A fresh Start Chapter 19 The Price of Life.
Bellamy was taken back to the back room where his chains were put on. Marcus argued against the neck collar, and Rollins gave in on the collar only, but wouldn't budge on the wrist and ankle cuffs. The neck collar had served its purpose by making Bellamy appear dangerous. Rollins wanted that visual for the people and he succeeded.
Marcus put his hand on Bellamy's shoulder and looked him in the eyes. "You stay strong," he said "I'm going to do everything I can," he said.
Bellamy glanced down and nodded his head. Depression was setting in and all he could think of were the people his choices had affected, and the pain he had caused them. He was tired and just wanted to sink into a dark place.
Marcus left with Rollins. The council members were meeting in their chamber to decide on Bellamy's fate. Marcus tried to stay positive but he was worried.
Everyone in the hanger bay were slowly filing out, some going back to their daily business, while others hung around and discussed the trial. It was the first real trial they had witnessed. They weighed in on whether they thought he was guilty or justified in what he did, and what they thought would happen to him. "I can't believe he hasn't been arrested and locked up before this from all the things he's done," Octavia heard a woman say as she walked past the group that was gathered.
She was about to say something when Monty grabbed her hand. "Octavia," he said pulling her away from the crowd of people. "Hey, we're meeting in Clarke's room." He said.
"No, I need to help him," she said
Monty knew she was talking about Bellamy. "I know, we're trying to come up with a plan, but we don't have much time." Monty said.
Bellamy was taken back to his cell. Miller walked protectively behind him. The guards remained surprisingly quiet knowing Miller was a friend of Bellamy's. They weren't stupid. They knew that Kane insisted on an Arkadia guard after Bellamy was shocked in his cell. The two guards involved were taken off prison duty and reassigned to the gate.
The Albatross guards, who outnumbered the Arkadia guards 3 to 1, kept to themselves for the most part. Miller only got along with one named Trent, who tried to make friends. Miller liked him, but still couldn't fully trust him. Trent mentioned he knew Carter and Lang and had run in's with them in the past. "They were always bad news," Trent had told Miller. "I'm sure they got what they asked for.'
Miller walked Bellamy to the cell and started to remove his shackles. The steel chains echoed throughout the room, the sounds bouncing off the dirty grey walls. Two steel benches were affixed to the thick steel floors. Comfort had no place here. Large U-bolts jutted from the walls in a couple places, put there to chain the hardened prisoners that posed an added threat. Obviously Rollins considered Bellamy to be one.
"It's over… does that mean I can go now?" Murphy said glancing up from the bench he lounged on.
"Shut up," the guard said to him.
Miller just looked at Murphy and then back to Bellamy. "They won't release you until after the verdict," Miller said as he worked on removing Bellamy's shackles.
"Orders are he gets chained," The guard at the cell door said.
"He's in a locked cell," Miller protested and looked back at the guard.
"Miller, its okay," said Bellamy without emotion.
"Rollins don't want this one breaking out," the guard spoke up from the entrance to the cell. "He has a lot of friends…apparently," the guard added in a sarcastic tone.
Miller reluctantly grabbed the wall anchor chain and attached it to Bellamy's ankle. He looked at Bellamy and Bellamy could see Miller's anger at having to put him back in chains. "You'll be out of here soon," he told Bellamy.
Miller left the cell and Bellamy backed himself to the wall and slid down onto the floor carefully. His ribs were hurting and simple movements were painful.
Murphy stood from the bench on the side wall and walked over to Bellamy, taking a bench seat nearer to him and leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. He looked back at Bellamy. "You hanging in there?" he asked him he asked quietly.
"I'm fine," Bellamy said.
"Yea, you look fine," Murphy said sarcastically
Murphy let a laugh escape his lips. "You know…I just thought about something," he said "I've been locked up with you before," he remarked.
Bellamy grimaced trying to get comfortable. "Yea…that was a long time ago wasn't it?" he said with a painful breath, remembering the first time he saw Arkadia was when he and Murphy were locked up together.
"Back then I was the one locked up on murder charges," Murphy said "I made out okay," he said "You will too, sides… Marcus likes you, he won't let anything happen to you," Murphy teased "You're his golden boy."
Bellamy looked at Murphy. His expression softened "Hey, thanks for trying in there," he said.
"Yea, well you know how I detest authority," Murphy said "It's how I get my kicks," he said and then he stretched his back and swung his legs up on the bench and stretched out.
Bellamy looked at Murphy and just shook his head. He knew Murphy cared about him. But to acknowledge it would be breaking their rules.
As he sat, he relived the past in his mind. He had done so much, regretted so much; whatever they decided; he was willing to take. He wasn't going to fight it anymore. The only part in his future he would regret is Clarke; and not being able to pursue or even try to pursue a future with her. Knowing she was alive was enough for him to take whatever punishment he was going to face.
Bellamy slowly moved to his blanket that lay out on the floor and carefully stretched out. The day had taken its toll and his ribs ached. Sleep evaded him, but not Murphy. 'How Emori ever got any sleep with Murphy around was a mystery,' Bellamy thought. He snored like a thunder storm.
Clarke, Octavia, Raven, Monty, Harper and Ilian all sat huddled in Clarke's room. "What's the plan?" Octavia asked, looking to Clarke.
"We don't have much time, but whatever we do; it has to be before the council make's their decision," Clarke said. "By then, it'll be too late.
"But what if they give him a pardon?" Harper asked "He'll be throwing that away, won't he?"
"You saw Rollins," Octavia said "There's no way, he'll let that happen. He's out to get my brother," she said then she looked at Clarke and Raven "But why?" she asked "Why's he after Bellamy?" she asked Clarke. "You said those guys that were killed, were trouble, if they were…why does he care?" Octavia asked. "What happened on that ship all those years, Clarke?" Octavia asked.
Clarke didn't know what to say. She didn't know where to start. Rollins had shown interest in her, but she never saw him as anything more than a friend. He was never anything other than a gentleman. Raven saw Clarke's expression, and Octavia's accusations. "Look, enough…we need to focus on what's important," Raven said getting the group's attention.
The group weighed their options. They knew the risks.
Monty and Harper moved to get ready. Ilian, Octavia and Clarke waited until everyone was in Place, but Raven first had a job to do.
Marcus paced the floor, as the council members talked about the trial. Rollins and his right hand man Scott, sat beside each other. Gaia and Indra represented Trekru. Abby and Marcus represented Skaikru. Jaha was the deciding vote in case of a tie since he was the elected chancellor.
"We know he did it, we have a witness," Rollins said. "It's cut and dry, he's guilty. Hell, he's killed before," Rollins said.
"It's not that simple," Marcus argued. "We saw his injuries when he was found. It was clearly self-defense."
"But his past," Rollins said. "He has a history of violence," You know better than anyone," he said turning to Indra, "How many of your people did he massacre?"
"He's not on trial for his past," Abby said "We need to focus on this case. You said yourself these men that were killed were bad news," She said "what makes you think we can believe anything the others say?" she asked "For all we know, those four men could have killed the other four and pinned it on Bellamy," Abby said
"You know as well as I do he did it, Regardless of the reasons; he has to pay the price." Rollins said.
The Arkadia and Albatross votes were obvious. This led to Trikru's votes from Indra and Gaia. Rollins walked to Indra, "You of all people should want to see him pay for his crimes," Rollins said.
Indra weighed the options. Skaikru trials were foreign to her, but she found them interesting. She didn't care for bringing in one's past. War time is different when you're the warrior. You have a commander and you follow orders. The massacre was hard on Indra. She watched Bellamy plead with Pike to spare the wounded, and they wouldn't listen. He refused to execute someone that couldn't fight back. He stepped in front of her; protecting her, convincing Pike to let her live. At the time if she was not injured, she would have put a blade through Bellamy's back all the same. But that was 6 years ago, and things change, people change. Bellamy turned Pike over to the grounders, he did that and ultimately Pike paid the price. That part of Bellamy's past is in the past as far as she was concerned.
Indra respects Abby and Kane. She knows the type of people they are, and the character they are. She trusts their judgement. She also knows Bellamy. 6 years in a bunker, you get to see who someone really is.
"I agree with Kane. He was defending himself. If someone tries to kill you, you have the right to kill them," she said.
"Three to two," Kane said. "That leaves you Gaia," he said turning to Indra's daughter.
"Life is a precious thing. No one has the right to take it," Gaia said. He took four lives that can never be brought back. Then again, how are we justified in taking his?" she asked them. "Bellamy has suffered. He had a difficult time in the bunker. Kane said he left to find peace on his own, he wanted solitude, and instead, he was attacked and almost killed. If he killed those men, he needs to pay for that crime, but not with his life. That would make us no different, than what we're punishing him for," she said.
Rollins stood up. "Well I'm not surprised the grounder sides with you," he said with an edge. "But we demand justice. The man murdered 4 of our people, and he needs to pay." Rollins demanded.
Jaha saw where this was headed. He knew the Albatross needed satisfaction or else the entire camp would go on edge. "I think he should pay for his crimes, but we don't float people anymore. Capital punishment is in the past," Jaha said "But what constitutes a human life? You can't put a price on that." He said as he paced to floor in thought. "We can't keep him caged like an animal, we don't have the resources and would it serve no purpose," he said. "Bellamy needs to be taught a lesson, and set an example to the others at the same time," Jaha said.
Marcus looked at Abby. He didn't like this at all. "Thelonious, this is a clear cut case of self-defense," Marcus argued.
"Ten lashes," Jaha said. "I think ten lashes will set an example for the people."
"So you're saying ten lashes are equal to a human life?" Rollins sneered
"I think it's fair," Jaha said.
"There were four victims. So that means Blake will have forty lashes," Rollins said "That's ten for each murder."
Jaha stopped. "No, that's not what I meant," Jaha said
"So you mean to tell me the lesson you expect to show the people is what? That here a human life isn't even worth 10 lashes?" Rollins spat, he stormed about the room. Jaha needed to calm things down.
"A human can't survive forty shock lashes," Abby finally argued "It will kill him! The heart won't survive that."
"Abby's right, that can't happen," Marcus said.
"Lashes not shock lashes," Rollins said. "Forty lashes with a strap. That will show the people what happens when you take lives. They won't forget it," he said. "And, it will be a reminder to Blake of what happens when you break the law."
Indra agreed reluctantly. She knew it would scar, but scars heal. Abby and Kane were against it, but they were outnumbered. The sentence was passed. Bellamy would be tied to a post, and whipped forty times.
Marcus wanted be sick. He also wanted to break Bellamy out of lock up and let him go. He didn't have any qualms about giving Bellamy the choice.