𝙃𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙀𝙉 𝘿𝙀𝙈𝙊𝙉𝙎² ➣ 𝐵. 𝐵𝑙𝑎𝑘𝑒✔

05 | Expansion

"Pike's detail is still at it," I stated looking over the fallen tree at three of Pike's people. "Soil and water samples."

Kane had asked Octavia and me to keep an eye on Pike's men. He gave us earpieces to we could talk.

"Any idea what they're up to?" Kane asked quietly through his walkie.

"No, but considering how heavily they're armed, I don't think they want anyone to find out."

"Crap," Octavia mumbled in front of me. I looked over the tree to see a grounder kid kicking around water.

"What is it?" Kane asked.

"There's a grounder kid," the girl replied. "Hang on."

She looked back at me and I nodded.

"Hello there," one of Pike's guards said to the kid. I'm pretty sure it's Monty's mom. "Don't be scared."

"We can't let him go," Shawn said. "He'll tell his people he saw us... Hannah."

After a few seconds, Hannah looked back at Shawn and nodded. Shawn raised his gun, causing the grounder to turn and run into the forest.

"Fan out," Hannah shouted. "With me."

The three guards ran after the kid. Octavia and I shot up, running after them.

"Octavia, Aiden, are you there?" Kane whispered.

"They're going after the kid," I said, jumping over a rock. "We're gonna try and cut them off."

Octavia and I ran into the forest. We eventually saw the kid, who tripped. He quickly recovered and Octavia grabbed him, putting we hand on his mouth to keep him quiet. We hid against a tree. I quietly unsheathed my sword as Pike's men stopped on the hill above us.

"Lost him," Shawn muttered breathlessly.

Hannah spoke. "Double back towards the river. He can't have gotten far."

I heard a pair of footsteps retreating and another come toward the edge of the hill causing me to hide against the side of the hill. I heard Octavia let out a groan and I looked at her. Some sort of yellow liquid was dripping on her head from the tree. I looked up the hill to see Hannah walk away. I let out a sigh of relief as Octavia let go of the kid. I watched as he ran away from us.

"You're welcome," Octavia muttered.

"Kane," I said quietly into my earpiece.

"I'm here," he whispered. "You okay?"

"We need to find out what Pike is up to. Right now, whatever it is, they're willing to kill a kid to keep it quiet."

"We're on it," he said. "You stay safe."

Octavia and I shot up, running out of the brush.

°°°

I followed behind Octavia as he cut through the brush, clearing a path as we walked and listened through the walkie to Pike. Kane and Miller had put some sort of recording device in the Chancellor's office to find out what Pike is up to.

"Okay," Pike began. "Let's get this meeting started. Welcome Farm Station's own Monty Green and Factory girl, Zoe Monroe, as we begin our next crucial phase, expansion, and salvation. And this will lead the way."

"Dirt?" I heard Monroe ask, confused, which made me smile slightly.

"Soil," Pike corrected. "Fertile, arable soil. Vastly more rich than anything we've found since landing. We'll clear the trees and plant within the month."