It didn't take long for rumours to circulate.
Second child. Under the floor. Hidden. Secret.
Octavia Blake.
Nora felt so stupid that she hadn't caught on, that she had just assumed she was Bellamy's girlfriend. But how was she to know? It had been a secret for almost 16 years. No one had a second child on the Ark; it was illegal. No one had a brother or sister.
Except Bellamy Blake.
She hadn't seen him since they all got pushed out of the room. She couldn't get the girls panicked eyes from her mind.
Her mind was racing all night and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep or rest. When she returned to the Children's centre, she couldn't think straight, but had tried to tell Gwen the entire story over a hot drink.
She had so questions, but knew now probably wasn't the best time to start that verbal diarrhoea on Bellamy; he had bigger problems at hand. The council knew his secret and she didn't know what was set to happen next. Would he be floated? Would his sister and mother be floated too? She didn't know about his father and neither did Bellamy; he had not been in his life at all.
Throughout the night, she stayed awake, her mind a mess of thoughts, questions and worries. But before she could think twice, she sprung up and reached for her loose jacket, as a cosy blanket to wrap around herself. She left a note for Gwen, sparing a quick look at Jimmy and Kyra before unlocking the doors and slipping out. She relocked the doors again and made quick movements for Bellamy's home near Farm Station. It was only a short walk from Mecha, with it being the neighbouring station but still, dread filled her stomach. She didn't know whether he was there, if his sister was there, she didn't know if she would find anything. But she just felt the need to be there for him, to see if she could help in anyway.
But when she finally navigated herself there, there was no reply to her knocks. She banged on the door but still nothing. "Bellamy?" She asked, hoping if he was there, he would hear her. But nothing happened and the door remained shut.
With her shoulders dropping and her heart sinking, she turned around and walked to hers and Jimmy's spot to watch the moon for the rest of the night with only her blanket to keep her warm. It was where she went to think when she needed a quiet moment. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried not to entertain the thought that Bellamy and his family had already been floated. It made her sick just to think about it.
"Nora?"
At the mere mention of her name, she spun around and didn't register the sound of the voice, but was hopeful it was the eldest Blake sibling.
But it wasn't. Jones, his friend, came towards her, dressed in his cadet uniform and with his weapon at his side.
"Hi." She spoke softly, stepping closer to him and away from her perch beside the window.
"I just heard. Have you seen him?"
She shook her head, gone were the thoughts that Jones would have seen him. "I saw it though; I was there when they got found. He took her to the dance. I thought she was his girlfriend!"
"You didn't know?"
"No, did you?"
"No. I thought you might have though because you two were close."
Nora just shook her head. She swallowed the lump in her throat before asking the dreaded question, "will they float him?"
Jones silence said it all. "I-I don't know."
She thought of the innocent young woman, the cadet and their mother. A family. The biggest the new generation on the Ark has ever known, and this would be their demise. Octavia, the girl would be floated for just being born, something she had no control over, or a choice. Why should she be to blame in all of this? It wasn't fair.
But then that left their mother. Was she to blame? Nora didn't think so. Albeit she knew the rules of the Ark, however cruel and harsh they were. They were put in place to allow the people of the Ark to live longer, to make their supplies last longer and the quality of life better. But she hadn't followed that rule like everyone else.
Bellamy had kept this a secret his entire life. He would be classified as an accessory to the crime. He hid Octavia along with his mother, kept her from the outside world and protected her from intruders. For nearly sixteen years people were saying she was hidden away in their home.
Nora thought back to moments when she had visited Bellamy at his home, his mom always wary of the redhead and distant with her. She always assumed she just didn't like her, but it probably had something to do with her daughter she was hiding inside. The woman wondered how they had kept Octavia a secret when she was younger and would cry. She knew first-hand how hard it had been to calm some of the orphaned babies. But they had coped, eventually.
"I'm still on patrol, but I'll keep you updated if you hear anything." Jones brought her back, his words making her look up at him. "You come find me if you hear anything?"
She nodded, numbly. "Of course." He squeezed her shoulder before jogging down the rest of the corridor and out of her sight.
The walk back to the children's centre was quiet and eerie. Not a soul was up and walking on the Ark except for the odd guard. Every flash of a black uniform that came into her line of sight, she felt her heart beat faster at the thought of it being Bellamy. But they never were.
The longer it went without seeing or hearing from him, she automatically feared the worst.
Pushing the door to the centre open, and locking it behind her, the children were all still asleep but Gwen was awake, talking into a phone to someone. She promptly hung up, saying goodbyes, as she spotted Nora walk through. The kids would be awake soon, completely oblivious to the commotion on the Ark and eager to have breakfast.
"Abby needs an urgent representative for a minor."
Nora's eye opened wider, "Is it Octavia Blake?" She saw the muscles in Gwen's jaw clench and release, before nodding. "I'll leave now."
"Are you sure you don't want me to take this one? Maybe you're a bit too close to it all."
"No, I'll do it. I'll go find Abby now." Nora nodded. "Did she say anything else?"
"Just that the girl has a right to a representative and they aren't sure of her mental state."
"You gonna be okay here?"
Gwen gave her a soft smile, "I'll be fine, Belle will be here in a little while; I've asked her to come in." The redhead nodded to the woman before walking back out of the centre and navigating to med bay. Abby greeted her by the doors while a digital display in hand. The older woman's eyes flitted over Nora before reluctantly handing over the display with the file notes on.
"If you don't want to do this, I will understand. "
Nora shook her head, her eyes scanning over the young girl's file. "No, I need to do this for Bellamy." Her golden eyes settled on her last name, BLAKE. She would find a way to save them. She had to.
The holding cells in lockup were a familiar place for Nora and Abby. They were both here just here last week and it seemed like a new young adult was getting arrested every other day now.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, the doors slid shut behind them and locked in place. Walking down the corridor, they were stopped at the door to a cell. Taking one last deep breath, the guard unlocked the door, allowing them to follow in after him. The once bright green eyes of Octavia were now a dull green, her lips pressed together in a hard line and her cheeks red. Nora would guess that the young woman had been crying and understandably so. As she sat on the hard bed, her arms were wrapped around her legs tightly and her face was full of fear as she spotted the guard.
But as her focus shifted, her eyes found Nora's and they relaxed ever so slightly.
"I'll take it from here, Spence." Abby nodded to the guard, before he offered a smile and a nod before standing outside the door.
"Are you okay?" Nora asks as soon as the door closes, taking a step closer to her. She saw her chin wobble and Nora's heart ached for the younger woman. Handing the digital device to Abby, she took another step forward to her. "I'm Nora, remember me?"
"Yeah." A small voice spoke, her eyes fixed on the redhead. "Bellamy told me about you."
She tried to fight down the little spark that lit up when his sister said that. He talks about me, huh? That wasn't important right now, that could wait.
"And you're Octavia?" The brunette nodded. "Nice to meet you." Hesitantly, she sat down on the bed beside her, while Abby moved closer. "This is Abby, she's sorta the head doctor here." Nora saw her body freeze up. "She's just here to make sure you're okay. She doesn't work for the guards or Shumway." Nora's eyes floated up to where the doctor stood, "she's good, you can trust her."
Silence again overtook the small cell, but both Nora and Abby knew the woman would need time to adjust. She had only ever known her brother and mother, she hadn't socialised with anyone else so she was bound to be wary of others.
"Bell trusts you."
A smile came to rest on the redheads lips. "I trust him too, and I don't trust many on the Ark."
Green eyes flickered over Nora, they could both see the mental debate going on in her head. "I just wanted to see the Ark."
"That's understandable."
"That's all I wanted. Bell—h-he tried to do that for me. He said it would be safe. But I couldn't get home, I didn't know the way. Now mom's gonna be floated and Bellamy too, and me..."
"We'll try and help you all." Hazel eyes met green ones and the brunette visibly relaxed again as Nora reached her hand out, palm up and open. Octavia looked down at the hand before slowly extending her own one out and placing it in the woman's. Nora squeezed it instantly. "We are going to try our best to process an appeal with the council. I can't promise anything, but we are going to try."
Octavia gulped, a lone tear slipping down her cheek. "Can I get out of here?"
"We hope so." Abby spoke, her voice holding that soft, mother-like quality.
"Can I see Bellamy?"
Nora sucked her lips in, trying to choose her words wisely. "I can't promise that right now, but I'll try and let you see your brother again. I really will. I haven't seen him yet though."
"He's going to the box." Octavia frowned, trying to remember what the guards had said as they ordered them apart. "The sky box! Is that alright there?"
Her heart clenched at the mention of the skybox. Anyone who was older than 18 and sent there was pretty much a guarantee they would be floated in the next couple of days after sentencing. She looked over to Abby, "we'll find out for you, okay?"
Octavia just nodded, it was best she didn't know what the skybox meant for her brother. If you were under 18, it meant you were alone, no socialisation, no contact with others, you were just alone. But for anyone older it held a different fate.
"Nora." Abby's soft voice spoke again, they shared a look before Nora nodded. "Octavia, Abby needs to do a physical examination on you." She felt the brunette squeeze her hand before pulling it back into her body. "It's nothing invasive, don't worry, it's just to check your general health and that you're okay. She won't hurt you."
Octavia looked at Nora, her gaze not moving, almost like she was checking her eyes to see if she were lying or not.
"I'll be here too and no guards are allowed in during a physical. It's just a health check."
"My mom and Bell looked after me, I'm okay."
"I know they would, it's just procedure with any minor. Is that alright?"
There was another pause as Octavia considered what Nora was saying. Then slowly, her tightly constricted body started to unravel, and her body relaxed on the bed she was sat on. Nora nodded to Abby, who then she approached the young woman with a bag in hand. One by one, Doctor Griffin carried out the various tests: eyesight, teeth, height, weight, blood pressure... with every one, Abby made notes on the display. Nora stayed by her side, not moving and giving the woman the comfort she needed.
Every so often, Octavia would look over to her and after the final test, she gave the redhead a smile. The corners of her lips pulled up slightly into a soft smile and straight away, Nora saw the similarities between Octavia and Bellamy.
As Abby announced she was finished, she returned to the side of the room to finish her analysis on the woman. The doctor watched closely as she spoke softly to Nora, her voice was quiet and understandably she was nervous and anxious.
A knock to the door broke the two woman apart, as the guard announced their time was up. Had it been that long already? Nora wondered, sparing a glance down to Octavia as she stood up.
"You're leaving?"
"We have to."
"Please don't leave me alone here. I don't want to be alone." Octavia stood up, her eyes pleading for Nora to stay with her. "Please."
"I will be back, don't worry."
"You don't know that."
"I will." She assured her. She would find a way. "I promise you, I will be back to see you today." Without a second to think about it, she reached forward and pulled the woman in for a tight hug. "In the meantime I'll find out about Bellamy for you." She said as she gave her a squeeze. Octavia held onto to her tightly.
"Please don't let him get floated. I know he thinks this is his fault."
"He will just be worried about you and your mom."
"I just wanted to see the Ark and space."
"And you'll see it again. We'll figure this out." Rubbing her back, Nora stepped back and gave the young woman a firm nod and a soft smile. "I'll see you later?"
"Okay."
"Don't be afraid."
Octavia shook her head, her green eyes already filling up with tears again. "I'm not afraid."
Another nod and Abby and Nora left the cell, watching as the guard locked it behind them. As they followed after the older guard, the redhead spoke up. "Do you know where Bellamy Blake is being held?"
Spence froze, turning to look at her with a firm look. "I can't disclose that information to you."
"He needs a medical check too." Abby spoke up, glancing down at her display nonchalantly. "He was involved in an altercation with Lieutenant Shumway, wasn't he?"
The women could see the guard debating his options, before nodding. "Follow me."
Nora breathed a sigh of relief and gave Nora a smile. Stepping away from the juvenile section of lockup, they rose up a level and Nora kept her eyes straight ahead, not looking in the small glass windows of each cell. They slowed to a stop beside a cell, the guard unlocked it as the women stepped closer.
"He isn't a minor, only Griffin can see him."
Nora's heart sank. "I'll need her assistance, Spence. Can't do a full medical on my own."
The guard clenched his jaw, "five minutes."
Releasing the breath she held in, they stepped inside the cell to see a pacing Bellamy. As the guard closed the door behind them, Nora surged forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly. She felt Bellamy's face press into her neck and his arms wrap around her, one hand reaching up to cradle the back of her head. Nora squeezed him tightly with all the power she could possess.
"She's okay. We've seen Octavia."
A sigh left his body and he squeezed her tighter. "Thank you."
Her arms slowly dropped down to her side, looking up at his sad dark eyes. "She's in a holding cell in lock up until they decide what to do."
Abby spared a glance through the glass window to see Spence cast a look inside, "Let's make this look as realistic as possible with a medical check." She excused, parting the two of them and stepping towards the cadet. Nora stood to the side, her eyes firmly on Bellamy.
"Any word on my mom?"
Nora shook her head solemnly, "Sorry. I went by your place earlier and there was no one there."
"Shit." Bellamy cursed under his breath. "She wasn't there but I doubt she would have gone back there."
"Where was she?"
He rolled his eyes, "She was out at the time somewhere, that's how I snuck O out."
Abby shined a light in his eyes, raising a finger for his eyes to follow. "They will likely be at council later today."
"Will you be there?"
"Yes." Abby answered the redhead.
"How likely is it that they will spare Octavia? She's barely 16."
Silence filled the room as Bellamy stared hard at the doctor. "I will do my best. She is fit and healthy." Her eyes swayed to Bellamy's, "you did a good job raising her."
His jaw clenched, his eyes conflicted at her words. Nora knew there was more to it, and it started with him placing this blame on himself. It was a heavy burden to bear, especially for someone as strong as him.
"Can you see if they would accept her living in the Children's Centre?"
"It is a worthwhile suggestion, Nora. She could socialise with others there in a controlled environment. It would be good for her development." Bellamy looked hopeful, but Nora knew he was ready to break. "I'll see what I can do." Abby nodded, packing her things away. "But for now, we need to go before they realise we're in here."
Looking back at Bellamy, Nora felt her heart sink. He would be alone again; just him and his thoughts. She didn't know what his fate held. Would he be spared? Would he be floated? She hated to think about it. Sucking her lips in, she held back the tears over whether she would see him again. She tried to imagine that she would. "I'll see you soon." Nora spoke, taking another step closer to him before wrapping her arms around his middle and gripping his black cadet jacket tight. Pressing a cheek into his chest, his familiar musky scent hit her senses and she tried to breathe in as much of it as possible.
Bellamy kissed the crown of her head as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Thank you." He whispered into her hair.
Nora gave him a smile as they parted and Abby led the way to the door.
"If you see Octavia, tell her I love her and I'm sorry." Nora felt her heart break when she saw the lost look in his eyes.
"I will. See you soon." Following the doctor, the guard shut and locked the door behind them.
"Just some mild bruising, he should be fine with no further treatment." Abby said to the guard as they exited lock up. Nora was silent the whole walk back to med bay, she didn't know what to do now. Would they just wait for sentencing? What would happen?
"I'm needed at the council." Doctor Griffin spoke and she just nodded solemnly. "Come back to med bay in a few hours, I'm sure a decision will have been reached by then." Nora went to open her mouth to talk again, but Abby beat her to it. "Yes, I will reason with them. I will try and get them to spare Octavia. I'm not so certain about their mother, Aurora knowingly went into this. Bellamy's future is uncertain too."
She didn't have any words. Anything could happen to the Blake family. The council could decide to float them all for treason. The justice system on the Ark was unfair, unfavourable and often just plain cruel. Octavia was innocent in all of this, she didn't ask to be born. But then that left Aurora and Bellamy. She didn't know how she would handle Bellamy being floated. They hadn't even said goodbyes. Would there be a chance to?
"How much notice will there be if they decide to float them?"
"It's still early morning, so I would guess by this evening."
"Can you let me know?"
Abby nodded, "I'll come find you as soon as I know the verdict. Just get some rest before then please?" She cast her mothering glance over her, her eyebrows raised in a soft plead.
"I'll try." Nora agreed, nodding before turning away from med bay. She would make a small stop to find Jones to give him an update before returning to the children's centre. She hoped Jimmy or Kyra would take her mind off things and bring a little bit of joy to her day.
A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed the last chapter, every single of them put a big ol' goofy smile on my face. I have been waiting to write a proper Nora/Octavia scene for SO LONG. Excited to more of them to come… Next chapter will be the verdict!
