It took Murphy, Bellamy, Clarke and Isaac five days to reach the Unclaimed Territories. Murphy was less than thrilled with their timeline, but traveling with four people had proven slower than expected. No party was particularly fond of the other. Bellamy and Clarke mostly kept to each other, leaving Murphy and Isaac to walk alone.
Neither had said much to the other until they came upon the Unclaimed Territories. As they walked the streets of broken buildings and grey sky, Isaac caught up with Murphy.
"I still don't fully understand why you came all that way to save me," he began. "You could have let me die. You should have let me die. You and Odette would have free reign of the place... I can't pretend it's not my fault that-"
Murphy cut him off, "I didn't go all that way to save you, I went all that way to save her. If you died, she would have died, too."
Isaac nearly laughed, "that's quite a finite way of looking at things."
Murphy stopped short, trying to keep his composure, "life on the Ground, outside of the City, is that finite. A moment separates life and death, and if that moment is me saving you to keep her alive, then so I'll do it, but I won't like it."
And with that, they continued walking. Isaac kept quiet.
When they arrived within city limits, Bellamy gave Isaac a hood to keep his face hidden. The group made their way through the crowds, heads down and feet steady.
Isaac brought them to a safe house he had long since established with his closest guards. They waited a day, recovering, expecting a guard to check in as they are supposed to every 24 hours. Murphy understood this was necessary, but he hated every moment of it. He knew every hour they waited there was another hour of Odette in a cell.
It was something he was all too familiar with.
Around midnight, they heard the door unlock, and a very surprised guard entered.
"Your grace," he quickly shut the door behind him and dipped into a bow.
Isaac stepped forward, "Watson, I need you to tell me exactly what is happening," he demanded.
The guard nodded, "your uncle he..." the guard stumbled, at a loss for words at this surprise, "he has arrested the Governess for high treason: for your assassination." He looked toward Murphy, "he's given the permission to shoot him on sight."
Isaac glanced toward Murphy, but quickly turned back toward Watson, "and? Am I presumed dead?"
"We don't know," Watson shook his head, "Basil has appointed himself Governor in your absence, he's proclaimed that he fears you dead, but there is no proof."
Isaac nodded, "well, clearly I am not dead. Have all of the Estate Guards turned to him? Are there any we can still trust."
Watson nodded, "there is, you're grace, but there is another thing..."
"What is it?" Isaac asked.
"The Governess, there are rumors..." he began.
Murphy stepped forward, "what rumors?" he asked.
"She's pregnant," Watson swallowed.
Isaac was at Murphy's throat in a moment, pinning him agaisnt the wall, "I swear, if you got my wife pregnant..." he trailed off angrily.
"Well, we all know it wasn't you," Murphy spat.
"Stop!" Clarke yelled, pulling Isaac from Murphy. "This isn't the time." She turned back to Watson, "gather what Guards are still loyal. We need a way into the Estate. We need to take down Basil."
Odette lay on the dirt floor in her cell. It had been days since anyone had visited her. A guard had brought food and water the day before, but none had come today. She felt her stomach eating itself, angry and wanting. It was painful, but overshadowed by the doubting feeling in her heart. John should be back by now, back safe with Isaac. And yet here she was, alone, still, in the dark.
Suddenly she heard the door screech open, and heavy quick feet on the stairs. Normally, when a guard entered, they took their time.
She stood quickly, brushing the dirt from her backside.
"Hello?" she asked, anxiety building.
A figure emerged at the bottom of the stairs, and she knew it immediately.
"Odette," his voice called.
She flew to the bars, pressing herself agaisnt them, squinting her eyes in the low light, "John?"
"Odette!" John appeared in front of her, as if from a dream. Before she could process what was happening, he was fumbling with keys in his hand.
"John!" She nearly yelled in joy, feeling tears burn from behind her eyes. "John, you made it! You're alive!" she pressed herself agaisnt the bars, reaching out to touch him.
He grabbed her, kissing her hard between the iron beams. "Odette," he breathed, nearly laughing.
"You made it. I knew you would," she said again.
John played with the keys in his hand, looking for the correct one. He forced a large silver key into the hole and turned it, unlocking the cell with easy.
Odette pushed the door open and jumped into his arms, tears building in her eyes.
"It's okay, it's okay," John said over and over, holding her close.
He pulled back, grabbing her face, studying her as if he'd never seen her before.
"You're alive," she breathed, her voice breaking.
"Yes," he whispered. He glanced down and then back at her, "I heard..." he trailed off.
She furrowed her eyebrows, "you heard what?" she asked, confused, "is Isaac alright?"
"Yes, yes he's fine," he shook his head, "I heard.. are you pregnant?" he asked, honestly.
Odette felt her heart sink, she hadn't anticipated this.
"Oh, oh no..." she answered, "I said that to give me more time..."
She watched has something in his faced softened. But it wasn't relief or any sort of happiness... it was sadness behind his eyes, disappointment, even.
"Oh," was all he said.
"Did you... Are you disappointed?" she asked, nearly a whisper.
He shook his head, at a loss for words. "I... I don't know," he said truthfully.
She sighed, brushing hair from his face.
"I haven't loved much in this life," he admitted, "but I have loved my family."
She smiled, "I know."
He shook his head, dismissing the thoughts. "We don't have time," he explained, "Bellamy, Clarke and Isaac are upstairs. They're making their way to Isaac."
She nodded, understanding what was about to happen.
"It's going to end tonight," John said, "Basil is expected to be in the dining room. He has plenty of guards on his side, but we have enough to make a stand."
Odette nodded again, if this was how it was going to end, she wanted John to be by her side. This was how she wanted it to be.
"Then this is it," she agreed.
John sighed, "knowing my life, this is probably just the beginning, but yeah, this is it."
