Killer // Bellamy Blake (1)

XIX

When Raven started giving Bellamy instructions to take out the acid fog, Delaney figured it was her cue to leave. She kissed Bellamy on the cheek, telling him she'd be back but until then he needed to stay safe.

"Delaney! Before you leave, do you know where the control room is? Bellamy's going to have to get in there." Raven called through the walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, actually. Here's my map. Everything we've been able to find is written in. And if you need a quick escape, this is the air duct system." Delaney opened up the map, pointing to a few accessible openings to the air ducts. She also pointed out the control room on the seventh level. That's where Monty was taken, so she told Bellamy to be extra careful going up there.

Delaney made her way toward the exit when footsteps passed. Through the window, she could see guards passing with Dr. Tsing in the middle. She couldn't go out in the hall, not with all of them heading toward the bedroom. She would never make it there before them unless she found another way in. Luckily Delaney knew another way in and she started climbing one of the racks of paintings. She reached the top, pulling off the grate that covered the air vent at the top corner of the room. Delaney crawled inside, pulling the grate shut behind her. Now all she had to do was remember how to get back to their room.

Delaney crawled around, going down slopes and climbing up steeper ramps in the air vent system. She finally started going down, practically just sliding down on her stomach without having to crawl along. Eventually, she heard more voices. When they got louder Delaney could hear Jasper telling everyone to pack their stuff, that they were getting out of here.

Delaney pushed against the grate, popping it open and accidentally dropping the cover onto the floor. It clattered down, causing everyone to run over. Macy and Jonas pulled Delaney out of the air vent and put the grate back on. Jasper immediately started questioning her, asking if Maya was okay and what was happening out there.

"Bellamy's here. He got in and he's working on getting us out right now. But Dr. Tsing is coming and if we don't start-"

Delaney stopped talking as the doors at the front of the room were pried open. Delaney closed her eyes, praying that this wouldn't be the end. She was not ready to die in the coffin that was Mount Weather. She was not ready to die at the hand of the cowards who locked her people up.

"Take her." Dr. Tsing pointed to Harper, who backed away in fear. She latched on to two of her friends, screaming and crying when two soldiers tried to take her away.

"Wait. On second thought, take someone else. She needs more time to heal.

The soldiers turned, taking the nearest boy. Alastair tried to fight, pulling one arm free and knocking one of the soldiers in the head with his fist. Another soldier came up, injecting a syringe of yellow liquid into his shoulder. Alastair was instantly knocked out and the soldiers carried him away.

"You can't do this! President Wallace said-"

"That President Wallace is no longer in command." Dr. Tsing rounded on Jasper. "He had to step down for health reasons. If it's any consolation, I'm sorry it has to be like this."

"Like hell you are," Delaney muttered, making her way forward. Monty and Jonas held her back as Dr. Tsing looked in their direction.

"I hope you know you are all incredibly special to us."

The woman turned on her heel, walking out of the room. The soldiers closed in behind her, their guns taking aim at the children as they left. The last soldier to leave lowered his gun, nodding to the kids. Delaney had barely recognized him through the goggles he was wearing.