So, I guess I'm back again! I'm going to be honest: I was so unsure of the direction I wanted to take with the story. Then I remembered that I was writing this story, and I'll do what I want. XD... Anyway, there is going to be a slight trigger warning. As you guys know, death will be mentioned in the chapter, as we all know how it is with the 100. I hope you enjoy the chapter.
The moonlight illuminated the camp. Several fireflies floated around the camp's borders, avoiding the raging bonfire the teenagers were currently occupied with. Everyone chatted and relaxed with a sense of security. It was only because of the guard system Bellamy and Clarke sat in place. Wells sat perched on a small dug mound by the camp, watching over the camp. Wells sat with a relaxed posture. Although he guarded the camp, his mind was elsewhere.
Valerie had been right all along, he thought. Clarke was much stronger than he thought. And he was stupid for not telling her the truth earlier. He had to go and find Valerie at the camp later; even though she went outside the camp, he had no doubt she could handle herself.
"Like a cockroach, she survives..." Wells told himself.
Small footsteps came from behind. And he turned around. Valerie approached him, smirking. Wells raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Valerie! Where the hell you've been?"
"You calling me a cockroach, Wells?" Valerie laughed and sat beside him. Wells only shook his head. He looked over the area, and a smile sat on his face. Valerie looked over the camp and saw the teenagers drinking. A celebration?
"So, I guess something good happened in my absence?" She asked. Wells lost his smile after a moment, and he turned towards the direction of the graves. Valerie followed his gaze, and her heartbeat picked up. It's not a celebration, after all.
"Well, not all good. The acid fog got Atom; I dug a grave for him earlier."
Valerie's smile vanished, and she stared up at the stars. The pair sat in silence for a minute.
"He seemed like a good kid, although he made mistakes. He seemed better when he got together with Octavia…" Valerie said. Wells nodded in agreement. She noticed the mood going sour and remembered the blueberries in her backpack. She gave one of the containers to Wells. Wells stared at it in confusion.
"Well, stupid, open it. It looks like you need a pick-me-up, " she said, opening her container and eating. Wells looked at the berries in her container and opened his own. His brow furrowed, confused.
"What's wrong?" Valerie asked.
"I remember seeing these in a picture, but I can't for the life of me remember the name…" Wells questioned.
"It's blueberries." She answered and threw one in her mouth. Wells gave her a pointed look.
"How did you know that? And are you sure it's safe?"
"Oy, you don't believe or? It's true; eat it, it's amazeballs." She said, eating the rest of the container. It wasn't big, only enough blueberries for one person. Wells took one blueberry and held it to his lips. He ate it, and his eyes got wide. He proceeded to eat the entire container in seconds. The corner of his mouth got purple in the process. Valerie couldn't suppress her amusement and started to laugh.
"Hey, what's your problem?" He asked.
"Who knew you liked blueberries?" Valerie commended with joy in her voice. The pair sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Valerie turned her head towards Wells for a moment, thinking. As if he could sense her stare, he turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Whatcha thinking?" His mouth lifted slightly at the corner.
"So much has happened; it seems like something I'd watch on TV." Her gaze wandered around the camp. Wells raised his eyebrows for a moment.
"I'm not following..." He paused. He was about to ask before footsteps approached the pair, and a young teen appeared.
"Hey, got told it's my turn by Bellamy or something." Valerie and Wells exchanged glances before getting up and heading towards the camp. Valerie turned momentarily, looking at the kid who was supposed to guard the entire camp. He couldn't be older than 14. The kid appeared bored watching the forest, but with a closer look, everyone would notice his stiff shoulders, the hands resting on top of his makeshift knife, and his tired eyes alert. Those tired eyes reminded Valerie of Charlotte.
"Wells, you know Charlotte, right?" Valerie asked while they walked back. Wells looked at her for a moment.
"Don't think so. Who is she?"
"It's a girl not older than 12 or 13." She answered.
"Did she do anything really bad?" He asked back.
"No, or I'm not sure if she is about to do anything bad. I encountered her right before the acid fog, and shit was dark. Like real dark, she seriously needs some help." Valerie mused with an intense stare.
"Hmm, let's ask Clarke. She should know how to help her," Wells answered with a small smile. It seemed a decision had been made in his head. His pace quickened, and Valerie almost tripped over a branch while keeping up.
"Hey, you know we can ask her tomorrow, right?" Valerie asked with a slight smirk.
"Or you just want an excuse to see her?" She continued. Wells almost tripped himself but quickly gained composure. His cheeks were tinted lightly, but he ignored her. Valerie laughed with a snort.
"Okay, Casanova, let's go ask Clarke."
At the camp, Clarke and Finn sat at the bonfire chatting. Clarke's shoulders sagged with grief for another life lost in this strange place. Wells and Valerie approached and sat down.
"Clarke, you know Charlotte, right?" Wells asked her. Valerie gave him a pointed stare but looked away when Finn caught her. Clarke was either oblivious, or she didn't care. Either way, she entered business mode immediately.
"Yes, I comforted her after a nightmare once. If you're asking about that, I haven't seen her lately." Clarke answered. Valerie's eyes snapped up.
"What do you mean you haven't seen her?" Valerie asked, her heartbeat picking up for a moment. Clarke picked up on Valerie's urgent tone, immediately looked around the camp, and rose up, searching for Charlotte. Clarke approached Harper, with some of the other girls chatting between themselves with small smiles, not far from the group.
"Hey, have you seen Charlotte today?" Clarke asked. Harper looked up at Clarke, her smile vanishing before she exchanged a look with the others.
"Uhm, no, I don't think so." She answered. Clarke looked back at the group with a worried face before they all gathered by the dropship.
"Okay, where was she seen last?" Clarke asked the group.
"What's going on here?" Bellamy approached the group, Murphy at his tail, seemingly bored. Clarke turned to him, her hands resting on her hips.
"We think Charlotte is missing, you've seen her?" Clarke asked. Bellamy's eyebrows furrowed, confused.
"Who the hell is Charlotte?" He asked the group, Scratching the back of his head. Valerie stepped forward, meeting Bellamy's eyes.
"It's a seriously damaged teenage girl. I've talked to her once or twice. I saw her yesterday when I fished before the blasted acid fog." Valerie answered Clarke, entirely ignoring Bellamy.
"Okay. We know we saw her yesterday by the river. She may be lost in the forest around here somewhere. I only hope she found a good enough hiding place from the fog. We need to act fast." Clarke said. Wells gathered several delinquents willing to help and gained the group's attention.
"Let's split- "Wells started before Bellamy interrupted him and stepped right in front of Wells.
"Okay, guys! Let's split up and search. Murphy, take your guys and look around by the caves. She may be hiding there, and you may as well use the time to hunt for food." The teens scuffled ahead, tired and complaining. However, no one complained about the possibility of food for the camp.
"I'll go and let Octavia know," Bellamy said, disappearing into the crowd. Wells sighed, and Valerie patted her hand on his shoulder.
"Wells, you sure don't give up." Valerie laughed at Wells's annoyed glare. Clarke and Finn approached them.
"You saw Charlotte last, right?" Finn asked. Valerie nodded.
"Right, I'll show you guys the spot," Valerie said. Wells turned to Clarke.
"I'll stay behind with some of the others, keeping the camp safe." Wells crossed his arms. Clarke smiled and nodded.
"Finn, Bellamy, Johnson and I leave for the river," Clarke ordered. Finn looked at Clarke before disappearing into his tent. He appeared with a backpack on his back and another in his hand. He tossed it to Bellamy, who was arriving from talking with his sister.
"Bellamy, you're with us. There's a tent in the backpacks in case of the fog." Finn explained. Bellamy nodded and threw it on his shoulders.
Valerie groaned in annoyance at Bellamy.
"Can't he stay behind in camp, Clarke, please?" Valerie pleaded with Clarke. Clarke raised her eyebrow.
"Remember he has the gun, right? So which way?" Clarke asked. Valerie pointed down the forest path.
"Straight ahead and follow that mountain peak at the right. Go between two large rocks, and you'll see a waterfall." Valerie showed Clarke. Clarke thanked her and walked ahead with Finn right behind her. Valerie started walking some distance behind the pair, giving them some privacy.
"So, red. Did you cut your hair?" Bellamy asked with a slight smirk. Valerie turned at him, annoyed.
"You realise a girl is missing, right?" Valerie deflected. Bellamy's smirk stayed, but his eyes drifted around the forest as they walked.
"Please, it's probably a girl who knows how to hide. She must be around here somewhere." Bellamy stated, his shoulders tensing for a moment as he looked around.
"I hope so." Valerie answered back with hope in her voice.
The group arrived at the lake. Finn and Clarke inspected the area for clues, and Finn found several footprints and narrowed his eyes for a moment in confusion. Valerie noticed and started panicking, remembering Alaric. 'shit.'
"So spacewalker, Charlotte and I chatted here, and I left her here to give her a moment before I went back to the camp yesterday when you brought that panther," Valerie asked, deflecting Finn from finding Alaric's footprints. Finn looked up at her while Clarke and Bellamy gathered around Valerie.
"That means she must have been gone since before the fog." Clarke deducted. Bellamy nodded, and Finn looked around the area again.
"Wait, I see something," Finn said as he followed a track of tiny footsteps. The group followed the tracks away from the waterfall and into the forest. Valerie tried to look for clues but quickly realised she didn't know what to look for. They approached a rather large tree and went around it.
Finn went first, following a curse word. Bellamy immediately stepped before Clarke and Valerie, brought his gun and followed Finn.
"Wait here in case of grounders," Bellamy said. Clarke rolled her eyes but complied as Bellamy went around the tree. Valerie is only sighted but decides not to argue with the man with a gun. Some moments passed before Bellamy came back with a haunted expression. Valerie immediately feared the worst and was about to walk around. Bellamy tried to stop her.
"You don't want to see this." Bellamy tried. Valerie narrowed her eyes and went around Bellamy with Clarke following. The sight appearing from around the tree truly haunted the girls. Finn sat on one knee beside a body covered by a tarp. His eyes briefly met with Valerie before they rested on Clarke, a sad look appearing on his face. Clarke turned briefly and looked away, grief striking her.
"I brought this tarp just in case of this, but I never thought- "Finn began. Valerie rushed by the wrapped body, instantly reminded of her adoptive parents back at the ark. She almost didn't want to look but knew she had to know.
Valerie's hand trembled as she uncovered the tarp. And there it was. Charlotte's face was covered in blisters like Atom's face had been. But it wasn't the only thing covering her body. There, it was the reason for Finn's haunted look. A cloth tied around her neck. A male set of arms embraced her as she wept, and Finn covered the body.
Daym, that's a heavy ending. Now we hope that Valerie notices how much her words can impact. And did anyone pick up Bellamy without knowing her? Hmmm.