Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"YOU DON'T have to do this, Murphy."
He paused for a second. "But I do."
And with that, he kicked the stool out from underneath Bellamy's feet.
What happened next was a blur. Marley heard herself scream — it was ear-splitting and hurt her throat and they were sure to hear it from outside too — but she didn't care. All she cared about was getting free of her bonds and helping Bellamy somehow.
Her tears were coming so fast now that they were like raindrops, a downpour cascading onto her cheeks. She was gasping as the harsh sobs wracked her body though her protests only fell on deaf ears. Even through the blur of shapes and colours in her vision, she could still make out the grin of accomplishment stretched across Murphy's face.
Bellamy was kicking and struggling; his hands pulled at the fabric that choked him as he gasped out for air. His face has turned bright red.
Murphy's smile faltered at that. "Using your hands-" he sneered, taking a step closer to Bellamy's flailing body. "-is cheating."
He tried to force his hands down but Bellamy landed a punch right against his jaw; it sent Murphy hurtling to the ground. After taking a second to compose himself, he lunged forward and rammed the butt of his shotgun sharply into Bellamy's stomach. He gasped and coughed, all his breath vacating his lungs as his legs kicked around wildly as he choked.
Another cry out in protest and that's when Marley felt it. There was a pop and suddenly her binds weren't so tight. Pop. Pop. Pop. Threads were ripping, shredding apart under the metal of the knife she had been sawing back and forth relentlessly.
And relief washed over her as she heard the hissing of the door as it was released. Slowly but surely, the dropship's door was lowering. They were going to be okay.
Marley's grip on the knife faltered and it clattered to the ground; the ropes around her wrists fell away. Murphy turned to her and scowled, wild-eyed and manic.
"Raven, you did it!"
She wasn't really sure what she expected to happen next. Murphy held his gun tightly but he never raised it at Marley like she thought he would. This was the same boy who'd threatened to shoot her in the leg not long before but now, at the threat of a dozen armed delinquents storming the dropship, he bolted. He sped towards the ladder leading to the upper deck, slinging his gun over his shoulder so he could climb.
Marley didn't even think about following Murphy. The thought never even crossed her mind. Instead, she stumbled to her feet and raced straight towards Bellamy who had gone completely limp. His mouth had fallen open; his arms had fallen motionless to his side.
