Clarke was awoken by a a hand covering her mouth. Her eyes shot open and before she shot up, she saw Madi's face. Made was holding a finger over her lips, signaling for Clarke to keep quiet.
Clarke slowly sat up, realizing it wasn't just Madi beside her. Bellamy, Octavia and Indra were crouched down in the bushes as well, keeping an eye on the group of people ahead. Clarke looking into the clearing again, frantically searching for the face she saw earlier. It was nowhere to be found. Instead she was met with face of random grounders, all enjoying themselves. They were eating and talking, dancing to the loud music. Behind the group of people, there was a tall metal door, sticking out of the ground. Its wide doors were open as people flowed in an out.
"How many do you think there are?" Octavia whispered, looking back and forth between Indra and Bellamy.
"They clearly wanted to be found," Indra stated lowly, intently keeping a watch on the group.
Madi turned to face the clearing as well after seeing Clarke had calmed down. "We should approach them," she said.
"Are you out of your mind?" Bellamy asked. "You have no idea who they are, what they're capable of or why they wanted to be found. For all we know, its a trap."
"I don't think so," Madi stated with assurance. "I believe they know we're here, and they haven't approached." Madi nodded toward a woman who kept looking in their direction.
She was tall for a woman, and slightly muscular. Her face wore a bright smile as she conversed with an even taller man. She snatched at the side of her shave head, and then slapped at her braids on top, laughing hard, seemingly making fun of herself. She wasn't wearing any armor and didn't carry a weapon, as far as the group could see. She wore a white shirt, black pants and some simple commando boots. She looked over at their direction, smiling wider, seeming to make eye contact with Madi.
Clarke watched carefully and became a bit fearful. She was concerned for Madi. "I'm a little leery, but I think Madi's right," she said. "I'm going to walk down there, you all stay here. They don't need to know theres more than one of us."
"I think she knows," Madi said, nodding toward the women who kept glancing in their direction.
"We don't know for sure," Clarke combatted. "Either way, I'm going down there, and you three will stay here. If something happens, or if it appears safe, I"ll signal for you to come down."
There was a long pause between the group. Madi didn't want Clarke to go down on her own. She felt she should be there to protect her. And since she was the commander, she also felt it was her responsibility.
"I agree with Clarke," Indra stated.
"I'm going with you," Madi said.
"Absolutely not!" Clarke rose her voice in protest, anger building up her, coming from her need to protect the girl.
"You have no option," Madi said as she quickly rose and jumped down into the clearing.
Clarke quickly followed, planning on catching the girl, but it was too late. They were spotted by the group. Suddenly the music lowered, and the tall woman smiled wide again, slowly approaching the pair, arms raised in a show or surrender.
"I was wondering if you were going to join us," the woman said, still slowly approaching. Madi walked forward quickly, and stopped within three feet of the strange woman. Clarke quickly followed, agitated at Madi's reckless behavior. "I'm Charlie," the woman stated, "and I'm so very happy to meet the two of you. The great Wannheda and her daughter, the Commander. I've been watching the two of you a while."
"Watching?" Clarke asked, her voice raising in anger.
"And there's that famous temper I've heard about," Charlie said with a slight laugh, smiling once more. "Yes, watching, with the drones or sometimes up close. Staying out of sight of course. I'm very fascinated by the two of you. So fearless and yet so loving, passionate and brave, never backing down, even if you should. And somehow always surviving, and usually defeating the odds. I couldn't write a better story if I tried."
"How long have you been watching?" Madi questioned calmly.
"The two of you, for years," Charlie stated. "And I've been watching Clarke and her friends almost since they landed."
"Who are you?" Clarke demanded.
"I'm pretty sure I introduced myself," Charlie said sarcastically.
"You know damn well what I mean!" Clarke pushed, shouting.
"Well, I guess you could call me a relic," Charlie began. "I was born fifty decades before the bombs fell. Shortly before they fell, I was trapped into this bunker, frozen. I only awoke probably about 30 years ago. But once again, I was locked down un that bunker until recently. My fellows and on have been celebrating for weeks. We're free."
"That's not possible," Clarke stated, staring down the woman.
"Its very possible, I'm living proof," Charlie stated smugly as she grinned and put her arms across her chest. "You simply have no idea of what was going on in the world before the bombs fell. Becca and her colleagues where a part of some serious experiments, for the government and just out of plain curiosity. I'm a product of those experiments." Charlie paused, her face growing serious and cold for the first time. "Becca's mother was the one who made me in to what I am."
"I don't believe you," Clarke stated, her head reeling. She had learned a lot of unknowns since her years on Earth. Things she never thought possible. Surprising things. Gruesome things. She felt the woman was telling the truth. She showed no signs that she might be lying. But Clarke just couldn't believe it.
"I believe her," Madi said calmly. "Becca is telling me it's true. Urging me to trust her." Madi closed her eyes for a moment. "She keeps trying to show me something, a memory, but its hazy."
"I need proof," Clarke stated coldly.
"I'm more than willing to show it to you," Charlie stated, smiling once more. "But you'd have to come in to the bunker. Which means you'd have to take a leap of faith and trust me. I'm doubtful you'll do so."
Clarke paused, thinking her options through. She was so lost in thought, she hadn't heard Indra and Bellamy approach, standing close behind her. No did she hear the group of warriors that stopped and waited behind the treeline.
"Clarke, lets go in," Madi said warmly. "I don't believe we have anything to fear from her. Becca keeps sending me feelings of joy every time I look upon this woman's face."
Clarke sighed angrily. She couldn't deny her curiosity was getting the better of her. She pondered momentarily, now having realized she had a small army behind her. "Alright," Clarke agreed. "Madi, Bellamy and I will head inside with you. But I swear to God, I will slit you ear to ear if you try and pull anything."
"I believe it," Charlie said with a slight laugh. "well, follow me."
Clarke and Bellamy slowly followed behind Madi, who seemed to be unphased by their situation. As they walked through the giant metal doors and down flight of metal stairs, they took in their surrounding. It was similar to mount weather, but more advanced. The walls seemed to be made of a slick and shiny material, something none of the three had seen in their entire lives It was tinted with blue and looked extremely smooth to the touch. Clarke reached on to skim her fingers along the wall as she continued her descent. Her eyebrows raised at the warmth radiating from the wall.
The group finally settled on the first floor. Charlie suddenly stopped and turned, a smile still gracing her face. "So, before we head into that room down the hall," Charlie started, "I need you guys to remember to try and not freak out. You're going to see things that will probably startle and confuse you. You'll have access to all the information you want in that room; its an archive. But you still may be shocked, so please do your best to remain calm." Charlie turned back around and began walking again. Madi instantly followed, extremely intrigued and almost excited.
Clarke and Bellamy looked at each other hesitantly, eyeing the woman in front of them with daggers. The pair pulled out the guns, cocked and loaded, and continued to walk down the hall.
"Welcome!" Charlie said, excitedly, flying the doors open.
The group of three slowly walked in. Clarke and Bellamy with their guns slightly raised, expecting the worst. All three froze when they took in their surroundings. The room went levels into the ground, they could see it stretch for at least a mile forward. Every inch was covered with screens, computers, chairs, books and machines holding over trillions of data.
Clarke and Bellamy lowered their guns. As Clarke turned to her left she froze, her heart stopping in her chest. She suddenly dropped her gun, as gasp escaping her lips as her eyes went wide. Madi and Bellamy looked over to see what had startled her. They too froze, not believing what they were seeing.
In the far corner to the left stood a woman, leaning against a table. Her long brown hair slightly falling in her face as she was looking down at a book she held in her hands. The woman suddenly realized she wasn't alone and turned to face the group. She gave a puzzled look and slowly sat her book down on the table behind her. She began to walk over, every step echoing in Clarkes woman stopped feet away from Clarke. Her green eyes were staring intensely at the woman in front of her, filled with confusion, curiosity, and something undesirable. She took in a deep breath, not being able to tear her eyes away from the blue ones in front of her. "Clarke?" The woman asked.
Clarke slowly approached the woman. She reached up and touched her face, trying to make sure it wasn't an illusion. She ran her hand down the woman's neck and stopped above her heart. The woman was real. That or Clarke was slowly going insane. Clarkes mouth went dry as she stared at her hand on the woman's chest, feeling her heart face beneath her palm. She looked up into deep green eyes agin, seeing an emotion that she hadn't felt in years. Clarkes breathing became shaky as she whispered, "Lexa."
Lexa still starred, confused and feeling a longing for something she didn't understand. She felt something for the woman in front of her, something deep and wild, yet calming. She could recall feeling it before, but that was all. She knew that she knew the woman in front of her, but she couldn't remember a thing.
Lexa blinked and looked over at Charlie with a confused and surprised expression. Charlie was smiling widely, containing a laugh as she watched the interaction. "Do you remember her?" Charlie asked, hope laced in her voice.
Lexa looked back down into Clarkes eyes. Clarke looked confused and scared, yet calm. "I remember her name," Lexa whispered, not being able to tear her eyes away from Clarke's. "I remember feelings…" She trailed off. "But no memories." Lexa swallowed hard as she realized Clarkes hand was still sitting above her heart, pushing on her chest.
Clarke suddenly removed her hand and grabbed Charlie fiercely by the collar of her shirt. Everyone else in the room watched her with confusion. "How is this possible?!" Clarke yelled. "And what did you do to her."
Charlie stared at her with a surprised look, not an ounce of fear on her face or in her eyes. "I saved her," she stated. "And sometimes, when you bring someone back from the dead, they lose something. In Lexa's case, her memories. I told you Clarke, to try and be calm. I also stated that you could find any answer you could possibly want in this room."
Clarke grabber Charlie's collar tighter. Rage and confusion were building up inside her. She wanted a direct answer and she wanted it now. Suddenly, a hand was placed gently in her shoulder. Clarke turned to find Lexa, a look of concern spread across the woman's face. "Clarke," Lexa said lowly, "It's alright. You have nothing to fear. I promise you." Sincerity dripped in Lexa's voice and slowly, Clarke released her death grip on Charlie's shirt. She turned to face Lexa, barely believing what she was seeing once more.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Charlie started, "But I promised you answers and I will give them to you. I don't go back on my work Clarke."
"Show me everything," Clarke said lowly, still losing herself in a field of intense green.