The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 138

Once everyone settles down, the healers go around again one last time to check for any symptoms. Meanwhile, Lexa and I head to the room that the transplants took place in. No one is in here, so it's perfect.

"Raven," I say into the radio again. "Come in Raven."

"Hey Griffin. Is it time to shut off the fans all the way?" Raven asks.

"No, not yet. The healers are going around one last time to check on people." I respond. "Actually, I just wanted to ask you about the state of the main room up there. Have they been clearing the bodies?"

"Yeah. And I found a card scanner and a database with all of their faces so we can identify everyone. They're all wrapped in white sheets. Gods, there's a lot of them. Anyway. I think the Grounders usually identify everyone by... What is it? A plank of wood with their name on it or something? Because I've had a team of some very empathetic Grounders working on that, putting the right name with the right body."

"Thank you for doing that, Raven." Lexa says earnestly.

"No problem. So why is that a thing?"

"Many years ago, it was just a way to identify bodies when many had been killed. Some warriors have taken to wearing one around their neck or keeping one in their armor. But it has become part of our culture and it is believed that when the body is burned, the soul is released. It has an attachment to the name it was given on Earth. The planks, as you call them, are wood so they burn too. That way the souls will not feel still tethered to this world. If that makes sense."

"Yeah. That's kind of cool." Raven admits. There's a pause before she speaks agin. "So why did you radio me? Are you planning on bringing the Maunon up soon?"

"As soon as we're sure that we are all good and no one will die of radiation poisoning." I answer. "So I asked because I don't want to subject them to seeing what happened to their friends and families. They've been through enough."

"They have," Raven agrees. "I'll see what I can do to speed up the bodies' removal. But it might not be a ton, considering Indra should be back any minute now with all of the freed prisoners. We'll need to focus on helping them, but I'll make sure there will still be some people working on moving the Maunon. And no worries, we're not going to burn them until you guys and the Maunon get to the surface to say their proper goodbyes."

"Thank you Raven." Lexa repeats. "I appreciate what you are doing. Has Luna and Anya been telling you about our culture?"

"Yeah, they have. I must say, it's really interesting to see the similarities and differences to like the Skaikru and what the world was like before the nuclear bombs dropped." There's a short pause. "Okay, so how's it going over there?"

I peek out of the door, which has a circular window at the right height for me to see out of. Mom doesn't look any more stressed than usual, and there's no frantic running around or rushing anyone into this room for an emergency procedure. So I assume it's all good.

"It seems okay, no slip ups yet. But Raven, before Lexa and I go back out there to make sure, I need to ask you about Cage. Is he still there?"

"And screaming," Raven answers. "The Grounders are still having a go at him. Actually, a few Skaikru people joined in. Including me. I have to say, it was very satisfying. Do you want us to move him too?"

I exchange a look with Lexa. "No, it's alright. We'll just warn everyone. Maybe put a sheet over him or something. He's not dead yet, is he?"

"Nope."

"Then we can have the final blows." Lexa murmurs. "And covering him with a sheet would be incredibly painful with his many open wounds."

"Yes, it would be." I admit.

"We can let them decide. The last Maunon." Lexa clarifies. "Shall we?" She asks, placing her hand on the door.

"We shall. We'll talk to you soon Rae, and tell you what the plan is."

"Roger that."

"Nerd," I say affectionately before stopping the connection.

Lexa pushes the door open and holds it for me. I thank her with a quick kiss on the cheek, only now realizing that the room would've been a perfect place to make out for a little bit. Oh well. We can always do that later. Lexa lets it swing shut behind us, with it swinging back and forth before it finally settles.

Everyone looks over at us and I realize they assume that we were making out. Mom gives me an unimpressed look.

"What? We were talking to Raven!" I retort, earning myself many skeptical looks.

"In there? Alone?" Maya teases and I blush.

"Shush, Maya." To change the subject, I explain what's happening with Cage with as little graphic details as possible. "So what do you guys want to do?"

"I want to see him," one of the adults says. "I want to spit on the bastard." Murmurs of agreement ripple through the older kids and adults.

"Do you want him to be covered up? He's not indecent, except for morally, but he will be bloody." I question.

"I would like to see him without a sheet." A teen offers. "We can cover the little kids' eyes or something. And I really want to take a stab at that man. He killed my family."

More murmurs of agreement arise and Lexa raises her hand, causing it to stop immediately. "Very well, no sheet. We will go up there and it will be bloody, it will be horrifying. We are working on cleaning it up, but there has not been much time. Understood?" The Maunon nod seriously.

Once no one else speaks for a moment, I decide to ask what we've been intending to. "Mom, is everyone good?"

"It appears so," she answers, glancing around the room again.

"Alright. So I'll radio Raven to turn off the fans, see what happens." I say and when Mom doesn't stop me, I do just that. "Hey Rae, it's me again. You can turn the fan off."

"Alright. And... They're off. Oh! Indra's back, I'm going to go help them. See you guys soon, Griffin."

The connection stops again, the crackling being replaced with silence. The blades of the fans slow down at an almost agonizing pace. The mountain people all huddle together, looking hopeful yet terrified. The fans make one last sluggish "whoosh" and then it's eerily quiet. No one moves. It's like time itself is frozen as everyone waits to see what will happen.

Of course we know that they can stand lower levels of radiation, due to no one dying when the fans slowed. But this is different. If this works, they can go to the surface without their hazmat suits.

No one collapses or falls to the floor or gives any signs that they're less than healthy. We wait for what feels like forever for something, anything. But in actuality it's probably more like a couple of minutes. It hits one of the teenagers first and tears stream from his eyes as he sobs with happiness. Just like that, the dam bursts and everyone is clapping and cheering and hugging.

Lexa squeezes my hand again, smiling out at everyone. I rest my head on her shoulder, satisfied.

Whew, that was a LOT of dialogue! Next chapter won't have as much, since we get to see Cage again! Also, this is almost 30% longer than usual because it got out of hand, so you're welcome ;) Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!