Killer // Bellamy Blake (1)

IV

The day after the acid fog appeared, Delaney was in Polis. She had business to attend to with Kendra, who still did not believe the sky people were trustworthy. Delaney knew convincing her would take time, so she told Bellamy and the sky people she was going on a hunting trip. They let her go knowing she could defend herself.

"Alessandra, Haiplana de Natblidas, what have you found about Skaikru?"

Delaney stood, stepping up to the bottom of the stairs where the thrown sat.

"Heda, I believe the Skaikru is harmless. They can not hurt us."

"What brings you to this conclusion?"

"They can not hunt for themselves. The acid fog killed several of them. Others have disappeared. They don't know how to survive."

Although it pained Delaney to throw her old friends under the bus, she knew it must be done. She had to show Kendra that they were not a threat to any grounder. She had to prove that they could do no harm no matter how hard they tried.

"And yet you continue to watch them."

"Under your command, yes. I do."

"Very well," Kendra looked displeased at what Delaney had said. "Alessandra, your job has been done. I wish to hear of no more contact between you and Skaikru. Understood?"

Delaney swallowed hard. She tried to keep her face from showing her displeasure but the emotion had caught her off guard and flashed onto her face. She quickly cleared her throat and nodded.

"As you wish, Heda."

"You are dismissed. Return to your home and await further instructions. If I find that Skaikru does pose a threat, you will be among the ranks to kill them. All of them."

It took Delaney the rest of the day to get back to her home. Even then, she debated on whether or not she would listen to Kendra.

Kendra was their commander. She was in charge of everything that happened within the nation. She was in charge of every last grounder. The fact that Delaney wanted to disregard her orders made her stomach churn. Delaney cursed herself for thinking such foolish things.

But she had come to like Skaikru. She had come to like the people there. Delaney hadn't realized he much she missed her old friends until she had them back. Now Kendra wanted to take them away from her again without even knowing it.

Delaney decided she wouldn't return to the camp. Her allegiances lied far deeper with Kendra than they did with Skaikru. That didn't make the decision any easier.

"Delaney, you're going to be late!" Marcus Kane walked through their pod to find his young daughter. It was the first day of kindergarten.

The days leading up to the milestone, Delaney had been thrilled. That's why Marcus was confused when he found her sitting on her bed, holding her pillow tightly. Tears stained her cheeks as she sat with her knees pressed to her chest.

"Honey, what's wrong?" He knelt down in front of her, wiping the tears from her eyes. Delaney's lip quivered as she looked at her father.

"I don't want to leave you." Delaney whimpered.

"Sweetheart," Marcus chuckled slightly, "you'll be back here with me by the end of the day."

"Sinclair said that I was 'going away to school' and that I was growing up!" Delaney explained through her tears.

"Sinclair was just talking about how big you've gotten! You're not going away anytime soon, Delaney. You'll be here with me until you get married and move out."