Chapter 2: Crying and Screaming
Ila wasn't sure if it was the ache in her spine or the girl that screamed the next morning that woke her up first. It was certainly the screams that jolted her out of bed and flying out of her tent, which sat farther from the others that would've been considered comfortable. Another scream rang out and Ila chased it to find Murphy, who was hanging a girl over a fire in order for her to take her bracelet off.
"Let her go!" Ila mauled Murphy, who let go of the girl as she scrambled away to safety.
"Stop it!" Wells shouted, which in turn alerted Bellamy.
"What's going on here?" Bellamy shouted.
"She wouldn't take her bracelet off," Murphy pointed to his victim, who held tightly to her bracelet. Ila rolled off Murphy, straightening and cracking her back.
"Bellamy, this has to stop," Ila looked up at him, frowning.
"Stop? It's just getting started," Bellamy smiled as he helped Murphy up.
"Which is why it needs to end now," Wells interrupted.
"That's it," Murphy grumbled angrily as he charged at Wells with a fist, but missed.
"You're dead," Murphy chuckled evilly as he pulled a dropship scrap metal-made knife from his jacket pocket.
Ila kicked the knife out of his hand, knocking it towards Wells. Wells picked it up, threatening Murphy until Clarke and the others emerged into the scene.
"Stop!" Clarke burst out, getting in between Murphy and Wells, "We can't be killing each other. Every life matters down here."
Ila made her way to a stand, a sudden shooting pain surging through her spine. A twist in her gut sent her running to the woods where she vomited that last of the food she had on the Ark.
"We have to go back for Jasper," Ila could hear Clarke saying as she got closer. Ila quickly wiped her mouth clean and started towards her.
"Clarke," Ila spoke up through her hoarse voice. She managed to get Clarke and Wells to turn towards her.
"I want to come with you," Ila stated, catching up to them.
"Really? I mean, that's great," Clarke smiled.
"My tracking skills are decent. I can help," Ila paused to lean in closer, "Look, I gotta get away from these people."
"Alright, but it's not going to be much better out there," Clarke frowned.
"I'll go get my stuff," Ila attempted to rush back to her tent but slowed after the queasiness settled in. She grabbed her backpack from her tent and made her way to the water station where she dipped the cup into the rainwater and gulped down the rest of her sick feelings. As she came upon Clarke's group, she noticed it included Bellamy and Murphy, to which she rolled her eyes in disgust. Keeping quiet, she hung back, unnoticed to catch the last bit of their conversation.
"One way or another, I'm getting Princess's bracelet, even if I have to chop off her damn hand," Bellamy whispered, putting a grin on Murphy's smug face.
Ila began to tune out conversations, eventually leading the group and searching for any clues as to Jasper's whereabouts. Her focus was broken when she heard the group get into a fight about who knows what. When Ila turned to face them, she saw Finn join the group, grabbing Clarke by the arm.
"We'll cover more ground if we split up. Clarke, come with me. Wells you go with Bellamy and Ila, you watch Murphy," Finn delegated.
Both Ila and Murphy rolled their eyes and grunted. The group gradually broke apart, Ila shortly followed by a reluctant Murphy.
"Don't think I forgot what you did back at camp," Murphy reminded.
"You were holding a girl over fire!" Ila spoke with exasperation.
"Like you're a model citizen. What was your crime, anyway?"
"Attempted homicide," Ila said abashedly as though she wanted to scare Murphy but at the same time seemed embarrassed by sharing this information.
"No kidding? Goody-two-shoes like you? Explains that hell-of-a punch, but otherwise I wouldn't have guessed," Murphy touched his busted lip gingerly.
"That's because I'm not a psychotic dumbass like some people," Ila replied.
The two headed up a hill, stumbling over tree trunks and climbing over a boulder. They came across a clearing where a small waterfall spilled into a pool of water, distracting Murphy as he ran into the water after taking off his boots, jacket and socks.
"What are you doing?" Ila shouted after him.
"Relaxing! Whatever the hell we want, right?" Murphy called over to her, smiling.
"We should be looking for Jasper," Ila approached the pool, bending over to splash him.
"He's probably already dead. Who cares?"
"We have to try, at least."
"Try this," Murphy grabbed her hand, pulling her into the pool.
"Murphy you dick!" Ila shouted, but the sudden cool rush soothed the pain in Ila's spine. She smiled.
"Oh…okay…just for a minute," she needlessly treaded the water with her hands, closing her eyes. Murphy gave out a small chuckle at her reaction, but his expression turned serious.
"Why'd you do it?" he asked.
Ila opened her eyes again but a blood splattered rock nearby caught her attention. She trudged out of the pool to investigate, ignoring Murphy and dripping wet. Once out of the pool entirely, she spotted Jasper's goggles, reaching down to pick them up. She dabbed her fingertip in the blood splatters. Still wet – fresh.
"We're close. We should go find the others," Ila turned to Murphy, who was retreating from the pool, grumbling to himself with a bitter expression.
The group joined back up, Finn taking over tracking as Ila followed closely behind. They came upon a clearing, finding Jasper tied to a tree.
"Come on, let's get him down," Finn started forward. Bellamy gestured for Murphy to follow him. As he moved past Ila, she saw the ground look off…askew.
"Murphy wait!" she made to pull him back but was too late. The ground gave out under him and he fell into the pit. Ila quickly, instinctually grabbed his sweaty hand, struggling to hold his weight.
"Hold on!" she tried to pull him up, taking his other hand in hers.
Bellamy grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back, Wells rushing in as well to help. They managed to pull Murphy up. Ila sat back, out of breath. She looked over at Murphy, nodding. He nodded back.
"You should have let him fall," Wells spoke up.
"Every life matters down here. Isn't that what Clarke said?" Ila frowned. Murphy smiled to himself.
"Maybe not Murphy's," Clarke stated grimly. Her words slapped the smile off of Murphy's face.
Bellamy helped Ila stand up, nodding his head to her, then lent a hand to Murphy. Finn and Murphy continued after Jasper as Ila kept an eye out for any more pitfalls.
"So what is this? Some kind of trap?" Bellamy asked.
"For who?" Wells suggested, slightly panicked.
"Or for what?" Ila responded, eyes scanning the woods for predators.
"Hey guys, hurry up!" Bellamy shouted.
"Not so loud!" Ila turned to him angrily.
"Ila, behind you!" Clarke shouted, pointing.
Ila turned to spot a black panther stalking her, ready to pounce. Ila pulled on her blade, but it caught on the inside of her backpack. The panther circled, closing in on Ila before it leapt into the air, mouth open to display its sharp, threatening fangs. Ila held up her arm to protect her and the panther chomped down on her wrist. Ila gave out a painful screech.
"Bellamy shoot it!" Clarke shouted.
Bellamy went to grab his gun but sudden shots fired as the panther was struck with a full clip of bullets. Bellamy turned and saw Wells holding up his gun, pointed at the panther. The beast fell, letting its grip go of Ila's wrist. Only its fangs had penetrated her wrist. Most of the damage was to her wristband.
"Lucky," Ila whispered to herself as Finn and Murphy finished pulling Jasper down from the tree. Bellamy moved toward her, observing her wrist, then the panther. He crouched down beside it, laying out a tarp to roll it into.
"You alright?" he asked without looking at her.
"I'll live," she replied, applying pressure to her wounded arm.
The group started to head back to camp, Ila following behind Bellamy and Murphy as they carried the panther wrapped in the tarp. She held tightly to her arm, chewing on the inside of her cheek to get her mind off the pain.
"Hey…you alright?" Murphy failed to attempt to sound sympathetic.
"Yeah," Ila was hesitant to answer and continued to stare at the ground with a disappointed look.
Night had fallen by the time they returned to camp. Ila felt weak and tired, her feet sore from the walk. She dipped a cloth from her backpack into the water, wrapping it around her wrist. She could hear everyone cheer at the sight of food, but she could not get herself to join the group. She made her way back to her tent…or what was left of it. The tarps had been stolen, her blankets, too. The branches had been busted and destroyed, nothing salvageable. She crouched down and let out a heavy sigh. The light of the fire roasting the panther did not reach her area, but she was still seen by Murphy, who watched her kick over the remainder of her tent. Bellamy caught sight of Murphy staring at Ila.
"Why don't you just-"
"Why don't you just shut the hell up?" Murphy snapped at him.
Bellamy chuckled at him. Perturbed, Murphy hastily grabbed a second skewer of meat, already holding his own - half finished - and scooted away from the fire.
"Here," he kneeled down next to Ila, offering her the second skewer. She looked at it, puzzled.
"Just take the damn food," Murphy stated irritably, shaking it at her. She took it from him and took a bite. The meat was slightly charred but was delicious for not eating anything for over a day. The two sat in an awkward silence, awkwardly shuffling as they ate.
"You can stay in my tent if you want," Murphy offered.
"I'll be fine."
"Fine, whatever," Murphy stood up, rejected. As he started to walk away, Ila stood, turning to him.
"Hey…thanks," Ila called after him quietly in a grateful yet sad tone.
Murphy's face turned red as he stepped back into the light of the fire. He bit off a large chunk of meat that filled his mouth, swallowing hard, but could not swallow the fluttering feeling in his gut.
Later that night, Ila tossed and turned in the cloth that she had stuffed into her bag. It was uncomfortable out in the open and Ila could swear she had several onlookers as she tried to sleep. She sat up, gathered her things and powerwalked her way over to Murphy's tent. She hesitated outside, staring at the exterior thoughtfully, frustrated.
"Hey Murphy?" she whispered, poking her head inside. It was small and cramped, but layered in blankets.
"What the hell do you want?" Murphy mumbled sleepily, agitated as he turned in his bed.
"That offer still open?" Ila entered the tent completely, head bent under the low ceiling.
"Oh…um…sure," Murphy replied, finally recognizing it was Ila as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, "Just…stay on that side."
His attitude had turned sour once again.
"Sure thing, cupcake," Ila joked, smiling.
"Goodnight!" he snapped back at her, turning away in his bed.
Ila set herself up, propping her backpack at the head of her bed. She lay down, her eyes staring into the darkness. A crack in the ceiling let in some light, only barely enough to let Ila see the outline of Murphy lying down, trembling. She heard a small sniff and could almost make out his muffled cries.
"Murphy?" she whispered so quiet she almost couldn't hear the words herself. She propped herself up on her good arm, scooting herself closer to him until she was in arms-length. She reached her neck out to be able to see his face - covered in tears. He was sleeping, still. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, lying back down. He stopped trembling but his silent cries continued through the night. Her hand slowly slipped down his back as she, too, eventually fell asleep.