Daylight had come over the camp when Bellamy and I arrived back, hands still intertwined. People commented and wolf whistled as we passed through, causing me to look down at the ground as my cheeks blushed a bright red.
Normally, I'd be more aggressive in the face of mindless teasing, but after finding out all of this information, I was left feeling broken and vulnerable.
"Don't pay attention to them," Bellamy whispered, giving my hand an encouraging squeeze.
"Hannah!" Octavia called out, running over to give me a hug. "Where were you? I woke up and you were gone, I was so worried!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of comfort at Octavia's concern.
"And what happened to your wrist?" She asked, picking it up and examining the now dried blood around my wristband.
"I tried to take my wristband off." I said, the embarrassment surfacing once again.
"Get Clarke," Bellamy told his sister. "Tell her to meet Hannah and I in the dropship. Top floor."
Octavia nodded, and ran towards Clarke's tent. Bellamy led me into the drop ship, settling me in and wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. "I'm gonna take your wristband off, okay?"
I nodded, tears gathering in my eyes.
"I'll be gentle," Bellamy promised. He grabbed a crowbar and gently slid it underneath the band. He came around behind me, bracing my arm and pulled up quickly, snapping the band. I cried out at the dull pain it caused.
Bellamy shushed me soothingly, as he grabbed a makeshift towel, dipping it into some water, taking his place in front of me and wrapping it around my wrist. He applied steady but soft pressure. I closed my eyes and relaxed into his touch.
"You okay?" he asked.
I nodded, leaning my head back against the wall.
My eyes opened once again as I heard Clarke and Octavia make their way up the ladder. Bellamy gave me an encouraging smile.
"What happened?" Clarke asked, noticing the bloody towel wrapped around my wrist.
"A lot," I whispered, a nervous giggle erupting from me.
"This is isn't funny!" Clarke scolded.
"Calm down," Bellamy said. "Both of you." He leaned in and whispered gently. "Be honest, I'm right here, okay?"
I nodded, and looked up at Clarke.
"I kinda freaked out last night. Stormed off, tripped, busted up my knee. Then I insisted that I take my own wristband off and kinda butchered myself in the process."
"What do you mean butchered?"
I nodded to Bellamy who unwrapped my wrist.
"Oh my god, Hannah." Clarke said kneeling down to examine the cuts. "Where is your wristband now?"
"Bellamy took it off. Don't get mad."
Clarke shook her head. "I'm not. It was gonna have to come off so I could properly clean and bandage these. Now let me see your knee."
I bent my knee up, wincing as the scab that had formed pulled, opening the scrape again.
"That's not too bad," Clarke observed. "I'm still gonna have to clean and bandage it. But I want to focus on your arm. Octavia, can you work on her knee?"
"I can do it," Bellamy said shifting and taking my knee in his hands.
Clarke nodded. "Okay, Octavia, can you hand me the moonshine and the bandages?"
I swallowed hard at the thought of how badly the moonshine was going to sting. Bellamy squeezed about my knee and gave me another encouraging smile. "This is my own fault." I said, nervous tears falling.
"I'm glad you came to me." Clarke said, dipping the first cloth into some water. "Right now I'm just going to wipe away the excess blood so I can get a good look." She began to gently wash my wrist, revealing the raw skin.
At the same time, Bellamy had begun to wash my knee. Octavia sat next to me, running soothing fingers through my hair.
"I'm gonna use the moonshine now," Bellamy said. I inhaled sharply as he placed the soaked cloth over my knee. He just held it over the cut, soaking up the excess water, blood, and dirt. "Done," he said taking the cloth off. Grabbing a dry one he patted at my knee, making sure the scrape was fine.
I cursed as Clarke placed a moonshine soaked cloth over my wrist. My body shook as I adjusted to the pain. "Sorry," she said. I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth, bringing my head back against the wall again.
"Knee's done." Bellamy said and came to sit on my other side. He brought his arm up and squeezed soothingly at my neck, rubbing my shoudlers. I exhaled forcefully.
"Almost finished." Clarke said as she wrapped my arm with the bandage, fastening it with some hair pins.
"Done."
The four of us sat quietly for a moment. Octavia and Bellamy each holding one hand, Clarke's hand on my good knee, and me practicing my good breathing techniques.
"Hannah?" Clarke asked, breaking the silence. "Why didn't you ever tell me about the other cuts?"
"I knew this was coming," I replied, opening my eyes to look at her.
"When I found out that I got caught, and the guard, my father included, were coming to arrest me, I thought I'd take matters into my own hands. I was so disgusted with who I was, the things I had done…"
"I have to ask Hannah, but…" Clarke paused. "Should I be worried about you?"
"Clarke," Bellamy cut in.
"No, Bellamy. She's right to ask." I said, patting his hand. "I don't think so. I mean, I'm still taking my medication. I'll deal."
"Hey," Bellamy said, squeezing my hand. "You won't be alone in this, okay?"
I nodded, smiling back at Bellamy.
"I'm sorry I freaked out at you last night, Clarke." I said. "Its not your fault."
"Yeah but I was the messenger," she replied. "I get it. Its ok. This is a crazy situation we're in."
"You can say that again." Octavia added and we all laughed.
"Octavia and I have agreed that we'll keep an eye out for Hannah," Bellamy told Clarke.
"You've got a lot on your plate." I added. "You won't have to worry about me."
Clarke nodded. "But you're still my friend, okay?" She said, her voice breaking. "I don't want to lose you."
I leaned forward and brought her into my chest for a hug. I felt her sniffle.
Bellamy and Octavia stood, motioinging that they would meet me outside.
"I just have to say," Clarke began, still crying. "That you may feel like you're exactly the same as your mom, but you're not. You were raised by Marcus and Vera Kane. Marcus is strong. And Vera is full of compassion. You are both of those things. My mom told me that Marcus wasn't always this cold, that he also had his mother's compassion. We need to hope that he'll warm up one day."
I nodded, crying as well. "And I did have you," I added on.
Clarke and I both wiped at our tears.
"Look, I just have to say this Clarke. Please don't be so hard on Wells. He really cares about you. And we all have secrets. But down here, every life matters. You said that yourself. Fight for him, just like you fought so hard for Jasper. And fight for yourself. You don't have to be perfect all the time."
Clarke nodded, looking at me questioningly. "What secrets?" He got my father killed."
"Think Clarke: Who knew about the secret of the Ark?"
"Other than my dad; me, Wells, and my mother." She said and then stopped. "It was my mother."
I looked at her sadly. "Talk to Wells, Clarke."
Clarke nodded, before helping me to stand up. We shared one more hug before climbing down the ladder. Once we got outside, we heard a cut off scream.
"That sounds like…" Clarke said.
"Wells." I said and we took off running.
