Dividing Lines
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.
All Jasper could taste, smell and see was the inside of a bag and it stank. Oil and dirt clogged up his senses, leaving him with no way to tell where he was being dragged. He hadn't even had to time to see how many guys there were before the bag was shoved over his head and his hands tied behind him.
Jasper had hoped that Miller would sound the alarm soon but these kidnappers had been silent and quick. The bag and the chains were defiantly not Grounder material but since when did the Ark Camp work this well in the forest? Well, probably about the time they started building bombs to blow up Grounder camps.
Finally, after walking for way too long, Jasper heard a familiar sound: gates being drawn back. There were more voices, old and young, male and female. Jasper were shoved forward and suddenly kicked down to his knees. The rush of noises ceased quickly and the bag was snatched off his head.
After blinking away the harsh sunlight from his eyes, Jasper took a look around. The Ark Camp had defiantly gone to hell.
Whatever Clarke had told them about it was much better than the actual reality. The crowd around him had drawn faces and hungry eyes. They were dirty and their clothes were either patched together or barely usable. He did a quick sweep of the area-a large open space surrounded by metal shacks-before he spotted the main building. It had been a drop ship but was now firmly planted in the ground. The woman standing at its doors was clearly running the show, especially with the guards around him.
"Jasper Jordan," she said, "You and your camp have kidnapped Clarke Griffin. Until she is safely returned to us, you will remain here as our prisoner. I hope your friends think that you are worth it."
Jasper raised an eyebrow, subtly testing the chains behind him. They must have gotten his name from the database of the original 100; the remaining pieces of the Ark probably still contained it. But they still got lucky that it was him that they had taken. They had surprised him and stolen his gun. If they had ambushed Miller, they would have lost that fight.
"Look, Diana-whatever your second name is, there had been some giant misunderstanding. Clarke came to our camp of her own free will to heal Octavia Blake after your guard shot her last autumn."
There were nervous murmurs around the crowd but Diana shrugged. She seemed unaffected by the knowledge that he knew her name but she must have guessed that Clarke had told him.
"Really? So, if Miss Blake did come into our territory and get wounded, did it really take nearly four months for Miss Griffin to heal her?"
Jasper was getting pissed now-clearly this women was just looking for a fight. "We were escorting her home the next day when some children got sick-she stayed to heal them for a week. By the time she was ready to leave, the river between our camps was too dangerous to cross. We invited her to stay for the winter, she agreed. And on a side note, since you haven't talked to our camp or the Grounders in the area, you technically have no territory except for the inside of these walls."
He just couldn't resist a smart comment at the worst time. He watched a muscle twitch in Diana's jaw but she stayed somewhat cool.
"You can lie all you want Mr Jordan. It still doesn't take away the fact that you took one of us and we want her back."
See, now that was the wrong thing to say to him. 'Cause he was hungry and tiered and generally pissed off. "You can reason with yourself all you want but the truth is that Clarke made her choice a long time ago and kidnapping me will only create problems between us. She's part of the 100 now, because she wants to be. And just a word of advice-try to take her by force and Bellamy Blake will burn your camp to the ground."
The statement made its point; people turned to each other and started to talk. Panic and unease grew like a fungus through the crowd and Diana could do little to stop it. "Take him away to the holding cell," she ordered her guards and they grabbed Jasper by the arms.
He was dragged away so fast that his feet barely found the ground. They shoved him towards the edge of camp where there was a smaller drop ship-well, what was left of one. It was really a twisted piece of machinery that had one small opening that led to a dead end. The chains were taken off him but Jasper was shoved into the tiny space. He barely had room to stretch his legs out. A grate was pulled across the opening and locked; Jasper could see that it was too heavy for him to get passed.
As he rubbed his sore wrists, he finally got a good look at his kidnappers. There were younger men, probably guards from the Ark. It explained how they could work together and take him. Diana had most likely been getting them to practise stealth in the forest. That fact and the bomb were making Jasper nervous. Was Diana getting ready for a takeover? She couldn't possibly think that she could win against both the 100 and the Grounders.
Jasper leaned back and tried to find a comfortable position. He sucked in a breath, which smelt like metal. He had to think: what would Bellamy do? What would Clarke do? They'd both see that the Ark Camp hadn't actually declared war-they had done it sneakily and were far away from the fallout. It was doubtful that they could win in a face to face battle so they were using other techniques. That made Jasper feel somewhat better; it meant that the 100 still had the upper hand.
He looked out of the grate and could see people hurrying past his cell, glancing in at him before scurrying away. This place was different from his home, no wonder Clarke wanted to stay with the 100.
The day went on and Jasper could spot the people sent over to check on him. They did it hourly and by the time night fell, he knew the faces of nearly all the guards under Diana's rule. That wasn't to say that any of them brought him food however. His stomach was growling by the time a piece of meat was pushed through the grate.
Jasper jumped slightly and stared out to see a young kid, a boy with blonde hair, handing him the food.
"Quickly!" he said, "You have to eat it before the notice!"
Jasper did as he was told and chewed the tough meat. It wasn't the worse thing he had tasted on Earth but it was close. "Thanks kid," he said, "You didn't have to share your rations with me."
The kid bit into his own strip of meat. "Oh these aren't my rations-I stole them. You kind of need to around here."
Jasper frowned at him, with his blonde hair and no jacket. He was the right age, the right personality and the right look. "Chris?"
Chris suddenly looked terrified so Jasper exclaimed, "It's ok-I'm a friend of Clarke's. She told me all about you."
Chris looked less concerned and more curious so Jasper took that as a good sign. "She talks about you all the time; she says that you're really smart and nice. She really wanted to bring you back to the 100 Camp with her."
Chris moved closer to the grate and actually smiled. "Did she really say that? Is she ok?"
Jasper smiled at his eager face, even though it was covered in dirt. Clarke was going to be pissed when she saw the state he was in. Jasper eyed the bandage wrapped around the kid's small hand. Oh yah, Clarke was going to be really pissed.
"She's fine. And don't worry because she and Bellamy Blake are going to sort this all out."
Chris grinned and scrambled to stand up. "I'll see if I can get you some water," he hissed before scurrying away.
Jasper tried to call him back; he didn't want the kid getting into trouble for stealing for him. But from what Clarke had told him, Chris did exactly what he wanted to.
Jasper leaned back against the metal wall and let out a deep sigh. They wanted an exchange-him for Clarke. But Jasper knew it wasn't that simple. They knew the Ark Camp was attacking Grounders; there was far more to this than wounded pride and missing campers.
The offensive note sat on the table, crinkled now but still readable. The dry ink, written from an old pen, was scribbled across the rough surface. Bellamy and Clarke had read it over and over again since Miller brought it to them. The words stayed the same. The Ark Camp took Jasper and they would give him back if Clarke was returned to them.
It gave away a few answers. Jasper wasn't mentioned by name so that meant he wasn't the exact target-any camper would have done for the project. They just wanted Clarke.
She was silent, however, one hand clasped across her mouth in thought. Bellamy stood beside her, a foot from her shoulder with one arm wrapped around a sobbing Octavia. She had managed to control her tears and her temper after she had sworn at every person who tried to comfort her. Monty and Raven were side by side and glancing between Clarke and Bellamy. Miller looked like a depressed puppy; he should have been watching Jasper's back. A tense silence covered them all, the faint noise from the outside drifting into the drop ship.
Finally, Bellamy spoke. "Monty, go to Jasper's parents and fill them in. Make sure they tell no one and that we are handling the situation as best as we can. Miller, Raven, get a message to Caitlin and Hunter: they need to know what is going on so we can work together on this. Octavia...get cleaned up ok?"
They all seemed relieved to be actually doing something, even if it wasn't marching straight out there and ripping the Ark Camp to shreds. But really, they all knew that this decision was difficult for both Clarke and Bellamy; no one wanted to get into the middle of that fight.
That left Bellamy and Clarke standing in the drop ship, alone. Clarke closed her eyes and willed away the lump in her throat. She took in deep breaths and kept her hand across her mouth. This was her fault. She had left with Bellamy all those months ago. She had stayed when-if she really wanted to-she could have returned weeks ago. Clarke's choices had led to this. Jasper was in danger because of her.
Clarke felt Bellamy's presence even with her eyes closed. His breath skimmed across her hair and she felt her shoulder hit against his chest. "Clarke?"
His low voice made her look at him properly and she felt the need to burst into tears like Octavia. Bellamy let out a shaky breath through his nose and he said, "Princess, just give me time ok? Before you go running off to save the day, please just step back and think of something else. Please."
In some other part of her brain, Clarke realised that Bellamy Blake was begging her. But her whole being just acknowledged one single thought: God, she was going to miss him.
Clarke found herself nodding and Bellamy placed a kiss on her hair. She could feel it in the way he held onto her hand and pressed his lips to her head- that he didn't totally believe her. But he still walked out of the drop ship and snatched the note on the way.
Clarke listened to the drop shit door clang shut and she quickly sat down on the nearest stool. She held her head in her hands, even though they were shaking. She didn't want to leave-every part of her wanted to stay exactly where she was. She had a home here, with Bellamy. She really didn't want to leave Bellamy.
Laughter actually bubbled its way to the surface and Clarke shook her head in bitterness. Was it so long ago that she could barely stand the sight of him? Now, the idea of not seeing him every day made her stomach twist and her heart hurt. After another moment, Clarke straightened up and brushed away the stray tears.
This was not the time to break down-she had a job to do.
Clarke loved the night time at the Ark Camp. All the trails were lit were torches, specially designed to burn themselves out. The guards acted like safety nets and were a comforting presence. The moon was always visible on clear nights and calm always settled through the camp.
Not that Clarke saw much of the outside at night-she preferred to stay in her and Bellamy's room. She loved when it was time to sleep because it meant that the door was closed and no one could bother them. It was their time, just for the two of them. It was relaxing to have that time when you were busying running a camp full of people.
Clarke sat on the edge of the bed, taking her boots off slowly. She kept looking around the room, staring at every corner and object like it was the last time she would see it. A part of her was afraid that it was. She had moved her stuff into his room weeks ago so her old bedroom was empty. They had planned for it to be Chris' room when they got him from the Ark Camp. Now they were both going back to sleeping on a metal floor in rags.
The thought nearly made her lose it once again. Clarke was actually glad that she hadn't seen Bellamy at all that day or else she would have broken down quickly. He had been busy organising the guns and the other weapons, making plans for the best way to attack the Ark Camp.
A full on battle was not the best idea but the other option was an exchange, which Bellamy really didn't want to happen. It had been a while since everyone had faced a war so the others had been busy. The original 100 assumed they would fight like with the First Grounders. But their parents freaked out which just pissed off the 100 and generally led to a headache for everyone involved. But it was ok. Clarke was going to fix it all.
The door opened and Bellamy stepped in, his face drawn. She smiled at him, despite their problems. He smiled back and threw his jacket down next to hers on the trunk. "I've sent scouts out-they should be back with news by morning," he said, "The good news is that they won't do anything to Jasper because he's their bargaining chip. I just can't believe that they still think we kidnapped you."
Clarke didn't seem to respond or even hear him at all. He stepped in front of her, his knees brushing against the bed.
"Princess?"
Clarke finally looked up at him, her boots dumped on the floor. She opened her mouth, as if to say something but nothing came out. Instead, she suddenly stood up and pressed her lips to his. It was a firm kiss with her hands resting either side of his face. Bellamy wrapped his arms around her until she was tight against him. He felt her pull him down on the bed but that didn't stop the kissing.
Part of him said to stop, to talk instead. But when he heard Clarke whisper his name against his mouth, all rationality shut down. The only thing that existed was Clarke, in that moment, in their room.
Clarke rested against the pillow but her eyes were wide open. She stared at Bellamy's sleeping face once more, counting every freckle she could see. His chest rose and fell as the moon shone in from the window. The night was slowly edging towards the morning and Clarke knew that she had to go.
Although she felt a pull to stay exactly where she was, Clarke snuck out of the bed and silently dressed. She grabbed her jacket on the way out the door and gave one last look to Bellamy. He was still sleeping, all the worry gone from his face. Clarke bit her lip painfully and closed the door behind her.
She paused in the hallway and crept towards her old room. She only stopped to grab Chris' jacket, still lined with the warm fur. She took the time to slip on her own jacket but startled when the sleeves went over her hands. Instantly hit by the comforting scent, Clarke knew that she had taken Bellamy's by mistake.
She sighed and rolled the sleeves up slightly to free her hands. He had other jackets and she wanted something of his anyway.
Clarke took a moment to calm down and keep herself together before heading out of the house. She didn't pause on the porch or even at the drop ship. She had already left a long list of advice for Monty in there that afternoon. Clarke jogged around the back of the houses until she reached the back wall. She had spent hours that day searching for the hidden entrance that Finn had used all those months ago.
She had completely forgotten about it until she needed it. The back area of the camp was where a lot of the storehouses were. Along with the new wall, they were the first things built by the 100 after the Ark had landed; back when Finn was at the 100 Camp. Clarke pushed passed a large storehouse until she could fell the outer wall behind it. Her fingers caught on the loose wooden panel and she prided it open. Pausing only to make sure no one had heard her, Clarke then slipped though and into the forest.
She let out a whoosh of air as she hurried away from the camp. She would have to walk around the walls to be going in the right direction but she needed to be out of sight from the guards. She also needed to avoid those scouts that Bellamy had sent out.
Every step she took got heavier and heavier as Clarke let her emotions sink in. All she loved was back at that camp, sleeping away. She clutched Chris' jacket to her chest and tried to focus on him; on Jasper. This was the right choice for the people in danger.
"You're getting better at this."
Clarke jumped and spun around to see Hunter and Caitlin leaning against the same tree. Unlike her, they must be used to the weather and hadn't bothered with jackets. She could see the scars on their bare arms but she could also see that they had numerous weapons. Clarke let out a shaky breath and Caitlin gave her a smile.
"You're finding your way all on your own-you didn't even trip over a tree branch."
Hunter was silent, just standing there with his arms folded. Clarke looked at Caitlin and shook her head.
"Bellamy wants to attack them, take Jasper by force. We know it's a bad plan-the Ark Camp has bombs and their guards must be better fighters than we thought if they could get Jasper. Me going back is that easiest and safest way for now."
The siblings were quiet, Hunter with his eyes glued to his sister. Finally Caitlin spoke. "Hunter, go to the 100. Make sure that Bellamy doesn't leave the walls until I get there."
Hunter straightened up and frowned at her.
"Go little brother," she insisted.
Hunter walked forward, the leave crunching underneath his boots. He went to walk past Clarke and she felt guilty. She had only met the Grounder siblings a few times but there was something about them, an ease that made her feel like she wanted to be their friends.
Hunter paused beside her and actually smiled kindly, looking very like his sister. "You are a very brave woman Clarke Griffin. Who knows? This may work out for the best in the end."
As he walked away, Clarke swore she heard Caitlin chuckling. Clarke turned back to her and Caitlin strolled over.
"I'll agree that a full on attack right now isn't the best idea-not when we don't know how well armed the Ark Camp are. Hunter will stop Bellamy from acting as best he can but you know your boyfriend better than I do. If push comes to shove, we can get a few people to sit on him even."
That made Clarke laugh despite everything. She drew in a deep breath of cold air and let it out slowly.
"My brother is right though, you are very brave for leaving him even though you don't want to," Caitlin said. Clarke just nodded while Caitlin did a sweep of the forest. "It would take a lot to make me give up Mason," she mumbled, "So I know this must be incredibly difficult."
Clarke swallowed back a sob. "Will you come with me?" she asked, "To make sure that I don't turn back. I can't turn back."
Caitlin looked surprised for a moment but then looked Clarke straight in the eyes. "You won't turn around, I know you won't. But, I will go with you."
To the Grounder's further surprise, Clarke reached out and hugged her. Even Clarke was startled but she needed a friend in that moment and Caitlin was the closet she was going to get. Caitlin patted her on the back and then pulled away.
"Come on, we should get there by late morning."
The two girls marched their way through the forest with Caitlin on the lookout for danger and Clarke imagining the danger to come.
Once again, Jasper was in the middle of the Ark Camp and on his knees. His jeans were going to be ruined.
The chains were back on his wrists but at least he had eaten something last night thanks to Chris. Jasper could see the kid standing in the crowd, making sure that the other kids weren't going to get in the way. Clarke had been right about him and that only made Jasper even angrier about the situation.
He didn't even know what was going on at the moment. He had heard shouting that morning and after a few minutes, he had been dragged out his cell and thrown into the dirt again. Diana was still standing on her damn platform and Jasper still wanted to kick her straight off it. He was contemplating all the way she could be pushed randomly face first into the mud when the gates behind him opened.
He turned with the rest of the crowd but he didn't gasp when he saw Clarke like everyone else. A great sadness washed over him instead. She marched through the camp like a warrior going to battle but Jasper knew that was Bellamy's jacket she was wearing. A woman came out of the crowd and pulled Clarke into a hug, so Jasper guessed that she was Clarke's mother. A guy he knew was Marcus Kane and Finn joined Abby Griffin but Clarke just nodded to them both. She spotted Jasper and hurried over to undo his chains.
"Clarke," he hissed, "What are you doing?!"
"It's alright, I have a plan," she said, "Caitlin is waiting outside to walk with you to the 100 Camp."
The chains fell and Clarke helped him stand up. People were closing in, pushing to see her so Clarke whispered. "Tell Bellamy that I'm sorry and... we'll see each other again soon. And to not do anything stupid."
"Yah, good luck with that!" Jasper replied as Diana finally spoke.
"Welcome home Miss Griffin."
The words sent a spike of anger through Jasper. Clarke wasn't home and neither was he. Clarke stepped forward and levelled her with a glare. "Do you have any idea what you have done?" she asked, "Your impulsiveness and stupidity has completely destroyed all hope of a peaceful life between camps!"
Her words cut through the crowd and Jasper tried not to flinch. Yup, she was so pissed.
Diana's jaw twitched again but she managed to say, "Miss Griffin, this is a victory! You have been returned to us after a kidnapping-."
"I wasn't kidnapped," Clarke exclaimed, "I went of my own free will to heal people and by the time I was done, the river between our camps was too fast to cross. The 100 Camp didn't kidnap me, they saved me. They invited me into their home and taught me so many ways to survive here. And how did you repay them? By taking one of them hostage!"
Clarke glanced at Jasper but it was enough of a look for him to get the message. Say nothing about the bombs or the Grounders. Jasper was starting to think that Clarke really did have a plan. The crowd were in a panic at this point and there was nothing Diana could say at the moment to calm them down.
She bit out, "Clearly there has been some miscommunication. Mr Jordan can return to his camp while we figure out the truth behind all of this."
Clarke grasped Jasper's hand for a moment but then nodded her head towards the open gates. The guards were still armed and Jasper knew there was no way both of them were walking out. So he squeezed her hand back and then carefully walked towards the gates.
He didn't let out a sigh until they were closed behind him. Jasper didn't want to see them again until he was back with Bellamy to kick them down. A shadow moved out from a tree and Caitlin appeared.
"Jasper," she greeted, "You took your time."
He could only nod and stretch his sore muscle after such a bad night's sleep. The two of them walked away from the Ark Camp, the bushes overgrown in the area.
"What are the chances that Bellamy is going to be calm about this?"
Caitlin didn't even dignify him with a response.
"GET THE HELL OFF ME!"
Bellamy's yells could be heard throughout the camp but Hunter refused to loosen his grip. He had his friend pinned to the wall of his home, every muscle in his body straining to keep him from running after his girlfriend.
Octavia was also in the hallway, trying to reason with her brother but he wasn't listening. He just kept struggling to get free.
"You can't go running off to fight an armed camp!," Hunter said with gritted teeth, "This is beyond stupid."
Bellamy just tried to punch him. His furious glare nearly burnt a hole through Hunter's head.
"This was Clarke's decision and it wasn't an easy one," Hunter added, "And you knew that. You knew it Bellamy."
That seemed to get through to him because Bellamy's grip loosened. Hunter didn't let up but he saw Bellamy slump against the wall. Of course Bellamy had known; he had known the minute that he had read the note that Clarke would go back. Part of him had just hoped, just denied enough to think that she would wait.
Slowly Hunter eased his grip and Octavia took that as her cue to dart forth and hug her brother. Bellamy could only wrap one arm around her, the shock setting in. Monty and Raven appeared in the doorway, almost afraid of Bellamy's wrath.
But instead, Bellamy took in a shaky breath and then said, "We are going to get her back. And the Ark Camp is finished. They've crossed the line too many times."
"Our tribe is with you on that," Hunter replied, "Caitlin should have more news when she gets back with Jasper."
At least that was the upside to all of this. Bellamy straightened up and let go of Octavia. "Are your fighters ready to go?" he asked and Hunter nodded.
"I still think a battle is not the best thing Bellamy."
Bellamy just clenched his jaw before replying, "With Clarke at the Ark Camp, we can get inside information about them. We'll have to figure out how to get messages to her. Excuse me."
He stormed from the room and down the steps of his house. Monty let out a puff of air. "Wow, he is way more composed than I'd thought he'd be; Clarke has been a great influence."
There was a long pause and then Hunter asked, "Is he going off to destroy something?"
"Yup," Octavia responded, before hurrying away to get bandages for her brother's future injuries.
Hunter was quick to leave as well. Ever since he and Caitlin had spotted Clarke coming out of the hole in the outer wall, he had wanted to find out exactly where it was. Expertly, he avoided the other people walking around the camp and found the storehouses. Breakfast had ended a while ago so no one would be there until lunch.
He had to keep himself busy until his sister returned. After that, there would be no stopping Bellamy. A war was on the horizon, one that they could no longer ignore. And it was against any enemy that they had vastly underestimated.