Chapter 22

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The group of five wait under the red tent, the air thick and muggy from their heavy breaths. Addison smashed between Bellamy, on her left, and Finn, on right. She sighs in annoyance, brushing strands of hair out of her face.

"Really..." Bellamy dryly draws out, her eyes flickering to his.

They widen, a quiet chuckle escaping her lips at Bellamy swatting her hair away from him. "Sorry," she presses her lips together to contain her laughter.

Bellamy just sighs, re-situating the tent above them. "How long are we supposed to wait?" Jasper asks quietly from Finn's other side, Addison's contained laughter disappearing, reality setting in.

"Will this even work?" The girl, who's name Addison learned is Monroe, asks from beside Jasper.

"We'll find out," Finn replies, turning his head forward once again.

"No, we won't." Bellamy shifts, poking his head out. An irritated sigh seeps between his lips, "There's no fog."

Addison pops her head out at his words, seeing no acid fog. She confusingly lifts the tent from a top her, welcoming the cool air. "Maybe it was a false alarm?" Finn hypothesizes, moving out from under the tent with the Jasper and Monroe.

Addison gets to her feet, searching the forest, "You can't mix up acid fog with anything else. It's a weird orange-yellow colour, nothing else that consistency is that colour," the brunette points out matter-of-factly.

"Try telling that to whoever blew the horn," Finn glances at her, his brow shooting up and shoulders shrugged slightly when she meets his eyes.

"They're coming back," Bellamy says, Addison averting her attention to the forest again, now searching it for the Grounders.

Her already confused eyes move away from the trees and to Bellamy, becoming even more confused when she doesn't see what he saw. The forest is quiet—no birds, no wind or the gentle rustling of leaves scraping against one another. "I think he's alone," Jasper says quietly, his wide eyes stare straight in front of him.

Addison follows his line of sight and finally sees it—a Grounder, alone. "Now can we run?" Monroe asks just as quiet, Addison's eyes drifting to her from the Grounder.

"He doesn't see us." Bellamy says louder in realization, "I'm going after him."

The brunette snaps her head to the him, her brows raised, "Bellamy."

"And what? Kill him?" Finn asks.

"No. Catch him," Bellamy corrects, drifting his eyes to Addison, "Make him tell me where Octavia is, then kill him." He stands up, following after the lone Grounder.

"How do we know he's not leading us to another trap?" Jasper quickly questions, glancing between Finn and Addison.

She sighs softly with a shrug of her shoulders, "We don't," she simply responds, flickering her eyes down to Jasper, "But what choice do we have?"

Jasper remains silent, nodding ever so slightly. She quickly and silently follows after Bellamy, careful not to step on any twigs that could snap under her boots. She joins him at his hip, Finn, Jasper, and Monroe just as silently following after the Grounder behind her and Bellamy. The Grounder soon leads them to a more open part of the forest, Bellamy gesturing to a bush and some large rocks near to hide behind.

The group of five crouch down, hiding. Addison rests her hand on the rock she's hidden behind, peering ever so slightly and watches the Grounder impatiently. He removes some moss, dirt, and leaves then quickly lifts a large piece of metal, uncovering a hidden entrance. He doesn't bother to check his surroundings, slipping down into the hole and covering the entrance.

Bellamy immediately moves, removing the large piece of metal with the help of Finn. He slips in first, Finn, Jasper, then Monroe behind him. Addison's hands twitch, her stomach knotting, anxious to see Octavia. She takes a deep breath, calming her nerves and finally slips in, her legs buckling in anticipation when her boots touch the rock flooring.

It's dark and dreary, the faint noise of water dripping down to the rock under her boots from above her head. A hand grabs her, startling her with a gasp. She snaps her head, expecting Octavia, but it's Monroe.

Addison's wide smile falters, "Is she..." she trails off, her heart stopping at the possibility.

Monroe shakes her head with a smile, "She's fine. They're with her right now," she nods further into the cave in the direction she came from.

Addison's smile is back, quickly walking down with a pep in her step. She rounds the corner, her eyes widening at the Grounder who, moments ago, was awake and now laying in the ground, unconscious. She didn't hear a commotion when Bellamy, Finn, Jasper, and Monroe entered.

Her brows lift up, slowly walking into the room, "I would seriously hate to be him right now." Addison lifts her head up, meeting Octavia's wide green eyes with an impressed expression, "Remind me never to piss you off."

Octavia grins, running with a limp up to the girl. Addison grins, too, their arms locking around one another. She closes her eyes, breathing in her scent with her chin resting on her shoulder. "I knew you'd come for me..." she breathes into Addison's ear, her hold tightening.

She nods against Octavia's shoulder, her own arms locking tighter around the other girl's neck and her smiling growing, heart fluttering at her words. "As much as I'd love to take all the credit, it wasn't just me."

"Just act like it is," she breathes out, chuckling softly under her breath.

Addison smiles more, her hold tightening even more, "Of course I'd come for you, babe."

Octavia chuckles lightheartedly, slowly pulling back. "That's better," both girls smile, Addison studying the girl. Her face is covered in a layer of dirt and blood, a few cuts covering her forehead and her hair matted with a mixture of dirt and leaves. She drifts her eyes back to the cuts that streak across the top of her forehead, "I'm ok, Addie." The brunette moves her gaze to Octavia's piercing green eyes, "I promise."

Addison nods, glancing over Octavia's shoulder at Bellamy. He quickly averts them with a clenched jaw to the unconscious Grounder, the two reuniting girls removing their tangled limbs from one another.

"We need to go. Now. Before he wakes up," Octavia says worriedly, eyeing her brother from across the cave.

Bellamy starts to the other side, "He's not gonna wake up."

Addison turns her attention away from the Blake siblings, watching Finn slowly move towards the Grounder. She walks to his side, kneeling beside him, "What is it?"

"Recognize this?" He holds a horn up that's tied around the Grounders belt, lifting it as far as its string'll let it.

Addison immediately does recognize it, having heard it more times than anyone, besides Finn. "The foghorn," she says quietly, inspecting the beautifully detailed carving and designs on the foghorn.

"Addison, Finn. Move." Bellamy orders, Addison glancing up at him. A spear is now in his hands, raised and ready to pierce its sharp end into the knocked out Grounder beside her and Finn.

She's suddenly shoved roughly to the ground, the Grounder jolting up and stabbing Finn in the chest. Her eyes are wide, heart pounding in throughout her ears. Everything happened so fast, but once the blade dug into Finn's chest, everything slowed. It felt like the Grounder was on top of Finn for hours instead of seconds until Bellamy kicked him to the ground.

"Addison!" She snaps out shock, her eyes darting to Octavia at her voice calling to her. She doesn't respond, only meeting theirs eyes for a brief second until she quickly shifts her gaze to Finn as she springs to her feet and rushes to his side. She kneels on his other side across from Octavia, her trembling hands waving over him.

Finn groans, his hands wrapping around the handle of the knife in agony, "You're gonna be ok," she whispers to him.

"Stop! That's my brother!" Addison's head snaps to Octavia, her screams immediately getting her attention. She follows her wide and scared green eyes to the other side of the cave.

The Grounder stands over him, pushing on the spear that was once in Bellamy's hands to try and kill him. Bellamy struggles to keep the spear from going into his neck, his hands grasping tightly around the spear. Jasper is quick to move forward, hitting the Grounder over the head with his weapon and knocks him unconscious, again.

The Grounders hits the ground with a heavy thud, Addison averting her eyes back down to Finn, "We need to get him to Clarke before it's too late," she rushes out to no one in particular.

Jasper's hand rests on the handle of the blade, prepared to take it out. "No, no, no." Bellamy rushes out, "Don't. Leave the knife in," he tells him, his arms going under Finn, "Help me get him out."

He nods and helps Bellamy lift him and carrying him out. Addison rakes her fingers through her hair stressfully and sighs. "We need to go, Addison. Come on," the raven-haired girl urges, lifting her up by her arm. Addison doesn't say anything, not sparing the unconscious Grounder a glance as she gets push forward.

The easiest part of the journey back to camp was carrying Finn, the hardest part was trying to not think about another life being lost, especially one she's begun to care about. She can't handle losing anyone else, not after Roma, Diggs, and Mbege dying today. Their deaths affect her more than the 300 that were culled on the Ark the previous night. Roma, Diggs, and Mbege were her people, the 100–the people the Ark sacrificed to send to the ground along with her.

Their numbers on the ground have been quickly dwindling since Charlotte's death three days ago. Take one and an unexpected amount will follow, like clockwork.

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Addison's already rapidly beating heart pounds harder against her ribs, afraid it might break out of her chest the closer camp nears. The large mostly wooden gates are finally in her sights, her pace quickening.

Octavia's arm drapes over her shoulder, the two attempting to help Jasper open the gates while Monroe stays back with Bellamy, awkwardly helping when needing it. The gates are soon pushed open, Jasper being the first to rush inside, "CLARKE!" he screams, "WHERE'S CLARKE?!"

Addison stumbles in next from behind Jasper with Octavia, her eyes quickly bouncing from one person to another, "Somebody find Clarke, now!" she worriedly continues further into the camp, moving her head from side to side as she stops, her hold on Octavia's waist tightening, "Clarke!"

What if she's still out with Raven to get the part she needs for the radio? What if the knife lodged in Finn's chest somehow shifts and kills him before Clarke can reach him in time? How is Raven going to react to her boyfriend's current state?

All the questions flood through Addison's head, her breaths coming out ragged in an attempt to calm her nerves, but it doesn't work. Octavia's arm leaves her shoulder, her hand clamping around the brunette's and interlaces them together. Addison's hand instinctively tightens in hers at her action, her breathing beginning to quickly steady as she glances up at the green eyed girl.

Quick footsteps draw Addison's attention away from Octavia's, keeping her hand in hers for comfort. She releases a relived breath, watching Clarke's quick figure get closer. The blonde girl comes to a stop besides Octavia and glances between the two girl's worried eyes, "Hey, I'm here. What's up?"

Bellamy enters with Finn in his arms, Clarke's eyes going wide. She immediately leaves Octavia and Addison's side, sprinting towards the injured boy, "Finn. Finn?" her voice wavers, "Oh, my god. Oh, oh, my god..."

Raven rushes over, stopping besides Addison. "Oh, my god..." she says quietly, her own brown eyes just as wide as Clarke's.

"What happened?" Liam asks, coming to a quick halt with Dawson at his side.

"A Grounder stabbed him," is all Addison's able to say, keeping her eyes on Finn.

Clarke moves two fingers to his neck, just under his jaw to find a pulse. "He's alive," she says in relief.

"Bellamy wouldn't let me take the knife out," Jasper tells her, glancing at the blonde girl.

Clarke glances at Bellamy, "No, that was a good call. Get him to the dropship, now. Go!" Two boys take Finn from out of Bellamy's arms, taking him to the dropship, as ordered.

Raven leaves their sides, rushing to Clarke while Octavia, Addison, Dawson, and Liam part and make a path for the two boys to get Finn to the dropship. Addison closes her eyes, running her fingers through her hair with her free hand.

"Do you think Clarke can save him?" Dawson asks, glancing between Liam, Addison, and Octavia as they come back together in a small circle.

"I don't know," she whispers, watching Clarke and Raven's stressed figures converse. Addison frowns, her once warm hand becoming suddenly cold. "Octavia," she calls, the raven-haired girl stopping to face her.

Octavia shakes her head, barely making eye contact with her, "Stay here." She says in a stern yet soft voice, meeting Addison's eyes.

Her lips part, heart jumping in protest. The look on the other girl's face makes Addison's mouth clamp shut, her words having been lost in the back of her throat. After the events, Octavia needs to be alone. The brunette nods, watching Octavia's figure retreat towards the gate.

"Liam, I need your help." Clarke comes to their sides, looking up at him. Addison turns her attention to Clarke, her brow raises at Clarke's words. "Gather up any pieces of fabric you can find suitable for bandages," she tells hims.

Liam nods, "Okay." Clarke gratefully nods and rushes into the dropship, "We'll talk later, okay?"

Addison merely nods, Liam immediately hopping into a jog to find what Clarke needs. She blankly stares at the spot Liam was just standing in, today's events slowly re-sinking in. The boy on the dropship, Atom, Wells, Charlotte, Mbege, Diggs, Roma... all dead within a week in a half. At least, that's all she knows of who have died. She just hopes it's only seven and not more.

"Hey, are okay?" Dawson asks softly, his large hands coming up to her cheeks, "Are you hurt, too?"

Addison finally moves her gaze to Dawson, "Three more people died today, Dawson." She whispers in sadness, shaking her head with a sniffle. "And Finn... we haven't been on Earth for two weeks and we've already lost so many people."

"Hey..." he coos softly in a lower, more comforting voice.

"Don't tell me it's alright, Dawson, because it's not. All these deaths weren't suppose to happen, not like this," she closes her eyes, her head continuing to shake. "The ground isn't the dream everyone believed it was, and the Ark doesn't even know about the Grounders killing us off."

He gently rubs his thumbs over her cheeks, "Raven will find a way to contact them. They'll be down soon, including your family."

Addison shakes her head, "When I was locked up, I believed I would never see my dad or Liam's parents again, even Liam. My mom had already died when I was in Sky Box and when I was grieving for her, I grieved for them, too." She says softly, sniffling at the memories, "My dad and Liam's parents are already dead to me. Have been for almost a year," she finishes more harshly.

Dawson's lips press together, his thumbs continuing to brush against her soft cheek, "I'm sorry, Addison. About your mom, but there is hope that you could see your dad and Liam's parents again."

"I'm not putting any hope of them coming down," she responds in hard voice, "When you put every ounce of energy you have into hoping for something as good as the rest of the Ark coming down, it gets destroyed, and it'll destroy you, too." Addison whispers out, tears gathering in her brown orbs.

"Addison—"

"Trust me, Dawson. It's what happened when Dr. Griffin and my dad said there was hope for my mom surviving, and she's dead."

The sadness in her eyes tore Dawson, his eyes softening even more than what they were before. Addison slowly begins to embrace his touch, leaning into one of his hands. It's not Octavia's touch that could calm her instantly, but it was more than any person could do that wasn't her. She closes her eyes, walking into his chest and wraps her arms around his torso. Dawson's arms move from her face to her body, holding her close to him.

A tear slides down her cheek, remembering everything she's tried to keep buried. The pain and devastation she felt when the guardsman she befriended told her of her mother's passing into the stars; the many visits Dr. Griffin had to pay when Addison broke her hand from punching one of the walls in her cell out of sadness and anger. She never wants to feel the emotional pain she felt those first weeks of her passing—it nearly destroyed her in Solitary Confinement. It's what grew her short fuse and turned her into wanting to punch everyone on the ground. What grew her into having a hard exterior she puts around all the delinquents except Octavia, Liam, Dawson, and sometimes Clarke, Finn, and even Bellamy, now.

All the grieving she did caused her to turn into a different person, Liam knew, but he never made a peep about it. He knew bringing it up could end with a broken nose if he pressured her, so he left it alone. Dawson and Octavia have only known Addison on the ground, but they can both see a softness she's been hiding to protect the emotions that have destroyed her once before, especially Octavia. She knows everything about her mother and the trauma her death caused her while in lockup. The grieving of her father, Liam, and his parents and what it did to her. Dawson is only slowly putting Addison's story together, where as Octavia knows everything that he nor Liam know about.

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