The 100 A Fresh Start Chapter 8

Octavia and Ilian had searched, and any signs of Bellamy were long gone. It had been months. They knew they wouldn't likely find anything and time was running out. They kept watch for fires, smoke, broken branches and old campsites, but found nothing. It was as if Bellamy had vanished. They had run across recent tracks made by a group of 8 to 10 people, but that's all they found.

They followed the tracks, hoping it would lead to something. Ilian realized it was headed into his own homes territory.

"They're headed towards Trishanakru territory," he said to Octavia.

"You don't have to come," Octavia said. "I can go alone. I know it's hard for you," she said

"No, I'm fine," he reassured her "it's good, I know the territory, so that may help."

Octavia was getting more worried. "We need to find him," she said "He needs this marrow."

"Octavia, you need to prepare yourself with the idea, we may not find him," said Ilian

They saw men rushing towards them. Octavia pulled her sword, Ilian pulled his bow.

"Stop," ordered Octavia.

The men stopped and raised their arms. "We don't want trouble," Troy said

"Please just let us go, and we won't hurt anyone," he said

"Were looking for someone," Octavia said as she eyed the men.

"Please girl, there's a killer out there, he done butchered four of our people in cold blood. We just want to find the rest of our people," Alan said.

"What did this killer look like?" Octavia asked

"Like a ghost," said George. "A ghost in the dark, he murdered and hung two of our friends in the smoke house before he killed the other two right in front of us."

"A ghost?" Octavia asked.

"You're saying he murdered your people for no reason?" Ilian asked sarcastically

"What did he look like?" Octavia asked again

"Black bushy hair," said Troy. "Called himself Blake something, but he didn't speak like us."

"Nobody touched him," he added "We tried to talk to him and he just started killing people," he lied. "We're going to find our people, you should come too. It's not safe out here, not with him around," Troy said

"Go," said Octavia.

She looked at Ilian and nodded to let them go.

When they had moved on, Ilian stepped close to her. "I don't trust them. I know you're brother. He wouldn't just kill for no reason."

Octavia squeezed her eyes. "Please be okay Bellamy," she said to herself.

They followed the tracks the men had left and found the shack.

They had left the bodies lying where they died. Ilian checked the smokehouse and found the other two hanging there. Octavia looked in the shack, where the men had been staying. It was empty except for the small cot and blanket. In the corner, Octavia found Monty's Water purification machine. "It's Bellamy," Octavia said. "Monty made this. Bellamy had to have been here."

They searched the area. Ilian found something. He picked up signs hidden tracks.

"Octavia, over here," he called out. "someone covered their tracks," he said pointing to a disturbed area.

"It has to be Bell," Octavia said

They followed for a while. "I think I know where he could be," Ilian said "There's an old root cellar."

Octavia's heart began to race.

Ilian reached for the door hidden beneath the vines. but hesitated "Octavia wait, we don't know if it's him for sure," Ilian warned

Octavia looked at him. "Black bushy hair?" she asked "You know it's him."

"Still he murdered those men," Ilian said "We don't know what state of mind he's in."

"My brother, my responsibility," she said using Bellamy's own words as she shoved her way past Ilian.

Octavia had to adjust her eyes to the darkness. Finally she was able to make out the figure of a curled body in the far corner. "Bell," she said "Bellamy, it's me," she said

Bellamy raised a knife. His hand was shaking. "O?" he asked weakly. "O please go"

He collapsed, too weak to keep his head raised.

"Ilian, hurry the marrow," she said.

Ilian fumbled in his pack and pulled out the syringe. He passed it to Octavia. She pulled his arm and shot the black syrupy liquid into his veins. "This will help you get better, Bell," she said. "Ilian he's freezing," she said. Can we build a fire or something?" she asked.

"Not in here, there's no ventilation, but we can carry him back to the shack," he said

Octavia and Ilian carried Bellamy out of the cellar and Ilian hoisted Bellamy over his shoulder. Bellamy cried out in pain. It was then, out in the light that Octavia could see how badly beaten he was. His one eye was swollen shut still, and gashes covered his face. "Careful," she said.

Ilian struggled with the weight of Bellamy, but still was surprised at how thin he had gotten since he last saw him. Octavia noticed the gauntness of his face, even with it bruised and swelling.

It was all Bellamy could do not to throw up, he was confused and unable to hold himself up.

They got to the shack, and Bellamy began to resist. "No, not here," he said, looking around as if the darkness in the shack were pulling at him.

"Bellamy, It's okay, you're sick, it's the radiation. You have to relax, no one's going to hurt you. I promise," she said.

"O, I've done things," he slurred before he slipped out of consciousness.

"What did they do to him," Octavia said to Ilian.

Octavia spent the day cleaning his wounds. She noticed his bruised ribcage, and thought he must have broken ribs. His eye was swollen and he looked like his nose was broken.

Ilian spent the day burying the bodies. He thought the sooner they were disposed of the better it would be for Bellamy when he woke up.

Octavia walked outside with her walkie. "Arkadia come in," she said, "This is Octavia, can anyone hear me?"

She tried several more times when Monty finally answered. "Octavia, It's Monty," he said.

"Monty, we found Bellamy," she said. "He's in bad shape. We need a doctor," she said. "We can't move him."

""Abby's due back later today," Monty said "Clarke won't be back for at least two more days," He said. "Where are you?"

"Were in Trishanakru territory," she said. "Sector 12 I think."

"Okay, over," said Monty

Octavia saw Ilian come from out of the woods. He had a makeshift shovel in his hands. "How's he doing?' he asked

"Not good. I called to see if Abby can come, but she won't be back to Arkadia until later today," She said

"Ilian, if he killed those men," she said "They're going to come after him," She said. "They're going to hurt him."

Ilian put his hand on her shoulder. "It looks like self-defense to me," he said. "Just look at him. How was he able to do anything after they did that to him?"

"I just hope he survives. I hope the marrow works, and we didn't get here too late," she said.

It was two hours when Octavia heard Abby on the radio. "Octavia, this is Abby, come in," she said

"Abby, it's Octavia," she said "We found Bellamy, but he's hurt real bad, and we can't move him," she said

"What are his injuries?" Abby asked

"Broken ribs, broken nose, cuts, he's weak, starved, he's been beaten badly Abby. He's sick from the radiation too. We gave him the marrow, but it may have been too late. He was in a cave or something, I think he almost froze to death too," Octavia said "It's just too much Abby, and we're on foot."

"Okay Octavia, you hold tight. Me and Marcus are on our way," Abby said.