(Author: bellamysgirl)
The wannabe Grounder girl walked into the now darkened trees and disappeared as the shadows enveloped her. It was not a good idea to let her go anywhere alone, not in her state of mind. I couldn't go after her, either. I felt someone near me just before I heard a voice, "Where is she going?" It was Abby. I sighed and shook my head. "I don't know," was all I could say. Because, in fact, I didn't know where she was going. And a part of me didn't want to know. Abby and I walked back inside the cave and I resisted the urge to hit Bellamy. Lincoln came up to me and Abby left my side. "I'm proud of you, Jade," he said.
"Haven't heard that in a while," I said. The corners of his mouth were threatening to pull up into a smile. Octavia came up beside me with a worried expression. "Is she coming back?" she asked, glancing between Lincoln and i. "I wanted to apologize for my stupid brother's comments." When she said 'stupid brother's' she shot a glare in Bellamy's direction and he rolled his eyes. "Yeah," I said. "She'll be back in a little while." Octavia nodded with a sigh of relief and sat on the ground next to her brother. "So, what are we doing?" Finn asked, becoming impatient.
"Waiting for her to get back," I said. I said it with a little bit more attitude than I intended, like it was his fault she left. He shrunk back a bit and looked at the ground momentarily. "It wasn't his fault," Lincoln said.
"No," I said. "It was mine for giving Bellamy those stupid leaves."
"Since when were you on her side?" Bellamy asked, throwing his arms out in exasperation. I lunged toward him and Lincoln caught me by the arm, gripping tightly so I wouldn't succeed in my mission to hurt Bellamy. "Jade, don't," Lincoln said.
"Just give me five minutes," I said. He tilted his head in a way that said, 'are you serious?' "I won't kill him." He shook his head with a sigh and I yanked my arm free from his grasp. To be honest, I didn't know when I joined her 'side'. And I didn't know why I wanted to kill everyone so badly. I know I didn't eat any leaves. "Right now, I think we could all do with some rest," Abby said.
"Great idea," Finn agreed. Lincoln volunteered for first watch before I could, and stepped outside of the cave. I wasn't exactly tired so I slid down the wall of the cave and pulled my knees up, close to my chest. I actually started to dose off a bit but my drifting off was interrupted by the sound of gun fire. My head snapped up so fast I'm surprised my neck didn't break. Everyone but Octavia, Bellamy, and i stayed asleep through the noise. "Stay put," I said, getting to my feet. I hurried outside the cave to find Lincoln. "What was that?" I asked, as I joined him a few feet from the cave entrance. He shook his head and a thought came to mind. "It's her, she's in trouble," I said. I sounded like a mother worrying for her child. I hated it, but I couldn't help myself.
I started walking in the direction of the shots when one more rang out into the darkness. I leapt up and grabbed the branch dangling above me. I pulled myself up into the tree and started traveling by tree until I reached the river. I saw the silhouette of people and crouched on a limb. Being on the opposite side of the river didn't give me much of a view. But I didn't see the wannabe Grounder girl anywhere. They must have dragged her away by now. Several young men in black, combat style outfits with large guns stood on the opposite side of the river. One of them was older.
He looked like the leader of their group. He gave an inaudible order and the whole group of men started walking away from where I was positioned. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lincoln on the branch next to mine. I briefly wondered if he also had the urge to follow. He motioned to me, a brief movement of his hand, telling me to go back to the cave as he disappeared in that direction. I followed him back to the cave without argument, though I wish I had argued. When we neared the cave, he dropped from the tree, and I followed suite. "Why aren't we following them?" I asked.
"It isn't safe," he said. "We'll scout in the morning." I thought about what she had said about turning herself in. Maybe she'd planned it and it wasn't an accident. Lincoln and I entered the cave. Octavia and Bellamy were asleep, along with the others. I slid down into the position I was in before and inhaled. What was I doing, sitting around while she was possibly in real danger? My thoughts were disturbed by a cough. I hadn't realized it but I had fallen asleep. Dim sunlight filtered in through the entry way as everyone started waking up. I got to my feet and briefly stretched my arms. "What happened last night?" Octavia asked, walking up to me.
"Mountain Men took her," I said.
"What? How did this happen?" Abby asked.
"I don't know," I said.
"Jade and I will find out what happened," Lincoln assured everyone.
"Good riddance," Bellamy mumbled. I chose to ignore his comment and slung my pack over my shoulder. I exited the cave and began walking. After a few minutes of walking, Lincoln caught up with me. We walked in silence as we followed the wannabe Grounder girl's tracks. There wasn't much, but what there was left of her foot prints led to the river. Without hesitation I crossed the river and made my way up the other side. There were obscure smears in the damp earth on the bank. And the multiple boot prints leading away from the river. Only one set of tracks was different from all the others.
It was her's. It didn't say she'd been dragged, but it didn't necessarily say she'd gone with them voluntarily. After a few minutes of debate, Lincoln convinced me to go back to the cave. It took only a few minutes to get back. Once we were there, I heard voices. I walked inside the cave and noticed Finn, Bellamy, and Octavia all sitting next to each other on the floor, staring at a piece of paper. They were taking turns audibly reading it, saying the same thing over and over, all in different ways. It was obviously a name they were reciting. "It's pronounced Yuh-car-uh," I said. "What is that?"
"A wanted poster for Lincoln's friend," Bellamy said. "Looks like she isn't the saint you make her out to be."