The City of Light (Bellamy Blake x Reader)

V - Hakeldama

Arms crossed, I stood beside Octavia as the gates opened and the soldiers returned. I stared at Bellamy, at the blood that coated his uniform, his face. Haunted, hollow eyes stared back at me when I met his gaze. I exhaled slowly and tried not to cry. I couldn't have stopped this. But I wasn't sure if I could fix Bellamy now. Not after he helped slaughter an entire army.

When he walked by us, Octavia ran to him to see if he was okay, but I remained rooted to the spot. Nausea twisted my stomach around and I swallowed back some bile.

Pike stepped through the crowd and up onto a platform. "Listen up! Twenty-four hours ago, you elected me your Chancellor. Every action I've taken since, and every action I will take, will be to achieve once sacred goal. The creation of a self-sustaining, prosperous, and safe Arkadia!"

Bullshit. We were no longer safe, not after that slaughter outside our gates. But still, most of the crowd cheered in response. I grit my teeth.

"This morning, on a muddy field," Pike continued, relishing in the praise, "our people payed tribute to those who have been taken from us, by sending a message to the Grounders. This land is ours now."

Everyone cheered again, and I took a step back.

"Resist and you will be met by force. Fight and you will be greeted by death!" Another pause for cheering. It was sickening. "Today is a new beginning. Mark it down, remember it, just like the Grounders will remember it!"

More cheers. I turned and glanced at Lincoln who had more hurt in his expression than I'd seen in a long time. Those were his people they'd just killed. He didn't deserve this, and neither did they.

Pike stepped down and headed for the Chancellor's chambers, followed by Bellamy. I turned to Octavia, feeling emptier than I had in a while.

"No wounded," I muttered, my throat taut with anger and despair. "Ten against three hundred and no wounded."

Neither Octavia nor Lincoln said anything in response. I didn't blame them. There was nothing to say in the face of this horror. I still found it hard to believe. How could I take that in so easily? How could I take in the fact that the man I loved just killed hundreds of people who were trying to help us?

"Is it true you tried to leave camp to see Indra yesterday?" Dad asked Octavia, as the three of us headed through the halls of Arkadia. I wasn't exactly sure why he'd called us, but I was ready to do anything to help fix what Pike had broken.

Octavia gripped tight to the hilt of her sword. "Look don't you have more important things to worry about than who's sneaking out of camp?"

We pushed aside a red tarp covering the entrance to a hallway. A rather deserted hallway that not many people came through. What did he have in mind?

"As it turns out," Dad replied, "that's why you're here."

I glanced over my shoulder, looking to make sure no one was listening in. Then I raised an eyebrow at my father. "You want both of us to sneak out?"

He nodded. "Indra signaled. She wants to meet. I'd go myself, but Pike is watching everything I do now."

"You want us to go see Indra?" Octavia whispered, reinforcing my question.

Dad handed her a sword wrapped in cloth, and slipped me a bow. My bow. I hadn't touched it in a few days, and its smooth warmth brought my a strange comfort. Despite everything, a small smile twitched at my lips.

"I need you to. You two are the only ones optimal for the job."

Octavia and I exchanged glances. I slung the bow and quiver over my shoulder.