A/N: I just wanted to take a quick minute to address why it's been so long between posts lately. As I'm sure some of you know, I have a lot of WIPs and very little free time. I spent hours every week getting chapters ready, from writing the content on paper, to typing it up, editing it, having my friend beta read it, editing it again, finding the GIFs, naming the chapters. It's a lot of work. And I'm starting to feel somewhat overwhelmed and losing my motivation. I have to wonder if it's worth the effort to keep all of these stories going, when I'm not sure if anyone even enjoys them. So I'll be watching my comment sections on the next few chapters to figure out which, if any, of my WIPs to discontinue. If you enjoy this story, please leave me some comments to let me know so I feel like my time is actually appreciated. They really do make a difference in how often I post!
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Eᴘɪsᴏᴅᴇ: Eᴀʀᴛʜ Sᴋɪʟʟs
Stretching out in the sun after crawling from my battered tent, I felt cautiously optimistic for the day ahead.
Since Murphy had ensured knowledge of my removed wristband was incredibly public, some of the tension that I usually felt from the other campers melted away. I suspected that at least some small percentage of this was due to the gossip spreading that I was a doctor, but I was thankful nonetheless. The additional boost of a meal for my trade had certainly helped to brighten my attitude.
As usual, my tent mate was deeply lost to sleep when I rose, leaving me with the freedom to work on the many tasks that remained on my to-do list. The highest priority was to check on Jasper, prompting me to navigate toward the dropship. Whilst I walked, I reminded myself that it was a good sign that I'd been left to sleep, battling down any anxiety that threatened to make itself known.
To my surprise, when I entered the medical space in the ship I found that Monty was absent. Glancing around, I realised that Clarke and Finn had taken over responsibility for watching him and hoped that Monty was managing to get some rest in the meantime.
Leaving the two of them to continue their hushed conversation, I wasted no time in checking Jasper's wounds. With relief, I found that they seemed to be relatively stable considering our lack of supplies. Upon touching his forehead, I noticed that his temperature was slightly raised and grabbed a bottle of water from the nearby table. Once I'd unscrewed the lid, I poured the liquid over his hair in an effort to cool him down.
"How's he doing?" Finn queried, leaning around from my side as I returned the items that I'd used to avoid meeting his eyes.
"Not bad. It's still too early to know." I answered vaguely, causing him and Clarke to sigh restlessly. "Monty and I may need to look into other options."
"He already went to check the woods on the edge of the camp. He couldn't just sit here any longer." Clarke revealed as she rubbed her tired eyes and I gave her a weak smile before heading back outside.
Early morning sunlight dappled over the camp as some people rose for the day. Due to the hour, it remained reasonably quiet as most of our group were still sleeping off the previous night's party. Monty's choice to venture into the woods alone seemed unnecessarily risky, especially whilst there was hardly anyone awake to notice if he hadn't returned.
I knew well enough from my time in the Skybox that there was no worse experience than feeling powerless. Though I completely understood his desire to rescue his friend, especially after an entire night of watching him suffer, I couldn't ignore the fact that he was behaving recklessly.
Wandering toward the edge of our territory, I gazed out into the trees for any sign of my friend. Without knowing how long he'd been gone, it was impossible to tell how far he might've travelled in search of something useful. Even sending a search party would be challenging without at least an awareness of the direction he'd ventured.
Just as anxiety began to overwhelm me, I noticed Monty striding through the grass in the distance. A deep sigh of relief flowed from my chest, halting my impending breakdown in its tracks. The nearer he got, the more I noticed how exhausted he looked. His shoulders were slumped as if he'd lost all hope, hands hidden deeply in his pockets and he kept his gaze focused on the ground as he walked.
Clearing my throat to catch his attention, I made sure that I flashed him a warm smile to welcome him home.
"I found some more aloe further out, but nothing else useful yet. Think we'll have to go deeper into the woods next time." He reported groggily as held up the prickly cuttings and now that he finally met my eyes, I recognised a set of deep dark circles that hinted at his overexertion.
"Oh. I found a few snacks too. Better make sure our MVP stays fed." He added as he handed me a piece of tender fruit, earning a grateful smile.
"Jasper's stable and his wounds are looking good. He's still sleeping. You should get some shut eye too." I suggested gently in the hope that perhaps my prompting might sway him.
The pain in his eyes was familiar to me. It wasn't long ago that I was trapped in a cell, wondering what I had done to deserve such a cruel fate. There was no doubt in my mind that he was torturing himself with the criticism that he should be doing more for his friend and though I sympathised with his distress, I hated seeing him take such little care of himself.
"I'm fine. I'd better relieve Clarke and Finn." He muttered, the slightest smile glazing his lips.
He moved to part from me, but paused to place a hand gently on my arm. After a brief squeeze of appreciation for my concern, he continued toward the dropship to resume his position at Jasper's side. With a pang of the heart, I wished that there was more I could do to help
Unfortunately, I had already stretched my limited option of treatments to its limits. It was a miracle that I'd managed to keep him alive thus far, considering that we had no real medicine or dressings.
Not for the first time, I cursed the Ark's survivalist nature. Staring up at the sky, I knew that the council would be eagerly watching our numbers steadily drop as more of us relinquished our wristbands each day and had to trust that Abby would not be misguided by the data.
My boots crunched on the ground as I approached the dropship. Not long before I reached the door, I noticed Clarke exiting with a defeated expression. She seemed as drained by the responsibility of caring for Jasper as I felt and as our eyes met, I knew that we were the only people in camp that could understand the strain on each of our shoulders. Without a word, she changed course and I could tell that she needed someone to vent to.
"Monty told me what he found. I think he wants to arrange a group to search the woods. Did the two of you think of anything natural we could use?" She asked, clearly still entirely focused on her task and I slowly shook my head at her.
"I'm glad that you're here. I don't know what I'd do if this was all on me. Just because my mom's a doctor, that doesn't make me one. I'm an assistant, at best. I can't even stitch." She admitted as she fought her hands through her knotted hair.
There was an obvious sense of fear in the way that she held herself. Her shoulders were hunched together as if she were braced against something, the sparkle in her eyes had already begun to fade and there was the slightest tremble in her hands. In merely a few days, it seemed that the burden of her heritage was already weighing heavy on her. The entire camp knew that she was the daughter of the Ark's chief physician and that relation came with enormous expectations.
"Wait here." I instructed in a bright voice before I rushed away from her.
Like Monty, due to the lack of adequate supplies I had been feeling somewhat powerless. All of the possible medical knowledge was meaningless without the tools to use it. However, this was an issue that I could easily resolve. It was a task that would be beneficial to both Clarke's confidence and the safety of our camp. After all, the more people that could assist with emergencies, the better.
Grabbing my first aid kit and dagger, I made my way back to Clarke, gesturing for her to follow me to a space where we could sit facing each other. She wore a baffled expression as we settled into place, watching me lay out the supplies so that they were easily reachable. I carefully threaded the makeshift needle with the wire that was substantially thicker than any we would normally use for surgery and handed it to her.
Without a word of explanation, I pulled the dagger from my trousers and only in that moment realised that I might fluster her. Clarke's eyes grew wide, as she glanced down at my exposed skin in alarm. She reached out to disarm me, as if panicked that I was about to cut myself for her to fix, but I simple chuckled under my breath.
Instead, I took the delicate fruit that Monty had kindly gifted to me and cut a deep slice into the side of it. Then, I handed it to Clarke, who studied it in disbelief for a while before she eventually raised a brow at me.
"Are you serious?" She groaned with the slightest hint of amusement in her tone and I nodded.
For a few moments, she stared at me as if she were awaiting a punchline and I patiently waited for her to understand that I was honestly teaching her. Following a deep sigh, she reluctantly began her surgery on the fruit.
Juice ran freely over her hands at her messy technique, stitching as if she were fixing a jumper rather than performing a potentially fatal operation. When she almost dropped the needle, I took the fruit to demonstrate the correct depth and type of stitch, before handing it back for her to replicate. Every now and then, she would glance up at me nervously for approval, just as I had once done with my tutors.
"Your mom taught me this way." I revealed quietly, feeling an ache in my chest as I realised that I missed her as well as my old man. "This skin is just as delicate. It really helps you to get a feel for the real thing."
Clarke paused her task mid line to meet my eyes, both sharing a feeling of sentimentality. It was comforting to have someone that I could share memories of a loved one with. It gave me a connection to home, a reminder that the people I missed weren't just in my mind.
Fortunately, Clarke had never been jealous of my bond with her mother. Even as it developed from a purely working relationship into a general life mentorship, she had accepted that Abby filled a part of my life that had been empty for years.
Until now, we hadn't had the chance to spend much time together. Occasionally, I had worked alongside Clarke in the clinic, but she kept to simple surgeries and nursing duties where we wouldn't have a need to interact. Despite how little we had spoken, having Abby in common gave us the sensation of closeness.
Sniffing as if she were fighting her emotions, she returned to her surgery and I interrupted her a few times to silently point to areas that were pulled too tight, or not fully sealed. It was strangely nostalgic, reminding me of the times that I would spend with the other interns. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help wondering if they'd figured out what had happened to me yet, or if they too believed Cian's lies.
"You're different." Clarke announced, drawing me out of my thoughts and I tilted my head at her cautiously. "You were never this quiet before. You weren't exactly chatty, but you spoke. Even with me, you keep it short now. What changed?" She asked, fixing me with a curious stare and I gulped deeply.
"Everything." I whispered as I realised that this was the first time we'd discussed our imprisonment.
With all the stress of arriving on Earth, I found it hard to talk about the trauma that I'd endured mere weeks ago. There was a sense of pressure to divulge exactly how broken Cian's betrayal had made me feel. I was embarrassed to admit the silence that I'd maintained as a result of misguided loyalty, but even more humiliated that I'd fallen for it.
Clarke sighed as she considered me, clearly taking a moment to re-evaluate her approach as she placed the fruit aside. I found myself tugging on the threads of my jumper again as I strained to think of ways to change the topic, unwilling to delve into any painful details.
"I just don't like the thought of you being alone. There's barely anyone here that you speak to, other than Murphy." She remarked with a grimace and I felt myself growing anxious at the mention of my unpredictable friend. "I can't imagine why you'd want to be friends with that jackass-"
"He's not a jackass." I snapped, my voice emerging more firmly than intended and she raised her brows in surprise. "You just don't know him." I added in a gentler manner, feeling confused myself at how offended I was and she scoffed.
"Maybe so. But what I do know, I don't like." She answered, staring into the distance bitterly.
There was little that I could say in Murphy's defence after the way that he'd behaved around her. In all fairness to her, he'd shown himself to be little more than a bully, picking fights with Wells, enforcing Bellamy's food for wristband trades and generally causing chaos. I sighed as I considered how his behaviour reflected on me.
"Did you ever see your mom treat an infection naturally? Maybe outside of the clinic, for people who couldn't come in. You know, without using up meds, or drawing attention?" I asked in an effort to shift her thoughts from analysing me.
This question seemed to refocus her on Jasper's predicament. I was relieved that she was no longer examining the bond that I shared with Murphy. Though it was no secret that I was close to him, it wasn't exactly a topic that was open for discussion. There was no black and white answer to define us and the emotions that I felt for him seemed almost impossible to put into words.
Gradually, we fell back into a comfortable silence as deep concentration filled her rosy face. I could tell that she was wracking her mind for any shred of information that she might have overheard from her mother and I was content to simply relax at her side. It wasn't long before she was called away into some other camp drama, leaving me to the peace of my own company again.
In my free time, I decided to attempt some repairs on my tent which had already begun to slump from my rather hurried building on our first day. I collected some supplies from the main part of camp in order to kill time, hoping that Murphy would have surfaced for air by now.
The parachutes had slid from the barely standing structure, allowing the blinding sunlight inside. I could only imagine that this was the cause of Murphy's active state, as he rather aggressively fiddled with our flimsy home.
As I got close enough for him to notice my approach, I realised that he was not working on the tent, but rather packing up his clothing. My stomach dropped at the sight, fearful that he had another dangerous outing planned and I raised a brow at him inquisitively.
"I've got some good news for you." He announced cheerfully as I studied him with a sense of dread. "Bellamy's started getting an actual camp built. He's gifting me a tent today as a reward for my insane hunting skills. I'm finally getting out of your hair, as promised." He presented with a smug smile, causing a twinge of upset in my chest that I couldn't quite justify.
"About time. Freeloader." I teased, forcing a positive response to mask my reluctance, but I couldn't contain the awkward movements that my body made to demonstrate my discomfort.
Murphy thinned his eyes at me, as his analytic gaze broke through any defences that I raised. Burying my feelings even deeper, I refused to admit that the thought of him leaving our shared space saddened me and hoped that he wouldn't press me on the matter.
"You know, it's a pretty big tent. Plenty more than enough space for a roommate, if you want to come with me." He offered in a flirtatious tone, stepping slightly closer to invade my space. "I would hate to leave you to get cold at night." He winked with a devious smile that made my stomach fizz and a disbelieving laugh escaped my lips.
"I like my own space, thank you." I remarked, unwilling to admit how truly tempted I was to follow him.
In truth, it was the almost impossible appeal of this suggestion which forced me to deny him. Since we'd arrived on Earth, I'd become more aware of the connection between my lack of self control and time spent with Murphy. Though we'd barely been here a few days, I'd already grown used to the warmth in my tent at night, the sound of his breathing lulling me to sleep. It was a treacherous path to walk and I knew that in order to protect my heart, I needed to reinstate some boundaries.
"Suit yourself." He shrugged in a careless manner, but there was the slightest hint of disappointment in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected my denial. "I'm gonna get this stuff set up in my new digs, then I'll be heading out. Bellamy wants us to get a lay of the land, maybe find some food. Are you gonna be alright in camp alone?" He enquired, seeming as if he were hopeful for any confirmation that I needed him, but I automatically nodded.
With a defeated sigh, he parted from me to seek out his own home. Desperate to prevent myself from wallowing in my loneliness, I busied myself on repairing the poor excuse for accommodations before it grew dark. As thoughts raced through my mind, I battled to remain focused on the task at hand.
A small, niggling voice reminded me of the intense fear that'd felt only the day before, when Murphy had taken hours to return. Without him to protect me, I'd felt vulnerable in a way that was horribly unsettling. Though the thought of leaving the camp filled me with terror, I couldn't deny that I despised simply waiting for his return and feeling as if I had no impact on his safety. At least if I was with him, I could treat him if he got hurt, or keep him from taking any intense risks.
Before I even realised what I was doing, my feet carried me through camp in a determined march. It took a while for me to seek out Murphy's new tent and the moment that I spotted him, I strode over to plant myself in front of him stubbornly.
"I'm coming with you." I blurted, causing him to startle from my sudden voice and whip around to view me with confusion. "On the hunt. I don't want to be left behind again." I added, my fingers finding the loose threads in my sleeves, twirling them around nervously.
"You sure you want to do that, Sunshine?" He queried doubtfully whilst I chewed on my lip. "You might have to kill something fluffy and cute." He pointed out with a mocking sneer and I nodded fervently in response. "I don't know. I can't imagine you hunting little forest creatures. It would be like turning on your own." He teased with a wink and I crossed my arms at him in annoyance.
"I can hunt, Murphy." I insisted, causing him to quirk a brow at me in disbelief. "I know your game. You just don't want to get beaten by a girl." I suggested, using my expert knowledge of him to present bait that I knew his ego would be unable to resist.
"Alright. You're on." He conceded, smiling mischievously. "I'll let Bellamy know. Get yourself a pack. We'll be heading out soon." He instructed and I turned on my heel before he could change his mind, keen to prepare for the spontaneous decision that I'd just made.
Despite my reservations, I didn't regret my request. I understood that I needed to earn my place here and though it would've been easy to simply remain in the dropship patching people up when necessary, I knew that contributing to the tasks that required us to leave camp would gain more respect. Besides, I felt safer remaining at Murphy's side than taking my chances with the people here.
"I hear you're coming with us."
Bellamy's voice startled me as I busied myself with packing up a plentiful amount of medical supplies in case of emergency. I glanced over my shoulder to find him observing me with curiosity dancing in his eyes.
"Didn't think you had it in you, Bambi." He added playfully and I chewed on my lips, uncomfortable with him addressing me in this way.
Whilst I hadn't commented on Murphy's playful comparison of me to a forest critter, I didn't appreciate the idea that Bellamy also viewed me in such a manner. It implied that I was defenceless, some delicate prey that would be easily captured. This impression was likely my own fault for avoiding ever speaking around him, but the longer that I'd avoided conversation with Bellamy, the bigger an issue it became in my mind.
Inwardly, I kicked myself for forgetting to check who had been assigned to the outing. In all honesty, I knew that if I had been told that Bellamy was joining the group rather than simply ordering them to work as usual, I might have changed my mind. It would be challenging for me to remain silent for the entirety of our trip. Even the thought of addressing him filled me with terror now, as if there was an invisible pressure on me every time that he was around.
"Don't call her that." Zoey chimed in, scolding Bellamy with an obvious familiarity as she sauntered over to his side.
"I'm just teasing. She's so quiet, reminds me of a deer in headlights." He drawled defensively
It was fascinating to notice that he didn't react to her criticism with aggression, as he did to the majority of the camp. Whatever the nature of their history, it seemed that her friendship with Octavia had afforded her some leniency from our otherwise hot-headed leader.
"She talks, Bellamy." Zoey insisted on my behalf, glancing over at me apologetically, but he simply crossed his arms and flashed her a sceptical expression. "Just because she doesn't talk to you, it doesn't make her a mute. Not every woman needs to fall at your feet, you know." She added pointedly, whilst he rolled his eyes in frustration.
"It's not only me, Zee. She doesn't speak to Monroe, or Roma, or Atom either. She didn't even speak to Octavia when she treated her. I've literally never seen her speak to anyone but you." Bellamy argued impatiently, clearly displeased with her accusation that I'd singled him out.
"Well you can't really blame her. You're kind of a dick and I am amazing. Besides, she talks to Finn." Zoey stated, crossing her arms stubbornly as if she'd just dropped a bombshell.
Bellamy turned to face me, his usually smug features filled with deep offence and I suspected that it had only just occurred to him that my silence might actually be specific to him. Unable to provide any explanation that he would be pleased to hear, I simply shrugged awkwardly under the power of his gaze.
"Plus, she's spoken to Octavia since. I've heard her. She spends a lot of time talking to Clarke, too. There's no one she talks to as much as Murphy though." Zoey added idly, causing him to stare between the two of us rapidly.
It was as if he suspected that we were playing a prank on him. The very concept that I could have chosen someone as aggressive as Murphy over him didn't seem to process within his arrogant mind. When neither of us responded with confirmation that this was a lie, he couldn't contain his shock.
"Murphy?! Bullshit." He exclaimed, causing me to flinch from the sound and she huffed at him in annoyance for his childish outburst. "There's no way that she talks to Murphy. Even Mbege hasn't ever heard it." He clarified, the statement causing a knot in my stomach as I wondered exactly what Murphy said about me.
"I've heard it." She insisted, staring him down stubbornly. "I don't know what else to tell you, Bel. It sounds to me like you're the problem." She remarked tauntingly and after spending a few more moments staring at me in disbelief, he stomped away.
Zoey chuckled under her breath, seeming thoroughly satisfied with herself for getting under his skin. Her responses had been so quick witted that I suspected this wasn't her first attempt at engineering a reaction. I had to assume this was simply the nature of their friendship.
With a quiet chuckle under my breath, I sealed the pack and secured it to my side for the journey, when Zoey turned her attention to me.
"Don't let him bully you. He might play the tough guy, but once you get to know him, he's really a big teddy bear." She revealed with a reassuring smile and I sighed, somewhat relieved to know that Bellamy perhaps wasn't as dangerous as I viewed him to be. "If you don't feel comfortable speaking to him yet, don't rush, though. It's kinda fun watching him squirm." She winked and I shook my head at her with a subtle smile.
Over her shoulder, I noticed that Murphy was waving at me from the edge of camp and I gestured goodbye to Zoey, before rushing over to join him. As I neared, I noticed that he wasn't alone. A small gathering of people stood around him, each seeming as if they were preparing to leave and I figured that they must be the rest of the group.
"Hey. You ready to go?" He questioned and I nodded nervously. "You're with me, Miller, Jones and McIntyre." He explained, prompting a small boost of confidence at the confirmation that we would remain together.
"Alright. Listen up." Bellamy announced as he strode over with Monty in tow. "We're doing reconnaissance of the immediate area today. Mbege, Monroe and Connor, you're with me. Monty will join us as our Farm expert to search for anything edible, or any medical herbs. Cassidy will do the same for the other team. Atom, you're in charge of camp while I'm gone. Let's move out!" He ordered, as our two groups departed in opposite directions.
Navigating through the trees and thick foliage, I had to gulp down my anxiety as I strained to keep myself from obsessing over the danger I was in. In only our first day, Jasper had been almost killed by some mysterious enemy.
Regardless of our undeniable need for food and other resources, I couldn't help feeling as if we were taking an enormous risk by being out here with little more than a few flimsy daggers to protect us.
Whilst the others chatted idly, I was careful to remain close to Murphy's side, almost forgetting that I was meant to be on the lookout for anything edible. Each time that I pulled myself from scanning the distance in terror, I checked my surroundings for anything that we could use to treat Jasper, forcing myself to trust the others to manage our security.
It was easy to forget to appreciate the beauty of our environment and in our absence from the hustle and bustle of camp, I found that I began to notice it again. A soft breeze rustled the branches around us, cooling my skin slightly as it lapped at my face. Faint birdsong could be heard from above and the smell of nature had not yet lost its appeal for me.
Basking in the wonder of it all, I hardly noticed that we were steadily increasing the incline of our walk, occasionally scooping up berries or nuts that I recognised along the way. It was an undoubtedly stark contrast to the life that we had left behind barely days ago and at this moment, my memories of the Ark as if they were decades past..
Unsteady ground drew my focus back into the moment as I had to concentrate on my steps, noticing that we were nearing the edge of a cliff. As I brought my attention back into the present, the breath-taking view around us made all of the danger worthwhile.
The forest stretched on for as far as the eye could see, providing us with the illusion that we were gliding above the tops of the trees. Their rich green clashed beautifully against the dreamy colours of the afternoon sky. It was the kind of picturesque scene that we would always have imagined of Earth, except now we were living it.
Each member of our group paused to soak it in, sharing the bizarre sense of freedom that was unfamiliar to each of us. It was a bittersweet reminder of how vast this new world was in comparison to our tiny population, but also of the challenges that lay ahead of us.
The cracking of branches from behind caused us to grow tense and whilst I became frozen to the spot in fear, the other four whipped around with their weapons readily held in front of them.
Murphy took a subtle step to the side to block me from view, as if shielding me from any possible threat. Miller and Jones cautiously moved forward to investigate, creeping through the heavy foliage with more courage than I could ever hope to possess and I remained hidden behind Murphy with my heart hammering in my chest.
A panicked cry broke through the air as Jones wailed in pain, announcing some kind of conflict whilst Miller turned back to face us, calling out for help. McIntyre was the first to rush toward them, but Murphy paused to warn me not to move before he followed. Together, they marched ahead to investigate the issue, leaving me trembling by the cliff edge.
They had barely reached the area where Jones was trapped when a large crash interrupted them, causing his screaming to intensify into desperate wails. I leaned around to discover that he seemed to have his leg caught in some kind of booby trap. It was hidden amongst the overgrowth, but from the blood that soaked his trousers, it was obvious that it had cut him deeply. The group pulled against it, attempting to trigger some kind of release, when Murphy stepped back to call to me.
"Think we're gonna need a medic over here, Cas."
With a deep sigh, I took a few nervous steps toward them. There was a loud crunch, followed by yelping from Harper and Miller as they jumped back to avoid some additional traps that seemed to have been triggered by the device when it slammed open.
I couldn't make out exactly what tore through the air toward us, instead attempting to dive out of the way before it could strike me. The sharp edge of the object ripped across the skin on my back, causing a hot rush of blood to soak through my clothes and I stumbled backward in shock. Though I strained to stabilise myself, the ground beneath me continued to shift and I realised several moments too late that I was falling.
Gravel slid under my feet as I slid toward the edge of the cliff, feeling my boots descend into the air. I desperately clawed at anything that I could to rescue myself, but my hands grazed helplessly over the grass and weeds as I yelped in panic. My cries echoed around the deep valley below, almost as if they were mocking me for my fear.
At the last possible moment I caught a root on the edge of the terrain as my body skidded over the precipice, leaving only my arms still connected to any kind of ground. Clinging to the flaking branch with all of the strength that I could muster, I found myself swinging over a sheer drop.
My knuckles turned white from pressure, but the fresh wound on my back drained my strength. Sweat coated my palms, causing them to slide down the brittle remains of the dried plant that was the only thing standing between me and certain death, and I manically kicked my legs in a bid to find anything else to balance on.
In a heart stopping moment, I felt my hands slip from my anchor. My body became weightless as I glided through the air, horror forming a vice grip on my chest, when another hand snatched my wrist. A terrified scream escaped my lips and I stared up to find Murphy dangling himself over the ridge, gripping onto my arm tightly.
"I got you, Sunshine." He yelled, somehow still managing a smile despite the severity of the situation. "Come on. Pull yourself up!"
Taking a deep breath to control my nerves, I managed to concentrate enough to find a foothold that allowed me to push myself just enough for Murphy to reach my shoulders. The moment that he made contact with them, he hauled me upward with determination.
In the first instant that I returned to solid ground I flopped gracelessly atop of him. My shaking hands latched onto him as if he were the air that I needed to breathe, gasping to manage my shock as I battled to pull myself back from the depths of terror that I'd just experienced.
"You know, when I pictured us panting together, this is not what I imagined." He wheezed, seeming utterly exhausted too as I rested my head on his chest for comfort.
"Give it a rest." I scolded in a rasping voice, managing little more than a feeble slap to his side.
After a few moments of recovery, he straightened up to examine me, confirming that I was alright before he glanced over his shoulder to check on everyone else. McIntyre and Miller had Jones held between them as they assisted him to walk over to us, his trousers covered with blood. I noticed that Miller's hands were also badly injured, likely from disengaging the trap and sat up to dig through my pack for medical supplies.
"We can't do that here. We're too exposed." Murphy exclaimed, pausing me in my tracks. "Jones, think you can make it back to camp?" He queried with a groan as he got to his feet, then immediately stooped to assist me.
"We'll manage. Don't have much choice." He croaked, followed by a hiss of pain as he attempted to straighten up.
"Good. If we get ambushed in this state, we're screwed. Move it." Murphy ordered, squaring his shoulders as he took on a guard mentality.
Thankfully, the others wasted no time in following the command, with Miller and McIntyre managing Jones with his arms over their shoulders. Their shared movement was slow, but it was better than waiting to be picked off by whoever had set the traps.
After a few steps, Murphy took the opportunity to glance back at me suspiciously.
"Stay where I can see you." He stated as he ushered me in front of him. "And next time, maybe wait until we have a parachute before you dive into extreme sports, huh?"