Kinda."

"What is Plan Daedalus?" Cage's voice comes through the speakers in the room.

"I can't wait until I never have to listen to his voice again." Raven grumbles under her breath as she works on the computer.

"It's the plan we came up with to save some of your people." I explain.

"To save..." He repeats, trailing off and looking bewildered. "How? They're all dead!"

"Not all of them." Lexa says.

Can you believe that I told you guys last chapter that I would finally reveal what Plan Daedalus is in this chapter and then I proceeded to not do that? Whoopsie. It's set up this time though, we'll learn exactly what it is next time, I swear! Okay, two important things...

One, someone commented recently and said that it seemed like Lexa was hesitating. So I'm assuming that means when she was like "no let's hear what Cage has to say." That, in my mind, was not her hesitating. Lexa doesn't hesitate about this kind of stuff unless it would put someone she loves in danger (which it doesn't). She knew that Cage wouldn't give them a deal they would take. But she also knew that Clarke needed to hear that they couldn't take the deal. There would always be that niggling of doubt surrounding their decision if Clarke and Lexa pulled without listening to him. If that makes sense...

Two! Aka the more exciting thing I have to tell you... There will be a book two!! :D I kept wondering how I was going to fit it all in one if I want to keep it from getting higher than like 150 chapters... The solution? Another book! Whoo! Anyways! That was a REALLY long author's note... Hopefully it cleared some things up for you guys though! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!