A fresh start Chapter 21. Names
The guards entered Lock up. The door's loud clang echoed around the room.
"Get up Blake," they called
"Verdicts in," he said
Miller unlocked the cell. Bellamy struggled to his feet, his chains clinked. Every sound echoed and made Bellamy's head hurt.
The shackles were attached to his wrists and ankles.
"When will they let ne out of this dump," Murphy asked
They ignored him like always.
Bellamy glanced at Murphy; he gave a small nod as he led from the cell.
Four guards lead Bellamy down the hall. The announcement had been made to the people, and they were filling the hanger bay, to see what the verdict was.
Bellamy was nervous, but tried to keep his bravado up. He didn't give himself hope that he wouldn't be punished, but he hoped it wouldn't be a death sentence. He wondered if he were going to locked up for the rest of his life, or maybe put on in chains, and forced into hard labor. Maybe he would just be banished forever, something he attempted to do in the first place. He had no idea, but knew it was something he was ready to face; his penance for his past sins.
He was led to the chair, flanked by Miller, Trent and two other guards. The people were all looking at him. He wouldn't meet their stares. He did find his friends there. He forced himself to look strong for their sakes.
Marcus approached him and knelt down in front of him. He looked concerned. "Don't show fear," Marcus told him
Bellamy nodded a look of indifference in his eyes.
Jaha spoke up. "The council has voted and we believe that Mr. Blake was attacked and beaten by the victims. We believe that he was defending himself. Although the attack seemed to be unprovoked and it it was eight against one, four lives were still taken, and that can't be taken lightly. A human life still means something, and taking one, even when provoked can't go unpunished. Mr. Blake took four lives and for that crime, he'll receive ten lashes for each life taken. It will be a reminder that he will always carry with him," Jaha said.
"No," Octavia yelled.
Clarke took a deep breath. "They can't," she whispered as fear gripped her.
The people in the hanger bay all began to talk, some anxious to watch the sentence that would soon be carried out.
"No one can survive 40 shock lashes, "Monty said.
"Not shock lashes," Abby said sitting next to Clarke.
Clarke turned and had a look of horror at the thought. "They're going to whip Him?" she asked "No they can't," she cried.
"Jaha's trying to make a point," Abby said with disgust.
Bellamy saw Clarke and Octavia's expression.
The guards pulled him to his feet. "Kane," Bellamy called.
Kane rushed over, and leaned in so he could hear Bellamy over the noise of the crowd. Many were excited at the thought of what was coming. It made Bellamy's friends sick.
Miller gave him a minute to speak to Kane.
"Kane," Bellamy said "Clarke and Octavia; get them out of here. I don't want them there. Please," he asked Kane. He looked Kane in the eye. Kane could see the worry on his face.
"I'll make sure," Kane promised and he placed his hand on his shoulder. "You'll get through this," he said, trying to reassure Bellamy. Bellamy nodded without expression.
Kane immediately found Clarke and Octavia. "Follow me," he told them in a rush.
They followed, believing Marcus had a plan to get Bellamy out of what was coming. "Kane, what are we going to do?" Octavia asked.
They got to his quarters. "We have to get him out of this," Clarke said "Why are we here?" she asked.
"Bellamy doesn't want either of you there. He made me promise to keep you from seeing it," Kane said.
"No, I can't just hide," Octavia started to argue. "We need to get him out of this," she yelled. Clarke just nodded, but she understood. "It's too late," she said.
"Look, he's trying to do the right thing here," Kane said. "Whatever is going to help him get through this," he said. "He's going to need our help when this is over," he said trying to make them understand.
Clarke shook her head. She wiped tears from her eyes. "No," she started, "Kane's right," she said to Octavia "He'll need us after," she said and turned to Kane. "We'll wait in medical, he'll need us there," she said putting on a brave face.
Octavia was angry. She needed to find something to do. She looked at Kane, "This is wrong, and you know it," she said and stormed out. She slammed her fist against the wall and screamed with everything she had.
Clarke looked at Marcus, "If he doesn't want us there, I won't add more worry on him," she said and left.
Clarke stayed focused. She went straight to medical. The room was empty, her mom and Jackson were with everyone else. Alone inside, she let the tears fall.
Octavia came inside finally and it prompted Clarke to take a deep breath and dry her eyes. Octavia knew Clarke had been crying, and she just looked at Clarke. They both dealt with things differently, but they both had the same sense of dread.
Clarke took a breath and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Come on, we've got work to do," she said.
"I can't stay here," Octavia said "I need to be there. He's my brother."
Clarke turned and faced Octavia. "He needs us to be strong. He said he didn't want us there, Octavia," she said
The thick steel walls of the Ark masked any sounds from outside, including the crowd's excitement as they waited to see the show.
Marcus found Abby and the others. "We have to stop this," Raven shouted. "Marcus do something," she yelled at him. Ilian stepped up to Marcus. "Where's Octavia?" he asked worried she may try to intervene. "She's inside with Clarke," Marcus said "Bellamy didn't want her here," he said in a loud voice over the crowd.
Ilian looked towards the Ark, wondering if he should try to find her or stay. He looked at the crowd and felt disgust. He left to find Octavia.
Indra and Gaia stood next to Marcus, Abby and the others.
Bellamy was led to the edge of camp. Four guards flanked him. The lead guardsman unhooked his cuffs and tied straps to them. He pulled Bellamy's arm high over his head, forcing a painful cry from his lips; his broken ribs feeling like they were being pulled apart. The guard smiled. They took a knife and ripped his shirt, opening the back, letting it fall to his waist. Some in the crowd gasp at the scars he had from the attacks on him in the bunker. His entire left rib area was covered with purple bruising left from the beating Lang and Carter had inflicted on him.
Bellamy stood firm, forcing himself not to give Rollins the satisfaction of seeing his pain. Miller was there and so was Trent, but the rest weren't friendly. They were handpicked by Rollins.
Rollin's walked up to him and leaned in close. "You have anything to say?" he asked Bellamy.
Bellamy didn't respond, he just closed his eyes. Rollins grabbed a handful of his hair, and yanked his head back. "I asked you a question," he said angrily spitting the words. Bellamy gazed his eyes at Rollins, but didn't answer. Rollins grew angry, but the crowd was watching. "Brave huh?" Rollins said, "We'll see how tough you can be," he said and shoved Bellamy's head away.
Tristen saw the exchange, and knew Rollin's temper.
Rollins walked to stand behind Bellamy. He swung the whip as hard as he could. Bellamy instinctively arched away from the leather as it tore across his skin, leaving a dark red welt. "Mom," he whispered.
Rollins held the whip hard and swung again. Bellamy's body reacted again to the pain. "Octavia," he ground out her name.
Trent squinted his eye's looking from Bellamy to Rollins. He frowned when his eyes met Millers.
The third hit drew a strip of flesh as Bellamy's letting black blood trickled down his back. The sight of it made Rollin's smile. "Gina," Bellamy whispered, his eyes watered as the pain the tore through his back and A fourth slice, "Lincoln," he uttered. "Roma," he said and the names kept coming. Each strike from the whip brought a name, a face in his mind of someone he hurt; someone who's life was changed or taken because of him. He struggled to stand, struggled not to cry out, and cursed himself when he whimpered from the pain. He needed to take the hits; he needed to say the names. He convinced himself, it wasn't for killing those men, it was for all the others he hurt. The mistakes he needed to pay for.
Rollins kept swinging. He wanted to hear Bellamy cry out, or scream, or something. Black blood oozed down his back, his skin ripped open and swelling. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he uttered each name.
Miller watched and held back the urge to help. He knew it was useless.
Marcus had a hard time watching. Abby looked at him and shook her head. She finally had to turn away.
Indra, who always stood strong, was made sick by it. "This isn't right," Gaia said shaking her head. She looked at her mother, and around at the people who seemed entertained at Bellamy's torture.
"This is what you voted for," Indra told her daughter.
Gaia nodded towards a group from the Albatross, who were laughing. "I didn't want this," she said.
Bellamy's body was shaking; he was near blacking out from the pain. Rollins struck again, his flesh was hanging. Bellamy finally cried out in pain. The excitement in the crowd grew quieter, and people began to see it had gone too far. They stopped seeing a monster began to see a young man, tortured.
The pain was too much and Bellamy collapsed under it. His strength was gone. His wrists pulling at the restraints. His ribs, his back, he was breaking from the pain. Rollins motioned to one of the guards. The man walked to Bellamy and threw a bucket of water in his face. "You need to stay with us," Rollins said.
The crowd quieted and some began to leave, unable to keep watching.
The cold water shocked Bellamy awake. He grimaced in pain, and tried to regain his footing. Rollins struck again cutting through already broken flesh. "Maya," he whispered. "Peter," he mumbled as he was whipped again. "Mark," he barely whispered with another strike, until he finally blacked out. His head hung down. The pull from his weight opening the skin as blood kept running.
Another splash of water, and he stirred a bit, but didn't wake. Miller shook his head and stepped forward to check. "Step back, that's an order," Rollins said, stopping Miller. "With all due respect, he's…" Miller started "That's an order Miller," Rollins spat and hit him again with the whip. He kept hitting until he was done.
Miller rushed to help lower him, and Rollins stepped in again. "I said step back." Rollins yelled.
"You're done," Miller yelled and pointed at Rollins. "Your done he stepped towards him. Trent looked at Miller and hurriedly tried to untie Bellamy.
Marcus stepped up, quickly coming between Nathan and Rollin's.
"This is done," Marcus said to Rollins. Pushing him back. He turned to Nate, "Get him down," he said nodding to Bellamy.