week two, thursday afternoon

[jettisons]

[Bellamy practically tears his way down to the beach from the oasis, heart in his throat. He's forcing himself to cling to the fact that it's too early for this, that Haru's body didn't disappear, that it doesn't make sense for this to be so different, but that doesn't wipe the image of Raven, throat slit, red bleeding into the rocks, out of his head.

It doesn't matter. He hasn't been this blind with panic since Roan took Clarke, since Octavia was locked out of the bunker. He's almost dizzy with it.]

Raven!

Comments

[hydrazine]

Everyone who's willing to do it is going to take turns.

[jettisons]

Are you up this week?

[hydrazine]

[She takes a breath.]

Yes.

[jettisons]

[It's not like they haven't killed to survive before, but this is different. It's calculated and clinical and targeting people who haven't done anything to deserve it. So much for doing better than yesterday.]

Who is it?

[hydrazine]

...Joshua.

[She doesn't look happy about it, either. When she burned Grounders alive and helped an army get into Mt. Weather, it was because they were trying to kill her or her friends. This is different to her. It brings a kind of regret along with it.]

[jettisons]

[Bellamy doesn't know much about Joshua. He's not sure if that makes this better or worse, and he's trying desperately not to think about Joshua's partner and whoever is going to take the fall for Raven. Someone innocent. He can't let her die.

Automatically, he reaches for her again, settling both hands onto her shoulders.]

Raven, look at me. We'll figure it out.

[hydrazine]

[She looks up at him when he grabs her, and she nods.]

...I know.

[They always have, and they'll do it again. She'll do everything she can to make sure this sacrifice is the last one.]

[jettisons]

We need to figure out a better alibi than just saying you were with me. They might not buy that.

[hydrazine]

[She nods.]

We pick a place and a time frame, and what we were doing.

[jettisons]

We'll meet tomorrow morning before the trial, and you tell me how much time you need to account for.

[hydrazine]

[She nods.]

It shouldn't be long.

[That's what she hopes for, at least.]

[jettisons]

[This is horrific, but all Bellamy can do is nod.]

What did you decide at the meeting? Are you pinning it on anyone?

[hydrazine]

[She shakes her head.]

We didn't plan to frame anyone. They said they'd give me a knife, a can of gasoline and a book of matches.

[Yikes.]

[jettisons]

[Great. Good. Don't focus on the details.]

No one's going to find out.

[hydrazine]

[She agrees with that, at least.]

I'll be careful, in case they do a strip search again.

[jettisons]

[Bellamy nods, smoothes his hands down her arms and then lets go.]

This isn't your fault, Raven.

[hydrazine]

...I know. It's their fault.

[Something cold and resolute settles over her expression, the kind of determination he might used to.

She's going to find a way to rid the world of the both of them.]