Grounded

Chapter 5- the choice

After those words I feel completely numb and can only open and close my mouth like a damn goldfish, what the hell am I supposed to say to that, I don't think I can do either. Eventually I find the strength in her eyes to whisper, "what if I refuse?"

Something passes through her eyes, which I thought had been anger, but it fades almost instantly as she carefully places her hand on my leg and whispers back, "then instead the commander will use the blade to slit all of your throats".

All I can say to that is "fuck", as she slowly moves her hand away from me. Taking one last glance at my face, she rises and limps over to the door, hitting it 3 times and the commander's footsteps echo through the hallway once again, but when he enters, he has Raven slung over his shoulder. He clumsily drops her into my lap and once again glares into my eyes.

"You know what must be done, I will return in thirty minutes and if your choice has not been made you shall all suffer my wrath". He glances and nods at Lexa then turns on his heel and strides out of the door, slamming it behind him.

With the loud bang, Raven begins to shift in my arms and I tear my gaze away from Lexa to Raven and beginning stroking her cheeks, as her eyes slowly flutter open.

"I know I'm beautiful Griffin but you don't have to stare at me sleeping" she says with a grin, of course this is the first  thing Lexa hears her say.

"Oh hush Reyes, listen I need you to stay calm but we've been taken, I'll explain everything later but we have a choice to make and not a lot of time".

After a few moments, her eyes suddenly open and she bolts up, headbutting me on the way. 

"Fuck sake Raven". 

"Oh don't whine Griffin you can take it, but what the fuck do you mean taken?" She questions as she stares back at me, but all I can do is hang my head and with that she realises.

"I was fucking right wasn't I? There are fucking survivors! HELL YEAH JAHA CAN SUCK MY ASS", she screams, as she starts doing a little victorious dance around the room.

"REYES!" and she finally stops, glaring down at me in victory, "oh don't be salty just 'cos you were wrong and I was right" she simply says wiggling her eyebrows at me. Clearly she has not yet noticed Lexa who is fixed into place slumped in her corner, staring at Raven with utter confusion.

"Do me a favour Reyes and just turn around?" She smirks but surprisingly does as she is told for once and he smirk fades as she notices Lexa in the corner as she realises how crazy she must seem to her, but of course Raven refuses to lose her ego.

"Damn, and the survivors are sexy as hell". 

All I can do is let out an exasberated sigh and place my forehead in my hands, what the hell Raven?

"Maybe try not to terrify Lexa even more after you just danced about like a drunk lunatic?"

But all she does is shrug, "all the greatest people are lunatics Griffin."

"You know what we don't have time for your ego at the moment but I swear you will be finding yourself a new cushion from now on" but of course we both knew I was teasing. "So basically there are thousands of survivors down here, you were just brought in by the commander, who is basically everyone's leader. In order for us to make it out of here alive we have a choice to make..........I either have to cut you fifteen times or I have to kill Lexa, if we refuse the commander will use the blade to slit all of our throats."

Of course this has to be the time she finally shuts up. "Raven?" I ask gently.

"YOU HAVE TO FUCKING DO WHAT?!"

By now she is shaking and I understand how she is feeling, I am too but we both know I could never take another life, so instead I just wrap an arm around her waist and begin stoking her hair, whispering soft comforts into her ear, it is the only way to ever calm her down. Eventually I look up from Raven's shoulder to glance at Lexa who seems to be trying her best to hide her emotions, but to me, her eyes reveal all; guilty, upset and a bit.....jealous? Why the hell would she be jealous?

As Raven slowly pulls from my shoulder she reaches both hands to cup my cheeks, "It's okay Griffin, I understand, I'm tough anyways and we both need to survive after everything we did to get down here" she slowly moves her thumbs to wipe away my tears and repeats "it's okay".

She pulls away and I step forward and crouch in front of Lexa, this time barely inches from her.

"Will they heal her wounds when it is done?" 

Lexa's eyes widen in shock, I'm guessing she thought I had made the choice to take her life.

"You are an innocent girl Lexa, I refuse to take an innocent girl's life when you are the first human in all my life to show me any kindness......apart from my crazy family of course" I  say with a grin.

Eventually she whispers, "but you do not know me, why save me at the expense of your pain?"

I don't care if she doesn't like contact anymore I grab her hands once again and gaze into her emerald eyes, only this time when she looks down to her hands I take one hand and force it under her chin, lifting her shocked gaze to greet mine.

"That does not matter Lexa.....you are still innocent, me and my family have been through too much pain to imagine" I say shaking my head and this time I am the one to look downwards but when I look back up, I repeat "I will not harm you". 

Once again I rise to my feet, grabbing the blade beside Lexa.

"So I ask you again, will they heal her wounds?" I question gazing down at her.

"They will."

With that I turn back towards Raven, blade in hand and when I stop in front of her the tears once again begin to flow. "I'm so sorry Raven, I love you". She reaches her hand to wipe away my tears and smiles, "I love you too Griffin, we're going to be fine, I'm always beside you remember?"

With that I reach my shaky hand and begin, the blade is so sharp that it draws blood on contact and even after only five cuts, I feel close to breaking, but I know I have to be strong for Raven. The faster I complete the cuts, the faster she can be healed. 

After an agonising 5 minutes of staring into the eyes of my best friend, it is done and I instantly hear Lexa screaming and banging on the door, "BRING BANDAGES".

Wow. Her voice seems different, stronger and less passive and her limp seems to have faded as she rushes over to my side and helps lower Raven to the ground. Soon we hear the commander burst through the door with bandages in hand as he gives them to Lexa, bowing his head as she glares at him. That's strange, he seems more passive to Lexa than I thought his giant self was ever capable of, but I can't think about that now.

It takes 10 minutes but me and Lexa work together to bandage each of Ravens cuts and when it is done she finally allows herself to fall into my arms, obviously completely agonised from each of her wounds. However, before I even had the chance to thank Lexa she has risen and was already striding out of the room, with the commander following closely behind her. All I could whisper is, "what the actual fuck?"

So suddenly the commander follows the girl he just handed over for me to kill, and Lexa has suddenly become someone that seemed to emit power from every fibre of her body that has ever so conveniently lost her damn limp? 

I look back down at Raven and stroke her cheek gently "I swear you're turning everyone crazy Reyes......including me" I chuckle.

"Oh trust me Griffin you're doing just fine with that on your own" she says smiling back at me.

"Rest Raven, I won't let them anywhere near you, I promise" I say with a smile "I love you so much".

"I love you too Clarke" she murmurs as she closes her eyes and drifts to sleep.