Not a Likely Hero
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Princess locked in a tower…" he teased sauntering in the room.
"What?" he asked as he observed the shocked expression her face still wore.
"Were you expecting Prince Charming?" Murphy smug smile crossed his face as he took in the sight of Clarke. She rolled her eyes, clearly unamused.
"Cut me down Murphy" she demanded.
He pulled a knife from his pocket and sauntered over to her. "Only if you ask nicely" he teased dangling the knife in her face. Her face hardened and her head dropped to the side as her eyes narrowed.
His crooked smirk grew, and he raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"Please," she sneered through gritted teeth, her face full of irritation.
He smiled and unnecessarily pressed himself against her as he reached above her to cut her hands free.
"So where's your regular hero?" he asked as her hands dropped. He continued to unwind the rope from them. Clarke ignored his question.
"What's spacewalker gonna say when he finds out he was late to the game….again?" he continued as he pulled the last of the rope from her wrists. "You think he'll go Rambo in another village?" He laughed Clarke glared up at him.
"He's dead," she said coldly, rubbing her freed wrists and walking to the door. "Oh right, the grounders" he remembered.
"No," she said quietly
Murphy's head tilted as his chin sucked in, "Bellamy finally kill him?" he snickered.
"No," she said peeking her head out of the door, "I did." Clarke continued inspected the dimly lit hallways as her icy words resonated on the stunned Murphy in the room behind her.
Murphy froze as he processed her words, "didn't see that coming" he smirked again slightly shaking his head.
"How did you get in here? Can we get out?" she asked closing the door and coming to him.
"What's the matter Princess, you don't want to be tied up with me?" He teased as he stood over her.
"I'm serious Murphy. We need to get out before the guard comes back" she said.
Murphy shrugged, "I was caught yesterday, they put me in a room near here. I was just trying to find my way out."
Damn it she thought as she reproached the door.
She peered her head cautiously back into the hallway; she heard nothing in the long dark corridor.
"Come on," she said walking carefully into the hall. She crept along the wall, Murphy following her movements. They crept along until they hit another hall; she looked back at Murphy hoping he'd have an idea which way to go. He shrugged and she sighed, looking back at the three options before her. She opted for turning left. They hugged the wall with their backs for another hundred feet or so before a grounder came around the corner a little ways in front of them. Murphy rushed the man without hesitation, plunging his knife deep into the man's throat. The grounder fell to his knees and then dropped to the floor. Clarke and Murphy's eyes locked and she sent him a silent "Thank you" with them. He gave her a half smile then took the lead from her. He turned down the hall that the grounder came from. After thirty feet, he could see sunshine pooling onto the wall across from another intersection.
He held a hand back to Clarke letting her know to wait as he peered around the corner.
Clear.
He motioned for her to come, and they both turned the corner. Murphy saw the doorway that revealed the outside first. He looked back at Clarke with raised brow then carried on. Before he exited the doorway another grounder tackled him to the ground knocking his knife from his hand. Clarke jumped on the grounders back, clawing at his throat. The grounder flew his weight back slamming Clarke into the wall behind them. The struggle deterred the grounder just enough to distract him as Murphy grabbed his knife then slashed it into his stomach. The grounder collapsed to the side of him, Clarke tumbling off of him struggling to catch her breath from the blow. She looked to Murphy; both of them were shaken from the close call.
Clarke went back to the doorway, slowly sticking her head out to look along the wall. She looked back at Murphy and shook her head. He stepped beside her and looked right and then left, taking in their surroundings. There was a lush tree line about fifty feet from them if they ran fast enough he was sure they could make it. But before he could plan anything, Clarke had left the doorway and slunk along the wall towards a bin. Murphy rolled his eyes and inwardly cursed her, but followed her. She reached into the bin and retrieved a small gun and a knife. Surely someone from their camp had been there, or a mountain man. The grounders never touched guns, they both knew that.
Murphy caught Clarke's eyes then nodded his head toward the tree line, she nodded back at him. He counted to three with his fingers then they both raced full speed across the open pasture. Their hearts pounded in their chests, running harder then they ever had before. Both waiting for the moment a spear or blade would pierce through them. They ran until they were well into the trees and their adrenaline was depleting, leaving them with little energy to carry on. They both collapsed with their hands on their knees, hunched over and heaving to catch their breath.
Clarke looked at Murphy, her breath still ragged "Do you think anyone followed us?" she panted.
He shook his head still gasping for breath. He looked back the way they came, then to Clarke.
"Now what?" he panted. Clarke's eyes rolled as she gathered her breath and stood up straight.
"We need to get back to camp," she said looking around for any sign of which direction to head. Murphy's eyes followed, then locked on her "Any idea which way that would be?" he quipped, his breath slowly evening. Clarke looked back at him, her hand on her head as she shook her head no. Murphy rolled his eyes, "great" he said sarcastically.
*Bellamy*
He watched as the last of the remaining one hundred filed into the newly constructed tent. They had finally built the last tent, and now everyone had shelter. Bellamy smiled, knowing they were all safe from the elements. He caught himself wishing Clarke could share the moment with him but quickly scolded himself and cursed the thought. He couldn't think about her, she still had three days to return.
Raven jogged over to him, "We've something on the radio" she reported. Bellamy turned to her then followed her back to the communications sections of the ark. Wick was holding the radio in his hand when they entered the room. He jutted his hand out offering the radio to Bellamy. "Another station of the ark, they survived" he happily reported and started to work on the base of the radio.
"The reception is sketchy at best, I'm trying to get a better signal" he explained. Bellamy grabbed the radio, "Camp Jaha- Can anyone hear me?" he asked into it. The only response he received was a loud crackling and white noise. "I'll get them back" Wick reassured him continuing to fidget with the wires.
*Clarke*
They had been hiking for hours, and the sun was setting fast. "We need to gather wood for a fire we won't make it in the dark," she told Murphy. They hadn't spoken since they began walking.
Murphy glanced at her, "And I suppose I should get the wood?" he voice full of sarcasm. Clarke shot him a look of disapproval. "Fine" he groaned, stalking off into the thick bush. Clarke pushed around some of the leaves to make a spot for the fire. She pulled rocks to form a circle. Murphy came and dropped the wood into the circle. He worked to start the fire as Clarke searched their surroundings.
*Bellamy*
Crackles….. "Camp Jaha come in" a voice pleaded through the rough connection. Bellamy snatched the radio off the table, "This is Camp Jaha. What station is this? Where are you?" he asked.
Crackles
"Landed north of you, Need help, please come fast." The broken message came through clear enough, "get a better location" Bellamy told Raven shoving the radio at her as he left to find Abby and Kane.
*Clarke*
Clarke laid down beside the fire. Their lack of supplies meant no blankets, and the night air was frigid sending a deep chill into them. Murphy returned and plopped down across from her. "You know body heat is the best way to keep us warm," he said with a mischievous grin.
Clarke's face dropped, unamused and she glared at him. "I mean we are out here…alone…together…." He lingered then came behind her. His hand slowly reached out to her, "Don't touch me Murphy" she threatened. He pulled his hand back and smiled, "okay, but your loss". He rolled onto his back his hands folded beneath his head. Clarke's eyes rolled then closed, but she remained on alert for a while before exhaustion overcame her tired body.
*Bellamy*
He found Kane in the dining area, "We've made contact with another station" he reported.
"Where are they?" Kane asked following Bellamy to find Abby.
"North, somewhere. The connections not great, but they asked for help."
Kane nodded, "You will lead a small group, four guards, we can't afford to send any more until we know their location. Radio back when you find them. I'll prepare a larger team to follow when you do. Assemble your team, I'll let Abby know" Kane commanded.
Bellamy nodded then searched the camp for Miller.
*Clarke*
"Another fun filled day" Murphy sarcastically quipped as he kicked out the fire.
They hiked for hours; none of the terrains looked familiar to them. They had no idea if they were even headed in the right direction. The knowledge of this filled Clarke with uneasiness and uncertainty which went mostly unnoticed by Murphy.
"You gonna tell me why you killed lover, boy?" Murphy asked bluntly as he stepped over a branch.
Clarke glared straight ahead of her, her face hardening as she tried to ignore his question.
Murphy hiked up beside her, glancing over at her "I mean I don't blame you, the guy was a pain" he shrugged still waiting for an answer. "But he did lead the search party to find yo-"
"Shut up Murphy" she snapped, not breaking her forward glare.
A cocky smile formed on Murphy's face, "It's not like I'm gonna hang you for it Princess" he replied in a snarky tone.
Clarke rolled her eyes, trying desperately to ignore his painful remarks. Murphy closed the distance between them, their shoulders now inches apart as he leaned into her. "It was the sex…was'nt it?" he smiled withdrawing from her.
In a split second Clarke swung around and shoved Murphy into a tree, she held her blade at his throat.
"You are done talking about this Murphy" She glared at him.
Murphy let out a small laugh, his crooked smile plastered on his face. "Look who's the crazy one now" he gleamed arching a brow.
Clarke's eyes shifted and she lowered her blade, backing away slowly. It was all the leverage he needed. He launched himself at her tackling her to the ground while snatching her blade from her hand. He pushed the blade against her neck as he sat straddled over her hips.
"Don't threaten me, because I will kill you" he threatened, something primal flickering in his eyes replacing his previous carefree attitude.
Then, suddenly, his face dropped and the blade went limp on her neck as he held his hands up. He leaned back away from her face, looking down at the gun she had planted in his abdomen.
He looked back at her face, his momentary fear gone. He cocked his head to the side a sly grin forming. "Do you even know how to use that?" he asked condescendingly.
Clarkes face was as hard as a rock; she was done with his games. "Do you want to find out?" she asked flipping the safety off. Murphy caught the movement and gave her a coy smile, "Touché Princess" he said while standing up. He offered his hand to her, but she refused it and stood on her own.
They continued to hike as if they both hadn't just threatened each other's lives.
"You know" Murphy started, "seeing as we're lost out here together….you could try to trust me." It was the first thing Murphy had said that wasn't laced with sarcasm. Clarke looked at him and nodded.
"I mean, I did save your ass" he laughed.
"Right back at you" she quipped back, giving him a smile. He smiled and nodded with a light laugh.
"So any reason backup hero isn't here?" he questioned. She didn't look at him, still hiking forward her eyes locked on the trail ahead of her. "Or did you kill him too?" he joked. She shot him a cold look and he raised his hands to surrender.
Her eyes fell back to the path ahead of her as she flatly answered "I told him not to come."
Murphy stopped in his tracks, "And he listened?" he asked stunned in disbelief with a laugh. Murphy laughed and jogged to catch up with her.
"Teach me your ways wise one" He joked, bowing playful to her.
Clarke's brow rose as her head tilted and she let herself smile.
