Raise Hell || The 100 [sequel to Hell and Back]

10 | Oh Dam

Harper's fingers expertly crossed strands of my hair as she finished the fourth small braid on the right side of my head. She worked efficiently on the braids to match the ones on the left side and tied the ends together to secure them. A few of our people around the dormitory curiously eyed the certain hairstyle as Harper worked, secretly wondering if there was a reason behind them, considering everyone with long hair removed the braids from their after we arrived to Mount Weather, no longer concerned with how dirty our hair was after not being able to wash it.

The braids on the sides of my head provided a small spark of hope within my people to reassure them I hadn't given in to Mount Weather's way like I made it seem. I simply played the part to appease to Dante and come across innocent instead of someone untrustworthy. I needed to be someone they could open their arms to without fearing I would do something dangerous to them. That's why they trusted me more than Clarke.

Once the news of my escape reached my people's ears, they would understand the reasoning for why I fled from Mount Weather and realize I would return for them after I found our missing friends, the ones who survived the rockets and Grounders. These braids were more than a stylish hairstyle. They were a sign of hope. A way for me to return back to our proper roots, to when we lived on our own after we landed without constantly being watched by the people of Mount Weather with their cameras and occasional weary looks.

"Do you have everything?" Harper lowly whispered from where she sat on the bottom bunk next to me, finishing the final braid. Her eyes hastily darted around the room before she returned her attention back to the braid.

"Yeah," I faintly answered her without drawing attention to myself on the bed.

We purposely placed ourselves in view of the camera to show proof of Harper and Miller's appearance in the dormitory while I left to escape. The two needed an alibi to avoid any suspicions of working with me and everyone in the room would be able to account for them.

Our plan was minutes away from falling into action. Soon, I would be out of these walls and into the open air of the woods, surrounded by nature and any looming threats. I was ready to be on my own in the wilderness, searching for our missing friends and, most importantly, Bellamy. The thought of how I would react once I saw him again crossed my mind a few times and I never knew how I would be in the moment.

The scalpel hidden in my hoodie pocket felt increasingly heavier as I mentally prepared myself for what was to come. The key card I stole from Maya's house was safely secured in the the band of my bra and would remain there until I needed it to access the restricted area on level three. For our plan to succeed, everything needed to work out in my favor.

"Okay, all done," Harper announced as her hands fell to her lap once she finished the final braid. She smiled to herself, admiring the perfect braids she crafted in my hair like she used to do.

"Thank you." I smiled at her, grateful.

The braids brought a wave of confidence soaring through my body. This was the version of me I always felt the most connected to. The version of me that showed who I truly was as a person and how no one could stop me once I made my mind up on something.

"Be careful, Wren," she softly whispered, hazel eyes laced with fear before she forced a fake smile on her lips like nothing was wrong in the first place.

I curtly nodded as I stood up from the bed, nonchalantly angling my back toward the camera to avoid anyone potentially attempting to read my lips on the camera feed later. "Um, thanks for the braids," I began with a small wave toward my hair. "I missed having them."

A real smile formed on Harper's lips at my words. "They fit you best," she paused for a second then added, "Go kick some ass and find our friends."