Thank you to everyone who has favorited and is following this story. It means a lot. Its kinda bland, I know, but things will pick up. I assure you.

Chapter 4

The sun was beginning to rise in the east and Camp Jaha would soon be bathed in the orange glow. Bellamy was already awake, as he usually is by this time, and contemplating his next series of actions. He held the armband he received yesterday in his hand as he allowed his mind to rethink the events that happened yesterday. He looked at the armband and his mouth formed into a single line. It didn't make sense. Why did Kane make him the commander of the Guard? Bellamy is more than pleased to be appointed such a title but the reason behind his promotion sparked his curiosity. Everything about their lifestyle has changed since the Ark came to the ground but if Bellamy knew Kane as well as he thinks he does, the Chancellor wouldn't have given him such a title unless there was something more Kane wasn't telling him. Does his reasons have anything to do with what might have been said between Kane and Abby when Bellamy walked in on them talking? What were they talking about, anyway? Bellamy knew, at that moment, he had to find out what was said. If they were planning something... he wanted to know. He had the right to know.

By the time the morning sun arose and began to set, the camp was awake. As Bellamy walked outside the Alpha Station, he saw how everyone was already awake and alive. He saw Octavia speaking with a group of Guard trainees and observed as children clung to their parents as other's ran around tagging each other. He was the commander of the Guard now and this meant he had a responsibility to uphold. His first and foremost goal was to make sure the camp was protected. This meant making sure each and every angle of the camp was protected even if his curiosity was still getting the best of him.

He noticed Jasper sitting alone by a tent with his back turned to the camp, looking into the forest. He eyed the rest of the area carefully before he decided there's no point in protecting the people he cares about if they're dead inside – which he knew Jasper was. Regardless of knowing that Jasper has lost someone he loved, that didn't stop him from approaching him.

"Hey," Bellamy said as he crouched down beside him and looked into the distance. "Are you okay?" Of course he knew that was a stupid question but he couldn't fight the urge to simply turn the other cheek. Not after what he had been through. Not after what Bellamy himself had been through. He almost expected Jasper to jump from his seat and accuse him of being a murderer, someone who killed his girlfriend. After all, he pulled the lever too. He's simply more able to justify his reasons for doing so better than Clarke. Even so, that doesn't keep him from feeling responsible.

"Yeah," Jasper said in a voice that sounded anything but convincing. Bellamy noticed how he wouldn't meet his eyes but decided that was probably for the best. After all, he couldn't blame him. He noticed how Jasper held his goggles in his hand, just holding them as he stared into the forest.

"If you need anything.. let me know," Bellamy said in a sympathetic voice as he rose. He placed his hand on Jasper's shoulder and gave a firm squeeze.

No response came from Jasper and he hadn't expected one. Part of him felt guilty for killing Maya – and thousands of people in Mount Weather who had helped him and hid his friends from the guards – but the second he looks behind him and sees a small group of children throwing a stick back and forth, the guilt is instantly justified and he has to tell himself he did the right thing. That they did the right thing. He sees Monty standing nearby and once their eyes meet, Monty looks down. Instantly, Bellamy began making his way to him. After all, Clarke and him didn't pull the lever alone, Monty was also in the same room.

"How is he?" Monty asked as Bellamy approached.

Bellamy turns back to look at Jasper once more before sighing and turning back around.

"Not good," he says. "How are you?"

Monty shrugs as he fiddles with what appeared to be a radio. Upon seeing this, an idea formed in Bellamy's head. He decided to take that idea with careful consideration, pushing it aside.. for now.

"She should be here," he mumbles.

"I know. Maya was strong," Bellamy said, crossing his arms as he tried to avoid how guilt was beginning to, once again, creep into his contentious thoughts.

"No, I mean Clarke," Monty said, finally looking up from the radio his fingers were occupying.

Bellamy swallowed hard as he titled his head to eye his friend.

"What?" He asked, as he shifted weight on his feet.

Monty deeply sighed and suddenly slammed his fist on the table, creating a loud noise that fell onto the camp. Bellamy saw as other's looked in their direction, startled, and Bellamy quickly waved his hand to everyone who was watching.

"She should be here!" Monty yelled as he began pacing in front of the table. "Or I should be out there – or something!" He added. "I mean, it wasn't just you and her-" he looked directly at Bellamy, who was now feeling more than uncomfortable, "-it was me too!" he said, pointing a finger at himself. "Hell, it was my fucking idea! Why does.." his voice trailed off as he placed his hands on the table to steady himself and looked down. "Why does she get to leave? Why does she get to be free from the guilt?" Bellamy watched, cautiously, as Monty looked over in Jasper's direction and suddenly everything became clear. Bellamy stepped closer.

"Monty, listen to me. What happened up there wasn't your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. We were put in an impossible situation while our people were dying. There wasn't anything else we could've done," he told Monty in a serious tone. "It's not your fault."

Bellamy is a leader; someone who knows death and understands the multi-meaning of the word "pain". But Monty? Monty wasn't someone who could hurt a rabbit without feeling guilty. He wasn't wired to be mentally hard and have to make sacrifices. He was soft enough to be human but strong enough to be tough; a combination Bellamy wants him to keep because it keeps Monty safe – it keeps him from developing the killer instincts he himself has acquired.

I bare it so they don't have to.

Monty stopped talking for a long moment and eventually turned his head to look at Jasper, who hadn't moved. Bellamy followed his eyes.

"Tell that to him," Monty said in a hopeless tone.

"Jasper is hurting. He'll come around," Bellamy reassured.

"What if he doesn't?" Monty mumbled, not taking his eyes off his bestfriend.

Bellamy was about to respond when he heard someone shout his name. He quickly looked up and began walking away from Monty. Just as his attention was focused elsewhere, Raven hobbled out of a section of the ship.

"And you're not the comforting type," she says, offering him a questionable look.

"That was a different time," he replied. She nodded as Wick stepped out from behind her. He turned his attention to scan the camp and saw Kane looking directly at him. He straightened himself and walked to the Chancellor as if he had a thousand men's confidence.

"Sir," Bellamy greeted as his feet came to a halt.

"General Blake," he greeted. The smile on the man's face made Bellamy uncomfortable but he instinctively put his arms behind his back and waited for orders.

"The grounders have their own territory, correct?" Kane asked, his voice in full business mode.

"Yes, sir," Bellamy responded.

"If anyone steps foot on their territory they see that as a threat and a reason for attack, correct?" Kane asked, again. Bellamy was growing impatient with where this conversation was going.

"Yes, sir," Bellamy responded nonchalantly.

"How do they mark their territory?" Kane asked, now looking down at the young commander. This took Bellamy by surprise but he tilted his head, eying the man.

"Landmarks, sir. Crossing certain rivers, going past certain trees, and stepping foot on certain ground," Bellamy responded. He shook his head, "what's this about, Sir?" He asked, his impatience now getting the better of him.

"Follow me," Kane said, turning on his heel and heading into the station.

Bellamy sighed.

"Its become apparent that we know where the Grounder territory begins but how do the Grounders know where our territory begins?" Kane asked as they were walking through the station's halls, obviously heading for the command center.

"I assume they don't," Bellamy replied, frowning. He wasn't going to lessen himself by following directly behind Kane so he made an attempt to walk beside him, instead. Hopefully this would gain him more respect from the Chancellor.

"Exactly," Kane said, and they came to a stop as soon as the reached the command center. In the middle of the room was a table that Kane was looking down at. Bellamy followed his gaze and blinked at what he saw. Red... ribbons? Bellamy finally put two and two together.

"You want to mark Ark territory," he said, still looking at the ribbons on the table.

"I want the Grounder's to know we're not going anywhere. Its safe to assume the peace Clarke worked so hard on establishing no longer stands between us. This means we must develop a system – a system they understand. We understand crossing into their territory ultimately means death.." Kane turned to give Bellamy a stern look. "I want them to know crossing into our territory means exactly the same. Sending a message in a language they can understand, basically."

Bellamy couldn't deny it was actually a brilliant idea. Still, he couldn't help but be skeptical of the man's intentions.

"What do you want me to do next, sir?" Bellamy asked, looking intently at Kane. The older man smirked and for whatever reason, Bellamy knew there was ulterior motive. The question is what?

Not the longest chapter but my promise remains, they will eventually become longer.

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