Ascende Superius | Book 3

05 | Hakeldama

Burying my face in his neck, I admit, "No. Not even remotely."

---

     With morning comes the news that Pike had won the election for office by a landslide. I had expected this, but still, I can't help but feel disappointed at the announcement.

     By now, everyone knows of the sudden disappearance of Nyko and the others. Indra's army left their camp as it was, keeping up the appearance of their previous presence.

     With the chancellor's release, so too was my brother, A.K.A. the one person I seriously don't want to see right about now.

     Almost immediately, he and the others marched on the camp, only to find it empty, and abandoned. Pike came back to Arkadia in a rage, immediately finding me and taking me away in cuffs.

     Here I am now, restrained to a chair, chains holding me in place as he shouts questions. "Where are they?!"

     "Gone. Obviously. You saw that much when you went to slaughter them."

     "What did you do?"

     "Who said I had anything to do with them leaving?" I purr smugly, each word rolling over my tongue. His eyes scour mine, trying to find any kind of answer.

     He comes up with nothing, and he snarls, pushing over a chair. It clangs loudly, the metal echoing. "The other grounders have vanished too. Any idea where they went?"

     "Away from here," I respond vaguely, blinking up at the man and not revealing a single thing. It's painfully obvious I'm involved, but I can will take the information to my grave. Considering the new Chancellor, my actions are treason, that much I know.

     "Those people are our enemies, Miss Blake! You had no right to let them go, let alone warn them we were coming!"

     "I didn't let them go, Charles. They weren't prisoners, nor were they our enemies. Perhaps they left upon their own accord. I had nothing to do with either of their disappearances."

     "Every action I have taken, and will take, is to protect us! Why can you not see that?"

     Without responding verbally, I look away from him, staring at the wall. I tighten my grip on the arms of the chair, my knuckles (darkening/going white).

     Scoffing, Pike stands, turning to my brother and the one man from yesterday. "I need to address our people. Watch her, don't let her escape." To my irritation, Bellamy nods, and Pike exits the room.

     Silence presumes the room, almost mind numbingly so. Finally, Bellamy sighs. "Why did you help them, (N/N)? We are just trying to do what's right."

     "So am I, Bellamy. You guys are starting a war we just managed to resolve. I can't let you do that."

     "We are still fighting a war!" He yells suddenly, throwing aside papers, toppling a table. I flinch, slowly letting my eyes move to meet Bellamy's. "It's time to stop playing Grounder! I can't protect you if you keep this up."

     "I am not playing anything, Bell. Nor do I need your protection. Take a look at what you've become," I slowly murmur, venomous. "Pike's little lap dog, ready to kill those he once called his friends."

    Shaking his head, Bellamy steps away, going back to guarding the entrance of the room. He no longer makes eye contact with me, and I sigh. I have to bide my time until my punishment. I know, with the lack of grounders, people are out for my blood now.