Reaching Out | The 100

Chapter Nine: Buried Alive

Octavia's POV

My sword clangs against Niylah's as she spins around, i jump back and block her hit, catching the hilt of her sword on mine, sending it flying out of her hand, as it clatters to the floor.

"The student surpasses the master." Niylah quips with a grin and i laugh. The door opens and Miller and Jackson walk in, followed by Kane, Abby, and Jaha.

"What is this, an intervention?" I laugh, throwing my sword in the air aimlessly and twirling it around then stabbing it into the dirt ground.

Jaha rolls his eyes, and Kane just narrows his eyes at me, "This is serious Octavia." I roll my eyes, we rarely ever see eye to eye.

I sigh,"I know, but i can only take so much seriousness. We are literally buried alive. If i knew a way to get us out of here, don't you think i would be doing that already? We are going to die soon, what's there to be serious about?"

Jaha and Abby share a glance, "That's the thing." Abby says, "I think we may have found a way out."

Niylah's eyes widen, and my eyes meet hers. I don't dare let myself hope, because while hope is powerful, it is also dangerous.

Miller unrolls the blueprints in his arms out on the desk and we all gather around. "See this wall here? The walls are only one foot thick here, their are multiple airlocks before anyone can reach this room, so they can filter out the radiation. I think it was intended to be used as a prison."  Jaha says matter of factly.

I take this in, mulling it over in my mind. We have nothing to lose. "Are there any risks?" I ask. It can't be this simple, there must be a catch.

"Yes, if there is rock behind the wall breaking open it open will cause it to collapse and kill everyone who is in the room." Kane rubs his forehead.

I start laughing and everyone turns to look at me in admonishment. "What?" I shrug, "We're all gonna die down here anyway."

Everyone just stares at me, but i see a sparkle in Niylah's eye and Miller's mouth twitches and they burst into laughter with me. Jackson and Jaha too, eventually and Kane and Abby just look at each other. Then burst into laughter, and i am laughing so hard that i start crying.

We have been through so much, the possibility of losing a few people for a chance that the rest of us could survive is an easy choice, considering that we will all die anyway, if we do nothing, at least this way we have a chance.

Plus we might get to see the ground again for the first time in six years. Breathe fresh air, run through fields of grass, climb mountains, have freedom. Hope curls up inside of my chest despite myself, and i smile.

"Well what are we waiting for?" I ask.

***

I stroll to the make-shift jail behind the arena, and throw open the doors where four convicted criminals are bound in chains.

"Today is your lucky day!" I tell them as i untie them. Niylah and Miller are behind me, swords ready, in case these criminals try anything. They won't though, they are all too afraid of me. I could kill them in the time it takes for them to take a step.

"What's happening?" The roughest looking of the prisoners asks. He has long brown hair that is dirty and tangled down his back, and an uneven beard all matted and crusty. I shudder, i would be the last one to admit it, but i wish we were living on the ark, it had some perks, for example showers.

I nod to Niylah. "Today you either get to get out of this bunker, or you die trying." She says, shoving him forward.

"Good, i was getting pretty bored." He chuckles. I sigh and with a quick flick of my wrist, i unsheath my sword, in a second i stab the criminal next to him in the heart, blood spurts from his wound and he crumples to the ground.