At last

Chapter Twenty Eight

Clarke's point of view

I sucked in a breath as I watched Bellamy's lips meet with Echo's. They were so nonchalant about it... as if it had happened before.
I swallowed, crestfallen. And angry.
I pushed my thoughts aside as my friends came to see me.
"Clarke! It's good to see you awake. You gave us all a scare this morning," Harper gave me a grin.
"Seriously," Raven joined her. "If it makes you feel any better, I know your pain." She gestured to her leg brace. "Except I have to live in this suck-fest 24/7."
Monty and Emori appeared as well.
"Clarke, do you remember how you ended up bleeding out in the forest?" Monty asked, Emori nodding in agreement.
Bellamy was the last to join. "Yeah. Madi said it looked like a stab wound," he crossed his arms.
Everyone waited patiently for my response.
I snuck a glance over at Echo. She was having a quiet conversation with Madi - the very sight chilling me to the bone - but I noticed her intense gaze on me.
I quickly looked away, deep in thought. Hopefully it would appear to the others as if I was trying to remember what happened.
If I told the truth, that Echo had in fact stabbed me, the others would turn on her and possibly banish her. While the thought appealed to me, I knew that, with my injury and Echo's banishment, we would be down two workers. That would mean progress on the bunker would slow, and we couldn't afford that. Not with the end of the seven days approaching.
I had to lie. Not for Echo's sake, but for my own. And, more importantly, Madi's.
I pretended to think for a few more minutes, before looking back up at my friends. "I can't remember. All I can recall of last night is that I went out for a walk in the forest, and I rested at the tree line. I must've fell asleep. The next thing I know, I woke up here with a stab wound in my thigh."
Against my better judgement, I glanced at Bellamy. His brows were furrowed in thought. The rest of my friends wore a similar expression.
"What if it was one of those Eligus people?" Emori thought aloud. Harper nodded along, "Yeah, what if they wanted your blood early, so they decided to take some?"
I pretended to consider the idea. "I doubt that. Their High Superior wouldn't disrespect our deal."
Bellamy spoke up, "Do you honestly trust her?"
I looked up at him, meeting his intense gaze with my own. "Not exactly, but she seemed genuine."
He blinked, "That's not much to go off of." He looked to the others. "We'll set up a watch system from now on, just in case they're out there. Two people per night. I'll take first watch tonight."
"I've got second," Raven volunteered. Bellamy nodded his thanks to her.
Madi announced from across the clearing that dinner was ready and the crowd around me began to dissipate, wishing me well.
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Bellamy's point of view

After dinner, everyone kinda scattered. Monty and Harper were off collecting wood for the fire and Emori and raven were searching for more berries. Me and echo sat on the log by the fire as she rested her head on my shoulder, our fingers intwined. But all I can think about is how clarke got that stab wound. Out of all of my time spent with clarke I know when she is lying and this, is one of those times. Letting go of echo, I stand up and stretch.
"Where are you going?" Echo looks up at me, smiling.
"I'm going to talk to clarke."
"No... stay with me,"she grins as she stands up, intwining her fingers with mine again.
"I'll be back," I smirk, kissing her forehead. Then, letting go of her, I make my way over to the rover where clarke is staying.
"Knock, knock," I smile, tapping on the closed rover doors.
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Clarke's point of view

Moving me from the ground to the rover had been an ordeal. Madi, my unofficial doctor, had decided that it was safer for me to sleep in the rover for the night instead of on the ground. Especially with the "threat of the Eligus people".
I agreed. I could definitely go without the sight of Echo cuddling up to Bellamy, taunting me.
After I had eaten, Raven had volunteered to park the rover beside the spot that I had been in. To move me without jostling my leg, it took the combined efforts of Madi, Raven, and I to get myself off of the ground and into the rover. Luckily, the wound hadn't been disturbed too much.
After my bedding, dressing supplies and water basin were moved into the back of the rover, I was free to rest.
I was about to drift off when I heard a knock on the closed rover doors. I carefully sat up, propping myself up against the bench of the rover behind me.
"Knock-knock," I heard an all-to-familiar voice muffled due to the rover doors.
Without thinking, I yawned, "Come in."