the damned → the 100 ¹

[ 019 ] not just us.

— CHAPTER NINETEEN,
not just us.

RUBY AND BELLAMY HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR HUNTING TRIP.

They return to the camp with a hog thrown over Bellamy's shoulders, large smiles on their faces, and a new sparkle in their eyes.

When the delinquents see the dead animals, cheers fog up through the camp. A group of boys take the hog from Bellamy to skin it and gut it so they can eat the meat. Bellamy's eye dart down to Ruby. She's not looking at him. Her eyes are locked on Murphy.

"Go talk to him," Bellamy says. Ruby looks up at him. "I'll be in my tent if you need me."

She nods with a smile and bounds over to her brother. When she comes to stand in front of him, Murphy's eyes are already narrowed slightly. "Hey, John." She says in greeting.

He just stares at her. After several seconds of silence he asks, "why're you so happy?"

He knows the answer. He just doesn't want to believe. Murphy isn't fond of Bellamy. In Murphy's defense, Bellamy did hang him, exile him from camp which resulted in him being tortured, and then he threatened to kill him when he returned. But Murphy also knows Ruby needs someone in her life to bring a smile to her face. Because it isn't going to be himself.

"Nothing reason." She answers. "Have you seen River or Ryland? I have to tell them something."

"Last I talked to them they were in the drop ship." He tells her.

"Thanks, big brother!" She says. She turns on her heel and walks away. Murphy's blue eyes follow after her as she walks to the drop ship.

Big brother.

The words settle in his brain. Big brother. He's a big brother. He's always known it. He's known since he was ten years old. Ruby is his baby sister, even if it's only by two weeks. Ruby is his blood, the last of it. She is both Murphy and Carson, a force to be reckoned with.

Ruby is his sister. Ruby is his responsibility.

For however long they stay sane.

When Murphy first found out Ruby didn't know about their relationship, he was furious. He was so angry at everyone. His mother, his father, Mavis, Rowan, the council. Her.

Then he realized it wasn't her fault. It was never Ruby's fault. It was Alex's fault, it was Mavis's fault. It was Rowan's fault.

She never asked for her mother to fall in love with a man she could never openly love. She didn't ask for her mother to cheat on Rowan with Alex.

Ruby never deserved any of that. But she got it all. And now all of her family is dead. Everyone except her big brother.

Across the camp, Ruby is about to enter the drop ship when she's intercepted by Raven. The girl is completely distraught. Tears threaten to fall down her face as she stops in front of Ruby. "Ruby! I am so sorry! I had no idea you and Bellamy had something going on. I—"

Ruby stops her, "breathe, Raven," once Raven takes a deep breath in attempt to calm herself down, Ruby asks, " now what're you talking about?"

"I tried to have sex with him." Raven's words cause Ruby's eyes to widen. "I took my shirt off and everything. I kissed him but he pushed me away. I just left. I'm so sorry, Ru. I didn't know."

Ruby's next words catch Raven completely off guard. "It's not your fault.  "You didn't know. It's okay. I'm not mad at you Raven. Can you tell 'em where he is?"