Hello, everyone! Here goes the next chapter, I hope you'll like it. Enjoy!
II
We are the places we end up in; they're our flesh, bones and skin.
- Mountain Men proverb
There are four groups of people in my area.
The Grounders- they are the largest category. They live on the other side of the river, near the forest or in it. They paint their skin around eyes black or some other strange markings on their skin so as to emphasize their affiliation to the gang. They're excellent healers with their herbs, potions and the knowledge of the plants growing in the woods. Characteristics: dangerous, hostile, cunning, clever, sly, vengeful.
The Reapers- not to be messed with. They live in the tunnels under the town and in the woods. Sometimes one can be met in some dark alley on the suburbs. They're the worst gang thanks to their cruelty and brutality. They can be easily deceived and manipulated though, with their infinite stupidity as one of their traits. Characteristics: savage, ferocious, inhuman, brainless, naive, fierce.
The Mountain Men- these are difficult to define. They live in the highlands near the Mount Weather. Much to my dismay, they pose as a nice bunch of intellectualists with kind hearts and pure intentions. Don't be fooled. They'll do everything it takes to survive and that's why they have the upper hand in every deal they make. Characteristics: hospitable, tricky, treacherous, deceitful, smart, durable.
The Sky people- it is considered that everyone outside the other three groups, belongs to this one. That would mean that I'm one of them. It's actually nothing related to any special bond, it's just that there's a silent agreement between all those who don't belong to any gang, meaning that we try to protect each other, so we don't fall prey to the members of the other groups. Characteristics: loyal, sharp-witted, persistent, brave, skillful, relentless.
I'm not particularly interested in being associated with the Sky people, but it's not like I have a choice. Every gang is dangerous and it's better to have someone covering your back, than actually being left alone as an easy target.
The sky is still darkish as I wake up. There's still some time left 'till sunrise, so I get up and decide to grab some food. I leave the building and close the door. Hilarious, isn't it? I have the key to an abandoned building. I remember when I found it weeks ago lying under the doormat. The doormat says You're NOT welcome by the way, but I thought it'd be smart to at least give it a try and I did. For now, that's my only safe haven, but I'm not big on home decor, so it still looks as if nobody lived there. The walls are cracked and full of cobweb (which I hate though), the already mentioned carpets hang on the walls or lie on the floor and there is a one huge chandelier for every room. There's a shabby bathroom with no mirrors or washbasins, a tiny kitchen with a sticky countertop and a couple of shelves. There's even a fridge! (which I don't use), a living room and my bedroom, which consits of a mattress that serves as my bed. I like it. I still have to get used to calling it my house, because these golden, Victorian, posing-as-diamond chandeliers are quite odd and these carpets in arabic patterns and vivid colours sometimes make me dizzy. It's peculiar and exceptional, but it's all I've got.
I head to a small bar opened twenty-four hours, seven days a week. Raven used to work here, but she decided that making stuff for shadow economy and black market was more fun. I guess she was right after all, since working here means spending twelve hours on your feet every day. The salary's not impressive and the place is quite suspicious itself, with its rather bizarre customers and a wicked boss. I've always suspected it of money laundering, because let's be honest here, why would there be any other reason to keep such a den?
The walls are painted yellow, but the colour is almost invisible under the thick layer of dirt and the mysterious liquor spilt all over them. There are two sofas to each table, but I choose to sit by the counter, since the couches are stained with alcohol, hamburger sauce and even blood. This place's infamous for its evening fights, usually caused by some drunk customers. As I lean my arms on the counter, I notice a couple of words carved in the wood. It actually turns out to be a whole sentence: We are grounders. It's strange though... Grounders wouldn't write it, because they don't usually show up at places like this one and additionally... They treat their name as if it was something special, an invented name even. They surely would write it from the capital letter.
I avert my eyes from the sentence and glance at the menu hanging on the wall in front of me.
'Clarke', I hear someone before I actually see them. I focus my gaze at the boy covering the menu with his body.
'What's up, Miller?', I grin at him. It's a tall youngster around my age with a sharp-witted sense of humour and an impressive criminal record.
'Haven't seen you in a while. What is your wish?', he asks with a huge smile on his face. I like this guy, he's easy-going, smart and loyal. He's my friend and I don't have many of them.
'Scrambled eggs, please', I say after a moment of hesitation.
'Your wish is my command', he answers with a wink and disappears.
I look around as the morning sun announces its presence with the sunrays shining through the light pink curtains. I turn my eyes away from the window as the bell hanging just above the doors rings. I glance at the sun and close my eyes right after. It's such a warm, pleasant feeling. The sun doesn't show up too often in this region. It's usually cloudy, dusty and windy.
'You've got some balls to come here after yesterday's fight', I hear Miller as he places a plate just in front of me. Wait, what fight...?
'I was just defending myself', I turn around just to see a young woman sitting on a chair next to me. She has brown hair, dark eyes and she's simply beautiful. She stares at me, but I don't avert my eyes.
'Octavia', she says with a smile.
'Clarke', I reply. I want to say something more, but the smell of my breakfast makes my guts squirm. I haven't eaten anything for two days and counting.
'You're an egg-genius', I exclaim as I finish my dish and seconds later Nate shows up with a grin.
'Yeah, heard that somewhere already', he answers and takes my plate.
'Can you make me some coffee, please?', I plea dramatically and Octavia laughs.
'Maybe if you didn't get up before sunrise you'd be more rested?', Miller teases me as I receive a cup of black coffee. Honestly, I hate its taste. I just got really used to drinking it.
'Maybe if you minded your own business, you wouldn't have to serve it to me', I say and immediately regret this. I never know when to bite my tongue and I'm afraid I crossed the line with this one.
'Relax, Clarke, you know I'm only saying it because I care about you', he says with a soft smile playing on his lips.
'Of course I know that', I wink at him. I want to talk to Octavia, but I really don't know what to say, since she's a hero of quite a disturbing urban legend. Everyone knows everything about her, but no one really knows her.
'So... how's the shooting thing going?', he blurts out. No, sure, let's just tell the whole world about it, it's not like anything involving guns is illegal or anything.
I stare at him angrily for a couple of seconds without saying a word.
'What shooting thing?', Octavia, who's been sitting quietly for the past five minutes, gets interested in this particular subject. Why is my life so great?
'Miller's got some wicked fantasies. Nothing important, just a child's game', I say firmly. My mom used to say that: a child's game- something insignificant, trivial, irrelevant. It's not an actual saying, but you've only got what you've learned at home, so I use it quite often. Octavia seems a bit confused about it though.
'I can shoot', she says. She's lying I can tell, but I'm not giving her out.
'Well, maybe. Good for you, but careful. It's illegal around here', I drop a couple of banknotes on the counter and get up.
'See you around, guys', I say and leave before anyone can add anything.
I decide to go to the woods for some herbs and plants. My mom's a doctor. Like mother like daughter, I'm quite a good one too. I'm not the best when it comes to the knwoledge of the plants and its usage, but I'm trying to catch up. I need to be more skillful with it, because that's basically what I do for a living. I'm a doctor. Not a qualified one, which makes things pretty tough sometimes, but I have to make money to survive and this is the only way to do it. It's not like money's the only reason though, I really love helping people and treating them gives me a certain satisfaction, but I won't lie, it's the only source of income for me. As for the legality... Well. I guess saving someone's life is more important than law. Especially when this law is shit.
I step very carefully as I get closer to the woods. Grounders aren't the worst gang here, but they're not my friends either. The entrance to the forest is guarded by the river that doesn't allow you to actually walk in. The only way to make it through is to fly over it with the help of the liane hanging from the tree next to it. There's a rock under the liane, so it's easier to jump, but it gets extremely dangerous in the late Autumn, Winter and early Spring, because the current becomes fierce and rapid. Many lives were lost here, but it doesn't stop me from stepping on the rock and grabbing the liane. It's only late Summer after all. I cross the river and quickly search for the herbs.
I'm not welcome here just like anyone who's not a Grounder.
A couple of hours later I'm back on my side of the river with a backpack full of various herbs and plants. I wasn't eaten alive or thrown a spear at, so I'm content.
As I leave it in the old abanoned building, I look at my watch. There are nearly two hours left 'till my meeting with the shooter, but I decide to leave soon. The old warehouse hall is quite far away.
I pack a knife, some old chocolate bars, my last banknotes and a bottle of watter.
After a couple of minutes I'm ready to go. I close the doors and hide the key in my pocket.
I feel a strange sensation in my stomach as I think about the meeting. It's a mix of excitement, anxiety and fear.
Oh God, I hope they won't shoot me the second I show up there.
That would seriously suck.
If you like the story or generally have any thoughts on it, I'd like you to review it to let me know about your feelings, it's really important to me. Hope you enjoy the story, I promise there will be some more action in the next chapters. Love you all!
