somewhere | b.blake ✔️

2x04✔️

I said to save you
Save you
Save you
Someone to save you
What you need is
Someone to save you

- Someone to save you, One Republic

*****

There have been multiple times over Ash's time on Earth where she felt thankful for the grueling drills Smith forced her through, running until her legs were jelly. But now, sprinting through Grounder territory, her body rebelling against her every step, the pain feels unbearable.

She's lost count of the miles, but each footfall sends shockwaves of agony through her legs, which pulses in sync with her racing heartbeat. Bellamy and John had carried her for a while, but the added weight with their packs made it impossible. Now, Bellamy's arm around her shoulder is her only support, and even that feels like fire shooting through her body.

Each breath is a struggle, painfully shallow as she tries to keep her gasps silent, her teeth clenched so hard her jaw aches. Her leg muscles scream in protest, but she hops along as fast as she can.

She knows she looks a mess—anyone could see the strain in her features, the tightness around her mouth. Still, she says nothing. If she complains, she'll just slow them down even more.

John, however, doesn't keep quiet. "Everything is Grounder territory," he pants, finally coming to a stop. "I can't keep running."

Ash nearly collapses in relief when he stops, immediately leaning heavily against a boulder. It feels like heaven to get off her leg, if only for a moment.

"We don't even know if the guy Finn killed was telling the truth."

Finn storms back, grabbing John's shoulder and pulling him forward, the same as he had done to her not long ago. "Move."

Ash winces as she sees Finn's face. His expression is hard, distant. It sends a shiver down her spine—something about him is different now, something darker. The memory of him pulling the trigger on that Grounder without flinching replays in her mind, and she blinks, trying to push it away.

"Hey! We can take a minute," Bellamy says, his voice full of sympathy as he catches his breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

"No, we can't. You heard what the Grounder said—they'll outlive their usefulness." Finn's voice is cold, unrelenting, and it sets Ash's teeth on edge. He's not the same person anymore, and it terrifies her. The Finn she thought she knew wouldn't be so ready to pull the trigger.

Bellamy's jaw tightens. "Yeah, I heard what you said. Right before you put a gun to his head."

Ash's gaze shifts to the ground, the memory flashing vividly again in her mind. She can still see the Grounder's blood on the floor, still hear the crack of the gunshot. Her stomach churns, but she pushes the feeling down. Now's not the time to think about it, but it's all too clear that Finn didn't hesitate and feels no remorse.

Finn looks at Bellamy, his eyes betraying no emotion. "Look, do you think I wanted to do that?" he asks. "He would've told his people we were coming. By the time we got there, our people would be dead. Maybe that's something you can live with, but I can't."

Ash narrows her eyes. She wants to believe him, but the image of his cold, detached expression keeps replaying in her mind. It wasn't just a necessity—it was something else, something much worse.

"I know you did what you think you had to do," Bellamy starts, trying to stay calm, "but you're not yourself right now. I can't have another loose cannon out there."