Ruination

Chapter 15: "As long as we can achieve peace, it will be worth it."

RYDER POV:

As per the schedule Diyoza had set, I was ordered to babysit the prisoners for a time. I sat down, quiet and in the corner, smoking and clutching my gun. My sharp, hawk like eyes drifted over the room and settled on Echo for a brief moment, that girl was something I hadn't anticipated. If my instinct was right, she and her friends would cause a lot of trouble. It was a good thing I was already packed if things went south. Loyalty kept many men in bad situations. The only loyalty I'd ever have was to my dead wife and daughter. Everyone else was just either necessary or unnecessary when the moment came.

"Did Diyoza cure you as well?" Cordon asked, a wolfish grin spread on his heavily tattooed face as he sat down beside me. Casting the man, a quick glance, his unwashed breath wafting into my face, I scrunched up my face in disgust, looking away from him and taking a quick drag of my cigarette.

"Sure," I gruffly replied, pouring myself a glass of whiskey.

"I haven't felt this good in years, do you wanna come to the poker game we got going on tonight?" Cordon asked, his hazel eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Not particularly." I shook my head, sighing.

"You know man, no one trusts you." Cordon stated and I looked over at him in disbelief.

"You're fucking kidding me?" I snarled, as I took a drag of my cigarette. "I'm not here to make friends." I said, taking a drag of a cigarette as a man by the name of Murphy sauntered towards one of McCreary's men, carrying himself with the arrogance of a man who had the world in the palm of his hand.

"You son of a bitch," the man Murphy had been talking to wheezed, stumbling towards me and Cordon, punching him. Exasperation swallowed me whole, there was no way in hell I should have been here without getting paid. Peace or not, nothing was worth this. Reaching for my gun, I aimed and shot McCreary's man in the arm causing him to howl with pain as I stood up. "I'm going to fucking kill you, Caddock." Zane growled, stepping forward but I held my gun up to him, aiming for his face.

"One step forward and I blow your brains all over the floor." I threatened him, my lips curled in disgust as the guards surrounded us. "Go back to your post before I actually do." I ordered watching Zane narrow his eyes at me, pointing as he slowly backed away.

"I'll fucking kill you one day." He threatened me, causing me to chuckle.

"You're a funny man," I commented, watching as he turned away from me, going back to his post. I stood down, sitting back down on my chair when Cordon reached out for me. "Touch me and you'll be getting a bullet right here," I shoved my finger against his forehead before returning to sitting down. Feeling the weight of concerned gazes on me I turned looking over at the prisoners, my smile grew as I saw Echo, Raven, Emori and Murphy staring at me. I brought my hand up, waving at them. I knew their little game; I knew it better than most.

RIGEL POV:

Trailing behind Indra, Bellamy and Madi I walked beside Ensis, organising his ascension. With Octavia out of the picture we could proceed with relative ease, Kali and Bellatrix had been busy rounding up followers and Gaia had been preparing for the ceremony. Everything moved so fast and we hadn't had enough time to check in and think for a moment about Clarke being locked up. The first priority was Ensis becoming commander, but at some point, we needed to look after Clarke. I needed her to be alive at the end of this. The door was pushed open and I peeked inside seeing Clarke standing there, chained up.

"Clarke?" Madi breathed out, running into her arms. I chuckled, watching them, stuffing my hands into my pockets as I watched them. Her eyes strayed upwards, meeting my gaze and she reached out, holding her arm open and I chuckled again, stepping forward and pulling Clarke into a hug. My hand rested on her lower back as I looked down at her.