Prisoner 345 (book 2) The 100

CHAPTER 1: The 48

Bellamy and I ran through the forest, our bodies tense, lungs burning. We didn't know where we were going, just that we had to keep moving. After I ran out of the dropship yesterday, Bellamy helps me escape before the explosion. He'd been furious at first, lecturing me about getting myself killed, but now? Now we were just focused on surviving.

A sound behind us made us freeze. Bellamy raised his spear, ready to throw, until we saw Monroe and Sterling emerge from the trees.

"Get back down," Bellamy ordered, his voice low.

"You were followed?" Monroe asked as we crouched behind the bush. 

"Quiet," he whispered, then turned to us. "Have you seen Finn?"

"Finn's alive?" Sterling asked, eyes wide. 

"He was. We got separated." Bellamy's jaw clenched. "We knew the fire was coming, so we ran. But one of them followed." I swallowed hard, remembering.

"How'd you guys get out?" I asked Monroe and Sterling.

"We, uh, saw the Ark come down, and we thought we'd come get help," Sterling explained. "Piece of it came down this way. Monroe thinks it's Mecha, but personally I think-"

A distant voice cut him off. We all turned toward the sound.

"Follow me. Stay low and quiet," Bellamy ordered.

We moved carefully, hiding in the bush as the Grounder rode into view. Then I saw him. Finn. His hands were tied with another boy's, forced to march behind the horse. The boy stumbled and fell.

"On your feet," the Grounder commanded.

"I can't," the boy groaned, exhausted.

"He can't keep up," Finn yelled. 

Finn tried to help him, but before he could, the Grounder grabbed the boy by the rope and dragged him forward. My stomach twisted. Then, without hesitation, the Grounder drew his sword and slit the boy's throat.

I bit down a gasp, my entire body tensing. That could be Finn. At any second.

The Grounder turned to Finn, but instead of striking, he handed him a water bottle and pulled him back to his feet. Then they kept walking. 

Bellamy turned to us. "I know you're scared. But we are warriors. We can do this."

"How?" I whispered, my hands shaking with adrenaline. 

"We attack as a team," he said. "When he goes for me, Sterling and Monroe go for Finn. Once he's free, it's 5 on 1."

"What do I do?" I asked.

"Try not to die," Bellamy muttered. "Ready? 1... 2....3-"

We charged. But as Bellamy and I sprinted forward, we realised something; Monroe and Sterling hadn't moved. 

"Bellamy, get Aaliyah out of here!" Finn shouted. 

The Grounder spun his horse toward us. Finn hit the ground, still tied, as Bellamy threw his spear, but missed.  The Grounder charged. I barely had time to react before Bellamy and I were knocked off our feet. I hit the ground hard, pain shooting up my ribs.

Bellamy groaned beside me as the Grounder climbed off his horse. He punched Bellamy, hard.

I scrambled toward Finn, trying to untie him. My fingers fumbled with the rope, until a sharp pain exploded on the back of my head.

Everything went black.

✯

I woke up tied.

Fantastic.