The light in the darkness (Octavia Blake)

Chapter 21

Clarke finally woke up, but they had a new problem. The Grounders surrounded the dropship, forcing Ashley and her friends to retreat inside. They were expecting Grounders to attack, but there was no movement on their end. 

"They're not moving any closer" Murphy said, peeking through the curtain. "They're staying out of range" Bellamy noticed. "They'll be waiting, until it's dark." 

"If we hit them now, we take them by surprise" Murphy turned to them. "We don't even know how many of them are there" Clarke said. "I'm not hearing any better ideas, Clarke" Murphy huffed. 

"If anything, we can just piss the Grounders off even more by attacking them, Murphy" Ashley spoke up, sending him a glare. "I think they're just trying to pin us down. They want something" she looked at Finn. Everyone fell silent for a moment. 

"Then we'll give them something" Raven broke the silence. "All they want is Finn" Bellamy reminded her. Brunette looked down with her arms crossed and hesitated before blurting out: "Finn wasn't the only one at the village." 

The group froze in their spots and exchanged confused glances. Was that what Ashley thought it was? Was Raven just trying to sell Murphy to Grounders? 

"What are you talking about?" Clarke asked. "Raven, I came here to protect him. You were the one who wanted me to come. You-..." Murphy trailed off, because he just understood. They all understood. Raven knew exactly what she was doing. It seemed like there wasn't a thing she wouldn't do for Finn. 

"That's why you wanted me to come along?" Murphy looked at her in disbelief. "Enough Grounders saw him. They'd believe he was the shooter" Raven stated. Ashley couldn't believe in what she was hearing. It's obvious, her and Murphy didn't like each other, but Raven trying to trade his life for Finn's? As much as Ashley didn't want Finn to suffer the fate that Grounders were preparing for him, at the end of the day, it was his own mistake that led him to this. Not Murphy's. 

"What the hell, Raven?" blonde shook her head, trying to process what she just heard. "You sick bitch" Murphy hissed. "Raven, you don't mean this" Clarke said. "You know what they do to people" Bellamy added. 

"They want a murderer. We'll give them one" Raven pointed her gun at Murphy. "Drop your gun." Murphy walked closer to her. "Go to hell, Raven." 

"Put it down, Raven" Clarke tried to talk her out of it. "Like it or not, he's one of us" she said. But Raven remained in her position and repeated "I said drop it." 

Suddenly, Finn decided to step in and stop the situation from escalating. "Stop, stop! We're not doing this. They've got us surrounded. The only thing we can do is stay and defend this place" he exclaimed. 

"I'm with you" Bellamy agreed after a moment. Finn looked around at the others and when everyone nodded, he turned to Murphy. "Go upstairs and watch the rear. I'll take the lower level. You four, take the front gate" he told Ashley, Bellamy, Clarke and Raven. "That's the plan, all right?" 

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As Finn ordered, the four of them got outside and got in their positions. Ashley and Bellamy were covering the right side of the camp, the other two, left. For a while nothing was going on and Ashley started wondering how long the Grounders will play hide and seek with them. 

"See anything?" Clarke asked. "No" Raven shook her head. Suddenly, they heard some leaves rustle. "You hear that?" Ashley looked at her friends. They all aimed their guns in the direction of the sound, but to their surprise, from the bushes came out Finn. 

And he put his hands up in surrender. 

"No!" Clarke called out. This whole plan was just a way to direct their attention away from Finn. 

The Grounders jumped out of the bushes and immediately took Finn. There was nothing they could do. Finn made his choice - he was ready to face the consequences. 

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The group got back to Camp Jaha. Everyone was standing behind the fence and listening to all the Grounders chanting and screaming something in their language. It seemed like everything was settled - Finn was going to die the most brutal and painful death the Sky People had ever seen. 

Few Grounders were preparing some big wooden log in the middle of the field. "What is that?" Raven asked, motioning to it. "It's for Finn. They want us to watch" Clarke replied. Something in the way she said that, made a shiver go down Ashley's spine. She couldn't even imagine what they were about to witness. 

"We're gonna get him. We'll get in close and we'll hit them hard" Bellamy said confidently. "Son…there's thousands of them. Even if we could kill hundreds, they'd still wipe out this camp and your friend would still die" Kane shook his head. "We have to try" Bellamy insisted. 

Ashley knew there was no use. They lost. Getting Finn out of there was impossible, no matter what plan they would come up with. She could even say that if Grounders really believed in this whole "blood for blood" thing, it was surprising they only wanted one person for 18 victims. There was no talking or persuading with them now. 

Suddenly, Clarke turned away from the fence and started rushing in another direction. Raven, Bellamy and Ashley followed immediately. 

"What are you doing?" Bellamy asked. "I'm gonna talk to the Commander" Clarke replied, clearly still hoping that she can save their friend. 

"What is there to say anymore, Clarke? It's too late" Ashley shook her head. "I don't know" blonde sighed in frustration. 

"Give me your hand" Raven stopped her. She grabbed her hand and slid a knife under her sleeve. "If she won't let him go, kill her."

When Ashley heard that, for the first time in her life, she started to question Raven's sanity. Blonde understood that everyone's grasping at any ideas that could help, but it was clear that if it came to that, Clarke wouldn't make it out alive as well. 

"Raven, are you serious? She'll be dead in a matter of seconds" Ashley exclaimed, glancing at Clarke and Bellamy, waiting for one of them to reject that idea. 

But none of them did. 

Clarke just nodded and Raven continued. "Things will go crazy and then we'll grab you and Finn" she said. "Clarke. You have to help him. I owe him my life." 

After that Clarke left with Ashley, Bellamy and Raven watching. Ashley was praying that this wasn't the last time they see Clarke. 

The three ran back to the fence and watched their friend bravely walk through the fields and between the Grounders. When she reached the tent, the Commander stepped outside and as soon as they started talking, Finn was dragged out and tied to the log. 

Everything was happening painfully slow. The longer Clarke and Lexa talked, the less hope Ashley was having. 

"Come on, Clarke, do it" Raven murmured. 

Suddenly, Clarke turned away from the Commander and walked over to Finn, just to throw herself at his neck and kiss him. 

She was saying goodbye. They couldn't save Finn. It was over. 

Clarke slowly let go of Finn. But as soon as she stepped away, his head fell down loosely. A second later, everyone realised what happened. 

Clarke gave Finn the last thing she could offer him. Mercy. 

When Ashley saw a stain of blood on Finn's stomach, she felt sick. The Grounders rushed to attack, but the Commander stopped them. It was done. Finn payed the highest price for his mistake. 

When the realization hit Ashley, her stomach dropped. Partially, she owed Finn her life too. If it wasn't for him and Bellamy, she would be burned alive by the dropship. He wasn't a bad person. He just lost himself.

Next to her, Raven started wailing in grief. Brunette fell down to her knees and into Bellamy and Ashley's embraces. A moment earlier, Ashley was mad at Raven for her reckless decisions, but now she couldn't be. They needed to be there for each other, because in the end, Finn wasn't the only one paying for his mistake.