𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓/𝟏.𝟏𝟐.
☆ SECRET PROTECTOR ☆
"𝓛𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝔀𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮."

☆꧁*꧂☆

   THE REMAINING FOUR were hidden beneath the poor excuse of a tent, hoping it would protect them from deadly acid fog madding outside. Allaia's sudden disappearance stirred with Bellamy's heart, engulfing him in a sense of the highest guilt. His fists were clenched tightly, as the image of almost lifeless Allaia created itself in his mind, tormenting his conscience all over again. He was terrified; menacing aura, holding him captive in a rough embrace, seemed to sever his source of oxygen, nearly strangling him with anxiety. 

I should've made her stay at camp, Bellamy thought in regret, fuming with anger and concern.

"Blake, I swear, if anything happens to my little sister, I'm gonna end you." Finn seethed. "You promised you'd protect her!"

"Finn, I tried." Bellamy whispered. "I held her hand the whole time and then she just split with me." He explained pathetically. 

"Well, you should've tried harder!" Finn spat. "I just— I just met her. I don't know what I'm gonna do if we don't find her..." His voice cracked slightly.

"We will." Bellamy interjected confidently, tightening his jaw.

"How long are we supposed to wait?" Jasper asked, cutting the tension.

"Will this even work?" Monroe inquired.

"We'll find out." Finn sighed.

"No, we won't" Bellamy snapped, frustrated. He shoved the fabric aside, allowing the light to brighten up their sights. "There's no fog." Bellamy quickly rose to his feet, the rest standing up as well.

"Maybe it was a false alarm?" Finn suggested optimistically. 

   His naive hope deceased as they noticed another Grounder spinning through the forest. The man's attention wasn't focused on them — he was running in the entirely different direction. 

"They're coming back." Bellamy stated. 

"I think he's alone." Jasper whispered.

"Now can we run?" Monroe implied softly.

"He doesn't see us." Bellamy realized with his tone deliberately louder. "I'm going after him."

"Right now?" Finn made sure. "And then what? Kill him?"

"No. Catch him." Bellamy emphasized, casting them a hard look. "Make him tell me where Octavia and Allaia are, then kill him." He growled, rushing forward.

"How do we know he's not leading us into another trap?" Jasper inquired shakily.

"We don't." Finn replied.

☆꧁*꧂☆

   ALLAIA GRADUALLY REGAINED her way into consciousness, her eyes fluttering open. Dull, deafening sound was ringing in her ears due to the enormous pain in her head as if it had been inflamed with cinders of fire. Her visibility was hazy; blurry eyesight caused her to blink a few times rapidly to sharpen her surroundings. Groaning quietly, Allaia tried to touch her hair where the ache was sensible the most, only to realize that her hands were bind tightly with a chain connected to a wall. However, she could sense a sticky grease on her temple, so she assumed it was coated in withered blood mixed with dirt.

   Slowly, Allaia positioned herself against a cold wall, muffling her painful moans. She cautiously scanned her vicinity, recognizing that she was in some sort of cave. Utter silence echoed through the hollow. Blackness rimmed from everywhere, frightening Allaia even more. On the opposite side of the cave, a figure was bracing against the rocky surface.

"Allaia?" The voice whispered, startling Alle.

"Tavy?" Allaia called out silently, distinguishing familiar sound.

"Yeah." Relief was audible in Octavia's hoarse tone. "Are you okay?"

"Just a wound on the head. I might have a concussion." Allaia replied. "Are you hurt, Tavy?"

"My leg is injured, but he... He fixed it." Octavia breathed. 

"Wait. What? Who? How?" Allaia inquired incoherently.

"The Grounder. He brought you here and helped me earlier."

Alle gasped. "Does he speak English?"

"I don't know if he speaks at all." Octavia told her.

"He said something to me before I blacked out." Allaia confessed. "Sirra. What could it be? Any theories?"

"No idea." Octavia exhaled; her eyes widened in consternation. 

"Sounds kinda familiar." Alle murmured, still a little dizzy. "Hm, anyway, how do we escape?"

"Allaia, we're chained to the wall." Octavia pointed out. 

"Yeah, I'm aware. Won't hurt to ask though." She shrugged, tugging on her bounded wrists. 

"I tried to get away, but he caught me." Octavia revealed.

   Heavy footsteps sounded from afar, signalizing that someone was coming. The Grounder entered the cave. Octavia, seeing that the man was approaching her, mentally planned escape in her mind. She picked up the stone lying near her, gripped it tightly and hit the Grounder in the head, knocking him down instantly and causing him to lose consciousness. 

"Tavy, you're such a badass." Allaia cheered quietly.

   A sigh of pure solace left their lips when they noticed a key in the Grounder's unmoving hand. Panic reoccurred as soon as both girls heard steps echoing from the entrance of the cave. 

"Shit, another one?" Allaia mumbled silently. "I got this one, Tavy!" She winked, preparing herself for the attack. 

"Bellamy?" Octavia gasped, noticing her big brother.

"Octavia!" Bellamy breathed out thankfully, hugging her tightly. "It's okay. You're okay." He exhaled fondly. 

"Oh God, Allaia!" Finn exclaimed in relief, rushing to his sister. "I'm so glad you're okay, Alle." He whispered shakily, pulling her closer to his chest and caressing her hair. 'Don't you scare me like this ever again!" The corners of her lips slightly went upwards at his adorable tenderness. 

"Monroe, watch the entrance." Bellamy ordered.

   Meanwhile, he quickly unchained Octavia, covertly glancing at Allaia. As if out of habit, Bellamy rapidly scanned Allaia's figure for any indications of possible wounds in pure concern. The small cut on her temple immediately captured his attention, only intensifying his worry. Bellamy was impatient; he wanted to take Allaia in his arms; inhale her scent to insure himself she was fine, perfectly safe within his sight, but he knew he needed to let Alle and Finn reunite. 

   As soon as Finn released Allaia from his hold, Bellamy swiftly unlocked her chains and engulfed her in a delicate hug. Both of them breathed in relief, immediately relaxing upon the warmth, radiating from their bodies. 

"You're okay." Bellamy mumbled silently under his nose, as if consoling himself. "You scared the shit out of me, love."

   Allaia lightly smiled against his shoulder and shyly snuggled into his chest, reveling in their closeness. Reluctantly, Bellamy pulled away from their embrace, maliciously glaring at the unconscious man lying on the ground with thunders shining in his enraged gaze. 

"How did you find us?" Octavia asked.

"Followed him." Jasper responded with a smile, embracing her.

"We should go. Now. Before he wakes up." Octavia suggested.

"He's not gonna wake up." Bellamy growled viciously, grabbing onto his axe and heading towards the Grounder.

"Bell, let's just leave." Allaia tried to convince him. 

"Bellamy, stop." Octavia pleaded. "He didn't hurt us. Let's just go."

"He didn't hurt you?" Bellamy repeated with a hiss. "Your forehead is covered in blood, O. Allaia has an injury on her head and probably a concussion." He seethed. "What, it just magically appeared out of nowhere?" He scoffed. 

"Yes, he knocked me out, but I'm perfectly fine. It's just a scratch." Allaia reeled a bit, slight dizziness taking control of her body. 

"You won't fool me, love." Bellamy whispered, steadying her. "They started this. Finn. Move." He ordered in a deadly serious tone, adjusting his grip on the weapon in order to prepare for the strike.

Finn crouched next to the unconscious man, staring at his belt in reverie. "Foghorn." He mumbled.

   The noise of a knife being unsheathed resonated into the cave. In the matter of seconds, the Grounder lunged himself upwards, stabbing Finn in the side of his chest. Allaia let out a deafening scream as hot tears blurred her vision. Immediately, she rushed to Finn, cradling his head on her lap tenderly. 

"Oh God, Finn!" Allaia cried out in agony, gently caressing his hair and staring at the blade poking out of his torso in pure terror.

   While kneeling next to him, Alle positioned her trembling hands around the knife's nearest area to decrease the bleeding pouring from the injury. In the meantime, Bellamy tried to defeat the Grounder. As Allaia glanced in his direction rapidly, he was pinned to the floor as the man attempted to shove a spear through Bellamy's throat. 

"Stop! That's my brother!" Octavia yelled, trying to gain the Grounder's attention.

   The stranger ignored her, pressing the blade even closer to Bellamy's neck. However, Jasper gripped a large stick in his hand and slammed it across the Grounder's head with all the force. It knocked him down instantly, causing him to fall unconscious. 

"We need to get moving." Bellamy exhaled, soothingly rubbing his throat. His eyes dilated, casting at Finn's state under a major threat. "Get him up!" He yelled, swooping into action. 

"Please, Bellamy, don't let him die." Allaia pleaded pathetically. Her body was convulsively wracking with an uncontrolled storming of sobs and tears. "He's my brother... I can't lose him!" She whispered frantically. 

"It's gonna be okay, love." Bellamy assured, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I won't let anything happen to Finn, you hear me, angel? He's strong. He's gonna survive this." 

   Finn's face paled as the blood was pouring from the wound on his chest in a rapid motion, soaking up his t-shirt with red liquid. The group ran straight towards the camp, in sheer anxiety of Finn's life.

☆꧁*꧂☆

"SOMEONE GET CLARKE! Now!" Jasper yelled, entering through the gates. 

   During the whole way back, Allaia was on edge, with her nerves thoroughly shattered. Her fear resolved into substantial living force, creeping over Alle like some ravenous beast, extremely debilitating her. Allaia couldn't fixate on anything. Her heart was throbbing in an odd rhythm, loud and erratic. Panic outshone her surroundings like a turbid mist. Shapes and sounds disfeatured into shadows and echoes, toying with her sanity. Allaia's terrified mind identified every breath of wind as a blood curling shriek. The slightest outlook of Finn's possible death triggered a feeling as though a ghost surpassed her soul and left her numb, trembling in horror. Allaia had barely united with her older brother, yet fate threatened to nullify their bond by putting Finn's life at risk. 

   An uneven sigh of relief escaped her lips upon their arrival at camp. 

"Hey. I'm here, what's up?" Clarke implied, approaching them quickly.

"It's Finn." Allaia's teary cast made Clarke's face fall, out of worry.

   Then Bellamy crossed the fence with limp Finn in his arms. The blade was still sticking out of his chest. 

Clarke gasped, rushing over to him. "Finn? O my God. Finn!" Shakily, she checked his pulse, with her head clouded with fear. 

"O my God." Raven cried out.

"He's alive." Clarke announced.

"Allaia wouldn't let me take the knife out." Jasper said.

"No, that was a good call." Clarke nodded, briefly glancing at Alle. "Get him into the drop ship. Now!" She instructed, letting out a few deep breaths.

"Lai... I can't imagine what you must be feeling right now..." Clarke started gently.

"Yeah, I'm a fucking mess." Allaia sniffled loudly, interjecting her. "But I must get my shit together."

"If you don't feel up to it, you don't have to take out the knife." Clarke assured. "I can do it. I watched my mom heal people my whole life. However, you studied with her—"

"I have more knowledge and experience than you, I know." Allaia sighed. "Clarkey, I trust you, but I'd hate myself if— if anything happened to him and I didn't help." She stuttered. 

"Alright." Clarke rubbed Allaia's arm soothingly, sending her a strain smile.

"Can you save him?" Raven asked both girls in anxiety.

"No. Not me. I need Abby." Allaia replied frantically; her upper lip trembled at the realization how useless and hopeless she was in this situation, unable to save her brother on her own. 

"We need to talk to my mother." Clarke added.

"There's still no radio." Raven told them shakily.

"Raven, fix it!" Clarke demanded, which resulted in Raven rushing towards the drop ship.

"Alle, I believe in you." Clarke pressed fiercely, facing her. "We got this."

☆꧁*꧂☆

BELLAMY QUICKLY APPROACHED Octavia. "Hey, hey!" He called out impatiently, when his sister didn't even spare him a glance. "Why were you defending him?" He snarled angrily. 

"Because he saved my life." Octavia snapped, turning around to face him. "That spear that hit Roma was actually meant for—"

"No." Bellamy interrupted; the undertone of rage dartled through his voice sated with irritation. "You're wrong. I saved your lives. Yours and Allaia's. For all you know, he was keeping both of you alive to use you as bait for one of their traps!"

"No. I don't think so—"

"You don't think, O!" Bellamy hissed. "That's the problem. They killed three of our people today. You have no idea what that man could've done to you and Allaia! And if you had let me kill him when I had the chance, Finn, Allaia's brother, wouldn't be in there dying right now!" He yelled.

Rain began to fall heavily, pelting the ground with ominous sounds.

"Stop blaming me for your mistakes!" Octavia screamed to his face. "What happened to Finn is not my fault! I wanted to leave! So if Finn dies in there, that's on you! And Allaia's gonna hate you because you let her brother die!" She shouted, wisely employing Alle's possible hatred towards him to incite his feelings. "Everything that's gone wrong is because of you. You got me locked up on the Ark. You wanted me to go on that stupid dance! You got Mom killed!" She cried out.

"Me?" Bellamy scoffed, letting out a humorless laugh. "Mom was floated for having you. She's dead because you're alive. That was her choice. I didn't have a choice. My life ended the day you were born!"

   Octavia gasped sharply, staring at him in disbelief, and turning to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" Bellamy sneered, grabbing her arm harshly.

"You can't keep me locked up in here forever." Octavia roared, tearing herself out of his grip and changing her destination, heading towards the drop ship.

   A rising growl from above descended like violence upon Bellamy's soul. Horizon was engulfed in dark swirling clouds, foreshadowing a powerful thunderstorm. 

"Get inside." Bellamy demanded. "Go! A storm is coming."

Flashes of lightning illumined the obscured sky, esquired by rasps of thunder.

☆꧁*꧂☆

  RAINDROPS CONTINUED THEIR ravage on Earth, ripping cruelly at the ground and whistling angrily through the trees. Loud cracks of thunder permeated the frigid air. Windstorm rotated around the area, frightening criminals hidden inside the drop ship.

"This is Raven Reyes calling Ark Station." Raven desperately attempted to fix her radio and contact the Ark. "This is Raven Reyes calling Ark Station. Please come in. Can anyone hear me?" When no reply came, she tried again. 

"Sure you have the right frequency?" Monroe asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Raven snapped.

"Raven." Allaia whispered, placing her hand on Raven's shoulder comfortingly. "You can do this, okay?"

Raven nodded slightly.

   Allaia approached Finn lying on the table. Gently, she took the cloth wrapped around his injury, and replaced it with a fresh one, to prevent infection.

"Calling Ark Station. Are you there? Ark Station, please come in. The Hundred are alive. We need you." Raven's voice cracked at the end as she glimpsed at Finn in worry. "Can anyone hear me?"

"This is a restricted channel. Who is this? Please identify yourself." The radio crackled. 

   Allaia gasped in relief. A glimmer of hope shone in her eyes as she quickly rushed to Raven, and squeezed her in a tight hug.

"This is Raven Reyes. I'm from Mecha Station. I'm transmitting from the ground." Raven introduced herself. "The Hundred are alive. Please, you need to get Doctor Abby Griffin. Doctor Abby Griffin. Now."

"Hang on, Raven. We're trying to boost your signal." Immediate respond caused Allaia to barely contain a beam.

  It took a while, and Allaia began to panic. The silence of anticipation was like a cavernous void, needing to be filled with sounds and words. It was like poison, slowly paralyzing her as color quickly drained from her face. 

"Raven? Are you there? " Abby asked hopefully.

Happiness flowed through Allaia at the familiar voice. 

"Mom? Mom, it's me." Clarke uttered urgently, leaning over the radio.

"Clarke? " Abby implied with a gasp.

"Mom, I need your help. One of our people was stabbed by a Grounder." Clarke explained tensely. 

"Clarke, this is the Chancellor." Jaha's hoarse voice resonated suddenly. "Are you saying there are survivors on the ground? "

"Yes." Clarke responded. "The Earth is survivable. We're not alone." She glanced at Finn, swiftly changing the subject before further interrogation. "Mom, he's dying. The knife's still in his chest."

"Okay. Can you patch me through the Medical? " Abby asked someone on her side.

"Clarke, is my son with you? " Jaha inquired.

Allaia's heart dropped at the question, gazing at Clarke's pained expression.

"I'm so sorry. Wells— Wells is dead." Clarke announced, closing her eyes tightly.

Heavy silence took over the radio once again, before another voice called out.

"Clarke, this is Marcus Kane. Is Allaia with you? " He asked with a shadow of clear anxiety audible in his strained tone.

Allaia froze, hearing her father's question. "I'm here." She replied shakily.

"Lai, you're okay." Abby breathed. "I'm gonna talk you through it step by step."

   Finn was almost deadly ashen by now. Beads of sweat coated his forehead, and blood kept pouring from the wound on his chest. Allaia exhaled loudly, trying to contain the fear. Her breathing was shallow and rapid. She could sense her pulse pounding in her temples. Avoiding the blade, she began to prepare for the procedure. Carefully, she started cleaning the blood with caution laced in the slightest movement. 

   There was a sudden discontinuity; Abby's instructions were incoherent. 

"Raven, what's wrong?" Clarke asked nervously.

"It's not the radio. It's the storm." Raven let out a frustrated sigh.

   Octavia stumbled back into the drop ship, holding two containers of Monty's moonshine in her hands. Quickly, she handed the bottles to Allaia.

"Here." She gasped. "Pretty sure no germ could survive it."

"Thank you, Tavy." Allaia breathed.

    A loud roar sounded from the thunder, wreaking absolute havoc.

"The storm's getting worse." Clarke stated. "Monroe, close the