Esperança 》B. Blake

1.08

[C H A P T E R  E I G H T]
Everyone Hates Jasper

☆☆☆

FOR THE SECOND TIME that morning, Roseline had awoken to the sound of Jasper's cries of pain. She sighed and leaned back against the drop-ship wall in defeat. There was no chance she was going to fall back asleep. Another cry of pain echoed throughout the three levels of the drop-ship, and Roseline's heart ached. She wished she could do something for the boy, but sadly, she wasn't a doctor, and she knew next to nothing about the human body.

Two more days had passed since the near-death experience with Bellamy and the encounter with the strange Grounder. She had been trying to put it out of her mind by either helping Clarke with anything she needed or distracting the other delinquents from Jasper's groaning. Usually, it worked, but sometimes she had a moment to herself and it caused her to spiral, thinking about anything and everything that could explain the Grounder's odd behavior of killing one of their own. She managed to keep her mind focused on the other people, and they seemed to appreciate it.

After asking Clarke for the fourth time if she needed anything else, Clarke told her that she needed space and that she should go take a break. Roseline, with a dejected look, made her way out of the drop-ship, searching for something to keep her mind off of her thoughts. Seeing Bellamy, she bounced over with a hopeful smile.

Her smile fell once she saw Murphy cursing at his failed attempt of throwing his knife into the tree across from him.

"It's that damn kid, always messing with my head," he said with disgust. 

"He's not gonna last much longer, better think of a new excuse," Bellamy responded before throwing the emergency axe he had retrieved into the bark with precision. 

"Hey, he'll make it, alright? But, Bellamy's right about the excuse thing. Jasper's not the problem. I think it has something to do with the way you're holding your knife," Roseline stepped in, standing in between the two boys.

Murphy rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah? And how would you know that?"

Roseline shrugged. "I've read some books."

"What the hell do you want?" he scoffed, grabbing his knife again.

"Well, I guess right now I want to help you with your throwing technique, but considering the fact that you're still throwing with your arm bent like that, I think it's safe to say you don't want my help. So, currently? I want nothing," she said nonchalantly, pulling at a loose string on her jacket. Murphy clenched his jaw tightly, but before he could say anything else, Atom walked over with another boy trailing behind.

"We searched a half-mile in all directions. No sign of Trina or Pascal anywhere."

"Visit your special tree while you were out there?" Murphy asked snidely, most likely taking out his anger for Roseline on Atom instead. Atom became red in the face and crossed in arms defensively.

"Atom took his punishment, now let it go," Bellamy said, his tone firm. Roseline looked at him with confusion, but the look on his face told her to drop it, so she did.

"Could be Grounders." Atom redirected the conversation back to the main point. The girl felt her heart skip a beat at the name, but she kept her cool.