"Why, Charlotte?" Bellamy asks the girl, who I can't even look at without feeling a sense of nausea. We had raced to the tent, needing answers from the girl and to get away from the roaring crowd.
"I was just trying to slay my demons, just like you told me." Charlotte explains.
"What the hell is she talking about?" Clarke asks Bellamy. I remembered what he had told her in the caves.
"Oh my god. That was a metaphor, Charlotte. A god damn metaphor!" I shout at her, as her timid body steps back a little.
"She misunderstood me. Charlotte, that is not what I meant." Bellamy explains.
"I trusted you. I helped you. I did so much for you and this is what you do?" I ask her, tears in her eyes and I scoff turning my back to her.
"Bring out the girl now!" Murphy shouts and my head turns in the direction of his voice. What does he plan on doing with her? Hanging her like we did him? I may be upset with Charlotte but I don't want her to be killed, or hurt by them.
"I'm sorry, Ariel. I'm so, so sorry. Please don't let them hurt me." Charlotte sobs.
I look down, knowing that it isn't the right time to get angry at her. I can do that after she's safe. I slowly turn around looking at the girl before sighing. "We won't let them hurt you. Don't worry."
"If you guys have any bright ideas, speak up." Bellamy asks but everyone looks at him blankly.
"Now you're quiet." Bellamy shouts, panicking looking at Clarke.
"Those are your boys out there." Finn exclaims defending the blonde.
"This is not my fault! If she had listened to me, those idiots would still be building the wall." Bellamy argues, which is true.
I fold my arms. "It doesn't matter who's fault it is. What matters is getting Charlotte out of here." I say.
"You want to build a society princess? Let's build a society. Bring the girl out." Murphy shouts from outside the tent.
"No. Please. Bellamy." Charlotte says, a tear strolling down her face.
"Charlotte, hey, it's gonna be okay. Just stay with them okay?" Bellamy assures her, kneeling down to her level before getting ready to leave the tent.
"Hey! Wait." I call after and he looks at me. "I'm coming with you." I tell him and for a second he looks surprised, before he nods. There was only one thing we had a common understanding for - and that was Charlotte. It's the only thing I trust he'll handle wisely.
We exit the tent facing the Murphy, who I now wish I hadn't tried to stop Bellamy from hanging.
"Well, well, well. Look who decided to join us." Murphy says and I watch him closely.
"Shut up Murphy." I tell him.
"Or what? Your boyfriend's gonna hang me?" Murphy smirks getting in Bellamy and I's faces, as I furrow my brows in disgust at his comment.
"I was just giving the people what they wanted." Bellamy tells him, which annoys me, yet I obviously don't say anything. He shouldn't have done that, he shouldn't have weakened himself by doing that. Though I can't say I'm surprised he did it, he clearly likes being appreciated by all these people. It's clear he'd do anything they wanted him to no matter the consequences as long as he gets that transaction.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's a good idea. Why don't we do that right now?" Murphy says turning around to face the crowd. So, who here wants to see the real murderer hung up? All in favour?" Murphy asks, and he is actually surprised to see only his friends raise their hands. I'm glad that the camp has enough common sense to not want to hang a child.
"I see. So, it's okay to string me up for nothing, but when this little bitch confesses, you all let her walk? Cowards! All of you are cowards!" Murphy calls out in anger and hurt.
"It's over." Bellamy says and I walk away back towards the tent. Bellamy follows behind me.
"Whatever you say." Murphy says behind us.
Suddenly I hear a bang and turn around and see Bellamy on the floor and a log in Murphy's hand. "You asshole." I scream running up to him, ready to tackle him to the ground but his friends can grab a hold of me and pull me back as I attempt to fight them off, knowing if I can't they will get Charlotte, but I'm not strong enough, and stop fighting knowing it's useless.
He punches me in the stomach and I wince, bending over in pain. I bet he's been waiting to do that since we landed.
"After we're done with Charlotte, I'm gonna kill you, and then I'm going to kill him." He bends down to tell me, pointing at Bellamy on the ground, with Octavia who looks at me blankly as she aids her brother. I guess rejecting him really hit a nerve.
"Come on let's get the girl." Murphy orders, walking over to the tent, his friend still holding me, to stop me from being able to attempt to stop them.
"Murphy don't do this, she's just a kid!" I plead before he opens it.
"Shut up!" He yells at her, opening the tent up. He looks in and Charlotte, Finn and Clarke are gone and a part of the tent is torn meaning they've escaped. I let out a sigh of relief and the guy holding me, drops me to the ground, my body harshly colliding with the ground and I let out a small sigh in pain.
I freely walk out the tent as Murphy and his friends run after Charlotte, Finn and Clarke, and go to Bellamy's unconscious body. I look at Octavia and then back down at him. When he wakes up, we're going after Charlotte and putting an end to this once and for all.
—
After Bellamy woke up, we went looking for Charlotte in the forest. Octavia insisted on coming and I agreed but Bellamy was completely against it and surprisingly convinced her to stay. She told me to be careful and that she'd be waiting back at camp and I know she hopes Charlotte will be ok too. To be honest, I'm surprised Bellamy didn't order me to stay back seen as though he's always trying to keep me out of trouble. I guess it's because he knows how close I was with Charlotte and that it's a battle he'll never win.
It has turned night now and Bellamy and I haven't spoken at all, both of us overcome with worry for Charlotte's current wellbeing. I just pray that Murphy hasn't found her yet.
Suddenly we hear someone running through the forest ahead of us. Bellamy turns to me and I nod before he runs towards them and grabs onto whoever it was. I hear a high pitched scream and instantly know it's Charlotte. I run down to where they are and watch speechlessly. "Let me go!" She cries, trying to pull away from Bellamy. He lets her go and she acknowledges my presence.
"I'm not your sister! You know what I did to your friend, you know. Just stop, it's me they want." She cries and I can't help but look down at the girl feeling a sense of guilt.
"I'm over here!" Charlotte screams at the top of her voice and begins to run before I grab onto her, my strength stopping her.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" Bellamy whispers harshly.
Charlotte looks at me tearfully. "Just go Ariel." she says to me but I shake my head.
"No. No, I am not leaving you to die."
"Please, Ariel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I did, I am. But I need to be punished for it." She says and fights my now looser grip and runs but Bellamy grabs her, picks her up and throws her over his shoulder, allowing me to actually breathe.
"Murphy, I'm over here!" She screams and Bellamy and I look at each other, nodding before running off into the woods trying to lose Murphy, who will already be onto us.
We reach a cliff and I instantly know we're done for as I hear Murphy screaming at us, spotting flames appearing from behind the leaves. Bellamy puts Charlotte down as we look down the cliff. If anyone falls down there, I can guarantee they won't survive. Standing so close to it isn't the safest or best option for us. Especially when they're already here.
"Bellamy!" We hear and turn around to see Murphy and his gang of bandits holding torches. "You can't fight all of us. Give it up." He says.
I walk forwards towards him, in front of Charlotte. "I would personally rather slit my throat."
"Ok." Murphy says and I furrow my eyebrows at his weird reply. Only, suddenly, he grabs onto me, turning me around and holding a knife to my throat, my breath hitching. Shoot, I think to myself. Clarke and Finn then appear from the bushes and I feel so defenceless. I could try to get him off of me but I know that attempting to get away is more likely to get me killed.
"Murphy stop! We can talk about this." Clarke says, backing away. Bellamy attempts to walk forwards but Murphy presses the knife against my throat and I whimper as I feel the cold blade touch my skin, and I try not to wince under the pressure. He raises a finger.
"Let her go." Bellamy tells him, looking actually concerned.
"I will slit her throat." Murphy replies.
"No please, please don't hurt her." Charlotte says, tears streaming down her face.
"Don't hurt her? Ok, then let's make a deal. You come with me right now, I will let her go." Murphy instructs, watching them intently.
"Charlotte don't, he'll kill me anyway." I tell her, weakly as Murphy presses the knife onto my skin and tears appear in my eyes as it beings to cut through my skin, I quietly wince in pain and his grip on me tightens.
Bellamy stands spellbound, unsure of what to do.
"I have to." Charlotte announces sadly.
"Murphy this is not happening! Charlotte!" I yell as loudly as one can when a knife is digging into their throat.
"I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me." She says before turning around.
"No." I let out and Murphy lets me go as Charlotte runs towards the edge and I run towards her, reaching out to grab her as tears run down my face like waterfalls. She jumps and I watch as her small body turns into fog and I hold onto the edge, Bellamy collapsing besides me. Tears begin to form my eyes as I look down in disbelief, a reassuring hand placing on my back and I look at Bellamy teary eyed, not knowing what to say or do.
Murphy won.
Bellamy takes his arm off my back and moves upwards away from me, and I hesitate before turning around, and watching him run towards Murphy and pushes him to the ground, punching him repeatedly, Murphy's minions simply watching. I rise to my feet, wanting to tell him to stop, and help him like he has done for me but at the same time I want Murphy to suffer for what he's done. To feel how it feels, for us and for Charlotte. I wish it was me being able to do it.
For once I don't feel angry, at him or the world. I just feel horrible.
"You're killing him!" Clarke shouts and I look over at her and see she looks miserable as well.
To my despair, Finn pulls Bellamy off of him. "Get off me! Uhh! He deserves to die!" Bellamy shouts.
"No! We don't decide who lives and dies. Not down here." Clarke shouts walking up to him.
"So help me God, if you say the people have a right to decide..." Bellamy replies.
"No, I was wrong before, okay? You were right. Sometimes it's dangerous to tell people the truth. But if we're gonna survive down here, we can't just live by whatever the hell we want. We need rules." Clarke states.
Deep down I know she's right but the need and thirst to get revenge on Murphy overpowers that feeling.
"And who's going to make those rules? You?" Bellamy asks.
"For now, we make the rules." Clarke says.
"So what happens to him?" I ask the question we all need answers to, their eyes laying on me.
"We banish him." Clarke suggests.
I try to figure out if in my mind that answer is enough for me.
After a few seconds of everyone taking the idea in I hear grunts and look up and see Bellamy holding Murphy up by his collar. "Bellamy! Stop!" Clarke shouts but Bellamy ignores her.
"If I ever catch you near camp, we'll be back here. Understand?" Bellamy states holding up a weak Murphy and then throwing him to the ground, I flinch as Murphy's body hits the ground. "As for the four of you, you can come back and follow me, or go off with him to die. Your choice." Bellamy tells them and then walks up to me. I look at him, wiping my eyes, not wanting people to see me like this - so vulnerable and weak.
"Are you ok?" He asks me, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I look from his hand to him. He was the only person who knew what she meant to me.
"We should have killed him." I respond a little too quickly.
"I know. But this is a better alternative." He softly says. It takes a long moment before I nod. Only little did everyone know, I didn't agree with what he or Clarke said. And that if I saw John Murphy's face again, I'd kill him.