When I awoke, it was still dark outside. The fire was now down to dim embers. Bellamy was still asleep beside me, his face relaxed and peaceful in slumber. I took a moment to study him, tracing the lines of his face with my eyes. He looked younger like this, unburdened by the weight of leadership. As if sensing my gaze, his eyes fluttered open, deep brown meeting mine. A slow smile spread across his face, crinkling the corner of his eyes.
"Morning, Songbird." He murmured, voice husky with sleep. I felt a flutter in my chest at the familiar nickname.
"Morning," I whispered back. For a moment, we just lay there, drinking each other in. The world outside our tent felt far away—the challenges we faced, the decisions weighing on us, all of it faded into the background. Here, in this quiet moment, it was just us. Bellamy reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was gentle, almost reverent. I leaned into his hand, savoring the warmth of his skin against mine. "Why do you call me songbird?" Bellamy's smile deepened, his eyes softening with a mixture of affection and nostalgia. He propped himself up on one elbow, his gaze never leaving mine.
"Because," he said, his voice low and intimate. "When you're happy or stressed or thinking hard, you hum or sing softly. Little melodies, sometimes songs I recognize, sometimes just tunes you make up. You probably don't even realize you're doing it." I felt heat rise to my cheeks. I hadn't known I did that. "And," he continued, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. "Because you're free. Like a bird. No matter what's happened, you make your own path and you still sing." My breath caught in my throat. The way he looked at me, like I was something precious, something to be cherished, made my heart ache with a bittersweet longing.
"Bellamy, I—" I started, but words failed me. Instead of speaking, I reached out and traced the line of his jaw with my fingertips. His eyes fluttered closed at my touch, and he leaned into my hand. The moment felt fragile, like spun glass, and I was afraid to shatter it with words. Bellamy's eyes opened again, and the intensity in them made my breath catch. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in, giving me time to pull away if I wanted to. But I didn't want to. I met him halfway, our lips connecting in a soft, tender kiss. It was different from our previous kisses, which had always been tinged with desperation or fear or grief. This was unhurried, gentle, an exploration rather than a claiming. When we finally pulled apart, I felt lightheaded, my lips tingling. Our moment was shattered as Octavia's voice sounded outside.
"Bellamy!" His little sister called for her. "Get out here!" Bellamy's eyes widened, the peaceful moment vanishing as quickly as it had come. He was on his feet, yanking his pants on as I followed suit and quickly got dressed before following him out of the tent. Octavia stood in the middle of the camp and pointed to the sky. "There!" We looked up to see a burning light shooting across the sky. For a second, I thought it was a shooting star but the flames dissipated around the object to reveal a shuttle of some sorts. A parachute unfolded, slowing the shuttle down as it slowly descended down to the ground.
"They're coming to help us." Jones exclaimed excitedly. Bellamy's hand found mine, squeezing it tightly as we watched the shuttle's descent. The excitement in the camp was palpable, a buzz of whispers and pointing fingers. I looked up at Bellamy's face, his eyes hard as he watched the shuttle. A muscle clenched in his jaw and I watched as wariness and anxiety crept in him once more. "Now we can kick some grounder ass." Everyone laughed in agreement.
"Please tell me they brought down some shampoo." Another girl complained. Slipping my hand out of Bellamy's grip, I turned to head back into his tent calling Jones to follow me. I grabbed the map that was sticking out of Bellamy's pack and unfolded it, laying it across the table. I laid a finger on the spot where our camp was.
"Okay, it was headed southeast." I said, scanning the direction the shuttle had fallen.
"Which means that if it cleared the ridge, it's probably near the lake." Jones said, taking the map from me and looking it over. He was excellent with geographical locations. Octavia entered the tent with Bellamy behind her. I tried to meet his gaze but he kept his eyes casted down, looking at the map. He stopped by the table and crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles in his biceps flexing.
"We should get moving." Octavia said with a hint of excitement in his voice. "Everybody's ready."
"No one's going anywhere." Bellamy stated coolly, the relaxed and playful man I had seen moments ago long gone now. "Not while it's dark. It isn't safe. We'll head out at first light. Pass the word." Bellamy never looked up from the map as he gave the order. Jones nodded his understanding before exiting the tent. Bellamy turned his back to me and I couldn't stop from feeling a little hurt. Octavia stepped in front of him and he met her fierce gaze.
"Everyone for a hundred miles saw this thing come down. What if the grounders get to it first? Bell, we should go now."
"I said we wait until sunrise." Octavia scoffed at him and stormed out of the tent. I watched Octavia leave, then turned back to Bellamy. He was still standing with his back to me, his shoulders tense. I took a tentative step towards him.
"Bellamy," I said softly. "What's wrong?" I reached out to touch his arm and as soon as my fingers made contact with his skin, he spun around to face me. Before I could read his face, he cupped my cheeks with both his hands and pulled me up onto my tiptoes to bruise his lips to mine in a fierce kiss. I gasped against his mouth, startled by the sudden intensity. This kiss was nothing like the gentle one we had shared earlier. It was desperate, almost frantic, as if Bellamy was trying to pour all his fears and doubts into it. His hands slid from my face to my waist, pulling me flush against him. I wound my arms around his neck, fingers tangling in his curls as I matched his fervor. When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily. Bellamy rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed tightly. He gripped my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to tilt my head to the side so he could trail kisses along my neck. "Bellamy, we should really talk about the shuttle."
"In the morning." His voice was a low growl in my ear, sending shivers down my spine and igniting a fire within me. My grip on reality was slipping as Bellamy's dominant presence consumed me, making it impossible to resist him.
"That shuttle could have come from the Ark. You know that. I saw it on your face." He nipped at my jaw with sharp teeth, each touch setting me ablaze with desire. My protests were weak against his seductive actions. Bellamy continued to trail kisses along my neck, his hands roaming over my body.
"In the morning." I tried to push back, but he silenced me with an open mouthed kiss on the sensitive spot below my ear, driving me wild with pleasure.
"Damn it, Bellamy." I groaned, feeling helpless under his spell. I cursed myself for giving in to him so easily. His smirk only fueled my frustration as his fingers toyed with the hem of my shirt.
"I just want you for one night. Can we worry about the shuttle in the morning? Is that too much to ask for?" His words sent shockwaves through me, igniting a hunger that I couldn't deny any longer. In that moment, nothing else mattered except being with Bellamy.
"Just one night?" I whispered, slowly falling under Bellamy's control. He pulled my shirt up over my head and tossed it to the ground before taking my chin between his fingers again, forcing me to look up at him again.
"You know what I meant, Juliett." It was my turn to smile.
"Just wanted to make sure you're not getting sick of me yet." He gave me a dangerous smirk with a predatory look in his brown eyes.
"Songbird, I'm just getting started with you." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my resolve crumble completely. With a soft gasp, I pulled him back to me, our lips crashing together once more. Bellamy's hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He walked me backwards until my legs hit the edge of his makeshift bed. We fell down onto the blankets together, a tangle of limbs and heated breaths. Bellamy hovered over me, his eyes dark with desire. For a moment, he just looked at me, drinking me in. I felt exposed under his gaze, but not uncomfortable. There was a reverence in the way he touched me, like I was something precious. "You're beautiful," he murmured, tracing the curve of my waist. I pulled him down for another kiss, softer this time.
"So are you," I whispered against his lips. He moved back so he had room to yank my pants back down my legs, the clothing joining my shirt on the ground. He maneuvered himself back between my legs. His fingers moved between my folds and I dropped my head back against the pillows with a sharp moan. He slowly pushed one finger inside causing me to buck against his hand.
"Juliett," his voice was barely more than a whisper. "You're so wet for me, Songbird. Wet for me and only me." I involuntarily clenched around his finger. He slowly pumped it in and out a few times before he added a second finger. I let out a pathetic whimper as he stretched me in the most delicious way. He grinded the base of his hand against my clit while crooking his fingers against the sweet spot. I cried out in pleasure. "Shh, little songbird. As much as I love hearing your voice, the rest of the camp is trying to sleep." I let out a quiet moan in response. I bit my lip, trying to stifle my cries of pleasure as Bellamy continued his ministrations. His fingers moved expertly, building a tension inside me that threatened to snap at any moment. I clutched at his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as I fought to stay quiet."
"That's it," Bellamy murmured, his voice low and husky. "You're doing so well, Songbird. So good for me." His words sent a shiver through me, and I felt myself getting closer to the edge. Bellamy seemed to sense it too, because he increased the pace of his fingers, his thumb circling my clit with more pressure.
"Bellamy," I gasped, my back arching off the bed. "I'm going to—"
"Let go," he commanded softly. "I've got you." With a muffled cry and burying my face against Bellamy's shoulder, I came undone, waves of pleasure washing over me. Bellamy worked me through it, his fingers slowing but not stopping until I was limp beneath him, panting softy. He withdrew his hand gently, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead as I caught my breath. When I opened my eyes, he was looking down at me with a mixture of tenderness and desire that made my heart skip a beat. He brushed a strand of hair from my face and I smiled up at him, feeling boneless and sated. Reaching up, I pulled him down for a kiss, slow and deep. As our lips moved together, I could feel his arousal pressing against my thigh. Breaking the kiss, I met his eyes.
"Your turn," I whispered, my hands moving to the waistband of his pants. Bellamy's breath hitched as my fingers grazed his skin. He helped me push his pants down, kicking them off impatiently. I ran my hands up his muscled thighs, relishing the way he shivered at my touch. When I wrapped my hand around him, he let out a low groan, his heading dropping to my shoulder.
"Juliett," he breathed, his voice strained. I stroked him slowly, teasingly, enjoying the way he tensed above me. His hips rocked into my hand, seeking more friction.
"What do you want, Bellamy?" I murmured, nipping at his earlobe. He groaned again, louder this time.
"You," he said, his voice rough with desire. "I want you." I guided him to my entrance, both of us gasping as he slowly pushed inside me. Bellamy paused once he was fully sheathed inside me, giving us both a moment to adjust. I could feel every inch of him, stretching me deliciously. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, I felt more connected to him than ever before. Slowly, he began to move, setting a gently rhythm that had us both gasping softly. "You feel so good," Bellamy murmured against my neck, his breath hot on my skin. "So perfect." I wrapped my legs around his waist, changing the angle and causing us both to moan.
Bellamy's pace increased, his thrusts becoming more insistent. I met him movement for movement, our bodies moving together in perfect synchronization. The tension began to build again, a coiling heat in my lower belly. Bellamy seemed to sense it, one of his hands snaking between us to circle my clit. With his other hand, he grasped the back of my neck, pulling me to him in a bruising kiss. "Cum for me, Songbird." He whispered against my lips. "I want you to feel it." His words shot straight to my core, and I felt the tension break, waves of pleasure crashing over me once more. I cried out softly, my body shuddering beneath Bellamy as I came undone.
He continued to move within me, his thrusts becoming erratic as he chased his own release. I clung to him whispering encouragements in his ear as he drove into me. With a final, deep thrust, Bellamy stiffened above me, groaning my name as he found his release. We stayed like that for a long moment, bodies intertwined, breathing heavily. Bellamy pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes closed as he caught his breath. When he finally opened them, the tenderness in his gaze made my heart ache. We collapsed together, sweaty bodies entangled in the blankets. Bellamy rolled onto his side, pulling me into his chest. He trailed kisses along my jawline until he found my mouth once more. Our lips met in a lazy, sweet kiss, content to being in each other's arms.
The 100
I was content. Happily content. I was wrapped up in a warm embrace with Bellamy's scent surrounding me keeping me in a perfect slumber. Bellamy kept me going, pleasing me over and over until I was a mewling mess, barely able to keep my eyes open. I had drifted off into a peaceful sleep with Bellamy's arms wrapped tightly around me as he whispered soothing words into my ear. Imagine my dismay when I was awoken from my slumber by the sound of the tent flap being pushed open with a loud smack. My breath hitched in my throat and my heart lurched as I quickly sat up, clutching the blanket to my chest to hide my naked body. My fear and anxiety was immediately replaced by annoyance at the sight of Clarke and Finn entering the tent. I narrowed my eyes at Clarke and she furrowed her brows at me in confusion for me being in Bellamy's tent.
"What are you doing in here?" She asked.
"What are you doing in here?" I shot back.
"I was looking for Bellamy. Where is he?" I looked to my right to see an empty spot where Bellamy was laying next to me.
"The gear's gone." Finn stated, pointing to the corner of the tent and I followed his gaze to see Bellamy's gear and weapons gone. I had an extra blanket on and tucked by my pillow was Bellamy's jacket. I furrowed my brows in thought before I closed my eyes in realization, clenching my teeth in frustration. He kept an extra blanket on me so I wouldn't wake up from his lack of warmth and his jacket for his scent so my subconscious would think that he was still here.
"This mother floater." I hissed. "He told everyone to stay. Whatever's in that shuttle, he wants it. And he played me!" I flung back the blankets and jumped to my feet, not caring that Clarke and Finn were standing there to see my naked body. I was too angry to care about what they saw. Finn quickly averted his eyes away from me and stepped outside to give me some privacy. Clarke continued to stand there at the entrance as I snatched my clothes from the ground and began to furiously put them on.
"What do you mean he played you?" Clarke inquired as I slid my pants on.
"When we saw the shuttle and he was telling everyone to stay put and wait until morning, he either kept his back to me or he wouldn't even look at me because he knew I would read him. He knew I would know that he had planned on going to the shuttle himself. He knew and used…" I pulled my shirt over my head and waved an arm to the bed. "He used sex as a distraction so he could slip out and go there. Ugh! How could I be so naïve? God, I am so stupid!" I yanked on my boots, fuming with anger and embarrassment. Bellamy had used my feelings for him to distract me while he snuck off to the shuttle. The tenderness we had shared felt tainted now, a manipulation rather than a genuine connection. Clarke's expression softened slightly, a mix of sympathy and frustration crossing her face.
"You're not stupid, Juliett." She said, her voice gentler now. "Bellamy… he has a way of getting what he wants." I scoffed, running a hand through my tangled hair before throwing it up into a ponytail.
"Yeah, well, not anymore. We need to go after him." Clarke nodded, her face set with determination.
"Agreed. Whatever's in that pod could be our only chance to contact the Ark. We can't let Bellamy get to it first." We exited the tent to find Finn waiting outside, his eyes darting between us uncertainly.
"So, what's the plan?" Finn asked. The camp was just beginning to stir, the first hints of dawn painting the sky. I scanned the tree line, hoping to catch a glimpse of Bellamy, but he was long gone.
"We need to go after him," I said, turning to Clarke and Finn who were standing relatively closer to each other than they had been. They both seemed more relaxed than they were last night when they left camp after Monty fried the wristbands. Clarke looked like she was glowing in the dim firelight. "By the way, you two reek of sex. It's written all over you." I was angry and felt betrayed and was lashing out which wasn't fair to Clarke and Finn but they had the short end of the stick. I spun on my heel and stormed out of camp, heading in the direction that the shuttle had landed.
"This isn't your fault, Juliett." Clarke called after me, jogging to keep up pace with me.
"I should have known he would go after that radio."
"How are you supposed to know something like?" Finn questioned me.
"Because he's spent every single minute since we landed making sure no one on the Ark finds out we're alive."
"It doesn't mean you can predict what people are gonna do." I spun around angrily, clenching my fists into tight fists.
"That was literally what I was training to do on the Ark, Finn!" I snapped, my voice shaking with anger and hurt. "For five years! Since I was twelve years old, I have been training to interrogate and read and predict people instead doing what I really wanted to do which was computer coding! For five years, I have done nothing but read and predict people. And Bellamy found a way around that. I screwed up. Let myself get distracted." Clarke and Finn exchanged a glance, clearly taken aback by my outburst. I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotions. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice softer now. "I shouldn't take this out on you. It's just… I thought I knew him. I thought what we had was real." Clarke stepped forward, placing a hand on my arm.
"It might have been real for him too, Juliett." Clarke said. "But Bellamy's got his own agenda, and right now, that's more important to him than anything else." I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.
"You're right. We need to focus on finding that pod before he does." We set off again, moving as quickly and quietly as we could through the dense forest. The pre-dawn light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across our path.
"Should we split up?"
"Yeah." Finn agreed. "I'm going to say that Bellamy already found the shuttle. Clarke and I will find the shuttle. Juliett, find Bellamy and get whatever he took from it."
"With pleasure." I snapped, splitting off from them and headed deeper into the woods. I moved swiftly through the forest, my senses on high alert for any sign of Bellamy. The anger that had been fueling me began to fade, replaced by a gnawing sense of hurt and betrayal. How could he use me like that? After everything we'd been through together? A twig snapped nearby, and I froze, my heart racing. Slowly, I crouched down, scanning the area. There, about twenty yards ahead, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure moving between the trees.
Bellamy.
He was alone, which meant he'd already been to the pod. I watched as he paused, looking around warily before continuing on his path. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out from the trees.
"Bellamy!" I shouted at him and he spun around to face me, eyes wide with shock and confusion that I was there. I stormed to him, anger returning to every cell in my body. "You son of a bitch!" As I neared him, I balled up my fist and slammed it into his cheek, my joints singing in pain from the contact. He grunted, grasping his cheek in his hand as I slammed my hands into his chest and pushed him back. "You played me, you son of a bitch!" Bellamy stumbled back from my shove, his hand still pressed to his cheek where I'd struck him. His eyes were wide with a mixture of shock and guilt.
"Juliett, I—" he started, but I cut him off.
"Don't." I spat. "Don't you dare try to explain this away. You used me, Bellamy. You used what we have to distract me so you could sneak off and do exactly what you told everyone else not to do." He took a step towards me, his hand outstretched.
"That's not—"
"Where is it?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "The radio from the pod. Where is it?" Bellamy's face hardened, his jaw clenching as he swallowed hard before the lie came out of his mouth. If narrowing his eyes were his tell for telling the truth then swallowing hard was his tell for lying.
"I don't have it."
"You're lying." I hissed. "Where is it?"
"Juliett, I am telling you. I don't have it."
"Bellamy!" Clarke's voice sounded between the trees and she jogged over to us with Finn and another girl behind him. I recognized her as Raven. She was an engineer on the ark. She must have been the one in the shuttle. "Where is it?"
"He won't say." I snapped.
"They're getting ready to kill three hundred people up there to save oxygen. And I can guarantee you it won't be council members. It'll be working people. Your people." Finn stepped up to Bellamy and shoved him back.
"Bellamy. Where's the radio?" Finn questioned him. Anger flashed in Bellamy's eyes as he stepped back up to Finn, his face inches away from Finn's.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I stared at Bellamy, my anger with disbelief. How could he stand there and lie to my face after everything? He shoved Finn back.
"Stop it," I said, my voice low and dangerous as I stepped between the two men and pulled them away from each other. "Stop lying, Bellamy. I know you have the radio. What did you do with it?"
"Bellamy Blake?" Raven inquired, cocking her head to the side. "They're looking everywhere for you." Bellamy looked at her, eyes hard as stone. He knew exactly what she was talking about and why they were looking for him.
"Shut up." Bellamy snapped at her.
"Looking for him why?" Clarke asked Raven.
"He shot Chancellor Jaha." Raven answered. A muscle feathered in Bellamy's jaw as the truth came out.
"You what? Why?" I stared at Bellamy, searching his face.
"My guess… for Octavia." I stated, reading his features. When he narrowed his eyes at me, I knew I hit the head on the nail. "My guess is that someone told him that Octavia was going to be on the dropship so they made him a deal. He shoots the chancellor, he gets on the dropship with his little sister." Narrowed eyes. Truth.
"That's why you took the wristbands. Needed everyone to think we're dead."
"And all that whatever the hell we want?" Finn questioned him. "You just care about saving your own skin." Without saying another word, Bellamy turned and began to walk away but Raven chased after him, cutting him off.
"Hey!" She shouted at him. "Shooter! Where's my radio?"
"Get out of my way." Bellamy growled, his voice laced with quiet thunder.
"Where is it?"
"I should've killed you when I had the chance."
"Really?" Raven narrowed her eyes at the threat. She showed no fear on her face, standing her ground. Whether it was because she had no fear or because she thought it was an empty threat, I wasn't sure yet. "Well, I'm right here." In one fluid motion, Bellamy grabbed her by the collar of her jacket and slammed her against the nearest tree. Within seconds, Raven had a knife and held it up to Bellamy's face. He eyed it cautiously but didn't let go of her. "Where's my radio?"
"Ok, stop it." I snapped, prying Bellamy's hands off Raven and pulling him back.
"Jaha deserved to die." Bellamy tried to explain himself. "You all know that."
"Yeah, he's not my favorite person, either." Raven said, putting her knife away. "But he isn't dead." The color drained from Bellamy's face as he took in what she said.
"What?" Raven's words hung in the air, the gravity of them sinking in. Bellamy's face had gone pale, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What did you just say?" He whispered, his voice hoarse.
"You're a lousy shot." I watched as the information hit Bellamy like a physical blow. He stumbled back a step, his shoulders sagging as it a great weight had suddenly been placed upon them. His eyes darted around wildly, not focusing on any of us. The implications were clear. If Jaha was alive, then Bellamy's actions on the Ark weren't just attempted murder, they were treason.
"Stop talking." I snapped at Raven before walking over to Bellamy and taking his arm to pull him a few yards away from the others. I took his face in my hands so that his eyes could settle on me and only focus on me. "Bellamy, look at me." I said firmly, holding his gaze. His eyes were wide with panic, his breathing shallow and rapid. "Bellamy, don't you see what this means? You're not a murderer. You always did what you had to do to protect your sister. That's who you are. And you can do it again, by protecting three hundred of your people. Where's the radio?" Bellamy swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"It's too late." He whispered.
"Where's the radio, Bellamy?" For a moment, I saw a flicker of the vulnerable man I'd held in my arms just hours ago. Then his walls slammed back into place, his expression hardening. His eyes darted away for a moment before meeting mine again.
"I threw it in the river." He said, his voice low and rough. "It's gone." I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. When I opened them again, Bellamy was watching me warily, as if expecting me to hit him again.
"Okay." I said, my mind racing. "Okay," I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady. "We need to find that radio. Now." I turned back to the others, who were watching us intently. "Bellamy threw the radio in the river. We need to split up and search along the banks. Clarke nodded, her face set with determination.
"Raven, you and Finn head upstream. Juliett and I will go downstream. Bellamy—" She paused, fixing him with a hard stare. "You're coming with us." Bellamy looked like he wanted to argue, but something in Clarke's expression made him think better of it. He gave a curt nod, his jaw clenched tight. As we made our way to the river, I could feel the tension radiating off Bellamy. He walked slightly behind Clarke and me, his footsteps heavy and deliberate. I glanced back at Bellamy, noticing the tightness in his shoulders and the troubled look in his eyes. Despite my anger, I felt a twinge of sympathy. He had made a terrible mistake, but I could see the weight of it crushing him.
We reached the river and began scanning the banks, our eyes searching for any sign of the radio. The water rushed by, cold and fast. If the radio had been thrown in, it could be anywhere now.
"Spread out," Clarke called. "And be careful. The rocks are slippery." I moved downstream, my eyes darting between the water and the muddy banks. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of Bellamy in my peripheral vision. He was searching too, his movements mechanical and stiff. Sighing heavily and putting the search for the radio on pause for a moment, I turned to him.
"You played me, Bellamy." I repeated my words from earlier, but my tone was softer now. Bellamy's head snapped up at my words, his eyes meeting mine. The guilt and shame I saw there made my heart ache, despite my anger.
"I didn't—" He started, then stopped, running a hand through his hair. "It was supposed to be like that."
"Then what was it supposed to be like?" I asked, my voice low. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you used me. Used what we have to distract me so you could sneak off and get the radio." Bellamy took a step towards me, his eyes pleading.
"Juliett, I swear, that's not what I was trying to do. I just… I panicked. When I saw that pod come down, all I could think about was what would happen if the Ark found out were alive. What would happen to me."
"Then, why not come to me and tell me that? Why not just talk to me?" Bellamy's shoulders slumped, his eyes dropping to the ground.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "I guess I thought… I thought if I told you, you'd try to stop me. Or worse, you'd look at me differently." He looked up at me then, his eyes vulnerable. "I couldn't bear the thought of you looking at me like I was a monster." I felt my anger softening, despite my efforts to hold onto it.
"Bellamy," I said, taking a step closer to him. "I would never think you're a monster. But I need you to trust me. We're in this together, remember?" He nodded, swallowing hard.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm so sorry, Juliett. For everything." I reached out, taking his hand in mine.
"I know," I said softly. "But we need to focus on finding that radio now. We can talk more later." Bellamy nodded, squeezing my hand before letting go. We turned back to our search, moving methodically along the riverbank. As we searched, I couldn't help but steal glances at Bellamy. The weight of his actions was clearly bearing down on him, his shoulders slumped and his movements lacking their usual confidence. Part of me wanted to comfort him, to tell him it would be okay. But another part, the part still stinging from his betrayal, held me back.
"Hey!" Clarke's voice rang out from upstream. "I think I found something!" Bellamy and I rushed over to where Clarke was standing, knee-deep in the water and holding a dripping radio. Raven met up with her, taking the radio from her and examining it. She picked pieces of rock and dirt out of it. "Can you fix it?"
"Maybe." Raven muttered, flipping the radio over. "But it'll take half a day just to dry out the components to see what's broken."
"Like I said, it's too late." Bellamy said and Clarke rounded on him, eyes flashing with hurt and anger.
"Do you have any idea what you did?" Clarke growled at him. "Do you even care?" Bellamy stared down at her with a blank face, hiding his emotions as usual.
"You asked me to help. I helped."
"Three hundred people are gonna die today because of you."
"Hold up." Raven stopped Clarke's rant. "We don't have to talk to the Ark. We just have to let them know we're down here, right?"
"Yeah, but how do we do that with no radio?" Finn questioned her and her eyes lit up with an idea.
"We can send up flares." She said, her voice filled with excitement. "The Ark will see them and know we're alive." Clarke nodded, hope blooming on her face.
"That could work. But how do we make flares?" She asked.
"I can do it," Raven said confidently. "I just need some supplies from the dropship. Gunpowder, maybe some tech we can salvage."
"Okay," Clarke said, taking charge. "Raven, Finn and I will head to the shuttle and try to salvage what we can. Juliett and Bellamy, head back to camp and start building for the flares to fire."
The 100
Bellamy and I walked back to camp in tense silence, the weight of everything that had happened hanging heavily between us. As we neared the camp, I could see the nervous energy of the other delinquents, their voices carrying through the trees as they speculated about the shuttle.
"We should tell them what's happening," I said, breaking the silence. Bellamy nodded, his jaw clenched tight. As we entered the camp, all eyes turned to us. Questions started flying immediately.
"What was in the shuttle?"
"Are more people coming down?"
"Did you find anything useful?" Bellamy held up a hand, silencing the crowd.
"Listen up," he called out, his voice carrying across the camp. "The shuttle was sent by the Ark. There was a radio inside, but it's damaged. We're working on way to signal the Ark that we're alive. The camp erupted into murmurs and exclamations at Bellamy's words. I could see the mix of hope and fear on their faces.
"What does this mean for us?" someone called out.
"It means we need to work together." I said, stepping forward. "We're building flares to signal the Ark. We need everyone's help." Bellamy nodded, seeming grateful for the support.
"Monty, we need you to gather any tech you can spare." Bellamy ordered. "Jones, start collecting wood for the flares. Miller, organize a team to help build the launching platforms." The delinquents scattered, eager to have a purpose. As they dispersed, I turned to Bellamy.
"We should talk." I said quietly. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, we should." We made our way to a quieter part of the camp. We found a secluded sport near the edge of camp, away from prying eyes and ears. Bellamy leaned against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest defensively. I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "Bellamy," I started, my voice soft but firm. "What happened last night… I need to know if it was real. Or if it was just a distraction." Bellamy's eyes met mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths.
"It was real," He said, his voice rough. "Every moment of it was real, Juliett. I never meant to use you like that."
"But you did," I replied, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. "You knew what you were planning and you kept it from me. You let me believe we were on the same page." Bellamy pushed off the tree, taking a step towards me, his hand reaching out before dropping back to his side.
"I know," He said, his voice heavy with regret. "And I'm sorry. I was scared, Juliett. Scared of what would happen if the Ark came down. Scared of losing everything I've built here. Scared of losing you." I felt my heart clench at his words. Part of me wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, but I held back.
"I understand being scared, Bellamy. But you should have trusted me. We're supposed to be partners in this." He nodded. Bellamy's hand, rough and calloused from years of hard work and fighting, as he ran it through his hair in a gesture of frustration. His muscles were tense under his skin, evidence of the constant strain he carried.
"You're right. I should have trusted you. I just… I've spent so long looking out for myself and Octavia, I don't know how to let anyone else in." I took a step closer to him, close enough to see the vulnerability in his eyes.
"I get that, Bellamy. I do. But if we're going to make this work—whatever this is between us—we need to be honest with each other. No more secrets, no more hidden agendas." Bellamy nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine.
"You're right. I promise, from now on, complete honesty." As he spoke, I could feel the warmth of his breath against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. I searched his face, looking for any sign of deception. But all I saw was sincerity and a deep, aching vulnerability that made my heart clench. His eyes held a mixture of vulnerability and fear, and I could see the weight of his burdens reflected in them. Despite the hurt and anger I felt towards him, I couldn't help but reach out a hand to gently touch his arm in a gesture of forgiveness.
"Okay," I said softly. "I believe you." Bellamy let out a shaky breath, relief washing over his features. Hesitantly, he reached out and took my hand in his.
"I'm sorry, Juliett. For everything. I never meant to hurt you." Bellamy's voice was low and sincere, his eyes searching mine. "What we have… it means everything to me." I felt my resolve weakening as I looked into his eyes. Despite everything, I couldn't deny the connection between us.
"It means everything to me too," I admitted softly. "That's why it hurt so much when I thought you'd used me." Bellamy's hand tightened around mine.
"I swear to you, that was never my intention. I was scared and stupid, but what happened between us was real. Every moment of it." I took a deep breath, weighing his words. Part of me wanted to throw caution to the wind and fall back into his arms. But the rational part of my brain held me back.
"I believe you," I said finally. "But Bellamy, we can't go back to how things were before. Not right away. We need to rebuild the trust between us." Bellamy nodded, his eyes never leaving mine.
"I understand," he said softly. "Whatever it takes, Juliett. I'll anything to make this right between us." I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words, but I tempered it with caution. We had a long way to go, but this was a start.
"Okay," I said, squeezing his hand gently before letting go. "For now, let's focus on getting those flares built. We can figure out the rest later." Bellamy nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Together?"
"Together," I confirmed, feeling a spark of hope ignite in my chest. We made our way back to the center of camp, where the others were already hard at work preparing for the flares. As Bellamy and I approached the bustling activity in the camp center, we could see the determination on everyone's faces. The delinquents were working with a sense of purpose I hadn't seen before. Monty was hunched over a pile of scavenged tech, his brow furrowed in concentration as he sort through the components. Jones and his team were hauling in logs and branches for the flare platforms, while Miller directed the construction efforts. "Looking good," I called out, giving them an encouraging nod. Miller looked up, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"We should have the platforms ready soon," he reported. "Just need to figure out how to stabilize them." Bellamy stepped forward, surveying the work.
"Use some of the seaweed from the river to lash the logs together." Bellamy suggested. "It'll hold better than rope." Miller nodded, clearly impressed with Bellamy's suggestion.
"Good idea. I'll send a team to collect some." As Miller headed off to organize the seaweed collection, I turned to Bellamy.
"I'm goin to check on Monty, see if he needs any help with the tech," I said. Bellamy nodded, his eyes softening as they met mine.
"Okay. I'll over see the platform construction." He said. "We'll meet back her in an hour to check progress?" I agreed, feeling a small flutter in my chest at the easy way we fell back into working together. As I made my way over to Monty, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could rebuild what had been broken between us. Monty looked up as I approached, his face lighting up with a grin.
"Juliett!" He greeted me. "Just the person I wanted to see. I could use your help with something." I crouched down beside him, examining the array of parts and wires spread out before us.
"What do you need?" I asked.
"I'm trying to rig up a simple ignition system for the flares." Monty explained, holding up a tangle of wires. "But I can't quite get the connections right. You were always better at this stuff than me." I smiled, touched by his faith in my abilities.
"I was always good with computes. You were the one always good at the connection and wiring but let's take a look together." I said, taking the wires from him. As I began to sort through the components, my mind drifted back to the Ark, to the hours we'd spent tinkering with electronics together. It felt like a lifetime ago.
"So," Monty said casually as we worked. "You and Bellamy, huh?" I felt heat rise to my cheeks at Monty's question. I kept my eyes focused on the wires in my hands, not quite ready to meet his gaze.
"It's… complicated," I said finally, my voice soft. Monty hummed thoughtfully beside me.
"Complicated how?" He pressed gently. "I mean, I've seen the way you two look at each other. Doesn't seem that complicated to me." I sighed, setting down the wires and turning to face my friend. Monty's eyes were kind, free of judgement. It reminded me why he had always been on of my closest confidants on the Ark.
"We care about each other," I admitted. "But there's a lot of… baggage. Trust issues. It's not as simple as just being together." Monty nodded slowly, his brow furrowed in thought. Monty's eyes softened with understanding.
"I get it," he said gently. "Down here, nothing's simple anymore. But Juliett, I've known you for years. I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at Bellamy." I felt a lump form in my throat at Monty's words.
"I know," I whispered. "That's what scares me." Monty reached out, squeezing my shoulder comfortingly.
"Love is scary," he said. "Especially down here. But maybe that's all the more reason to hold onto it when we find it." I nodded, blinking back the tears that had formed in my eyes.
"You're right," I said, managing a small smile. "When did you get so wise, Monty Green?" He grinned, shrugging.
"Must be all that moonshine." I chuckled at Monty's quip, grateful for his ability to lighten the mood. We turned our attention back to the wiring, working in companionable silence for a while. As we connected the final components, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me.
"I think we've got it," I said, holding up the completed ignition system. Monty grinned, giving me a high five.
"Nice work, partner," he said. "Now we just need to test it and—" A commotion from the center of camp cut him off. We looked up to see Clarke, Finn, and Raven rushing into the camp, their arms full of supplies from the shuttle.
"We've got everything we need," Clarke announced, her voice carrying across the camp. "Let's get these flares built and launched before nightfall." The camp burst into a flurry of activity as everyone rushed to finish preparations for the flares. I helped Monty install the ignition systems on the platforms while Raven oversaw the mixing of the gunpowder and other chemicals for the flares themselves. Bellamy coordinated the teams, his strong voice carrying across the camp as he directed efforts. As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the camp, we gathered around the completed flare platforms. There was a nervous energy in the air, a mixture of hope and fear. This was our chance to save lives on the Ark, to let them know we were alive. But it was also a step towards bringing the Ark to Earth, and I could see the conflict in some of the delinquents' eyes. Bellamy stood at the front of the group, his face set in determination.
"Alright," Bellamy's voice rang out across the camp as he addressed the group gathered around the flare platforms. The setting sun cast a warm glow over the scene, highlighting the nervous anticipation on everyone's faces. "This is our chance," Bellamy continued, his eyes scanning the crowd. "Our chance to save lives on the Ark, and to let them know we're alive down here. I know some of you have mixed feelings about this. I did too. But right now, this isn't about us versus them. It's about saving innocent lives." I watched Bellamy as he spoke, feeling a swell of pride at how far he'd come. The man who had wanted to keep the Ark in the dark was now leading the charge to contact them. As if sensing my gaze, his eyes found mine in the crowd. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before he turned back to address the group. "Raven, are we ready?" Bellamy asked, turning to the mechanic. Raven nodded, her face set with determination.
"Everything's set." She said. "We just need to light them and hope the Ark sees them. Monty, we good?" He gave her a thumbs up.
"Alright," Bellamy said, his voice carrying across the tense silence. "Let's do this." I found myself at one of the platforms with Bellamy, our shoulders brushing as we stood side by side. "Ready?" He asked softly, his eyes meeting mine. I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat.
"Ready." I answered him.
"Hit it, Monty." Raven ordered and Monty flipped the ignition switch. The three flares lurched forward up the ramps in a blazing light of pink and purple sparkles. We all watched in awe as the flares soared into the darkening sky, trailing vibrant streaks of pink and purple. The camp fell silent, every eye turned upward, following the ascent of our desperate message to the stars. I felt Bellamy's hand find mine in the darkness, our fingers intertwining. We stood there, hearts pounding, hoping against hope that someone up there would see our signal. As the flares climbed higher, their light began to fade, becoming indistinguishable from the stars above. The silence in the camp was almost eerie, broken only by the occasional crackle of the campfire. Three more flares were replaced, ready to launch at Raven's signal.
"Go." Three more flares launched into the sky, screeching as the rocket fuel lit. As the second set of flares soared upward, I felt Bellamy's grip on my hand tighten. I glanced at him, seeing the mix of hope and fear etched on his face. He met my gaze, his eyes reflecting the fading light of the flares. The third set of flares launched.
"Do you think they saw them?" Someone whispered, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
"They had to have," Clarke said, her voice firm with conviction. "They're watching for any sign of us. They'll see it." I squeezed Bellamy's hand, anxiety rolling in my gut.
"You think they can see it from up there?" Bellamy inquired, staring up into the sky.
"I don't know. I hope so. Can you wish on this kind of shooting star?" Bellamy looked over at Clarke questioningly and she rolled her eyes at him. "Forget it." He looked back up at the sky.
"I wouldn't even know what to wish for. What about you?" I followed Clarke's gaze as she slowly turned to look over to where Finn was standing with his arm wrapped around Raven's shoulders, pulling in close. Sadness was clouding Clarke's blue eyes. As the last flares faded from view, a somber quiet settled over the camp. The enormity of what we'd just done – and what was at stake – weighed heavily on everyone. I could see the mixture of hope and fear on the faces around me. Bellamy's hand was still in mine, his grip firm and grounding.
"Now we wait," Raven said, breaking the silence. Her voice was tight with emotion.
"How long until we know if they saw them?" someone asked.
"Hard to say," Clarke replied. "It depends on if they were watching, how long it takes them to decide what to do next." The crowd began to disperse, murmuring amongst themselves. Some headed back to their tents, while others gathered around the campfire, seeking comfort in each other's company. I turned to Bellamy, studying his face in the flickering firelight. His brow was furrowed, eyes still fixed on the night sky where our flares had disappeared. The weight of everything we'd done, everything that was at stake, seemed to press down on his shoulders.
"Hey," I said softly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "You did good today." Bellamy's eyes finally left the stars, meeting mine. A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"We did good," he corrected. "I couldn't have done any of this without you, Juliett." I felt a warmth spread through my chest at his words. Despite everything that had happened between us, the hurt and the betrayal, there was still this connection. This understanding.
"Come on," I said, tugging gently at his hand. "Let's get some rest." As we walked back to his tent and settled onto his makeshift bed, the night air was filled with a quiet calmness that seemed to envelop us. The crackling fire outside and its warm glow casted flickering shadows on our faces. As we walked back to our makeshift camp, the night air was filled with a quiet calmness that seemed to envelop us. Bellamy and I settled by the crackling fire, its warm glow casting flickering shadows on our faces. The events of the day replayed in my mind, the danger, the uncertainty, and the unwavering trust we had in each other.
"I'm glad you were there with me," Bellamy said, his voice sincere and filled with gratitude. I could see the weariness in his eyes, a reflection of the battles we had fought side by side. I smiled softly, feeling a sense of peace settle within me.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. The flames danced in our eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken bond between us. As we settled down to rest, I knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges, new doubts, and new victories. But in this moment, I felt a sense of unity, of resilience in the face of adversity. And as sleep claimed us both, I held onto that feeling, knowing that together, we could face whatever tomorrow may bring.