Chapter 51

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Addison

Night had fallen fast. Addison stands where Clarke and Bellamy were standing when she and the rest of the delinquents retreated back to camp. Peering over the wall, her trigger finger lays on the thin, curved piece of metal, ready to squeeze it at any moment. Could she handle killing again, even if it was an enemy? Maybe. Could she kill the enemy to protect her people? Yes. If not for her people, then for the few in camp she cares about: Liam, Octavia, Raven, Clarke, Jasper, Dawson, Harper --her dear acquaintance-- and even Bellamy, to name a few.

She moves her stare away from the tree, sweeping her eyes around the forest. The only thing that seemed to somewhat keep her nerves calm was Liam.

Addison's mind wandered back to what Dawson had asked the evening Monty disappeared. She sucks in a sharp breath; how could she forget about Jasper's other half? With war around the corner and Raven hanging onto her life, that's all that's been clouding her mind. She suddenly felt guilty.

Shaking her head, she forces herself to think back to Dawson's words, ignoring the heart string that pulled from Monty's disappearance--she's just glad he's not fighting. Even a blind man can see he's not equipped for this scene.

"He's acting weird, though."

"'Weird'?" Dawson nods, Addison's brows scrunching even more. "How so?"

"Just different. Off, I guess. You should talk to him."

Addison never did get the chance too. That night, she did notice Liam's posture and body language was weird before she, Raven and Octavia grouped together to find Clarke, Finn and Monty. After Murphy and the dropship incident she got herself into with Jasper, she noticed Liam hanging around some girl she'd only seen around a few times. Even marching away from camp, she saw the two never leaving the other's side.

Addison found it odd, but she was happy for Liam. It still didn't explain why Dawson had said he'd been acting weird.

"You've been around Liam lately," Addison started. "Has he been acting weird?"

From her side, Callie has her own rifle aimed over the wall and answers quietly, "Weird as in oblivious? Yes."

"Oblivious?" Most of Addison's attention is now diverted to Callie, the Grounders non-existence for a split second.

Callie's lips part to answer, but she's interrupted by the rhythmical sound of beating drums. "War drums?" she asked, Addison's rifle snapping to the trees.

She swallows the nervous lump in her throat, "Yeah, I think so . . ." her heartbeat quickens that no longer matches the Grounder's war drums.

"Addison," Bellamy called under his breath from below her, Callie and two other gunners.

She briefly turns her attention to him, holding her rifle to her chest as she crouches behind the wall. "What is it?"

"I need you to come with me," he said. Getting a nod from Callie that she and the two gunners are good, Addison slides off the ledge to join Bellamy.

Once she was at his side, he hopped into a swift jog that she was quick to copy, ducking after him in one of the foxholes. Addison's soon able to fully stand, her rifle raising as she re-joins Bellamy, along with Miller and Monroe.

"Where's Octavia?" Bellamy asked, voicing Addison's nonstop question since they departed from one another.

"She left five minutes ago. Didn't say where to," Miller answered from the left side of Bellamy, not once diverting his attention away from the Grounder infested forest. "She thinks she's a damn samurai."

"A hot samurai," Addison feels eyes on her after the comment and meets Bellamy's blank and unamused expression she can easily pinpoint in the darkness. "That was meant to be in my head."

Sighing, he shifts his gaze back to the forest. "You see anything?"

"No." Monroe raises her voice, "What the hell are they waiting for?"

"Shh." Addison snapped, trying her hardest to stay cool, calm and collected in the situation she and the delinquents got themselves into.

"The longer they wait, the better." Bellamy said, "This is about buying time for Raven."

At the mention of her, all of Addison's heart strings pull, causing her heart to drop. Her eyes soften before they're hardening when she hears the radio. "I-I-I see them. They're moving!" --who Addison believes-- is Sterling's voice that came through Bellamy's radio. "I count one, two, three . . . no, wait, there's more. I don't know, man, there's too damn many of them." He panicked.

Addison jumps at the gunshots that ring from the south. "Who was that?" Bellamy asked.

"Sterling, I think." Miller answered.

"It was," Addison confirmed, her aim not ceasing.

"South Foxhole," Bellamy called on the radio. "South Foxhole, report now."

More gunshots pop. Shortly after, Sterling is responding, "Yeah, yeah. We're okay. They--They didn't attack--it's like shooting at ghosts."

"What?" Addison whispered, sharing a quick glance with Bellamy. Shooting at ghosts? It didn't make any sense . . .

"There," Monroe said, snapping Addison back. "I see them!" she popped off a few shots, Addison's eyes widening. She ducks behind the wooden railing in front of them for cover, hugging her rifle to her chest, the grip of her pistol jabbing in her side as a friendly reminder that it's there.

"Stop!" Bellamy started to shout, "Stop. Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"

"It's like shooting at ghosts."

Pushing the fear away like a bad dream, Addison shoots up, "Hey, stop! Hold it!"

Monroe popped off a couple more before she listened. "Reload. Now," Bellamy ordered.

The clips to Miller's and Monroe's rifle drop softly to the dirt. "Those were our last clips," Miller informed, almost breathlessly.

"Great . . ." Addison sighed, swinging the barrel of hers back at the forest.

"We should--We should fall back," Monroe stuttered, fearfully.

Bellamy immediately down plays the suggestion, "No. If this position falls, they'll walk right to the front door."

"I agree with Bellamy," Addison voiced. Even though she's not their leader like he and Clarke, she felt the need to act like one, to seem strong for Monroe and Miller so they'd be strong to beat the enemy. "We don't abandon our post. You leave, you're a traitor to our people. Understood?" she wasn't asking, the look on Miller's and Monroe's faces said it all, even though she couldn't see them--their silence was a good enough answer for Addison. Glancing at Bellamy, she suggests, "Shoulder-to-shoulder, yeah?"

With a quick nod, he files directly back to her side. "Only shoot when you have a clear shot," Bellamy said, and Addison agrees.

"I got this, Brother Blake."

"I don't see anyone."

"They're too fast!"

"I hit--I hit them. I think I hit them!"

"They're everywhere! Harper, get down!" Addison immediately recognized their voice--Jasper. "We need back up!"

More gunshots pop, this time more rapid than what she had been hearing. An explosion booms on the west side that has Addison smiling in relief. "Good thing Raven and Jasper knew what they were doing," she muttered to Bellamy.

"Raven, our mines actually worked!" Jasper's excited yell has a small smile tugging on Addison's lips.

Chuckling softly, she grabs the radio from Bellamy and presses her finger on the button to transmit her voice, "Good work you two."

"Jasper, we need you in the dropship right now."

Bellamy rips the radio from Addison's light grasp, "Negative," he declines Clarke's demand. "We can't give up the west woods."

"The west woods are mined, Bellamy. The Grounders just figured that out. Jasper, get in here." Clarke's demand was harder.

"All gunners, listen up." Jasper called, ignoring Clarke. "The Grounders are not attacking. They're making us waste bullets. Don't shoot when they're running laterally."

Addison removes her finger from the trigger. "It's like shooting at ghosts." "He's right," she whispered to herself.

"Don't fire until you're sure it's an attack," she and Bellamy lock eyes as he speaks into the radio. "Repeat, do not fire until you are sure."

Addison snaps her head to the sound of screaming, rifle aimed in the direction. A round of gunshots go off, more screams following soon after. "They're everywhere! Fall back! Fall back!"

Whoever had yelled began screaming, their words no longer echoing through the forest, only their blood curdling scream. Shivers run down Addison's spine. Is Octavia over there? Is her scream mixing with theirs? Another gunner screamed, bringing her back to reality--the Grounders attacking. "Here they come!" Bellamy shouted and squeezed the trigger, the bullet piercing a Grounder.

Their growls and the slashing of their swords glide through flesh mixed with the gunshots and screams of gunners that fall. Inhaling a large breath of air, Addison looked down the sights of the rifle and pulled the trigger the same time she released the breath. She watched as the bullet burst from the barrel and embedded itself in the chest of a Grounder.

"Monroe, get back here!" Miller hollered.

Addison ignored him and continued to take any Grounder she could down. She managed to kill three until she heard a click. No matter how many times she repeatedly pulled the trigger, it clicked every time. "Crap . . ." she sighs, her voice having shook slightly.

The floor beneath her boots thumped under heavy weight that had Addison snapping her head, doe eyes widening. "Bellamy!"

Miller screamed when he tried helping him, the Grounder's sword slashing Miller before he made a b-line for Bellamy. The Grounder tackled him to the floor, hands wrapping themselves tightly around Bellamy's throat. Addison whacked the Grounder across the head with the butt of her gun --similar to what Murphy had done to her-- that caused him to release Bellamy for a split second. The Grounders spun around quickly and back-handed Addison against the wooden railing.

Her back and head collide with the thick wood, hard. The pounding that erupts throughout the entirety of her head is similar to the minor concussion she received from the rough landing in the dropship.

She groans, cradling her head to her chest as her vision blurs --even though her vision in the dark is completely useless-- and it becomes more useless. An aching pain spreads across her back, making any movement hard as she tries to get air back in her lungs.

Addison can see the outline of the Grounder's figure still over Bellamy, hands now back around his throat. She felt helpless. Moving at just the right angle, something jabs her stomach.

With a sense of small relief, she awkwardly pulls the pistol from her waistband and takes aim. Milliseconds away from pulling the trigger, the sound of blade meeting flesh reaches Addison's ears. The Grounder's movements cease before he's shoved to the side between Bellamy and Miller.

Addison's eyes widen, the barrel of her pistol immediately dropping when Octavia is revealed to be the one behind the sword that killed the Grounder. She never in her life wants to aim any sort of weapon at Octavia again, accident or not.

"Admit it. You want one," Octavia said to Bellamy through heavy breaths.

"A+ for timing," Addison grunted, her head pounding like crazy as she leans back against the wooden railing.

Octavia let's a small smile slip when she and Addison lock eyes. For a moment, there were no Grounder's attacking when Addison closed her eyes in relief, until arrows start to soar.

"No!"

Addison snaps her eyes open when she hears Bellamy petrified yell and Octavia's groan. "Octavia!" she shoots up from the ground.

"Miller, fall back, now!" Bellamy ordered the gunner.

Addison wraps her arm around Octavia's waist to keep her on her feet, somewhat balanced.

"Can you walk?" Bellamy asked, to which his sister nodded to. Addison carefully removes her arm as Octavia takes a step forward, but the leg the arrow sticks out from wobbles underneath her, and she nearly falls.

Addison catches her, an arm locked tightly around her waist once again. "I got you," she muttered, and looks at Bellamy.

"Alright, come on. We need to get you behind the wall," the urgency in Bellamy's voice only made Addison's heart pump faster.

Hooting and hollering in the distance stops all of their movements; no one was shooting and the Grounder's weren't attacking anymore. No swords were clashing with the flesh of her people or the metal and wood that make up the wall.

Addison's brows furrow. It's not the Grounder's war cries, but someone or something else. Hairs on the back of her neck stand, goosebumps prickling up on her arms, legs and and every where else she has skin.

Her hold on Octavia's waist tightens. The hand that was holding Octavia's arm -which was slung over Addison's shoulder- is now laced together with Octavia's fingers.

Their cries stop, and the forest goes silent. Addison holds her breath, afraid that one small breath would alert the entire forest that's filled with her and people's enemies.

Each of them cry; the Grounder's cries mix with who ever -or whatever- had hollered and made the first go silent. Blades clash that ring loudly, the sound of metal tearing through flesh like warm butter making Addison sick to her stomach. She'd rather kill with a bullet, not point blank. She did once, and she never wants to do it again.

Addison's hold on Octavia tightens, "What the hell is that?" Octavia asked, just as confused as Addison.

"I don't know, but while they're all distracted, let's move." Bellamy said urged, glancing over his shoulder.

Octavia suddenly stops. "What are you doing? We have to go," Addison rushed, glancing up at her.

"We'll never make it," she breathed out, slowly sinking to the ground. "Leave me. I'll find another way."

"We are not leaving you, Octavia." Addison shakes her head. "It's not an option," she whispered the last bit.

"You have to," she whispered back, their eyes meeting for a brief moment before she shifts them to Bellamy. "Both of you."

"We're not leaving without you," Bellamy insisted.

"Octavia."

"Lincoln?"

"You did this?" Bellamy nods to Lincoln's people and whatever they're fighting.

Lincoln nods, "With Finn and Liam." He briefly meets Addison's eyes at the mention of Liam, until Octavia groans, her breathing still quick from the pain of the arrow that sticks out of her leg. Lincoln kneels beside her to carefully inspect it, "It's deep. I can help you, but you have to come with me now."

Lincoln flickers his eyes between Addison and Bellamy, awaiting permission. "Go. Let him help." Bellamy finally spoke. He and Addison meet eyes, and she finally nods. She knows the right the thing to do for Octavia's safety and survival is to flee with the man who's tied with Murphy for the number one spot on her list of people she dislikes.

"No way," Octavia is quick to protest, not surprising Addison in the slightest. "I have to see this through."

"You can't walk and we can't get you back to the dropship," Bellamy's voice wavered in response.

"He's right. This fight is over for you," Lincoln cut in.

"Octavia, please," Addison pleaded.

Octavia looks up at the night sky, avoiding any sort of eye contact with her brother and Addison as she tries her hardest to be strong. "O. O, listen to me . . ." Bellamy starts, kneeling in front of her that grabs his sister's attention. "I told you my life ended the day you were born. The truth is . . . it didn't start until then. Go with him. I need you to live. Besides . . ." he flickers his eyes to Addison, ". . . we got this."

Octavia pulls him into her arms, the siblings sharing a moment and hugging each other goodbye. "I love you, Big Brother," she whispered once they pulled away.

"May We Meet Again."

"May We Meet Again," Octavia's voice wavered, tears in each of their eyes.

Addison's expression saddens for them, her heart strings getting ripped from their goodbye and the fact she has to bid Octavia farewell, too.

Bellamy stands, allowing Addison to take his spot.

"Stay out of trouble, Blake," she smiles sadly.

Octavia let's out a small laugh, a tear slipping down her cheek. Addison cups her cheeks and wipes it away, her eyes glossy, too. "I'm not impulsive with a temper." Addison now releases a small laugh, leaning their foreheads together. "Stay alive," Octavia whispered, removing their foreheads enough to look Addison in the eyes.

"Only if you do," Addison answered with a small smile before she's on her feet, helping Bellamy get her into Lincoln's arms bridal style, gaining a bit of Octavia's blood on her hands in the process.

"Keep her safe," Bellamy told the Grounder.

He gives him a short nod before he starts forward. "Wait!" Addison's voice cracked, her arm resting on Lincoln's shoulder to stop him.

He turns around so Octavia faces her. Addison plants the gentlest and most tender kiss to Octavia's dirty, sweat coated forehead, her fingers threading through her greasy dark locks. Addison didn't mind the salty taste Octavia's sweat left on her lips when she pulled back.

Running a hand through her hair one last time, Addison untangles her fingers from Octavia's locks, prepared to walk back to Bellamy, but she never got the chance to.

Octavia brings their lips together that has a tear drop rolling down Addison's cheek, the salty taste of her tear mixing with the taste of Octavia's lips.

"Please, stay safe, Octavia," Addison mumbled against her lips.

She nods, brushing her thumb over the dry blood trail that leaked from the mark she got from Murphy, then brushes her other thumb under Addison's eye to wipe the new tear that started to fall. "You, too. Go to the dropship. You'll be safer there."

Addison shakes her head, "I can't. I'm a gunner, Octavia."

"Please?" The expression Octavia gives Addison nearly rips her heart from her chest right there. "For me, Addie."

Addison wanted to argue, but there wasn't anytime. The longer Octavia stayed, the more she's at risk from not only Grounders but from infection. Granted her injury isn't life threatening, infection can kill just as easily as a sword, according to what she learned from the small bit of reading she's done back on the Ark.

Addison sighs, nodding.

"You win, Blake. May We Meet Again." Octavia recited the infamous words before she and Addison share one last quick kiss before Lincoln disappears with her.

"Addison, come on," Bellamy grabbed her attention.

Addison looks away from where she saw them disappear and walks up to him. She takes her rifle from his shoulder, "Let's finish this."

"No," he stops her.

She looks back at him, a brow raised in question, "Bellamy, we don't have time for this. The Grounder's are going to get in."

"Listen to my sister. Go back to the dropship," he told her firmly.

She sighs, "Bellamy—"

"The least you can do is fulfill her wish. She'll be pissed when she finds out you didn't," despite the circumstances, there was a teasing in his voice that Addison didn't miss.

Sighing, she finally nods, but only because the commotion started to get heavier. "Alright," she pulls her pistol from the waistband of her pants. "Keep the rifle, in case you run out of bullets."

"May We Meet Again," Bellamy said the words softly.

"May We Meet Again, Bellamy Blake."

_______________________