Roped In

Clarke groans, rolling on the floor where the Commander has just thrown her. She knows that she is getting beaten to punish Raven, so she refuses to scream. She won’t let her best friend hear her in pain. The woman picks her up by her shirt, pulling her close before pushing her against the wall.

“Please.” Clarke wheezes. “I don’t understand. What did she do?” The woman shakes her head.

“Raven owes me a lot of money.” She says, approaching Clarke slowly.

“Is it for all of the heroin you’ve been supplying her?” Clarke asks angrily. The woman raises her eyebrows in surprise.

“Smart girl.” She chuckles. Suddenly she drives her foot into Clarke’s stomach, pushing the wind out of her. She gasps, doubling over. But she still looks up at the woman, refusing to give up.

“Is this what you do? Get people addicted on your drugs until they are in major debt?” The woman laughs, pushing Clarke into a chair.

“Maybe you should work for us.” Clarke doesn’t answer. The woman sighs and goes to the wall, where she presses a small red button. Seconds later, a woman with short hair and dark skin enters the office.

“Yes, Lexa?” The woman asks. So the Commander’s name is Lexa, Clarke thinks.

“Indra, please have Anya bring Raven in. I’d also like you to take over this… session. I have some business to attend to.” With that, Lexa disappears. Clarke and Indra look at each other, sizing the other woman up. Indra pulls out her phone and begins speaking into it.

“Bring Raven in. Lexa wants her to watch.” Clarke promptly begins to freak out. She jumps up, running for the door. She doesn’t make it far before Indra sticks her foot out, tripping Clarke. Without her hands to stop her fall, she hits her head on the concrete floor. She feels blood dripping down her face as Indra hauls her to her feet.

“Don’t try that again.” Indra says harshly. “I can be much worse than the Commander.”

Clarke is trying to breathe through the pain when Anya comes in, pushing Raven ahead of her. Raven’s eyes widen when she sees Clarke’s bloody head. She turns to Indra angrily.

“What did you do to her?” She yells. Anya pushes her into another chair, keeping a strong hand on her shoulder.

“It’s the bitch’s fault for trying to run.” Indra says, rolling her eyes. Clarke makes eye contact with Raven.

“Raven, it’s okay. I know this isn’t your fault. There’s nothing you can do.” Raven shakes her head.

“No, Clarke. This is my fault. I’m sorry.”

“Are you done?” Indra asks, holding Clarke closer to her toned body. She feels the cool metal of a gun barrel pressing against her temple.

“Stop! I get it, okay? I owe you money. I’ll get it to you as soon as I can.” Raven tries to stand, but Anya pushes her back down.

“That’s not good enough, Reyes.” Anya growls. “We’ll let both of you go as soon as you’ve learned your lesson.”

“Damn it, Anya! I’ve learned it.” Raven can’t look at Clarke anymore.

“We’re going outside.” Indra says while lowering the gun so that it’s digging into Clarke’s back.

“Why?” Anya asks, confused. Clarke can tell this is not part of the plan.

“Because I don’t want blood on the fucking carpet.” Clarke flinches as Indra pushes her out of the office door and out of the warehouse. She can hear Raven crying quietly behind her.

When the four of them get outside Clarke is pushed to her knees. Anya holds Raven’s chin so that she is forced to watch.

“Remember, Raven. It didn’t have to be this way.” Indra says, once again pointing the gun at Clarke’s head. Going into work today, Clarke never thought that she was going to die today, but here she is.

“I love you.” Clarke says loud enough for Raven to hear, squeezing her eyes shut. She hears Raven cry out as she prepares for her death. She doesn’t realize that Indra has moved the gun from her head to her leg until she feels the bullet rip through the skin of her leg, lodging itself into her knee.

To her credit, Clarke hadn’t shown that she was in pain until now. She screams, falling to the concrete, ignoring the gravel hitting her face.

“Clarke!” Raven screams, running over and kneeling beside her friend. Indra rolls her eyes, tucking the gun in her back pocket. Anya pulls out her phone.

“Nyko. Come outside. No, we just need the bullet removed.” A few minutes later a man with a large beard comes out with a bag of tools. Clarke is still writhing on the ground in pain with Raven trying to comfort her. When she sees Nyko, Raven jumps up.

“Don’t you dare touch her.” She says harshly. Nyko ignores her, kneeling down and removing a large pair of tweezers and bandages.

“Relax.” Nyko says. “I’m trying to save her.” Raven calms down a little at these words.

“We wouldn’t want your only weakness to die so soon, would we?” Anya teases. Raven turns to Anya, ready to charge.

“Raven, don’t.” Raven freezes at Clarke’s weak voice. She turns to see her pleading eyes looking up at her from the ground.

“Listen to your friend.” Indra smirks before disappearing inside the warehouse.

After a painful few minutes of Clarke trying and failing to hold in her screams, Nyko successfully removes the bullet.

“You won’t be able to walk for a few days.” Nyko says, bandaging her knee. “Call into work and say that you’re sick. Don’t tell them what really happened.” With those words he disappears, leaving Clarke and Raven alone with Anya.

“Get up.” Anya says to Clarke, crossing her arms. Raven glares at her.

“Did you not hear Nyko? She can’t walk!” Raven says as Clarke sits up gingerly.

“That’s not my problem.” Anya mutters. “Follow me.” She says before walking over to three parked black cars. Raven helps Clarke stand, and the two limp after Anya. They’re shoved unceremoniously into the back of one of the cars. Anya gets into the drivers seat this time. Raven tries one of the doors, but it’s locked. There’s a one sided mirror between them and Anya, so they can’t see her.

“Where are we going now?” Clarke whispers, knowing Anya can hear them.

“Probably back to my place.” Raven responds, gazing out the window.

“They know where you live?” Clarke asks, wincing in pain as she tries to adjust her leg.

Raven nods, blushing. “They practically pay for my rent.”

At some point Clarke passes out from exhaustion and pain. She’s woken up to Raven’s hand on her sweaty forehead.

“You have a fever, Clarke.” Raven whispers. Clarke nods.

“I know. I can feel it.” Clarke can feel Raven breathing next to her.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there.” The brunette says. About twenty minutes later the car stops in front of a tall brick building. The girls hear the door unlock. Raven opens the door and gets out, struggling to help Clarke. They’ve barely shut the door when the car speeds away.

“Let’s get you inside.” Raven says gently, helping Clarke into the apartment building.

“Raven, you can’t stay here. They know where you live.” Clarke argues as Raven presses the elevator button.

“This is not up for discussion, Clarke!” Raven snaps as they hobble into the elevator. She sighs. “I’m sorry, I’m just scared.”

“Don’t be scared.” Clarke says. “I’m fine.” Raven shakes her head.

“No, you’re not! You were shot, and it’s all my fault!” She begins to cry as they leave the elevator. Raven fumbles with the key as she opens the door. She and Clarke move to the couch slowly. Clarke exhales when she is finally comfortable, her leg propped up on pillows.

“Raven, look at me.” Clarke says, pulling Raven’s arm so she sits on the couch next to her. “There’s nothing you can do. I’m going to be okay. Tomorrow we can go to my apartment where they can’t find us. You’ll be safe there. We both will.”

Raven holds her hand out and Clarke takes it. The two fall asleep, holding each other like they will never let go.