Grounded

Chapter 6- Heda

What the hell is taking them so damn long?

It seems like days since I was forced to torture Raven, though I know it can't be more than a couple of hours, but still! Raven's cuts are still bleeding and even I know she needs to see my mom. What the fuck can they still want from us?!

However a few moments later, I hear those same heavy footsteps echoing through the hallway and I instinctively grab hold of the blade, still dripping with Raven's blood and get ready to attack. As the door bursts open I once again meet the asswipe's gaze.....the commander.

"What the fuck have you done with Lexa?"

He says nothing but smirks down at me, "you need to come with me now, but she stays here".

Who the hell does he think he is, he makes me torture my family and then expects me to just leave them.

"No", I don't care if he is the damn commander anymore, I'm sick of his damn games. "You make me torture my best fucking friend or take the life of an innocent girl, and you seriously expect me to just leave her to fucking die alone?!" His smirk fades but this time he doesn't seem angry. "Where the fuck are my parents and what have you done to them", practically snarling at him now , and gripping the blade tighter.

There are a few moments of silence, but eventually he breaks it, "they will all be fine but you must come with me now".

So he isn't budging.....maybe I can make a compromise, "I am not leaving her alone, bring her my mother". I really hope I sound confident, because in reality, his glare is bloody terrifying, "She is a doctor.....a healer and she can help."I let a few moments pass, "only then will I go with you".

I swear in that minute of silence you could have heard my heart beating out of my chest, but I refuse to make him think he has any power over me and eventually he once again shouts something over his shoulder in a weird language, and when I look down, I see Raven's wide eyes are looking up at me so I cup her face and whisper, "we're going to be okay Reyes". I glare back up at him and another guard emerges from his side, leading mom into the room...she isn't injured.

Once she notices us she rushes to my side with wide eyes looking down at Raven. I hand her the knife that they still had not taken from me and move her gaze to meet mine with my thumb, "I have to go with them mom, but I'm going to be okay, take care of Raven for me and I will be back soon".

With my words she looks like she is about to cry or scream, but instead she pulls both me and Raven into a tight hug and whispers, into my hair, "may we meet again".

I know she is terrified, so am I,  but she also understands we need to be strong if we are going to survive this so I give her a small smile and whisper, "we will, I promise". With that I move Raven's slumped body into my mom's lap and push myself to my feet, cautiously stepping towards the commander.

Almost instantly, guards rush to my side and blindfold my face, I'm guessing they don't want me to figure out where I am, and they forcefully drag me out of the room.

We have been walking for at least fifteen minutes now and I am starting to worry they are just dragging me to the edge of the cliff or something, until I am suddenly stopped and forced to my knees, and I hear a strong voice shout out "Mochof Gustus, now leave us". 

That voice sounds so familiar, I feel like I have heard it before, but it is different, stronger yet colder, and it is enough to make every inch of my body shake out of fear. I hear a door slam somewhere behind me and quiet footsteps stop just in front of me, the blindfold is gently lifted from my face and light floods my eyes. When they finally adjust to the brightness, the figure has returned to ,what seems like a throne, in front of me......what the fuck?

".......Lexa?" but it comes out as no more than a quiet whisper as thoughts flood my mind. In front of me looks like an altered version of the timid girl I met in the room. This version is terrifying, her face is covered with black war paint, her crazy brown hair has been tamed back with braids, and her tattered clothes replaced with strong armour, and flowing by her side is a long red sash.....hold up. So I did see someone when I arrived. Has she been watching me the entire time? 

The only way that I can truly know that is the girl I met not long ago are those enchanting, emerald eyes, they only stand out more against her charcoal war point and just by staring into them, it seems like they have the power to pierce through my very flesh and bones, she's..............beautiful.

"Hello Clarke......we have much  to discuss." 

Is that really all I get? I feel like the world has gone crazy and that's all she fucking says?!

"You're the commander?" no reaction of course, and I realise I am still on my knees before her, but I am too terrified to move.

"I have learnt much about you", the room falls silent, but this time I refuse to be the one to break it. After what seems like an eternity she rises from her throne and gracefully glides across to me, offering me her hand. Still gazing into her piercing eyes, I cautiously take it and she effortlessly pulls me onto my feet. "Yes Clarke I am the commander, but I needed to know your true intentions.....and the test was for me to see your strength, and it is true."

Is she fucking serious, A BLOODY TEST?! She is terrifying but suddenly I feel a surge of confidence and I rip back my hand, glare back into her eyes and hiss "a fucking test? do you have any idea what that fucking did to me." Once again no reaction, "torture isn't a damn test it's a punishment and as far as I know we haven't done a damn thing wrong, we didn't even know anyone was on the damn ground".

I turn away from her, as tears threaten to flood my eyes, hurting Raven like that, brought back many dark memories from the Ark, memories that only Raven know about......memories no one should have to endure.

I expected her to scream or threaten me, at least that's what I would understand with whoever the hell she made me believe was the commander. Commander......I don't even know what that means but I don't care anymore, I just want the memories to be gone, I don't know if I can live with myself after what I did to Raven. Instead I feel a firm hand placed on my shoulder and after a few moments it gently squeezes it. Comfort? Bloody hell this day gets more confusing by the moment. Instead I pull myself out of her grasp and whip back around to face her, "what do you want from me?"

After a few moments of silence she just whispers, "I'm sorry Clarke but you cannot leave here, there is much that you do not yet know and if you return to your camp, you will die".

"I'm done with your damn games, what the hell do you mean I can't leave?! What about my family?! What about the girl that has just gone through fucking torture for YOU?!"

Suddenly her eyes darken, I screwed up, I know that shouting at her is harsh but my anger has gotten the best of me. Practically snarling at me she warns, "I know you are confused Clarke, but do not disrespect me, I have cut out people's tongues for far less, understand?"

I find myself mentally slapping myself because, honestly, I found it really sexy. Instead I just manage a small "yes......sorry Lex- urm commander?"

Wow of course I had to go and bloody embarrass myself. I feel my cheeks start to flush under her gaze and I pray to god that she can't see me blushing right now. However if she does, she says nothing, keeping her stoic expression in place.

"I know you do not understand why I gave you that choice, it may be harsh but it is our way and I'm sure you will one day understand that. Your family will be safe, and with that you have my word." She gives me one last glance and turns back to her throne, sitting down gracefully and continues, "you must remain here, as my prisoners for now, that is the only way you can be protected until you can be revealed to the rest of the clans. Currently they will see you as a threat, and you are lucky that none had already made a move against your camp. You will all have a duty in this clan, and will work to help the people in this village. Most people here trust my decision though you need to be revealed as prisoners of the commander, it is the only way to keep you safe as no one will dare to move against me".

Wow, now I am flooded with guilt at the fact I basically screamed in her face.

"Why are you protecting me?" I whisper, lowering my gaze to the ground and I am surprised that she once again glides over to me. and moves her thumb under my chin to force my gaze to meet hers and repeats my previous words back to me, giving me a small smile, "you are an innocent girl......I will not harm you"