Chapter Two: He Wasn't The Last Grounder

When Bellamy finally walked into the drop ship I was still awake, something he half expected. He stood in the entrance and stared at me. "I take it you want to talk to me?"

"How'd you guess." I stood up and grabbed his arm as I walked by. Bellamy had never been much of an arguer. I always did most of the talking and he would listen and agree in the end, but he had never done something this stupid before.

I dragged him behind a bunch of trees and faced away from him. "Are you an idiot?"

I could hear him scoff. "It had to be done."

I turned around and used all my strength to push him backwards. Even with all my strength it just caused him to wobble a little bit. "What did you do that was so bad? What could you possible have done that made them want to kill you on sight?"

Bellamy looked down at the ground and looked back up at me. "Don't worry about it."

I had never seen him act this stubborn before. "Tell me Bellamy."

"No."

"We've been doing this for six years now and you've always told me everything."

"You don't need to know Skylar."

"Bellamy, we may have been separated for a year now because I was in the sky box but that doesn't mean-"

He cut me off. "I shot the Chancellor."

I stopped everything. How could he have done something that idiotic? "How could you have been so reckless? Have you completely lost your mind?" He didn't let me finish my rant. He grabbed my arm so I couldn't move, but I broke my grasp.

"I haven't lost my mind. I did it for you. I couldn't let you and Octavia come down here by yourselves. I got some intel that they were putting the two of you on the drop ship."'

"That's not an excuse Bellamy."

"I'm not trying to make excuses Skylar. I couldn't lose you. I already felt like I lost you when you went inside."

"Why would you think that you lost me?"

Bellamy had never been the best with his feelings. The only people he really opened up to were Octavia and I after his mother had been floated.

When he said nothing I spoke again. "And how could you put that on me?"

"I'm not putting it on you Skylar, but you're the one that made the choice."

"Excuse me? Made the choice?"

"You told them that you were younger than Murphy, you lied, it's your fault that you

got locked up. You're lucky they didn't immediately float you."

"I did it because he's my little brother. If you had a chance to do it for Octavia you would have done it."

"And guess what, you should have just let him go, he ended up there anyways!"

I had had enough. He had never done anything like this before.

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. As soon as my hand was off his face he had my wrist in his hand. He pulled me into him and kissed me. I should have known he would do something like this. He spun me around and pushed me up against the tree behind me, trying to get my pants off already.

There was some commotion coming from outside the drop ship. Bellamy and I had wandered our way back at some point during the night. Bellamy was up as soon as he heard it starting, he didn't even bother to put his shirt on first. He heard wells talking before I did. As he walked slowly down the ramp he spoke. "You still don't get it do you, Chancellor. This is home now. Your father's rules no longer apply." He snatched a shirt out of his hand and Wells lunged at him. The young man that had been walking around with my brother stopped Wells and finally had a name. "Oh, no, no, Atom. Hold up."

Bellamy walked close to him. "You want it back, take it."

Wells threw all the clothes he had in his hand on the ground. "Is this what you want? Chaos?"

Bellamy started to put the shirt on. "What's wrong with a little chaos?"

Suddenly a girl started screaming in the distance and Bellamy and Wells took off at a run. When we got over to where it was coming from we saw my brother standing over the fire, trying to force a young girl to take off her bracelet. When we were in eye sight of him Murphy looked up at us. "Bellamy, check it out." He was always trying to please Bellamy. He was the little brother that always wanted to please the big sister's boyfriend. "We want the Ark to think that the ground is killing us, right? Figure it'll look better if we suffer a little bit first."

"Let her go." Wells ran over and pushed Murphy to the ground, letting the girl loose. He turned back around and turned to Bellamy. "You can stop this."

Bellamy gave him a glare. "Stop this? I'm just getting started."

Bellamy let go of the back of my jacket and I walked forward and shoved Wells backwards, sending him falling to the ground. Bellamy grabbed my arm and pulled me backwards, keeping me from jumping on him and punching him. Once Murphy saw Wells get back to his feet he punched him across the face, sending him stumbling backwards.

Everyone chanted as the two of them rolled around on the ground. When Wells got the upper hand and repeatedly began to punch Murphy. Bellamy was still holding me back as I tried to get away and help my brother. When I realized that he wasn't going to let go I turned around to look at him. "Bellamy, do something."

"Murphy's strong, he can handle this."

Wells got up off of Murphy and left him laying on the ground. "Don't you see that you can't control this?"

Suddenly Murphy got back up and took his knife out of his pocket, walking toward him. ":You're dead."

Bellamy let me go and I thought he was finally going to intervene. "Wait." He held his hand out to Murphy. He looked over at Wells and handed him his own knife. "Fair fight."

My heart started to pound out of my chest as Bellamy strolled back over to me, holding me back again. As they started to go around Murphy swung. "This is for our father." Suddenly Wells got the upper hand again and turned Murphy around, holding the knife to his throat.

My heart nearly came up through my mouth. "JOHN!" I fought and fought against Bellamy.

Wells looked at Murphy. "Drop it."

Suddenly Clarke and Finn came out of the woods. "Wells! Let him go." She jumped down and walked over to him.

Wells threw Murphy onto the ground and Bellamy finally let me go, realizing right after he did it that it was a bad idea. I ran at Wells and Finn jumped in between us, grabbing me and lowering me to the ground. Bellamy rushed at him and Finn jumped out of the way, not wanting to get caught in his grip.

Murphy stood back up and rushed at Wells. Bellamy grabbed the front of his jacket, stopping him all together. "Enough Murphy."

When Bellamy turned around he saw Octavia being brought down the hill, helped by Monty. "Octavia, are you alright." He ran to her and picked her up, helping her off the hill.

Octavia looked over at him. "Yeah, I'm fine Bell."

Bellamy looked over at Clarke. "Where's the food?"

Finn sat down on a rock. "We didn't make it to Mount Weather."

"What the hell happened out there?"

Clarke looked a little scared. "We were attacked."

Wells instantly looked at her. "Attacked by what?"

Finn looked around and everyone. "Not what. Who. It turns out, when the last man from the ground died on the Ark, he wasn't the last Grounder.:"

Everyone stared dumbfounded, some gasping. Clarke looked around at everyone. "It's true. Everything we thought we knew about the ground is wrong. There are people here, survivors." Bellamy pulled Octavia in on one shoulder and me in the other. "The good news is, that means we can survive. Radiation won't kill us."

Finn finished what she was saying. "The bad news is the Grounders will."

Wells looked around. "Where's the kid with the goggles?"

Clarke's face dropped. "Jasper was hit. They took him." She grabbed Wells' wrist. "Where is you wristband?"

Wells motioned to Bellamy. "Ask him."

Clarke looked angrily at Bellamy. "How many?"

My brother walked over to me and stole me from Bellamy's arm. "Twenty-four and counting."

Clarke went off. "You idiots. Life support on the Ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here. They need to know the ground is survivable again, and we need their help against whoever is out there. If you take off your wristbands, you're not just killing them. You're killing us!"

Bellamy walked into the middle of everyone. "We're stronger than you think. Don't listen to her. She's one of the privileged. If they come down, she'll have it good. How many of you can say the same? We can take care of ourselves." He had always talked with his hands. He looked around at everyone. "That wristband on your arm? It makes you a prisoner. We are not prisoners anymore. They say they'll forgive your crimes. I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The Grounders should worry about us!" Everyone began to clap and cheer.

Clarke shook her head and walked away from the group.

Bellamy walked over to me and put his hands on my waist. He kissed my lips and I smiled at him. "My king." He kissed my forehead and looked over at Octavia, smiling.

Bellamy sat Octavia down on a stump by the fire pit and I got to work cleaning up and bandaging up her leg. Of course he was full of questions. "What the hell was it?

Octavia winced as I touched her leg. "I don't know. The others said it looked like a giant snake."

I took a piece of fabric and started to tie it around her wound. "You could have been killed O."

As I finished Clarke came over. "And she would have been if Jasper hadn't jumped in and pulled her out."

Wells was behind Clarke and we could tell they were leaving again. Octavia bounced off the log. "Are you guys leaving again? I'm coming with you."

Bellamy stepped in front of her. "No, no. Not again."

"He's right. Your leg's just gonna slow us down." Clarke looked apologetic, but then changed her glance to Bellamy. "I'm here for you."

Wells sounded surprised. "Clarke, what are you doing?"

"I hear you have a gun."

Bellamy lifted the side of his shirt to show the gun in his waist.

"Good. Follow me."

I stared at Clarke and raised my eyebrows. "And why would he do that?"

"Because he wants them to follow him and right now, they're thinking only one of us is scared."

Bellamy started to put his jacket on. "Murphy, come with me. Atom? My girlfriend and sister don't leave this camp. Is that clear?"

I looked over at Bellamy. "You're insane if you think I'm staying here without you."

Octavia looked at the ground. "And I don't need a babysitter."

Bellamy sighed. "Skylar-"

"Just give up Bellamy."

Bellamy handed me one of his knives. "Put it in your waist and make sure you can get to it if you need it." He turned to Atom. "Anybody touches her they answer to me." He looked at the rest of us. "Let's go."

The three of us followed Clarke and Wells at a good distance so they couldn't hear us talking. Murphy looked at Bellamy, dumbfounded. "Since when are we in the rescuing business?"

"The Ark thinks the prince is dead. Once they think the princess is, too, they'll never come down. I'm getting the wrist band," He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked. "Even if I have to cut off her hand to do it."

I looked up at him. "Bellamy."

He looked down and didn't say a word.

Wells and Clarke got a little ways in front of us and we had to jog to catch up. Bellamy had his gun in his hand and spoke as we ran. "Hey, hold up, what's the rush. You don't survive a spear through the heart."

Wells walked in front of Bellamy. "Put the gun away Bellamy."

Murphy pushed him back. "Why don't you do something about it then, huh?"

Clarke changed the subject. "Jasper screamed when they moved him. If the spear struck his heart he'd have died instantly. It doesn't mean we have time to waste."

As Clarke turned around Bellamy grabbed her wrist and Murphy still held back Wells. "As soon as you take this wristband off, we can go."

Clarke broke his grasp. "The only way the Ark is gonna think I'm dead is if I'm dead. Got it."

Bellamy backed up a little and I smiled at her. "Brave princess."

Suddenly Finn came wandering through the woods. "Hey, why don't you find your own nickname. You call this a rescue party? You've got to split up to cover more ground." He started to walk in a different direction. "Clarke, come with me."

And with that they walked off, leaving Wells with us. As we walked Bellamy spoke to Wells. "Guess we got more in common than meets the eyes, huh?"

"We have nothing in common."

"No? We both came down here to protect someone we love. Your secrets safe with me. Of course, for you it's worse."

I backed Bellamy up, finally getting what he was telling him. "With Finn around, Clarke doesn't even see you. It's like you're not even here."

The longer we walked the more flustered my brother got with everything that was going on. "How do we know this is that right way?"

Bellamy was getting angry too. "We don't, spacewalker thinks he's a tracker."

Wells looked over at Bellamy. "It's called fourth-year earth skills. He's good."

Finn stopped and looked around at all of us. "You want to keep it down or should I paint a target on your backs?"

Finn walked a little farther and then knelt down on the ground. There was a small spot of blood on the rocks which we were standing on. Clarke followed him and knelt down with him.

Bellamy spoke to Wells very softly. "See? You're invisible."

In the distance we heard a moan and we all figured we knew exactly what it was. We all looked around. Finn looked around in the woods. "What the hell was that?"

Clarke turned around and looked at Bellamy. "Now would be a good time to take out that gun."

Bellamy held the gun in his hand as we all ran through the woods, following the moaning. Bellamy looked back at me. "Knife out and ready. I don't want to see you without it."

I took my knife out and stayed as close to him as I could as we ran. We finally came out to a clearing and saw a young guy tied up in a shorter tree than the ones around here had been. We all knew who it was but Clarke broke the silence as we stared at him. "Jasper." She started after him. "Oh my god."

Finn ran after her. "Clarke, be careful."

Bellamy ran up behind Clarke, staring at Jasper the whole time. "What the hell is this?"

Suddenly the ground dropped out from in front of Bellamy and Clarke went falling down into a hole. Bellamy instantly dropped to his knees and grabbed Clarke's arm. He sat there for a long moment as we all yelled to him. "Get her up! Bellamy! Help her!" Finally Finn and Murphy ran over and all grabbed her arm as well and Wells grabbed Bellamy's waist, helping Bellamy pull her up.

Finn dropped to his knees. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Clarke stared at the hole. Then she looked back up at Jasper. "We need to get him down."

Finn walked toward the trees. "I'll climb up there and cut the vines."

Wells followed. "I'm with you."

Finn stopped and turned around. "No. Stay with Clarke." He looked over at Bellamy. "And watch him." I glared at Finn and grabbed Bellamy's belt loops of his pants, standing behind him. Finn motioned to Murphy. "Let's go."

Clarke stared harder at Jasper. "There's a poultice on his wounds."

I stared. "Why would they save his life just to string him up as live bait?"

Bellamy looked at both of us. "Maybe what they're trying to catch likes it's dinner to be breathing."

"Or maybe what they're trying to catch is us."

As Finn and Murphy cut the vines off of Jasper we all stopped, hearing a low rumbling in the distance. I turned around and faced Bellamy. I walked around looking through the bushes. It had sounded like a growl.

Murphy looked down at the ground. "What the hell was that?"

Clarke spun around in a circle and she scanned. Bellamy's face dropped. "Grounders?"

I walked over to where Clarke was, she had definitely seen something. Her whole face had dropped. When I stood next to her I saw it and it growled again. A large black cat. A panther.

It began to run as fast as it could, straight at Bellamy. I froze in fear and Clarke screamed to him. "Bellamy ! Gun!"

Bellamy felt in his waist for his gun and realized it was gone. Wells had the gun somehow and began to fire. The panther didn't stop going and Bellamy turned every which way, he could tell it was in front of him in the bushes. The bushes stopped moving and I was finally unfrozen. As I went to walk over to him the panther jumped out of the bushes with it's arms spread straight out for Bellamy. "BELLAMY!" He looked up at it and as soon as he saw it it fell to the ground. The sound of gunfire filled the air. Bellamy stopped and stared at Wells. I ran over to Bellamy and buried myself into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me. He was breathing heavy and his heart was beating out of his chest. He kissed my forehead and stared at everyone around him. Bellamy spoke to Wells, knowing that he would be the only one to understand. "Now she sees you."

Wells and Clarke exchanged glances.

Murphy and Bellamy wrapped the Panther up in a piece of fabric that we had in our packs and carried it back to camp.

As we walked back into camp everyone started to cheer. Bellamy and Murphy unwrapped the panther and set it on the ground for everyone to see. Finn and Wells were helping Jasper back into camp while Clarke and I trailed behind them. Kids were murmuring everywhere. They dragged him into the drop ship and the rest of us stayed outside. Bellamy looked around at the crowd. "Who's hungry?"

They all cheered and hollered. Everyone kept slapping Bellamy's back and thanking him. Octavia stood next to her brother and gave him a look of appreciation. He pulled her into his arm and hugged her.

When the meat was finally cooked Murphy looked around at everyone. "Bracelets for some food." And with that they all lined up. My brother took off the bracelets and Bellamy handed them a piece of meat.

Finn walked over to where the meat was being kept and went to grab some off of it. Murphy stopped what he was doing. "Wait, woah. What? You think you play by different rules?"

Finn looked him dead in the eyes. "I thought there were no rules." He took one off and walked away as Bellamy and Murphy stared at him, dumbfounded. They knew they had been beat.

Another younger guy walked over to where the meat was and went to grab one. Bellamy walked over quickly. "Hey!" Instead of talking to him Bellamy punched him in the face and watched him hit the ground.

I looked from Murphy to Bellamy. I walked over to Bellamy and grabbed his arm, pulling him to the side. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm taking care of business."

"Taking care of business?"

"They need to know who's in charge."

"You told them that there wasn't anyone in charge Bellamy. You're the one that said to do whatever the hell we wanted."

Bellamy turned around. "I know, but we need some kind of order."

"So then do it Bellamy. We need a leader." I paused. "And as much as you don't want to hear it… we need rules."

Bellamy took my hand and kissed the top of it, pulling me along with him. As we walked to where we had been usually going Bellamy stopped in his tracks. We looked ahead of us to see Octavia sitting on Atom's lap in our spot, clearly up to no good. "ATOM!" When the two of them looked over Octavia jumped up and stared at Bellamy. "Let's go. We're on first watch."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we began to walk away. I stared up at him. "Bellamy, you're not on first watch."

"I know baby, I know." He kissed the top of my head.

When Bellamy left for watch with the others I followed not long after. I wanted to make sure that he didn't get himself into trouble with Atom. I knew Bellamy and I knew that nothing good would come of this.

By the time I got to where they were Bellamy had Atom hung up in a tree by his arms. Atom was scared. "Guys, you're not just gonna leave me here."

Bellamy had the face of anger. If his face would be red and stream could come out his ears it would have. "No Atom. I won't be disobeyed."

He walked away and my brother followed him like the little puppy dog that he was. As they walked toward me I ran. If I wasn't back at camp before Bellamy got there he would question where I was and I had always been horrible at lying to him.