𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑, bellamy blake ²

22; over

"You must know...

Surely you must know it was all for you."

— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

➳ ➳ ➳

OCTAVIA BURST THROUGH THE DOORS, KEYS IN HAND. She ran to Kane first, unlocking his hands. The next people grabbed the keys off the guards and began to unlock the others. The handcuffs cut into Naomi's wrists, twisting into her skin. She was practically hanging in them.

There was the clicking of her cuffs and someone helped her down. "It's over, it's over." She was placed on the table, hand covering her wound. She didn't know the person who was helping her. Whoever it was, was bandaging over her open wound.

Naomi turned to look around. "What did they do?" She forced herself up, stumbling away from the table. Blood ran between her fingers. "What did they do?" she slurred again. Her eyes focused on the flashing red lights, and then on the security camera in the corner of the room. Someone reached for her hand, trying to guide her back to the table. But she pushed them away.

Her eyes flickered again to the flashing lights past the laboratory window. Naomi moved towards them, as if in a dream. Those people... Before she knew it, she was out the door.

She found herself running despite the pain, feet thundering down the hallway. One hand stayed clutched at the loosely bandaged wound ripping at her side.

All she could think of were the people that were living in this Mountain... all the innocent people—and Maya.

But she must have taken a different turn from Jasper, because she didn't end up in the mess hall. She found herself in a long corridor. There was a wide archway to her left, made of brick. Flashing lights from above reflected off the windows and blinded her.

She took another lumbering step forward and got a better look. Her eyes wandered along the sign above the doorway. She could see the occupants through the glass windows.

And Naomi fell to her knees.

There was the deafening sound of her hitting the ground in an otherwise silent hallway. She felt her skin catch on the hard concrete, but found she couldn't care less. Blood dripped from her fingertips.

'Sunshine Daycare', the sign read.

There was no blood. Somehow, it only made the scene worse. Small chairs that would have only come up to her knees were cast over: in colours of blue, green, pink. Someone had knocked a jar of crayons onto the floor. A welted hand peeked out from behind a tiny fallen table.

The children had fallen against each other, arms wrapped around their friends. Teachers held them to their chest, as if trying to protect them. None of the children could have been older than six.

A stuffed tiger was held in the stiff hands of a toddler.

Naomi heard footsteps behind her. Someone who had followed her out, no doubt, hoping she might lead them to safety. Or perhaps worried about her wellbeing. It didn't really matter.

There were more than one of them. She could hear their feet echoing around the corner. Someone screamed behind her and the cry drew more. As each of her people moved around the corner they saw what they had done.

Naomi leant forward as to hide her face against her knees. She squeezed her eyes closed, hands shaking. Her aching body trembled. Tears were rolling onto her knees. Serena... What have I let happen? There was still a child's lullaby playing in the background.