Chapter 23
Once they make it back to the rover, everybody jumps in quickly. Clarke takes the driver's seat, and Murphy sits next to her.
“What’s going on in the bunker?” Murphy asks. While he and Raven were aboard the prisoner ship they received some updates; enough to hear that Octavia become a crazy cannibalistic leader. Their updates and checks-in were sparse and didn’t hear much more than that.
No one quite knows what to say, the situation baffling them still. Clarke pipes up first, “there’s a definite power struggle between O and Lexa, but I think they’re figuring it out.” The rest of the group nods and shrugs. It is hard to tell what is true and what’s an act with Lexa and Octavia. “Half of the people have aligned themselves with Heda and the other half with Blodreina.”
“Lexa probably doesn-“ Murphy is interrupted by a shock released from the collar. His screams cause Clarke to swerve the rover. “Back! Back! Go back!” Clarke is momentarily frozen in surprise, but shakes herself out of it and drives the rover in reverse. Murphy sighs in relief once they have gone back far enough. “You guys should keep going. They probably have a tracker in this thing anyway.” Murphy is already trying to climb out of the rover. Clarke grabs his arm to stop him.
“I’m not leaving you.” Clarke announces. “You guys can take the rover back, but I’m staying.”
“Me too,” Harper agrees.
“Me too,” Monty says as well. He grabs Harper’s hand with a smile.
“Yeah, I’ll stay too.” Echo chimes in. All eyes turn to Emori.
“You don’t have to.” Murphy tells her.
“Thank you.” Emori responds, nodding. “But I will.” They keep eye contact with each other, a light smile grows on Emori’s cheeks. She rolls her eyes for good measure, not trying to get too emotional.
Clarke doesn’t hesitate and drives the rover back to the cave.
“What happened with the prisoners? What did they do to you guys?” Harper asks. They have all been wondering, but just waiting for the right moment to ask.
“They tortured us.” Murphy says plainly. “They wanted information about the Ring, and the bunker. Plus Raven blocked their signal so they couldn’t blast you guys with the missiles anymore, which clearly pissed them off.” Though he seems like regular joking Murphy, something is off and they can all tell.
“What did they do to her?” Harper asks softly.
“Poured water over her head and threatened to shock her.” Murphy says in monotone. He stares out the front window, avoiding eye contact. As bad as it is to talk about, it is even worse to witness. He knows he won’t get the image out of his for a long time. He collects himself quickly, not wanting to be too serious, “and then she agreed to bring the signal back up if they let me go.” He indicates to himself with a swoop of his hands, “hence me being here.”
The distance between the invisible barrier and the cave is not far, and they return quickly afterwards. They all get out again, preparing for a long night.
“Klark?” A voice appears over the rovers radio. “Clarke are you there? It is Lexa over.” They all look curiously over to the rover. Clarke hops back in the driver’s seat, this time leaving the door wide open and picks up the radio.
“Yes I’m here.” She responds quickly. There’s something about Lexa’s presence, or in this case just her voice, that fills Clarke with peace. “We ran into a bit of an issue and we’re stuck in a cave in the valley. Over.”
“A shocking turn of events, one might say,” Murphy pipes up.
“Issue? Are you alright?” Lexa asks anxiously. “Oh and everyone else too.” She adds quickly.
“Yeah thanks for that,” Echo jokes. “We spent six years together and we’re barely given an afterthought. Disrespectful really.”
“We’re all fine.” Clarke says ignoring the comments. “We found Murphy. He’s fine, but he has a shock collar. They set up a barrier and we can’t cross it without him getting fried.” Clarke explains. “Over.”
“What can I do?” Lexa asks, always the problem solver. Clarke looks up at her friends silently asking if they need something. They shake their heads no.
“I don’t think there’s anything that can be done. We’ll try to remove the collar and get back to you.” Clarke responds.
“Wait, wait remove the what?” Murphy asks.
“Don’t be such a baby.” Emori tells him, rolling her eyes. “I can do it.”
“Okay, well if there’s nothing I can do, I’ll let you guys go,” Lexa says. “Over.”
“Wait,” Clarke squeeze the radio tighter. She doesn’t have anything else to say about the situation, she just wants to hear Lexa’s voice a little longer. It hasn’t been that long since they saw each other, just that morning really, but even so Clarke misses her. Lexa’s been busy with Octavia and talking her down, while Clarke’s been busy with Madi and being dragged around all over with her. “When I get back, can we talk?” Clarke asks quietly. Not quiet enough, it seems, Murphy is oohing and Echo wiggles her eyebrows at them. She stops the transmission. “Just talk.”
“Sure,” Murphy jokes.
“Yeah, I would like that very much.” Lexa responds. Her voice sounds hopeful, Clarke notes happily. Maybe there is hope for them yet!
Murphy wolf whistles and Monty fakes barfing.
“I don’t think we were supposed to hear that,” Monty says out of breath, like he really was vomiting. He shutters, “I can’t unhear that.”
“The mental images,” Murphy says grabbing his head in disgust.
“Will you two please shut up?” Clarke asks with a raised voice. Monty looks like he wants to continue, until he receives a sharp look from Harper and stares at his feet instead.
“Whipped.” Murphy laughs, until receiving a light smack from Emori and also looks the other direction.
“Are you two finished?” Clarke hisses.
“Clarke? Are you still there?” Lexa asks over the radio.
“Yeah, they’ll stop.” Emori responds for them.
“Yeah, sorry I’m here, I’m dealing with two idiots.” Clarke tells her, a pointed look to the guys.
“Murphy and Monty?” Lexa guesses with a laugh.
“Ouch,” Monty jokes.
“Hurtful,” Murphy adds.
“Truly painful,” Monty continues.
“At least their making themselves laugh, no one else though,” Clarke says rolling her eyes at them.
“No, not one,” Echo says blankly. Clarke points to Echo with raised eyebrows, silently saying “see? I’m not the only you annoy.”
“Anyway,” Clarke says continuing the transmission. “I don’t know when we’ll be home. I don’t know how long it’ll take to remove this collar, but if I had to guess, it’ll take a couple hours at least. We probably won’t be back until at least midday.”
“What should I tell Octavia?” Lexa asks. Screw Octavia, Clarke wants to yell her crazyass is the reason their in this situation in the first place.
“Stall her as long as you can, and then maybe that we needed some fresh air or something.”
“Yeah that’s not going to work.” Murphy speaks up.
“No chance,” Monty includes. Murphy shakes his head and before he can say something, Clarke reaches the radio out for them.
“Do you have a better idea? Here take it if you think you do.” Clarke offers. Both of them stay still. “That’s what I thought.” She turns back on the transmission. “I don’t know if that’ll work, I’m receiving negative feedback over here.”
“We do not know anything until we try,” Lexa responds. She doesn’t sound very optimistic, Clarke realizes with a frown.
“Or whatever you think.” Clarke backpeddles.
“I will have to see when the time comes. I have to go, I hear someone coming. Over and out.”
“You’re fucked.” Murphy says.
“Literally,” Monty responds nudging him. No one stops her when Clarke rushes over to hit them.