Sacrifice and Survival

The Escape

Well at least the fire was warm, in the months since the drop ship landed he'd gotten used to being cold and sick, hurt and hungry. But the last 36 hours had seen him be all four at once, continuously.

They had managed to get out of the building, but it was slow going, dangerous and took much longer than either of them wanted. There was a reason the back stairs were not well guarded hell they weren't really stairs. They were almost useless as anything other than a deterrent; He could not imagine trying to get up thirty flights. There were several places where the steps just stopped and he would have to lower Clarke down what would have been 8 or 10 steps before climbing down himself and at least one place the steps between floors were gone and they had to climb down the handrail that was attached to the wall. All the while hoping no one would find them.

"Damnit!" Clarke exclaimed softly as she pressed herself back against the wall and put out her arm to stop Murphy from rounding the corner that lead to the door out of the building.

"Whoa, what is it?" Murphy asked.

"Titus. He's here and it looks like he's looking for something.....or someone."

"Maybe he'll leave let's just wait and see where he goes."

Clarke shook her head "he's has several of his private guards with him." She peered around the corner again "looks like he and two others are headed towards the front but two are still by the back door."

"Two is better than four" Murphy said, "As soon as you're sure Titus is gone let's just rush these guys."

Clarke rolled her eyes "Or we could try to sneak past them." Clarke reached down and picked up a rock and threw it away from the back door which sent the guards racing past them giving them a chance to make it to the back door.

"Now" She whispered as they quickly ran towards the door. Murphy was faster so he reached the door first and as he jerked it open he heard footsteps, a voice yelling stop and Clark gasp as a guard grabbed her from behind, the guard spun her around and punched her several times before Murphy could react, he grabbed the guard and threw him against the wall and hit him several times sending him falling towards the ground. Murphy tried to pull Clarke up and push her towards the door when the second guard attacked him cutting his arm with a sword, Clark threw herself at Murphy's assailant only to find the hilt of the sword swinging towards her mid-section knocking her to the ground near the first guard who was still unconscious, she grabbed his sword "Murphy" she yelled as she scrambled to her feet, Murphy was trying to stay in close to keep the guards sword from inflicting too much damage, he had both hands on the guards sword and was fighting to keep it from slicing his throat, Murphy knew he didn't have much strength left when he felt the guard go limp and fall almost pulling Murphy down with him. He looked up and saw Clarke standing with a bloody sword in her hand. "Thanks Princess, now let's get outta here" he said pulling Clarke through the door and into the alley.

They did what they had to, to make it through the streets to the outskirts of town. Murphy had stolen a coat and hat while Clarke remained under the cloak they had taken from Lexa's room. Once they made it to the outskirts of town Clarke led them to a cave near the river as the moon was raising.

"I'm going to see if I can find some firewood" Murphy said starting to exit the cave.

"No, they'll see." was all Clarke said as she lay down on the floor of the cave and drifted into a state of unconsciousness hugging Lexa's cloak around her.

Murphy pulled his coat tighter and the stolen hat over his ears and sat against the opposite wall where he had a clear view of the mouth of the cave and was still able to keep an eye on Clarke as she tried to fight the nightmares that invaded her sleep.