The 100 We will survive – chapter 8
Clarke felt someone's hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her. "Hey," came the deep whisper she recognized so easily.
She was too tired but forced her eyes to crack open. When she did, she immediately sprang to attention; remembering where she was, and who she was with.
"Is everything alright?" she asked hoping there were no problems. Clarke looked at Bellamy, sitting back on his heels
"Yea," Bellamy answered. "Thank you for fixing me up. I don't remember anything," he said shaking his head.
"Yea you were pretty out of it," Clarke said as she sat up and stretched her back. "How do you feel?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he lied as he rose to his feet. He didn't want to admit he was hurting and had a hard time focusing. He knew they had to go. Roan was waiting. He already had the horses out and ready. Murphy and Emori were with him outside. They waited and let Clarke get some rest seeing how tired she was. She had not rested since she took out ALIE.
Clarke got to her feet and faced him. "Bellamy, you were unconscious yesterday," she said.
"That was yesterday. I'm fine Clarke. I'm a little sore, but nothing I can't handle," he said.
"Well even so, turn around, I need to see those wounds, "she said as she pulled him around so she could look at his back. "I need to make sure they aren't getting infected."
Bellamy turned around. "We really don't have time for this," he said impatiently.
Clarke unwrapped the dressing and the closeness of him standing there made her heartbeat quicken. She was gentle, knowing he was sore.
She heard him take a quick breath in. "Sorry," she whispered. "Mmm…" he grunted painfully through gritted teeth.
She carefully touched his back next to the deepest gash. It was red and swollen. Her touch made him jump, arching his back away from her hand. "I'm sorry," she said again. "It looks like it could be getting infected. Are you feverish?" she asked as she reached up and put the back of her hand against the side of his neck.
Bellamy moved his head away from her hand and turned around. "Clarke," he said
She reached up to feel his forehead.
He took ahold of her wrist, stopping her from checking for a fever. "Clarke, we don't have time for this," he said. "They're waiting."
Clarke pulled her arm back. Her frustrated smirk was unmistakable. "You're stubborn, and it's going to catch up to you Bellamy Blake."
"Turn around and let me redress those," she said finally.
"Hey guys, we need to get going," Came Murphy's voice as he came down the steps.
We're coming," said Clarke as she rewrapped Bellamy's torso. She noticed him jumping with every touch. It wasn't a good sign. "When we get home I'll have to give these injuries a good cleaning out, and it's going to hurt like hell," she said. Something she dreaded, because she knew they would have to hold him down to do it.
Clarke quickly tied off the dressing, and they both slowly made their way up the steps.
Once they were outside, Bellamy glanced back and realized where they were. He looked at Roan who gave no expression. "Isn't this the place where…" Bellamy started to ask
"Yes, it's the same place," Clarke quickly answered before she could finish.
Emori was on her horse and she reached down for Murphy. He took her hand and swung up onto the horse settling in behind her.
Bellamy looked at Clarke and then to the horse. "Why don't you ride in front," he said. He thought it would be easier on his back if he rode behind her.
"I can't reach," she said.
Bellamy cupped his hands together. Clarke put her foot into them and he lifted her. She swung her leg over and settled onto the animals back. He looked up at the horse and knew there was no way he could make it. To his surprise Roan was there and helped him like he had done for Clarke. Still it took every ounce of strength he had. He couldn't stifle the groan that escaped his lips and he cursed himself for letting it slip. He didn't want to show weakness, but his raw and ripped back hurt with every movement. His pain was excruciating to the point he felt sick. He needed to push it away and try to focus on something else, but it was nearly impossible. He sat behind her and wrapped his hand around her taking the reins.
"You okay?" Clarke asked him.
"Yea," he said again.
Clarke could feel the heat coming off his body as they started the journey. She felt him slowly press his weight onto hers. His head falling forward onto her shoulder then raising back up. She felt him stiffen back up, when he caught himself dozing off. Somewhere along the way, she put her hands over his, and took the reins from him. He didn't resist, she wondered if he even realized it had happened. His hands just rested on her thighs.
They stopped to water the horses, and Bellamy's mind was clouded. He was burning up and just wanted to sleep.
Roan walked down the creek with Emori and Murphy, leaving Clarke with Bellamy. A little less than an hour they came back with a couple nice sized fish. Roan filleted them, and passed everyone the meat. Murphy and Clarke forced themselves to eat the raw fish. Clarke forced Bellamy to take some bites, but he didn't have an appetite.
"He can't keep going," Clarke finally argued.
"I'm fine," he said from where he sat. He knew he wasn't, but he also knew he couldn't slow them down.
"We have to keep moving," Roan said.
Clarke looked at Roan. She ripped the bottom half of her shirt off, dipped it into the cold stream, walked to Bellamy, knelt down and wiped his face and forehead. "You're not fine," she said to just him, in a frustrated tone. "You're burning up, and there's nothing I can do out here. I don't have supplies, medicine, not even bandages. You need a shirt, a coat of something." She said.
He glanced up at her and smiled. "You need to work on your bed side manner."
She smiled back. "I'm sorry. I just feel so helpless," she said.
Roan finished his fish and stood. "We need to go," he said but looked at Bellamy and knew it was pointless. Bellamy would never make it.
"Maybe we should stop for the day," he finally said looking down at him.
Bellamy knew they had plenty of daylight left. He forced himself to his feet. "No, we need to keep moving," he said squinting at the effort it took. He walked past Roan towards the horses. Roan watched as he raised his arms and took hold of the animals back. He stood there trying to find the strength to pull himself onto it, but he couldn't, instead he just leaned his forehead against the horse's side as his arms draped across its back.
Roan could see the fresh blood stains that oozed through his bandages and he noticed Bellamy's pale color.
Clarke looked at Roan. He looked between them and just shook his head. Clarke didn't know what to do. Bellamy needed to get to medical, she didn't have any way to treat him here, but she knew he wouldn't make it, not like he was now.
She went to him. "Bellamy, Roan's right, we should rest here for the night. You're in no shape to keep going," she said
"Bellamy, you're burning up," Clarke said turning him to face her. "You have to rest."
"Then you go," he said. "Leave me here, and I'll catch up. I don't want to be the one that…"
"Stop," she snapped "Were not leaving you here," she said
"No Clarke. Bellamy has a point," Murphy finally said. He hadn't said anything, but he knew they had to keep moving.
"What's wrong with you?" Clarke started to say
"No, think about it," Murphy said. "We can get to Arkadia in half the time if we leave him here, and come back for him with the Rover."
Bellamy nodded. "Murphy's right," he said. He stumbled and Clarke and Murphy caught him.
"Then I'll stay with you," Clarke said. "There's no way I'm leaving you here alone," She insisted.
"I'll be fine,' he said as he sunk into a mossy patch underneath a tree.
Clarke pulled off a bed roll and water pouch. "Okay Bellamy, you rest," she said.
She walked to the others. "Hurry," she said quietly.
Roan, Murphy and Emori took the horses and left. Clarke turned and looked over to the moss covered ground. Bellamy was lying there oblivious to the fact that they had left.
"Please hurry," she thought to herself as she carried the rolled blanket over to him and started to set up camp.