I joined Clarke and the others, when Bellamy suddenly spoke up.
"You're being suspicious. Where are they going?" He looked straight at me.
"It's not your problem," I said coldly.
His brows furrowed, and he stepped closer. "And what's with the get-up? The swords? I didn't even recognize you at first. What the hell have you been doing all this time, huh?" His voice rose, anger sharp in his tone. The others turned to me as well, waiting for an answer.
I glared back at him. "What do you think? Surviving. Unlike you guys—having fun right after we landed."
Clarke cut in, frustrated. "You could've helped us—"
"Tsk. Let's just get to the camp," I muttered, ignoring her. To me, she was already starting to act like a bitch, and I wasn't in the mood.
As we walked, I spoke again. "So, what's the plan? We gonna contact the Ark by what—firing fireworks?" I asked with a mocking tone.
"That's what I thought too," Raven replied, frowning. "It's the only way for now."
I shook my head. "No… that's stupid." I stopped myself before saying more—I didn't want to reveal what I knew just yet. Besides, part of me wanted to keep fighting the Grounders, to keep training my group.
When we were almost at the camp, I turned to Finn, walking beside me. "What's the update? What happened while I was away?" Clarke and Bellamy were both in foul moods, so I didn't expect much from them.
Finn hesitated, then pulled me aside, away from the others. His eyes darted nervously toward Raven before he spoke in a low voice.
"Wells is dead."
"…Wait, what?? How!?" My voice cracked in disbelief.
He sighed, glancing back at the group again. "Jones killed him. And… Murphy's been banished too. Jones revealed himself, and when me and Clarke tried to protect him, Murphy trued to kill him, since he became the scapegoat. In the end, Jones jumped off the cliff. Now Murphy's been banished."
My mind froze. What the hell…?
So it still happened, just different. This time it wasn't Charlotte—it was an extra, someone I didn't know about. That made it even worse. This was the second time I failed to change things. First the transmitter—I was too late. And now this.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. "So… you're keeping it a secret from Raven?"
Finn looked guilty. "…Yeah. It's like… the group's secret now. If the others from the Ark found out, it'd be chaos."
I exhaled slowly. "I get it."
Not long after, we finally arrived at camp.
Back on the Ark…
After Abby's Relevation
The Council chamber was tense, the air thick with the weight of impossible decisions. Screens lit up as faces of families across the Ark watched, listened, and waited.
Chancellor Jaha's voice was steady, but every word carried sorrow.
"Our oxygen supply is nearly depleted. Without sacrifice, none of us will survive."
His words echoed through the Ark's corridors. Everywhere—families held hands, friends pressed close, everyone listening to the Chancellor's words as if they were their last.
Kane stood tall beside him, jaw tight, his tone colder but direct.
"We need 320 volunteers. Without them, the rest of us won't live."
Gasps spread through the Ark. Murmurs. Crying. The brutal truth fell over everyone like a hammer.
In one of the viewing bays, an older woman whispered to her daughter, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"It's okay. You'll be safe. That's all that matters."
Then—silence. For a moment, no one moved. No one dared to breathe.
And then… a voice.
"I'll go."
An older man stepped forward into the hall, his face calm despite the fear in his eyes. "My time has passed. Let the children live."
All eyes turned to him. His name was called in. Logged. One out of 320.
Another voice rose from the crowd. A middle-aged woman with weary eyes. "I'll volunteer."
Then another. And another. The silence began to fill with voices—hesitant at first, but growing stronger.
"I'll go."
"Me too."
"Take my name."
People began standing one after the other, their voices trembling but resolute. Some whispered prayers. Others clung to their loved ones until the last moment before stepping forward.
Abby Griffin stood in the corner, watching with horror and heartbreak. She wanted to scream—to stop it—but she knew the Council had already sealed this path.
Jaha's voice cracked, the weight of the moment breaking through his composure.
"May they rest knowing their sacrifice will save us all."
The counter on the screen ticked upward—
40…
100…
200…
Voices overlapped. Tears fell. People kissed their families goodbye.
Finally, the number reached its mark. 320.
The Council chamber went silent. No one cheered. No one spoke. Only the sound of soft crying echoed through the Ark.
Kane looked down, guilt flashing across his face though he tried to mask it. Jaha swallowed hard, his hands trembling just slightly as he addressed the Ark one last time.
"Your sacrifice will never be forgotten. You are the heroes of the Ark."
And then—the airlocks hissed.
The 320 walked willingly into their deaths, their faces brave, their hearts heavy. The doors sealed shut, and the Ark grew quieter.
Abby turned her head, unable to watch, her chest breaking with the knowledge that hundreds had just been lost… all while she still alive.
In the Camp (Ground)
The night sky burst open.
A streak of fire climbed upward, then cracked into a brilliant explosion. Fireworks bloomed and scattered in the dark like stars being born. The delinquents in the camp cheered, their faces glowing with excitement, awe, and relief.
To them, it was hope. Proof that maybe—just maybe—the Ark would see them, hear them, and know Earth was survivable.
I, however, stayed silent. My hood shadowed my face as I leaned against a post, arms crossed.
I'd warned them. Over and over. But Clarke, Raven, Bellamy—they were stubborn, desperate to be heard. Now they celebrated, blind to the consequences.
"Heh… idiots," I muttered under my breath, watching their smiles, their laughter. "Now you'll reap what you sow."
Still, I tilted my head up, eyes locked on the streaks of light as they fizzled into smoke. Even if it was foolish, there was something strangely beautiful about it. Might as well enjoy the view—for now.
Because I knew what was coming next.
Back on the Ark
In the Chancellor's office, the room was still heavy with grief. The echoes of the culling lingered in everyone's hearts. Jaha sat slumped at his desk, eyes sunken, voice quiet as he spoke with Abby.
"We've lost too many…" Jaha whispered, his voice trembling. "Three hundred and twenty souls. Gone—for nothing more than air."
Abby opened her mouth to respond when her eyes suddenly caught movement beyond the viewport.
"Wait… what is that?" she whispered, pressing closer to the glass.
Jaha frowned, rising from his chair. "What are you talking about?"
"There—look!" Abby pointed.
A flare arced across the black void of space, cutting through darkness like a beacon. Then another. And another.
Jaha froze, his lips parting in disbelief. His hands pressed against the glass as though he could touch the firelight beyond.
"It can't be…" he muttered. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his chest tight. His eyelids twitched as though even his body refused to accept it. "That… that's Earth. That's a signal."
Abby's eyes shone with tears, her voice trembling with both hope and anger. "They're alive, The Hundred… they survived down there."
Jaha's face shifted between awe and guilt, the weight of realization crashing into him.
"All this time… we thought Earth was death. And we just—" His voice broke, remembering the faces of the 320. "God forgive us."
But for the first time in years, a fragile seed of hope sparked on the Ark.
------------------------
Any Suggestions?
🌟 Want to support the story even more?
You can join my Patreon for special perks and to help keep the story alive:
👉 patreon.com/xavien1
📚 A little note: I'm still pursuing my college degree, so I may not be able to upload every single day. I'll do my best to keep the story going as consistently as possible, and I deeply appreciate your patience and understanding.