Chapter 50

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Addison

"You know the first thing I'm gonna do when we get to the beach?" Miller asked, no sense of worrying about the Grounders in his step, mood, or attitude.

Addison ignored him, both of her hands now on her rifle. Her guard was up, she and Octavia having released their hands once they had come to the front of the pack. Octavia lead the delinquents, Addison just barely diagonal from her on the left, and Drew, Miller and Jasper just behind her.

"No," Jasper said, sounding annoyed and paranoid, "what?"

"I want to go surfing," there was a smile in Miller's voice when he answered.

"There are Grounders out here and you're talking about surfing?" Addison spared Miller the smallest of glances over her shoulder.

"I think it's cool," Drew shrugged, not an ounce of worry in him either.

Addison sighs, rolling her eyes as she goes back to surveying the forest, rifle aimed in front of her and Octavia. "Then you two can be quiet and talk about it later."

"Guys, she's right." Jasper backed Addison quietly, "Keep your eyes open."

"No more woods," Drew started, his pace quickening that now matches Addison's, "a view of the ocean . . . no more damn trees, just pale, blue water."

"Will you please—" Octavia stopped, holding her index and middle finger up in front of Addison that cut her off.

"What is it?" Jasper whispered fearfully from Drew's other side while Addison aimed her rifle at the trees in front of them more carefully. She looks down the iron sights of her rifle, but doesn't spot a thing. "I don't see anything," Jasper spoke again.

Still keeping her eyes trained on the empty forest, Addison slowly brings the barrel of her rifle down, "Me neith—"

A shiny piece of metal whizzes pass Addison and imbedded itself right across Drew's face, killing him instantly. Addison let out a short cry as his body dropped to the forest floor, only inches away from her own two feet.

The rifle that was securely in her hands dropped to the ground, her doe eyes wide in fright. Panic rose in every single fibre and atom her's and all the delinquents body's are made of.

"Grounders!"

Jasper shouted, more spooked than anyone. It didn't take long for Addison to snap out of it. She hurriedly picked her rifle up from the forest floor, having been shoved in front of someone as she and the rest of the delinquents sprint back to camp, the fear rising in each individual.

Addison stumbled to kept her pace up as best she could. The terrified shouting of delinquents had only grew when camp's walls were finally in view. She couldn't hear her own voice when she shouted for Liam, Dawson and Raven.

"They're right behind us! Go, go, go!" Octavia yelled, "Behind the wall!" Considering she's right behind Addison, she could barely hear Octavia.

"Shut the gate! Shut the gate!"

Finn had yelled, he, Dawson and other delinquents Addison couldn't see closing the heavy gate. She desperately looked around for Liam and Raven, her heart thumping hard against her ribs.

"Raven! Liam!" the clamouring of delinquents was still too loud for anyone too hear, especially if they're as far away as Addison had last saw them in the crowd, before a Grounder killed Drew. "Liam!! Raven!" no one would answer her desperate calls, not even to help her locate them.

Spinning around in another direction to look for them, she caught a glimpse of Clarke and Bellamy peering over the wall, Bellamy aiming his rifle at the trees. "Nine lives," Dawson called, appearing through the crowd.

Taking one last sweep around the panicked delinquents, Addison starts towards him and comes to his side, following him. "Lincoln said the scouts would be the first to arrive," Clarke said, Dawson and Addison coming a halt near the wall.

"If it's just scouts, we can fight our way out," Octavia determinedly strode pass Addison, standing in front of her, Dawson and Finn, who gather below Bellamy and Clarke.

"Is that what that Grounder would do, huh?" there was a teasing in Dawson's voice that made Octavia's jaw clench and her eyes land on him in annoyance. He knew that ship had long been sailed and that she and him were nothing more than friends. She has Addison now, he knew that, but he loved to get under her skin.

"Enough," Addison snapped under her breath. She was tired of their never ending bickering and taunts.

"We're done doing what that Grounder would do." Bellamy hopped down from the ledge, sweeping his eyes from Dawson to his sister. "We tried fighting, now Drew is dead. You want to be next?"

"That Grounder saved our lives," Finn declared, "I agree with Octavia. For all we know, there's one scout out there."

"One scout with insanely good aim," Jasper had snapped his head from looking over the wall to answer, his voice having shook.

"Fighting isn't a good idea," Addison voiced her opinion. "If there isn't more than one scout, we're screwed."

"What happened to your fighting spirit?" Dawson piped in question.

"I left it when that scout killed Drew." Addison never realized how deadly the Grounders were until that shiny, circular piece of metal imbedded itself in Drew. No one did until he was in the sights of the scout.

Ignoring their comments, Octavia persists again, "Clarke, we can still do this."

"Looking to you, Princess." Bellamy said after a moment of silence when all heads turned to Clarke. "What's it gonna be? Run and get picked off out in the open, or stand and fight back?"

Addison gnaws on the inside of her cheek, awaiting Clarke's decision. Neither option was appealing to her. She should've high-tailed it with Octavia when she had the chance, like they had talked about weeks ago.

"Lincoln said 'scouts'. More than one." Clarke said, now face-to-face with Finn, back turned to Bellamy. "He said, 'Get home before the scouts arrive.' Finn, they're already here," she raised her voice towards the end before spinning to face Bellamy, an angry expression on her face, Looks like you've got your fight."

"Okay, then." Bellamy's voice raised, "This is what we've been preparing for. Kill them before they kill us. Gunners, to your posts." Without hesitation, all gunners, except for Addison, move to their assigned positions. Dawson had moved, quickly disappearing from her side. She caught a quick glimpse of that Callie girl Liam had been hanging around with. "Use the tunnels to get in and out. From now on, the gate stays closed."

Sighing, Addison finally spun and started to her post.

"Not you," Bellamy grabbed a hold of Addison's bicep to stop her. "You're with me, Anderson."

Despite the situation of Grounders wanting them dead outside the walls, she throws in a joke, "I'm with your sister but you can have mine."

Bellamy's brows scrunch, "What? Addison, this isn't—" he cut himself off, his expression falling. He released his hold on Addison's upper arm and called to his sister. "You're not a gunner," he said.

Addison remained glued to her spot, not wanting to interfere, but still watched. "No, I'm not. Like you said . . . I'm a Grounder," the sword she acquired from Lincoln —given to her by Finn— is out and in her hand on display for Bellamy to see.

Addison smiled when Octavia rounds him and comes straight to her. "Be careful," she said.

"I'm the one that says that to you," Octavia replied.

Addison takes in her appearance; her expression is determined, a fire lit inside her green eyes that could burn anything in their path; her hair had grown from the time she first Octavia, the dark strands now twisted in singular pieces all over her head.

She then looked at the sword, "You're the one that wants to go point-blank," Addison then shows her rifle off, similar to how Octavia did with the sword for Bellamy, "not me."

"Says yourself when we first landed."

Embarrassed by her former self, Addison's face flushed, "I was kind of a mess," she said, quietly.

"A hot mess," Octavia smirked.

Addison rolled her eyes and smiled nonetheless before she's nodding over her shoulder. "Go, Blake. I'll see you when this is over."

Nodding, Octavia had return the smile, sword up and ready to be used. Addison watched as she ran for one of the tunnels.

"Alright," Addison averted her gaze to Bellamy, "let's get to those foxholes."

On a mission, Clarke strides to Bellamy, "So, how the hell do we do this?" she asked.

"My thoughts exactly," Addison shoulders her rifle, walking towards the two.

Bellamy flickered his eyes between her and Clarke before nodding towards the dropship. "I'll explain inside."

Clarke is hot on his heels while Addison hung further back. Entering the dropship, Raven's now in a dropship chair, Finn beside her and the surface she was on after Murphy had shot is being set up by Bellamy.

Addison filed in the spot Liam was in next to Raven while Clarke was between him and Bellamy.

Addison kneeled, "How are you doing?"

"Still hurts," Raven rasped, trying her hardest to not show how much pain she's really in.

Once Bellamy had gotten the 3-D model of camp set up, he started explaining. "We've got twenty-five rifles with twenty rounds each, give or take. Roughly 500 rounds of ammo." Bellamy flicked his gaze between Finn and Clarke, "While you two were gone, we made some improvements. Thanks to Raven, the gully is mined."

"Partially mined," Raven strained through the pain. "Thanks to Murphy."

"Still, it's the main route in." Bellamy's gaze locked onto Raven, "If the Grounders use it, we'll know. She also built grenades," he picked one up that laid in a very small case —similar to what the wristbands were in— next to the 3-D model of camp.

"It's not many," Clarke said.

"Murphy's the reason for our gunpowder shortage," Addison stated, dryly.

"Again, thank you, Murphy," Raven's response was just as dry as Addison's, more venom and sarcasm having been laced.

"We'll make them count," Bellamy set the grenade he had in his hand back in the metal case. "If the Grounders make it through the front gate, —" he uses his radio to point as he talks "—guns and grenades should force them back."

"Should," Liam muttered, swallowing the dryness in his throat as he stares at the model of camp.

"And then?" Clarke asked, staring at Bellamy, but he's not the one who answered.

"Then we close the door and pray," Raven replied quietly.

"And pray what?" Clarke turned to face Raven, "That the ship keeps them out? Because it won't."

"Loving the enthusiasm," Addison locked eyes with Clarke, who gave her a disapproving look before she turned to Bellamy.

"Then let's not let them get through the gate," he clamps his finger down on the button of his radio and speaks. "All foxholes, listen up. Keep your eyes and ears open. Inflict casualties, as many as possible. You can hold them off long enough to make them turn back. That's the plan."

"That's always your plan," Finn finally spoke once Bellamy finished giving orders and removed his finger from the button. "Just like the bomb at the bridge."

Liam sighed, "Seriously, guys?"

"Damn right," Bellamy kept his stare on Finn. "You got a better idea?" he asked, sounding annoyed by Finn and his peacemaker attitude.

Addison rolled her eyes and sighed. "It can't be that simple . . ." Clarke whispered, surveying the model Bellamy built. She turned to Raven after a moment, "You said there's fuel in those rockets, right? Enough to build a hundred bombs."

"I also said we've got no gunpowder left."

Clarke shook her head, "I don't want to build a bomb."

Addison knew the look on her face. It was the face she made when the wheels in that head of hers were turning. She furrowed her brows, "Then what are wanting to do?"

Clarke meets Addison's eyes, "Blast off."

Addison's wheels weren't turning, but when Clarke moved her attention back to Raven, she did too, and saw the small smile on her lips. "Draw them in close. Fire the rockets . . ." she looked down, " . . . a ring of fire."

"Barbecued Grounders," Bellamy pieced, impressed. "I like it."

"Wait, will it even work?" Liam asked, he and Raven locking eyes briefly.

"The wiring's a mess down there, but yeah." Raven shifted her attention to Clarke, "You give me enough time, I'll cook them real good."

"Then it's settled," Addison stood, grilling the strap of her rifle. "Barbecued Grounders it is."

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Liam

Liam had helped Raven to where she needed to be and grabbed the small control panel from Clarke and Finn they hauled up through the now vacant hole in the floor. "Here," he laid the control panel in Raven's lap. "Do your magic."

She offered a forced, faint smile and got to work. Liam was knelt by her legs, taking an occasional glance down the dark hole.

"Holding up okay?" he asked, searching for Raven's eyes that didn't meet his.

She nodded, "Yep. The sooner they find the ignition system, the better."

"Does she know?" Liam asked, quietly. "About you and her."

"Yeah," she hissed softly, but continued to work despite it.

"Raven, we can't find the ignition system." Clarke hollered from below. Raven paused her work, a look on her face that Liam frowned at. "Raven?"

She wouldn't show her face to Liam. It took a minute for her to answer, and took even longer for Liam to process. "I can't feel my legs."

"Okay, hold on. We're coming," Clarke said.

"Raven . . ." Liam breathed, their eyes locking. He moved forward and took the control panel from her lap, setting it down beside her.

The scared look in her glossy eyes had Liam's heart sinking. Clarke hurried from below, hopping over Liam as she rounded him to Raven's unoccupied side, "Okay, let me see."

Finn was hot on her trail, doing the same and joining Clarke on Raven's right, by her legs across Liam. They each gently held onto a leg as Clarke slowly moved Raven forward.

She groaned, then let out a scream when she was fully leaned over. Clarke lifts the back of her jacket and shirt up, examining her lower back. She immediately locked worried eyes with Liam and Finn.

"That bad, huh?" Raven's voice shook when she tried masking how scared she was with a sarcastic chuckle.

Clarke took a minute before she helped Raven back against the box she's leaned up against. Resting a hand on her shoulder, she and Raven connect eyes, "Raven," she started, "the bullet's in your spine." Liam averted his gaze down to his hand that rests on Raven's shin. "You're bleeding internally," Clarke finished.

Liam lifted his head as silence consumes the four. Raven looked around before she spoke, "We better do this fast then, huh?"

"Raven," Liam called softly, gaining her attention to him. "What about Addison? You can't leave her alone, not after she found out you're her sister. The only family she has left."

"She has you. You're more family to her than I am . . ." she trailed before meeting Clarke's gaze. "Now get back down there."

Finally giving her a short nod, Clarke started to stand, until Finn stopped her. "What if we can slow the bleeding? Would that help?"

"Are you hearing yourself?" Liam asked, annoyed. He and Finn lock eyes.

"Of course it would help," Clarke interrupted their silent show down. "Can you tell me how to do that?"

"That stuff the Grounders had—coagulant. You said that Lincoln had some, too."

"Yeah, it's in the box with the antidote, but I already—"

Finn cut Clarke off, "I'm betting that there's more of it in his cave."

"Will we able to get there in time?" Liam asked, he and Finn sharing the same hope that courses through both of their veins.

"Wait a second. No." Raven immediately protested.

"I can—"

"We can make it," Liam cut in. "I'm going, too."

"Clarke, tell them they're being idiots," there's tears in Raven's eyes.

"Raven," Finn called softly.

"What?" she snapped her head to him. "I'm not gonna let you die to save me," she flicked her eyes to Liam, "I'm not gonna let either of you die to save me."

"Fine."

"What?" Liam's voice rose, "We are not letting her die, Finn."

"If she won't let us save her, how about we save everybody else?" Finn had barely spared a gumming Liam a glance, "She's the only one who can fire those rockets," he finally moved his eyes to Liam. "If she dies . . ." he met Raven's eyes again, ". . . we all die." Finn then shot up and headed for the exit, "We'll be right back."

Clarke shoots up, too, going after Finn. Liam went to follow, but a hand that grabbed his stopped him, and brought him back down to his knees. "Tell Addison I'm sorry," she whispered. "Tell her I'm sorry I didn't tell her sooner."

"You can tell her yourself after this is over," Liam replied, smiling softly. "Finn and I will be back."

"You don't owe me anything," Raven then said.

"Addison's the sister I never had, which makes you my sister. You're family now, Raven." Through the pain, Raven managed to smile as best she could.

"Liam, come on."

Sighing, Liam leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to the top of Raven's head —something he does to Addison— before hurrying pass Clarke and after Finn.

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