Chapter 4: Home

"Heda."

I kept my back to Gustus as he entered the room I was kept in. I was sitting cross-legged on the rough sheets of the hospital bed, thinking about Clarke.

"Heda," he tried again. He sighed when I refused to acknowledge him. I felt something land on the bed behind me and I swung around defensively. A light blue bag was on the bed. The color. It was like Clarke's eyes.

"Heda, get dressed. It's time for you to go."

"Go?" I frowned. "Go where?"

"To you new home, Heda."

"W-what?" I stuttered hopelessly. "Why can't I stay with you or Anya?"

"We aren't qualified, Heda. Most of those who come in for the transformation are sent to group homes if they're children, work houses if they're adults. You're lucky. You've got a home. Someone stepped up and requested you be placed with him. It rarely happens."

"What if I don't want to go?" I challenged.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice. It's either go with you foster parent or go to a group home." He gave me a sad smile. I bit my lip and nodded after a long moment.

"Get dressed, Heda."

"Gustus," I called as he was leaving.

"Yes, Heda?'

"It's just Lexa. I'm not Heda no more."

He gave me a smile, "I'll be waiting in the hallway, Heda."

I opened the door, stepping out of the room with a heavy sigh. Gustus smirked at me. "Aren't you adorable." My cheeks flushed bright red. I couldn't believe what I'd been given to wear. I went from skin tight black pants, grey shirt, black overcoat, and leather boots to blue scratchy jeans, a pink shirt, light blue jacket, and a strange type of shoe. We headed to the lobby in silence, though I was sure Gustus was dying to make a joke about my attire.

"The great Heda wearing jeans and sneakers," came a laughing voice from the left. Anya walked over to us and she grabbed me in a tight hug which startled me to say the least. She pulled back and happily led me to the entrance, where a man stood in the type of pants-jeans-as as I did and the same style of shoes.

"Jake, this is Lexa."

He reached a hand for me and I eyed it tentatively, almost shyly. Heda cannot be shy. Anya nudged me and I took his hand nervously and he shook it with a grand smile. Anya frowned as she sensed my nervousness. Heda cannot be nervous. She hugged me again, and when she finally released me Gustus took a turn, almost crushing me.

"Visit us soon, Heda," he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze.

My eyes filled with water and I nodded, not trusting my voice to say anything. Was I about to cry? Heda cannot cry. He gave me a sympathetic look, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"Are you ready?" Jake asked.

I nodded, following him out, casting one last look behind at the two people who had been with me through my entire life. Jake led me to some type of contraption and I balked when he tried to usher me into it.

"Its fine, Lexa. It's just a car." I backed away, eyeing it nervously. He sighed and disappeared, leaving me to stare at the thing. Suddenly I felt a hand grasp my shoulder. "Lexa."

"Anya, what is this?" I stared at the contraption in horror.

"It's a car, Lexa." I shook my head violently. Anya sighed and opened the door and I jumped back. She sat in it herself and looked at me. "You're okay." She got out and guided me over to the car. With a shuddering sigh I climbed in and sat on the seat, eying Anya nervously. "It' okay." She pulled a strap over me and clicked it in. "It's going to make a noise and bump as it drives, but I promise it's fine, Lexa." I nodded.

She turned to leave and I grasped her wrist. "Don't go." For the first time, I didn't care that my eyes filled with tears and that a few escaped. She gently wiped the tears off my cheek.

"You're okay, Lexa. Once you're settled, you can come visit me, kiddo. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

I nodded and let her go and watched as she walked away. Jake settled into the car and started the car without a word. I jumped as the car roared to life and began on the lurching drive to his home. He pulled into a path beside a house and stopped the car. "Here we are."

"This is your home?" I asked him quietly.

"Yours, too."

He got out and I followed, heading up some stairs as he unlocked the door. I stepped in and I let out a gasp. It was so fancy. "How about a tour, huh, kiddo?" I nodded slowly and followed him. First the kitchen. An abundance of food and drinks all ready, with no need to hunt. The dining room, a place to sit and enjoy the already caught food. Living room, with a big couch and a TV-whatever that is. Jake's office, a porch to sit in and watch nature from a screened room, up some fuzzy stairs, and a few feet down a small hall.

"This is your room, Lexa." He opened the door and I stepped, looking around. A massive bed was in the center of the room with dark green blankets and a heap of pillows. A desk sat barren-no maps of lands to go through, no laws to set in motion, no hardship of leading thousands of people. It almost felt nice. But then I remembered. No Clarke. And that hit me hard. I felt pain in my chest, whether I was imagining it or not I would not know. I was in more pain than I was when the bullet pierced my stomach. My knees gave in and I collapsed in the middle of the floor and ignored Jake's concerned voice call my name. Sobs escaped my body and I felt his arms engulf me.

"Lexa, what's wrong?" his voice was full on concern.

"She's gone," I sobbed.

He rubbed my back, silent.

"Clarke's gone."

"She isn't gone, Lexa. I promise, we'll get her back."

I looked at him in confusion. His voice was determined as he spoke.

"Who are you?"

He gave me a tight smile. "Jake Griffin." A tiny gasp escaped at his surname. "Clarke's father."