BOOK ONE IN THE SALVATION SERIES
"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."
"You just ripped off Winston Churchill."
"Wow, Blake, congratulations...
(ya'll this gif makes me feel things okay) CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
" she paced the room as if it would leave her guilt behind her. But instead, it tracked her as she walked, an ugly shadow made from her choices "
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I immediately drop the rifle from my shaky hands, chin quivering from the realization.
I had just killed someone without even thinking about it. I ripped their life away, their chance to see their family again. I killed someone from our own camp, someone I was supposed to protect.
I stand frozen as Dax's body lies limp on the ground, a bullet through his head and blood seeping onto the ground. My whole being tenses up with guilt, unable to look away. His eyes are open, glazed over with sadness and pity.
I force myself to think clearly, to push past my actions. My face stays frozen as the silent tears I'm unable to stop roll down my cheeks, Clarke lying on the ground gasping for air a few feet away. She was okay, though, we were alive.
He stumbles towards me slightly, his body falling into mine. I help steady him, my knees wobbling with regret. Bellamy grabs my face in his hands, chestnut eyes darting across my face worriedly.
"You're okay, Ava. We're okay. You saved us," Bellamy mutters to me, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment. I take in his face, really looking at him. Even through all the blood and grime, for the first time— I see his scared features, like the ghost of who he used to be.
"I- I killed h-him Bell," My voice cracks suddenly, and Bellamy wraps me in his arms his hand pressed against the back of my neck. My knees buckle, the reality crashing down on me and Bellamy notices this , sliding the two of us down a tree, myself pressed against him.
We're sitting on the sodden ground, Bellamy's back against a tree as he pulls me between his legs. I gently twist slightly, so that I can see his face. My face twists in guilt, my mouth parting in a soft sob. He lifts a gentle hand against my face, as if it would break at any moment.
"If you didn't do what you just did, the three of us would be dead right now. You saved us," Bellamy murmurs, his thumb brushing back and fourth across my cheek, catching the tears that fall down my face.
My face crumples, a hiccup escaping my mouth. I shake uncontrollably, unable to stop staring at my hands. They were soaked in his blood, stained crimson red.
"I'm a m-murderer, Bell. You were in t-trouble and, and I couldn't let y-you die," Large tears drop off my face, unable to slow them down. I rub at my hands, trying to get the blood off them. I murdered Dax, killed him without thinking.
