Healing Hearts Chapter 14 Clarke

Clarke opened her door to find a young girl holding a stack of silky fabric. She stepped in and held out the cloth for Clarke.

"You're to change. Shane is taking you to the games. You will be in the box with Ice Nation. I will do your hair, but we must hurry,' said the girl.

Clarke was unsure what games they were talking about but, she was glad to be going outside, she hoped she would find a way to escape or at least get a grasp on what was around her. She was going stir crazy locked up in her room.

The dress she was given was a tan silky fabric, it was soft and flowy until she put on the long brown leather vest that was secured with six buckles. There was a slit on one side, and she pulled on black boots.

The girl braided her hair across the top and swooping it down one side, pulling it away from her face. Clarke was impressed with her skills in doing hair.

"Please we must hurry, Shane can't be left waiting, and the games promise to be exciting today," urged the young girl.

Clarke wanted to ask about the games, but the girl hurried out. Clarke had to rush to keep up with her.

"Ahh, Clarke," said Shane. "The dress suits you, but hurry, the crowds have already gathered, and we mustn't keep them waiting."

Shane's coach was surrounded by guards, at least ten from what Clarke could see. They acted like royalty; everyone moved and gave them a clear pathway to move throughout the crowds.

Clarke could hear the roar of the crowd; something about it gave her goosebumps and made her uneasy. The atmosphere had a barbaric tone.

The Ice Nation guards escorted them to a raised platform that was fenced off away from the crowds that stood around the wooded enclosed arena.

Clarke and Shane were seated in what Clarke could only describe as luxury seating. Clarke looked around at the people, there were all types. Everyone was talking, laughing, and anxiously awaiting the games to start. Clarke scanned the crowd, and got a glimpse of Echo and Serge. Their eyes met, and Echo smiled and waved to her. Echo was a little taken aback that Clarke was sitting in a place of such honor.

"What is this?" Clarke asked Shane. "What kind of games are these?"

Shane looked at her, with a steel gaze. "These are power games Clarke. You ask to learn our ways. These are warrior games."

Shane stood and stepped forward. She raised her hand to quiet the crowd. "People of Polis, Hear me now," she shouted. "We have the mighty warrior from the sky" she shouted with strength. "We will pit him against our own from Ice Nation," she shouted.

The crowds roared.

She sat back down.

"What have you done?" cried Clarke, "What do you mean from the sky?" Clarke tried to stand and look around; she looked towards Echo, who looked worried, and upset.

Shane nodded to a guard, who placed a firm grip on Clarke's shoulder holder her in her seat, just as she saw the cart roll into the arena.

Clarke watched in horror as she saw Bellamy dragged out and try to attack the guard; he was fighting them. He was shackled and had a steel collar around his neck attached to a pole. He looked uncontrollable. They slammed him down on the ground and chained him to the pole.

"Don't do this, Please don't do this," cried Clarke as she pleaded to Shane. "Let him go please," she begged.

"Clarke, you asked to learn about our people, just as we need to learn about yours," Shane said calmly, without emotion.

They released him and he lept up. His eyes dark and menacing, Clarke thought it was worse than when he went after Murphy when Charlotte jumped from the cliff.

Clarke couldn't control herself and she screamed,"Bellamy!"

She thought she saw him flinch for just a second, and then the crowd started chanting his name and screaming. "Bellamy, Bellamy."

Clarke saw him become enraged and try breaking free from the pole. Then she saw the gate open and a huge warrior come into the ring.

"Please stop this, he'll kill him, please I'm begging you, I'll do anything, please don't," Clarke cried and begged Shane.

Shane just smiled at Clarke's begging. Clarke tried to stand up and run to help, but was shoved back down into her seat and held down by the guard behind her.

She had tears streaming down her face, afraid to watch the giant grounder kill Bellamy.

She looked and everything happened so fast. She saw Bellamy, like a crazed wild animal pulling out the man's throat. She was sickened by the gush of blood, and watched Bellamy stand and scream with hate at the crowd as they erupted into a frenzy.

Clarke didn't recognize Bellamy. He looked insane, covered in blood, out of his mind. Then watched in horror as he went back to claw and rip at the dead man like a wild beast.

She was becoming sick. Knowing he was out of his mind. Not knowing what caused him to become the monster she was looking at. Had they turned him into a reaper?

The crowd erupted again as she watched him attack and kill another guard by wrapping his chain around the man's neck. Then he stood and screamed again at the crowd.

"Bellamy no!" Clarke screamed.

Bellamy looked right at her seeing her for the first time. He was covered in blood, but she still made out his features, and she saw the fight leave him. She saw the disappointment on his face, when he recognized her. He looked completely broken. Three men slammed him to the ground and injected him with a sedative, and he was out.

Clarke was sobbing. She looked for Echo, trying to find her but she was lost in the crowd. Shane's guard lifted her up by her arms, and she stumbled trying to turn and watch what they did with Bellamy. Afraid she may never see him again. She caught a of glimpse of them throwing him back into the caged wagon, arms shackled, and take him away.

"Your leader is indeed a great warrior," said Shane. "He's ruthless, that makes him strong."

"What did you do to him? You made him a reaper!" she screamed.

"A reaper? Hardly. He doesn't need red to bring out the animal," she said.

"I saw you inject him with something,' Clarke cried.

"It's just a sedative, to make him sleep. We can't have him killing my men, now can we?" she said simply.

"Please let me see him," Clarke begged. "I need to see that he's still… that he's okay," Clarke begged through tears.

"We will see," said Shane. "I think our Ice Queen will be impressed with your Sky Warrior when we take him to the Ice Nation. He will face many challengers when we get to there. First our warriors will line up here at Polis; to face him in the games," said Shane. "I want to assure he is worthy to present to our Queen."

Clarke had to get to Bellamy. She had to get away from The Ice people, whatever they did to cause Bellamy to go insane, she had to get him away. He would die if she didn't get him away from Polis and away from these people.

"Please I have to see him," she begged as they returned to Ice Nation's house. "He didn't look like himself, something happened to him."

Tears streamed downs Clarke's face. This was her fault. She should have never mentioned Bellamy's name. She saw the expression on his face when their eyes met. She had to find a way to save him.

"Tomorrow, we'll see," said Shane.