Jason moved silently, his gaze fixed on the faint figure ahead. The Grounder moved with trained precision, every step deliberate. Even from this distance, Jason could tell that this wasn't some savage wanderer. This was a hunter who knew his land well and they were trespassing.
They kept their distance, following him through the thick brush until the Grounder vanished into the mouth of a dark cave. Jason lifted a hand, signaling the others to slow down. "Careful," he mouthed.
Bellamy nodded, and together they crept through the entryway.
The smell hit them first as they moved in quietly. Then their eyes adjusted to the dim torchlight.
Octavia lay chained on the cold stone floor, dirt smeared across her face, her leg crudely burned shut. And beside her, the Grounder laid unconscious, blood trickling from the side of his head.
Jason blinked. 'What the fuck?' His instincts immediately flared up. He scanned Octavia's wound. 'It's cautaurized'… He tilted his head, confused. 'He treated her?'
"Bellamy?" Octavia croaked, her voice weak but alive.
"Octavia," Bellamy rushed to her, practically collapsing beside her.
"Get the key," she rasped, pointing to a hook on the cave wall. Bellamy snatched it, his hands shaking as he freed her from the chains.
"Monroe, Roma watch the entrance!" Bellamy barked. They nodded and hurried toward the cave's mouth, weapons drawn.
Jason stepped further in, eyes sweeping the small hideout looking at the makeshift bedding, primitive toolss. 'A personal hideout,' he thought, crouching near a pile of supplies. 'Smart bastard… I could use one of these myself.'
When the last chain fell away, Octavia collapsed into Bellamy's arms. He hugged her tight, whispering, "It's okay. You're okay."
"How did you find me?" she asked, eyes glassy as she spotted Jason behind them.
"Followed him," Jasper said, nodding toward the unconscious Grounder.
Jason gave her a soft smile as she moved toward him. "I'm glad you're okay," he whispered, his voice low enough that only she heard.
"We should go. Now. Before he wakes up," Octavia urged, pulling back.
"He's not gonna wake up," Bellamy muttered, glancing toward the Grounder. He grabbed a jagged piece of wood, intent clear in his eyes.
Jason knelt beside the Grounder, his gaze sharpening as he finally got a good look. Recognition struck him like lightning. 'Lincoln.'
He raised his hand quickly. "Bellamy, wait—"
"Bellamy, stop! He didn't hurt me!" Octavia shouted, panic flooding her voice.
"Move," Bellamy growled, muscles tensing as he lifted the stick.
"Octavia's right," Jason cut in, his tone sharp but steady. "He didn't hurt her. Look at her leg, if anything, he saved her." He stepped in front of Bellamy, placing a firm hand on his chest. "I said no, Bellamy."
For a split second, the air between them was tense Jason's eyes unwavering, Bellamy's full of fire. Then Bellamy hesitated with his jaw tightening.
Before Jason could say anything else, Finn, who had been examining a strange horn-like object near the wall, muttered, "Foghorn…"
The sound of shifting gravel came next.
The Grounder's eyes snapped open and before anyone could react, his knife flashed.
"Finn!" Octavia's voice echoed in Jason's head as the blade sank into Finn's abdomen.
Jason moved without thinking with pure instinct. He lunged forward, fist swinging hard. The Grounder ducked, rolling past him, landing near Bellamy. The motion was fluid and trained. Bellamy swung his makeshift weapon, but the Grounder blocked it and slammed a knee into Bellamy's ribs.
Jason pivoted sharply, blocking a strike before driving a brutal kick into the Grounder's midsection. The air left Lincoln's lungs, but he still came forward only to catch Jason's uppercut full force. The hit cracked through the cave like thunder. Lincoln's body went limp, collapsing into the dirt.
Jasper, frozen mid-swing with a stick of his own, lowered it awkwardly. "Uh… okay. Guess you didn't need my help," he muttered, tossing it aside.
Bellamy, grimacing, bent to lift Finn. "Let's move."
Jason helped Octavia up while Jasper grabbed their things. They rushed through the forest, branches whipping against their faces, until the lights of camp came into view.
"Clarke! Clarke!" Jasper shouted as they burst through the gates.
Clarke came running, eyes wide. "What happened?" She froze when she saw Finn bleeding out in Bellamy's arms. "Get him to the Dropship!"
Jason helped carry Finn, his heart still pounding. The others rushed around them, shouting orders, clearing space. The camp was in chaos, but Clarke's voice rose above it all.
"Put him here!"
Jason set Finn down gently and looked toward Bellamy, whose jaw was clenched tight. The tension between them was almost visible.
"My life ended the moment you were born," Bellamy spat at Octavia, his voice breaking.
Jason frowned. 'Damn. That was harsh… true, but harsh.'
Octavia's face twisted in hurt as she turned and stormed off. Jason sighed, shaking his head as he stepped up beside Bellamy. "Really? That's what you went with?"
Bellamy didn't respond, his eyes distant. Jason just sighed again and jogged after Octavia.
He found her by her tent, wiping at her face angrily.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked quietly.
"No. Bellamy can just be so ugh!" she snapped, kicking at the dirt.
"Look," Jason said, tone softening. "We all came for you because we care. He didn't mean what he said he's just scared. We all are. Don't hold onto that."
Octavia sniffed, then nodded slightly. "Thanks. For coming for me. I would've done the same for you."
"I know you would," Jason said with a small grin. "And about the Grounder, you're right. If he didn't hurt you, he doesn't deserve to die. I'll make sure Bellamy doesn't cross that line."
He walked her back to her tent before heading to his own. The camp was quieter now, though thunder rolled overhead. Jason leaned against the frame of his tent, the storm clouds flashing with bursts of light.
'Morbid place,' he thought, glancing toward the dark woods. 'I wonder how things are on the Ark right now…'
A sharp crack of thunder pulled him from his thoughts. The wind picked up, tents flapping wildly. Jason ducked out, helping a few kids keep the tarps from tearing loose before making his way to the Dropship.
Inside, the air buzzed with energy and fear. Raven sat by the control panel, speaking into a battered microphone.
"Hey," Jason said, moving beside Clarke, who was staring blankly at the storm. He snapped his fingers in front of her. "Any luck?"
"No," she sighed. "Raven's still trying."
Jason nodded and walked over to Raven just as some girl asked, "You sure that's the right frequency?"
"Yeah, I'm sure!" Raven snapped back.
"Hey," Jason cut in, his tone calm but firm. "She's trying her best. Give her some space."
Raven shot him a grateful look. "Thanks."
He returned it with a small nod and turned as Clarke replaced the bloodied cloth on Finn's wound. The boy's breathing was shallow but steady.
"This is a restricted channel," a voice suddenly came through the static. "Identify yourself."
Jason's eyes widened. "Holy shit, she did it."
"This is Raven Reyes," Raven said quickly. "I'm transmitting from the ground. The 100 are alive. Please, I need Dr. Abby Griffin!"
The next voice that came made Clarke freeze. "Clarke?"
"Mom!" she gasped, rushing forward.
Jason stepped back, watching the exchange quietly, though the weight of it hit him hard as the Ark finally knew.
"This is the Chancellor," another voice came. "Are you saying there are survivors on the ground?"
Jason clenched his jaw. 'Well, there goes our peace.'
"Yes," Clarke said, voice trembling. "The Earth is survivable. We're not alone."
He closed his eyes. 'Yeah, that's gonna come back to bite us.'
Static filled the radio. "Mom, he's dying," Clarke pleaded. "The knife's still in his chest!"
"Hey," Jason said softly beside her. "You're not doing this alone."
Abby's voice guided Clarke through the steps, calm but fading as the storm worsened.
The Dropship groaned under the pressure, metal creaking.
"It's not the radio," Raven muttered, adjusting knobs.
"It's the storm," Jason finished.
Octavia appeared with two canteens, handing one to Clarke and one to Jason. They both opened them and recoiled.
"Monty's moonshine?" Clarke gagged.
"Pretty sure no germ can survive it," Octavia replied.
Jason coughed. "No human either."
Thunder boomed again. "Monroe, close the doors!" Clarke shouted.
"We still have people out there!" Monroe argued.
"They'll find shelter," Clarke said firmly.
Then Raven held up a needle. "One suture needle."
"I still need something to close the wound," Clarke said.
"I saw wire on the second level," Jason offered. "Would that work?"
Octavia nodded. "Yeah, I use it for tents."
They moved to grab it but froze when the hatch creaked open.
Bellamy entered, dragging the Grounder behind him. "What the hell—?" Jason muttered.
"What are you doing?" Octavia demanded.
"It's time to get some answers," Bellamy said flatly.
"You mean revenge?" Clarke shot back.
"I mean intel," Bellamy snapped. "Get him upstairs."
"Bellamy, this isn't who we are!" Clarke yelled.
"It is now."
Jason stepped up, eyes hard. "What the hell were you thinking? Were you followed?"
"No," Bellamy frowned.
Jason scoffed. "You could've been! You just kidnapped one of their people. What do you think happens now, huh?"
Bellamy had no answer. Jason shook his head and turned back to Clarke. "I'm helping you. He can deal with the mess he made."
Raven handed him the moonshine, and Jason sterilized his hands beside her. Two kids nearby started arguing loudly. Jason didn't even look up.
"So help me God," he muttered, "if you don't shut up, I'll knock your asses out."
They froze instantly.
Raven blinked. "Wow. Effective."
Jason shrugged. "Sometimes peace needs a little intimidation."
The storm howled outside as Clarke steadied her trembling hands. The knife glinted under the flickering light. Abby's fading voice crackled through the static one last instruction before the line went dead.
And as Jason watched Clarke lean over Finn with determined eyes, he couldn't help but think:
'This is what survival looks like.'
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