Chapter 14

Author's note: some cute Bellamy protecting Ari here.

Ari trailed after the others, keeping close to Bellamy for some reason that even she couldn't distinguish. Clarke was striding angrily over to Murphy who was currently pissing people off, his usual, by not allowing them water. He's going to regret being a dick all the time.

She shoved Murphy roughly, "You son of a bitch!" He began to laugh nervously, "What's your problem?" Clarke held up the knife in answer. "Recognize this?" "Yeah, it's my knife. Where'd you find it?" He began to reach for it only for Clarke to pull it out of reach. "Where you dropped it when you killed Wells."

The surprise on his face seemed authentic, he was a good actor she would give him that. "Where I what?" A crowd was beginning to form now especially after hearing Clarke's cry. "The grounders killed Wells, not me." He was beginning to look around the group anxiously. "I know what you did, and you're gonna pay for it." " Really? Bellamy, you believe this crap?" Bellamy shifted on his feet, moving in front of Ari and Octavia slightly.

"You threatened to kill him, we all heard you. You hated Wells." "Lots of people hated Wells, his father was the Chancellor that got us locked up." "You were the only one who got in a knife fight with him!", Clarke yelled as she got in Murphy's face. "Yeah, and I didn't kill him then either."

"Tried to kill Jasper too." Octavia's call made them all look towards her. Ari peeked out from behind Bellamy to look at 'Tavia in shock. This was news to her. Unfortunately the move made Murphy catch sight of her and she could see an idea forming in his mind. She was confused as to what it was until he spoke.

"At least I wasn't arrested for murder. If you're looking for someone who murdered Wells you should look for someone who's killed before." They all looked at him in confusion. Before Clarke could steer the blame back to him however, he strode towards Ari who was still hidden behind Bellamy. "Why don't you tell them, Ari? About how you killed someone in cold blood?"

The words were spat at her coldly with no regret. "What're you talking about?" It was Clarke who turned to look at her with confusion and disbelief in her eyes. "Didn't she tell you? Sweet, perfect, selfless little Ari was arrested on the Ark for murdering a guard." She had never wanted to punch the smirk off his face more than that moment.

Then the moment she had been fearing came crashing down on her. All of her friends, aside from Bellamy, turned to look at her in disbelief and horror. Even Octavia. She swallowed thickly, tilting her chin up defiantly. "..Ari?" It was Octavia's hushed whisper that made her nearly break down right there.

"It's true," she spoke to the crowd. "I killed a man. I was thirteen and I slit his throat. I watched the life drain from his eyes. But I'm not the only murderer in this camp. And I didn't kill Wells." She turned to face Murphy who shook his head smirking. "I think you did. I think you should float." Her heart nearly stopped as she looked around at the hungry eyes of the crowd.

"Not her." Bellamy was the one who had spoken and now he reached for her, pulling her protectively to his side. "She didn't kill Wells. She's not on trial, you are." Murphy's face dropped as the crowd shifted back to Murphy. Those few words from their leader had made all the difference. They followed him blindly and if he said she was to be trusted then she would be trusted.

"Come on, this is ridiculous. I don't have to answer to you," he directed this at Clarke, "I don't have to answer to anyone." He made as if to leave but was stopped by Bellamy's words. "Come again?" He strode over to Bellamy and spoke lowly. "Bellamy, man I'm telling you I didn't do this." "They found his fingers on the ground with your knife."

"Is this the kind of society that we want? You say that there should be no rules. Does this mean we should be able to kill each other without punishment?" "I already told you, I didn't kill anyone!" The crowd was riled up by now and it only got worse as Connor stepped forward. "I say we float him."

"That's not what I'm saying," Clarke told him her voice heavy with dread. "Why not? Its justice." "Revenge isn't justice," she tried to reason as she became panicked. Soon a chant of, "Float him!", was being passed around the crowd. Murphy tried to run but was soon tripped and was being beaten by the crowd. Ari stepped forward, intent on helping him but Bellamy pulled her back, caging her in his arms protectively.

Clarke was screaming for them to stop and to get off him but it was too late. They were hungry for blood and they were going to get it. She wasn't sure what was going on in the chaos as she searched anxiously for Charlotte. Murphy was gagged and His wrists were bound as he was rolled down a muddy slope.

Ari watched in horror as he was strung up, soon to be hung. Clarke was struggling against Connor who shoved her back roughly. When Ari finally caught sight of Charlotte she rushed to the young girl, pulling her into her chest. The small child wrapped her arms around Ari's waist as she trembled.

Clarke shoved Bellamy's chest roughly to catch his attention. "You can stop this!" Connor turned then and spoke to him, "Bellamy. You should do this." Another chant started up of his name rather than the request to float Murphy this time. Clarke beat on Bellamy's chest telling him to stop it. Instead he turned and kicked the box out from beneath the beaten boy's feet.

He crashed down loudly and began to thrash his legs in pain. He was making loud choking noises and Ari closed her eyes, turning away. "How could you?!" It was Clarke's strangled cry that caught her attention as Bellamy pushed her away from him, "This is on you, Princess! You should have kept your mouth shut!"

Finn seemed to always have opportune moments to appear as he did so right then. He was rushing through the crowd, screaming for Murphy to be cut down. He turned to Ari, "Get her out of here!" She nodded and began to tug her ward away from the sickening scene. Surprisingly Charlotte burst from her arms. "Stop! Murphy didn't kill Wells!"

They all stopped to stare at her in confusion. Ari had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. No. No Charlotte, oh no. The girl met her eyes guiltily, "I did." Clarke immediately turned to cut Murphy down. Bellamy was approaching with a slack face, not knowing what to make of the situation.

Fearing the worse, even from Bellamy, Ari snatched Charlotte to her chest and held a knife out to the others. It was a silent warning as she held the girl who had become her own daughter in her arms. Bellamy stared down at the pair sadly, "I won't hurt her. Bring her in here." She nodded and rushed Charlotte into the tent.