Chapter 10

"How long have I been out?" Bellamy asked. He was still groggy.

"Since yesterday afternoon," Clarke said. The others went to Arkadia; they're going to bring back the rover. You weren't going to make it any farther.

Bellamy began to get up.

"Bellamy, you can't get up," argued Clarke. "You're still not ready."

"Clarke we're sitting ducks out here," He said as he forced himself to his feet. The pain was clear on his face. His blood loss and lack of food made him weak, but he knew they had to go. Clarke's life depended on it.

She tried to stop him. "You still have a fever. If you don't rest, you won't get better," she said firmly.

"I'll be fine," he said "we need to move."

He looked around. Unsure of what direction they needed to go. He was turned around. He finally looked at her. "You shouldn't have stayed here. Why didn't you go with them," he snapped. "All this was for nothing," he said shaking his head.

"What are you talking about?" she asked "All of what?"

"The only reason they took me. They want to kill you Clarke, don't you understand?" he asked "Staying behind was a mistake," he said.

"I couldn't just leave you," she bit back.

He took her upper arms in his hands. "You listen to me Clarke. I can't lose you again. Our people need you, don't you get that?" he asked

"Bellamy, I'm not going anywhere, but I'm not leaving you out here alone to die," she said.

He looked at her, wishing he could keep her safe, unsure of what to do. Finally he let his hands drop from her arms. "We need to get going. Ice Nation could be here anytime, and I can't let them get to you," he said.

Clarke saw how frustrated he sounded. She knew she couldn't keep him still.

"But Roan and Murphy went for help. If they come back and were not here…" she started

"We'll follow their tracks. If they come back, they'll take the same route. That way we won't miss them," he said.

They started walking. Bellamy still in his ripped shirt. Clarke couldn't help but see the beads of sweat pop out along his forehead. "You still have a fever," she said knowing it wouldn't matter.

"I'll be fine," he said "We need to keep quiet, keep watch, make sure we're not being followed," he said "I'd rather stay along the creek. I'd be better to hide out tracks," he said

"But we can't If we follow their tracks," she said.

"I know, I was just thinking out loud," he mumbled as he paused and took a breath, bending slightly with his hands on his thighs. He couldn't hide the pain on his face when he straightened back up.

Suddenly Clarke looked around. "Wait, Bellamy," she said when she recognized her surroundings.

He stopped and turned towards her. "What's wrong?" he asked

"I think were near the trading post," she said

"Niylahs?" he asked

"Yes, I didn't realize before, It was dark, but I'm sure it's over that rise," she said

Bellamy looked at her. They could find shelter there, but he also didn't want to bring Ice Nation down on Niylah. He wasn't sure what to do. "Clarke, I can't go there," he said.

"Bellamy, you're still not well," she argued "You don't even have a decent shirt."

"I'm not dragging Niylah into this," he snapped. "Not with Ice Nation after us. It's bad enough I…" he stopped.

"Shush," he said quickly crouching and pulling Clarke down with him as he looked to his right, listening.

The Ice Nation warrior had his arrow aimed at the dark haired man, but before he could release its hold, a knife sliced through the back of his neck. He didn't know what hit him and death was instant.

"I thought I heard something," Bellamy said. "We need to hurry. I have a bad feeling."

"Bellamy, we have to get those wounds cleaned, there already infected," Clarke said. "Niylah can…"

Bellamy turned and stared at her. "No," he said firmly, cutting her off.

Octavia watched from a distance. She circled back from the direction the Ice Nation scout had come from. She knew there were more, and she was determined to get to them before they got to her brother.

Bellamy kept moving, each step harder. Clarke was right behind him wondering how much longer he would last. He stumbled but caught himself, wrenching from the pain of his back. "Bellamy stop," Clarke finally demanded.

"You have to stop," she pleaded softly, "Your scaring me," she softly said, the concern written across her brow.

He looked at her with the same concern. "Clarke, they could be right behind us. I can't let them get you. They'll kill you Clarke, I can't let that happen." She saw the fear on his face.

"We should go to Niylah's," Clarke repeated. "You can't help me if you collapse form these wounds," she said.

"Clarke, her father…" he started, but he looked away. He was riddled with guilt. "I can't," he said finally looking into her eyes.

"You're not that person anymore," She said to him

"Maybe not," he said, 'But to her I am, and I'm still guilty, She doesn't deserve to have to look at me," he said with a hiccup to the words; words that brought back a painful memory. He immediately thought of Octavia. He couldn't hide the pain on his face. It wasn't the ripped gashes across his back, it was more painful than that; the pain of her words. "All I do is hurt people," he whispered before he turned away so she couldn't see the pain in his eyes. He wiped at them before turning to face her. "Clarke, I need to get you to safety, but I can't risk ice Nation thinking Niylah helped us. They were there once before looking for Wanheda and almost killed her, I stopped them, but I had a rifle. No we need to keep moving," he finally said.

He started walking again, each step torture, each hour seemed like days. His eyes began losing focus. Somehow he managed to keep sight of the tracks. His hands were shaky and he wanted nothing more than to sleep. He knew he had to keep moving. He knew that once he got Clarke to Arkadia they would be safe, and that was his only focus. His ears were ringing, and he remembered being on his hands and knees crawling. His face hit the ground and he thought how nice the damp leaves felt on his cheek. They felt cool, because his body felt hot one minute, then cold the next. He heard Clarke calling his name, and shouting to someone else. Bellamy looked up and saw the familiar vehicle pull up nearby. He felt Clarke's hands on his face, and heard his name, until finally he didn't hear anything.