Chapter 4

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Octavia removed her arm from over Addison's shoulders then outstretched her hand, like she had done on the dropship. Addison smiled and took her hand, getting pulled with more force than expected.

She didn't expect Octavia to be so strong physically, since she's pretty small like herself. But looks can be deceiving, and Addison just found out the hard way.

She stumbled into Octavia and awkwardly tilted her head up when she felt Octavia's breath on her face. Addison widened her brown eyes and took some steps back, smiling nervously at the ground as she felt her cheeks beat up. "Uh, thanks."

Octavia chuckled softly, and Addison met her gaze, returning Octavia's incredibly confident smile. Addison released their joined hands and followed after the rest of the group.

Liam smirk, "Already at first base, huh? I knew you had it in you."

Addison elbowed Liam —again— and he laughed, no longer fazed by her violent ways. She quickened her pace, as did Liam, and rolled her eyes in annoyance, "No, Liam."

She needed up in the middle; Octavia's ahead while Finn's behind her, then Liam and Addison, and Monty, Googles and surprisingly Clarke brought up the rear.

"Have we met before?"

Addison nervously glanced at Monty, who joined her unoccupied side. "Uh, no. I don't think so."

Monty skeptically eyed her before they widened in realization, "I have seen you before. You were the one always stealing my family's pharmaceuticals." And there is was.

His confrontation grabbed everyone's attention, especially Liam's. Liam took hold of his best friend's arm that stopped her from going any further, "Wait." Reluctantly, Addison met his confused gaze, "I thought you only stole them with me every once in a while when—"

Addison ripped her arm from his grasp and snapped before she walked away, "Can we not talk about this right now?"

"Addison—"

She stopped abruptly in her tracks and spun around, "No, Liam! Don't pull that crap," her face softened, as did her voice, "you know it won't work."

Liam's jaw clenched, but he remained silent. He knew better.

Addison shook her hand and spun back around, storming past Monty and Octavia. She kept her jaw clenched and balled her fists in her jacket pockets as she kept her gaze glued to the forest floor; she didn't spare any of them a single glance.

Liam meant well, she knew, but he has no right in telling her what she should or should've done to keep her mother alive. Maybe if Addison never gone to school that day, she wouldn't have been arrested, and her mother would still be alive.

Hearing approaching footsteps, she squeezed her eyes shut that sent a stray tear down her cheek. "Go away, Liam . . ." her voice wavered, barely above a whisper.

"It's just me."

Addison's eyes snapped open, "Octavia?" She sniffled and wiped her tear streak, avoiding Octavia's eyes, "Why are you up here and not with Spacewalker?"

Octavia shrugged, "I'd rather be with you." A ghost of a smile formed on Addison's lips, and her heart swelled from Octavia's words. "I know this is silly to ask, but are you okay?" Octavia sounded so genuine, unlike someone else who felt obligated to ask, that Addison wasn't even the slightest bit annoyed. Addison nodded, still keeping her gaze on the dirt path. "Don't lie, Addison." Their eyes met, brown meeting green. "Tell me how you're really doing."

Addison sighed as she held Octavia's gaze, "I'm fine, I promise. Just . . . thinking too much. That's all," she lied, but not completely. The part about her thinking too much was the truth.

Reluctantly, Octavia nodded, not once breaking their eyes. She offered softly, "Well, if you need someone to talk to, I'll be here."

Butterflies stirred up in Addison's stomach, and her heart sped up. She smiled, "Thank you, Tavia." Her brown eyes widened, "Uh . . . I-I—"

Octavia chuckled, interrupting Addison's stuttering mess, "I like it."

Addison released a breath she hadn't realized she held, "That would've been super awkward if you didn't."

Octavia smiled and nudged her shoulder, "Then it's a good thing I like it."

The forest now filled with their laughter as they began to walk down a slope, still ahead of the group. Addison would up into the trees and point things out to Octavia and Octavia would point things out too, whether it was a cool looking tree or another colourful flower.

"Hey, you know what I'd like to know? Why send us down today after 97 years? What changed?" Finn asked. Addison slowed her pace, glanced at him over her shoulder, and stopped completely as he pasted her.

Octavia skipped forward, since she had fallen behind. "Who cares? I'm just glad they did. I woke up rotting in a cell—" she grabbed onto a small tree and twirled around it, "—and now I'm spinning in a forest." She look up at Finn, smiling, but it fell when he walked past her, completely ignoring her.

Addison frowned and stopped beside Octavia as she watched Finn walk off, then Goggles and Monty. Addison glanced over her shoulder; Clarke still slowly brought up the rear and Liam's just in front of her.

Liam tried to meet Addison's gaze when he past, but she ignored it and looked everywhere but him. Plastering a playful smile, she moved around Octavia and tapped her nose as she past.

She heard Octavia's quick footsteps behind her, and not a moment later, Octavia's ruffling Addison's hair. "Hey!" Addison's hands flew up to her hair, "Now I have to redo my ponytail," she whined, attempting to smooth it down without having to redo her hair. With narrowed eyes, she met Octavia's playful gaze and pulled her makeshift hair tie that only made Octavia laugh even more.

Addison gathered her straight brown locks with pressed lips as Goggles spoke, "Maybe they found something on a satellite, you know, like an older weather satellite or—"

"It wasn't a satellite," Clarke said. "The Ark is dying." At her statement, the group stopped, looking at Clarke.

Addison's hands froze atop her head as she turned her body ti face Clarke. She kept her gaze on the ground, her hands grasping the backpack straps as she walked past Addison.

"At the current population level, there's roughly three months of oxygen left of life support, maybe four now that were gone," Clarke explained.

Shocked, like Addison and the others, Finn spoke, "So that was the secret they locked you up to keep, why they kept you in solitary, floated your old man?"

Clarke stayed silent for a moment, the last four words having hit her, before she spoke again, "My father was the engineer who discovered the flaw. He thought the people had a right to know. The Council disagreed. My mother disagreed. They were afraid it would cause a panic. We were gonna go public, anyway, when Wells—"

She paused, searching for the right words. "What? Turned in your dad?" Monty asked from behind Addison.

"Anyway, the guards showed up before we could." Clarke glanced at Finn, "That's why today. That's why it was worth the risk." There was a brief silence before she added, "Even if we all die, at least they bought themselves some more time," Clarke finished angrily.

Addison dropped her hair, deciding against the ponytail, and glanced in Monty's direction. "They're gonna kill more people, aren't they?" Monty asked in concern.

Addison couldn't believe the Council would sacrifice their own people just to save their own asses. And with the Chancellor agreeing? It's low of them, even for the Ark, and the Ark could get brutal when they wanted something. But seeing as the Chancellor sent a hundred kids to the ground as test monkeys, including his own son, they'd do anything at this point.

Now she's almost thankful she got locked away that night, but was it worth not being around her mother in her final hours? To not be there for her father, who she knows for a fact has been living in his own persona hell after loosing her mother? No. No it was not.

At Monty's unanswered question, there was an uncomfortable silence. That was until Octavia jumped off the small slope that startled Addison from her thoughts.

"Good," Octavia said with no emotion. "After what they did to me, I say, float-'em all." Then she walked ahead carelessly.

Addison stopped in her tracks, eyes widening. She looked at Liam and saw his face sadden for the smallest of seconds until it hardened. His parents are still up there, alive, and if it wasn't for her father or his parents, Addison would've agreed with Octavia. But that's not the case.

Addison shifted her gaze to Octavia, still in shock. Goggles looked between her and the others before he followed after her, "You don't mean that."

"I think she does." Liam stated, gaining the group's attention.

"We need to warn them," Finn insisted as he kept his gaze on Clarke.

Clarke's expression saddened; like a memory she buried came back. "That's exactly what my father said."

Addison inclined her head, listening to her walk away, until she ran into someone. She snapped her head up to see Clarke had ran into Goggles.

His mouth's agape, a daydreamy look written all over his face as he and Clarke stared; Clarke was more shocked than anything. "Oh, damn, I love Earth," he said.

Confused, Addison followed his line of sight. Her eyes widened as big as Clarke's; they're not staring at something, but someone. Octavia slid her pants off, stripping carelessly.

"Oh! Holy—" Jasper laughed, clearly enjoying the show Octavia's giving.

If Addison's cheeks were red before, they're definitely red now. She, not so subtlety, scanned Octavia from behind the others.

Octavia, only in her underwear and tank-top, walked toward the edge of the ledge. "Octavia, what the hell are you doing?" Clarke asked.

Octavia looked at them with a mischievous smile, then looked past them at Addison, winking when their eyes met. Addison leaned on her left leg and crossed her arms while she shook her head, playfully rolling her doe eyes. An unconscious smile spread on her lips, her cheeks rosy and body flushing.

Octavia smiled, teeth showing before she turned around and jumped. Addison's eyes widened as Octavia splashed into the water.

"Octavia?!" she yelled. No response. Addison ran past the others to the other side of the ledge, the rest of the group following.

She got to the top and immediately pin-pointed Octavia's head above the water from her nose, and up. Relieved, Addison shook her head.

"Octavia . . . we can't swim," Monty pointed out in confusion. Realizing he's right, Addison started toward the water to help Octavia back to dry land, but Octavia's voice stopped her movements.

"No, but we can stand." Octavia stood, an arched brow raised as she laughed; the water only came to the middle of her stomach.

Addison released a small laugh, as did everyone else, except Clarke, who looked at the water in confusion as she glanced between the map in her hands and the water. "Wait. There's not supposed to be a river here," she said, concerned.

"Well, there is." Addison looked over at a mischievous, smiling Finn, "So take off your damn clothes."

Addison chuckled, both brows lifting at Clarke —in a teasing manner— as she faced forward, grinning. "You heard the man, Clarke."

Clarke blushed slightly and shook her head, causing the brunette-haired girl to laugh even harder. Liam walked up to Addison's side and looked down at her, but she ignored him and faced Octavia instead, who slicked her hair back with the water.

Addison rolled her sleeves as she slowly approached the river. She knelt on the bank, fingertips skimming the water. The icy cold water barely touched her fingers before she immediately retracted her hand, gasping in surprise. "That's really cold." She placed her arm on her knee as she glanced at Octavia, brow raised, "How are you not cold?"

Octavia shrugged, "I don't know, but it feels good. You'll get used to it." The other girl skeptically eyed the water. "Come on, Addison .  .  . have some fun." The raven-haired girl wiggled het shoulders, an equally playful smirk gracing her lips.

Addison sighed softly, and met Octavia's green eyes, giving in. "Fine." She began to stand, Octavia smiling.

"Octavia, get out of the water." Goggles said, urgently. Addison's head immediately snapped around to his panicked face. The others looked behind her and Octavia, wide-eyed. "Get out of the water now!"

Addison quickly spun around just as something grabbed Octavia, and pulled her under, muffling her screams. "OCTAVIA!" She sprung up to her feet wide-eyed, ready to jump in.

Just as her boots touched the water, she's yanked back. "Addison, no!" She struggled in Liam's strong grip, attempting to elbow him, but he had her arms pinned.

Octavia resurfaced with a scream before she's dragged back under again; then silence. The water became as calm as it was when they arrived. Addison's heart dropped, and suddenly stopped as she searched desperately for Octavia. "No .  .  ." she whispered. "Octavia!"

"I'm sorry, Addison," Liam muttered, holding his best friend tighter —but all Addison wanted to do was get out his grip and away from him; especially after earlier and now that Octavia's likely drowning, to help her. She thought all hope was lost, until Octavia broke the surface on the other side of the ledge, screaming and water splashing. Liam's grip loosened just enough for Addison to slip out and rush to the ledge. "Addison!"

She stopped at the very edge of the ledge, looking down at Octavia as she tried getting away from the large, snake-like creature. "What the hell is that?! We have to help her," Monty rushed out, coming to Addison's side, as did the others.

She glanced over her shoulder at Finn, who's starting to take his jacket off, "What are you doing?" She rushed out in question, Finn throwing his jacket to the ground.

"Try not to get eaten." He began walking toward her but is stopped by Clarke, who threw her arm out in front of him.

"No, wait." Clarke looked at the ground, and bent down by a large rock. "If we distract it, it might let her go. Help me!" she yelled, and Finn quickly rushed to help.

"AAH! NO!" Addison snapped her head to Octavia, whose movements are beginning to slow.

"Hurry up, guys!" Addison frantically yelled, feeling her body begin to tremble out of nervousness.

Finally, they're able to move the large rock and roll it into the water. The 'thing' released Octavia and swam to where the boulder fell in. "It worked. It let her go!" Monty informed.

"Yes," Addison whispered, rushing to where Octavia's struggling to stay above water, and stripped her jacket off in the process. "Octavia, get to the shore!" She ran down to the bank and threw her jacket onto the ground, in similar fashion to Finn.

"Addison, no!" She ignored Liam's plea and jumped into the frigid water by Octavia.

"It's coming back! It's headed right for you guys!" Monty yelled, just as Addison made it to the raven-haired girl's side.

She wrapped an arm around Octavia's midsection, securely. "I got you, Tavia." Octavia gasped heavily as she clung onto Addison with an arm.

"Come on!" Monty yelled, urging them to the shore faster.

Through heavy breaths, she hollered back an "I'm trying!" as she kept her own and Octavia's head above the water.

"Come on. Keep moving!" Monty pressed again, the urgency in his voice increasing.

Addison could feel a rush of water by her, indicating the creature was only feet away. Just as It reached them, Addison laid herself and Octavia on the shore, shock covering their facial features as the creature's dark body passed them. She released a relieved breath, and caught her breath as she heard Octavia's gasps, doing the same.

Her brown eyes moved to Octavia, "Are you okay?" She swallowed the dryness in her throat. Octavia nodded, and coughed as she laid on her left side.

"Addison!" She looked up—Liam's the first to her side.

Bright red caught Addison's eye that had her looking at Octavia's right thigh. A patch of blood covered it, soaking the fabric of her soaked pants. Addison's right-hand brushed over it, and she pressed on it, in hopes to stop the bleeding.

"Clarke, hurry!" She shifted her gaze behind Octavia as she heard several quick footsteps.

Clarke came to Octavia's unoccupied side. "Let me see." She removed Addison's slightly bruised hand —enough to see the wound— before she nodded. "Okay." Addison was quick to re-cover Octavia's wound while Clarke took hold of the lower part of Addison's shirt, and ripped a piece.

Addison's surprised by the sudden pull she received, her body colliding with Octavia's. "Thank you. Thank you," Octavia whispered, between breaths.

Taken back, Addison moved her left arm over right and returned the hug, nodding as she did so. "Yeah, of course."

"You're gonna be okay," Clarke said, as she tied the fabric —that once belonged to Addison— just above the brunette's hand that still covered Octavia's wound.

"Note to self—next time, save the girl. Right Jasper?" Monty joked, and placed a hand on Addison's shoulder.

The group chuckled, including Clarke, as she finished the knot. Octavia leaned the side of her head against Addison's, she too chuckling. "I'm surprised 'Ms. Serious' over here is laughing," Addison gestured to Clarke that caused the entire group to burst into fits of hard laughter while Clarke shook her head—yet she smiled and joined in on the laughs as well.

Addison looked at Liam; he looked at the water, straight-faced. She nudged him lightly with her knee. "What?" He snapped, rather harsh, then sighed and shook his head, "Never mind," he mumbled, stood, and walked off. Addison sighed softly, eyes locked onto his back.

"Let me see your hand." Clarke had grabbed Addison's hand to inspect it. The blonde-haired girl pressed her fingertips into the others hand, feeling the bones. Addison hissed when Clarke got to the middle knuckle. "Sorry."

Addison had her teeth gritted. She shook her head, "It's okay, Clarke."

Clarke removed her hand from Addison's and returned it to Octavia's thigh. "Your knuckle's only bruised. No broken bones," she informed.

Addison nodded once, a thankful smile on her lips, "Thanks, Clarke."

As Clarke nodded, Octavia shifted under their hands, and sat up more. "Did she check your head too?" She looked between them.

Clarke's brows furrowed. "No. What happened?"

"Nothing. I'm fine. It's just a bump."

Octavia scoffed. "A bump? You were bleeding, and blood doesn't come outta 'bumps'."

After many protests from Addison, Octavia had won. Clarke now checked the brunette's head, much to Addison's displeasure.

"It's just a minor concussion," said Clarke, as she cleaned Addison's head with a damp cloth torn from her shirt. Again. It annoyed Addison. If Clarke kept using her shirt for "wound cleaning material", Addison won't have a shirt left. "You'll be fine. Just take it easy from now on, okay?"

Addison nodded, shifted her gaze to Octavia —who still laid beside her— and smirked, "Told you it was just a scratch."

Octavia shoved her to her back. The others laughed and looked at each other with amused smiles, thankful to be alive after everything that had happened.

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