The Shock of Inbetween
Clarke returned to Elyza in a state of shock. The first thing Elyza felt upon Clarke’s return was a surprised numbness.
“Clarke? What is it? Sweet girl, what’s happened?” Elyza purred softly. The only response she received was a shake in her psyche and Clarke was silent for the rest of the day. Elyza and Alicia went on a supply run. Elyza left her companion in charge of filling their bags with supplies while she kept and zombies there might be, out of their way. They hurried to return to camp just as the sun finished setting. Alicia set the fire while Elyza set about organizing the day’s spoils. She was pleased to find that Alicia has grabbed medical supplies along with food. She found a safe place for the bandages and gauze packs as well as the multitude of painkillers and fever reducers that had filled one of the four back packs. Two of the other bags contained food and the remaining bag thankfully for both, was packed with tampons/pads, cramp meds, and small packs of soap and shampoo. Elyza gratefully took the warm can of soup Alicia held out for her and they both drank in silence.
“You did well today.” Elyza nodded. Alicia smiled at her across the fire.
“Thanks. I’m trying to learn, I swear.” Alicia promised. Elyza nodded and looked up at the stars.
“So… How did you end up here? I mean you’re Australian right? You’re pretty far from home.” Alicia asked, watching the blonde. Elyza chuckled.
“Indeed I am. We moved to America six months ago. My mum passed and my stupid step dad moved us ‘ere. Because I was seventeen then, he still had custody of me and I had no choice but to go with ‘im. He died day one and I’m glad. The world is better off.” Elyza shrugged. Silence fell again.
“I’ll take first watch. Get some sleep.” Elyza told her. Alicia nodded and settled down on her sleeping bag, easily falling asleep. Elyza waited a while before speaking again.
“You feeling any better, Clarke?” She asked softly.
“I don’t know…” The reply came in a weak whisper. Elyza nodded and continued to stare up at the stars.
“What was it like, living in space?” She wondered. She felt Clarke pause. As the days went by she was getting better at reading the voice in her head.
“The view was amazing but the rules on the Arc were strict…” Clarke began. Elyza waited patiently.
“The Arc was comprised of twelve space stations from around the world… We grew our own food and had classes and everyone had a job… My mom was on the council. They took care of everything and advised the chancellor. But every crime was treated as a capital punishment… If you were an adult, you’d get floated… Blasted from an airlock into the cold vacuum of space… If you were under the age of eighteen, you’d get locked up in the sky box… I got locked up there…” Clarke stopped and followed Elyza’s gaze, starting wistfully up at the stars.
“What did you do?” Elyza asked softly.
“Nothing. My dad… Jake Griffin… He was an engineer… He figured out that the Arc was running out of air… He told me… He was going to tell everyone… But the council found out… My mom… She sold him out and he got floated… I got locked up… They were going to float me when I turned eighteen… But them they sent the 100 of us that were in lock up down to earth to see if it was survivable… Only 48 were left when they came down to join us… Every day was a fight…” Clarke explained. Elyza nodded.
“That’s enough for now… You don’t have to share anymore if you don’t want to. You should rest Clarke...” Elyza soothed. She felt Clarke nod.
“Wanheda…” A distant voice called softly. Blue eyes stayed closed.
“Clarke.” The voice growled, it was closer now. Clarke whined softly in protest and squirmed against her ropes. She instantly felt soft fingers stroking her cheek and then the back of a warm hand against her forehead. Clarke opened her eyes slowly, confused. She saw Ontari quickly jump away and turn her back to Clarke. The young Heda forced herself to regain her composure before turning back around. She didn’t know what had just come over her. At the older girl’s whimper she’d been overcome with the urge to comfort her. To soothe her.
“Your people handed over their leader. A man you call Pike.” Ontari told her.
“So what…” Clarke sighed, closing her eyes again.
“No! Clarke wait! What do you want me to do?” Ontari asked, cautiously moving closer.
“I don’t care. Do as you please. You’re Heda now aren’t you?” Clarke replied. With her eyes closed she missed how Ontari seemed to flinch at the words and she missed the faint flash of pain in Ontari’s eyes.
“You can’t sleep yet. You need to eat. Can you handle solid foods or would you like broth?” Ontari asked in an out of character soft voice.
“I’m not hungry.” Clarke told her. She heard Ontari growl.
“You have to eat. What would you prefer?” Ontari tried again.
“Solids.” Clarke finally replied, opening her eyes. Ontari nodded and called in trig out the door. Minutes later, a guard brought her a platter of meats and other assorted foods. Ontari thanked him and he left as she set it down on a table in the room before turning back to Clarke. She helped the blonde into a sitting position.
“Can I trust you not to hurt yourself, or me if I untie you to eat?” Ontari asked, narrowing her eyes. Clarke nodded and the girl untied her hands and feet, letting Clarke stand and move around the room. Clarke’s limbs were sore from being in the same position for so long. She stretched and allowed herself to be led to the table. The two ate in silence, Ontari keeping a wary eye on Clarke. When Clarke finished she seyt her utensils down, staring for a while at her knife.
“Clarke…”Ontari began, narrowing her eyes. They moved at the same time, Ontari tackling Clarke across the table as the blonde snatched the knife and made to drive it through her own ribs. Ontari pinned Clarke beneath her and knocked the knife away. Clarke squirmed as strong arms wrapped around her. Ontari held Clarke close to her chest, keeping the struggling blonde immobile.
“Beja Clarke… Beja…” Ontari heard herself say as sorrow flooded her emotions. Clarke slowly stopped struggling as she began to cry.
“Leksa… Leksa! I don’t want to be here anymore! I can’t be here without you! Yu gonplei ste odon… Ai gonple ste odon! Beja… Beja… Please… Just kill me…. Just let it end… Death is not the end…” Ontari heard Clarke wail from where she held her. Any further words were consumed by the blonde’s sobs and she shook with each breath. Ontari gently scooped her up and carried her to the couch, sitting down with Clarke in her lap. She called out loud enough for the guards to hear her and told them to make sure she wasn’t disturbed. She gently rocked Clarke and waited patiently for the broken girl to wear herself out. Clarke passed out not long later and Ontari stood and set Clarke down on the couch. She tucked a blanket around her and ran her hand through her hair, sighing. She pulled a chair from the table and sat it a few feet from the couch. Ontari strode to the door and sent someone for Titus, waiting impatiently for him.
“Heda.” He appeared, bowing.
“Stay with her. Sit. Summon me when she wakes.” Ontari told him, pointing at the chair. She waited until he sat down before leaving. Titus sat and watched the blonde before him sleep.
“I’m so sorry Klark…” He mumbled softly and waited.