Ruination

Chapter 17: "The dead are gone."

BELLATRIX:

My body ached as I sat in the cell, dried blood clinging to my body as my fresh wounds stung upon my attempt to clean my face of the blood. The door creaked open and I glanced over my shoulder to see Octavia standing there, stern and cold. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. I glanced up, frowning as she paced back and forth around the cell, the clicking of her shoes meeting the ground. "You look like shit," Octavia said, breaking the silence as her eyes flicked over me. I bit back a smile as I looked over my shoulder at her.

"So, do you," I bit back, rolling my eyes. "How screwed are you?" I asked her, as she scoffed and continued pacing.

"Unbelievably screwed." She rasped, stalking towards me, stopping in front of me, looking down. "The people who are left, a lot of them won't follow me, they saw Ensis and they were inspired by him." Octavia bitterly spat, letting out a disgusted huff.

"Traditions die hard," I commented, shifting on my seat as I looked up at her. "The grounders love night bloods with an A.I in their head and Skaikru leaders love killing people for crimes they've committed, even small ones." I coldly stated, staring her down. I saw the conflict in her eyes. She knew what she had done to Wonkru, it had been something similar that she'd had done to her by the Ark. I had no idea how she lived with herself for doing this to Wonkru.

"I didn't want it to be like this, Bellatrix," Octavia admitted, turning her back to me as she drew in a shaky breath. I looked up, frowning as I watched her closely, pity simmering deep down in my heart. "I've always considered you a friend. You were the first person to accept me when we landed on the ground, you were the only one I could really talk to. That's why I let Ensis live, and you betrayed our friendship." Octavia's voice hitched. We had been close once; I couldn't say we were anymore. Not after what we'd both done.

"I'm not the only one to blame, Octavia." I stated, I refused to be the only one who admitted to doing wrong. "Six years ago, I wanted to die, I didn't choose to live just to follow someone who wants war always." The cycle of violence could never truly be broken, not as long as we were alive and fighting each other. But from the look in Octavia's face, I knew she wouldn't listen to me.

"I'm trying to lead Wonkru to the valley safely." She defended herself.

"You're trying to get them killed." I firmly said. "I'm not going to bed for my life, Octavia, I've survived worse than you." Octavia turned back to me, her lips tugging into a frown as she looked down at me.

"I know," she sat down on the bench I was sitting down on and she looked at me sternly. "You love Bellamy, don't you?" She asked me.

"Yes," I nodded. "He's my family." I proclaimed.

"If you love him, you'll help him live." Her voice wavered, silently begging for me to help him.

"Even if I could, I'm not sure I can help you." I said, looking down at my hands. I always knew what was within the realm of possibility for me. Like Kali and Ensis had told me years ago and like Echo constantly berated me for, despite my physique, I was a brawler. I was aggressive and physical, something more suited to larger, bulkier people. Something I could never be. "I can put up a good enough fight against Kali, but Indra would slit my throat before I could even land a hit on her. I can fight, but the number of fights I've lost outweigh the ones I have won." I pointed out, drawing in a shallow breath. I watched as Octavia looked away, clenching her jaw as her eyes welled with tears. I reached out, grasping her hands causing he head to snap to me in shock.

"What are you doing?" Octavia asked.

"We are enemies, Octavia, but not by choice." I whispered, pursing my lips.