Chapter 25

The small group from "the 38" that had gone to get Murphy and Monroe had run into trouble. It was only three of them. Fox, Craig and Felix. Felix was the first to go, his head span back, a small whole from a bullet appearing on his forehead, and he was down on the floor in a second. The other two, stunned at what had happened in front of them barely had time to react before the shots hit them in the same way

Murphy hears the noise of gunshots; Monroe´s head is still in his lap. He hasn´t moved and his whole body is reeling from what had just happened. The noise is a harsh welcome to reality. He is not staying here!

Ignoring his aching body – the shoulder is almost numb with pain, or is it the adrenaline – Murphy slowly moves Monroe´s head to the floor. He looks at her still face feeling is eyes water up. Not wanting to succumb to the tears he slowly and painfully gets up and then gives Monroe´s still body a nod of respect.

Get a grip! What would she want him to do; he forces himself to think. Their history was gritty, but here, in this new, but old, world, it had started to change. He wasn´t about to forgive him self anytime soon but the fact was that she had meant more to him than he wanted to admit.

The room seems to be unguarded so he uses brute force to open the door. Maybe using his body wasn´t such a clever move, his shoulder does not appreciate the effort. As he runs down the hall the pain is so bad that he has to crouch down to get his breath.

He needs to find Jasper or Bellamy. Or Raven.

He is enough out of sight for the two guards passing not to see him. All his instincts tell him to follow them. It was as good a plan as any.

Raven and Octavia had been alternating between banging the door and shouting while trying to locate any means out of the cell they were currently occupying. There still seemed to be no one outside the door, or at least there was no reply. It wasn´t too long before the two of them had to come to the conclusion that they were stuck there. It was a harrowing feeling.

Raven was worried about the whole operation and she had to admit was worried about Murphy. Bellamy had said that he was wounded. Monroe too, her thoughts added. After their talk back at the Ark she had felt closer to the girl. She couldn´t really understand what she had been through, sure, but she could sure empathize. And she did.

Octavia gets up to to try the door one more time when they both hear the bip-bip sound of a key card being used and the door opens. They both react on instinct; get back, fists up, ready to take the mountain men on.

Raven gasps when she sees that the person entering is not the enemy, but a stumbling Murphy, holding up a key card. She runs to him and catches him just as he is about to keel over. His bloody shoulder is a dead giveaway as to why.

As he more or less falls into the room Octavia takes action. "Murphy, you godsend! Any more guards outside?"

"No, I killed them" He is on the floor.

Injured and without a weapon, Raven thinks, but then she remembers his background. He is more than capable.

Murphy has stared at her since he entered the room.

Octavia is all game face. Raven can suddenly see the grounder in her.

"OK, guys, I need to join Lincoln and Bellamy. I´ll help you most of the way, but you need to manage the last bit on your own"

"I´ll manage" Murphy does not sound convinced at his own statement,

Raven helps him up. "Don´t think I heard you. WE will manage you mean"

"What are you doing here, you were supposed to be at the entrance, keeping watch"

"Well, someone had to save your ass"

"Who saved who here exactly"

Octavia can see the banter for what it is and can´t help but smile at that last comment. After all, now it is she and Raven semi-carrying Murphy out the door. But she doesn´t point that out, there is no time to waste.

Clarke has been in contact with Bellamy throughout the fight. She knows that the final attack is imminent. She looks over at Lexa and nods.

"Soon"

Lexa nods back. There has been a standstill between the two fighting fractions for the last hour. A few shots here and there, but no one has made a real move

The fact that the mountain men have to wear those suits, it makes them extra vulnerable. But the smallish crack that Ravens bomb had blown open in the door was not large enough to for their army to fight their way through – not that that was the plan anyway - so hence the standoff.

Octavia has just said goodbye to Raven and Murphy where they planned. She gathered they were close enough to the ventilation shaft to make it out that way. Murphy had actually seemed to perk up after he met Raven. Good for him! She mentally crossed her fingers.

She had studied the Mount Weather maps for days - she knew the layout by heart - so she headed in the direction of the main entrance.

She is almost there when she spots two people walking quickly in her direction; a woman in a doctors coat and a dark-haired man of about the same age. Thank the stars for good reflexes. Octavia manages to duck before they spot her. She is however in full earshot.

"-if we do that the gas will also kill the guards fighting at the entrance, we need them" She can hear the woman speak

"It´s them or us" That is the man´s voice. "It´s a sacrifice we need to make"

This new information is terrifying. This was not part of any plan. She needs to act fast. She has seen herself what the acid fog does. Clarke is outside the gates! Lexa! Hundreds of people!