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chapter thirty-five, Black Rain

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KANE APPEARS IN THE ROOM WITH Monty, Fio, Iris and couple of his guards. "Lock this room down immediately. They're right behind us" Kane orders and one of the guards' nods and start locking the door. Fio walks over to Nova and helps her stand to her feet.

"Where is everyone?" Fio asks looking around and Nova shrugs. "I think they're out there with them" Octavia motions to the door, referring to outside.

"Open this door!" Someone yells from behind the door.

"Sir, maybe we should reconsider" One of the guards suggest and Kane shakes his head. "No! They are not doing this" Kane states.

"Listen, on the Ark, we floated people for less" The guard says with his gun up.

"This isn't the Ark anymore" Nova butts in and Kane looks towards then looks back at the door which is being banged on.

"We can't let them in here. They'll kill him" Monty states in slight fear as Kane pulls his gun out. "If we let them descend into darkness, there's no coming back" Kane states and Nova looks over at Fio.

"It's the end of the world, Kane. Darkness is all we have left" Octavia states as she stands to her feet and starts walking over to the door.

"Octavia! What are you doing?" Nova shouts and Octavia answers to no one. "Octavia!" Monty shouts as she rushes up to her. "Stop. Octavia" Kane pleads and Octavia presses the button the keypad which opens the door.

Iris slowly starts backing away as people start to crowd in the room. Kane puts his gun up and tries to stop them from getting any closer.

Nova notices one of the guards pulling out their electric stick. "I'm sorry" The guard apologizes as she turns to Kane and shocks him in the stomach. Nova widens her eyes as the man who seems to be the leader of this movement picks up the gun and walks towards llian before Octavia stops him.

"You want his blood; you can have it. But the kill is mine" Octavia warns and the man nods his head slowly, giving the gun to Octavia. Octavia looks at the gun then lifts her eyes and looks at Nova.

"I have to do this" Octavia prompts, and Nova shakes her head and stops leaning up against Fio and walks on her own. "There's a difference between wanting to do something and having to do something. Octavia, you don't have to do this. You're just tired of looking weak" Nova states and Octavia puts her head up high and walks over of the room as a few of Arkadian's walk over to llian and removing his handcuffs.

"You can't let them do this" Iris speaks up standing next to Nova. "I'm out numbered. There's no going back. If they kill him, it's less blood on my hands" Nova declares honestly as she watches them drag llian out of the room.

Everyone starts to crowd outside. Nova puts on her jacket with the spikes on the sleeves and follows Fio and Iris outside then meets up Niylah. "Is there no way to stop this?" Iris asks and Nova shrugs her shoulders. They roughly drag llian outside and slam him to his knees.

Octavia holds the gun in her hand and stands before llian looking down on him.

"We're not so different after all" Niylah remarks and Nova let's out a sigh, shaking her head in agreement. "We never were" Nova voices as she looks over to Octavia.

"Octavia, please don't do this. Octavia, you're not a murderer" Monty begs.

"You're wrong" Octavia replies as she puts the gun towards llians head. "We want justice!" A man yells in the crowd. "Get it over with" llian begs tiredly and you can tell Octavia is breaking inside and she doesn't want to do this.

Everyone watches with such suspense, waiting for Octavia to pull the trigger, even Nova.

"Black rain! Everybody get inside! Black rain! Go, go, go! Go! Black rain!" Kane shouts and people look around scared as the alarm starts blaring. They all start to rush into the ship but Nova stays outside looking at Octavia.

"Nova, come on" Fio says, and Nova shakes her head, knowing she has to save Octavia as well. "Octavia, put the gun down" Nova begs, taking a step towards her.

Kane walks up next to Nova, offering his advice and help as well. "Octavia. Put the gun down and come inside. They put Lincoln on his knees, too. Pike stood right there... right where you're standing... when they put a gun against his head" Kane describes and multiple tears fall down Octavia's face as she recalls the day Lincoln died.

"I was there" Octavia recalls, remembering every moment of that horrid event. and Fio puts his hand around Nova's arm trying to lead her away, but she walks towards Octavia.

"If you do this, you are no better than Pike" Nova states as Octavia lets out quiet sobs and drops the gun to the ground. "It's all right, Octavia. It's ok. It's ok" Kane pleads as Octavia starts to back away from him holding her stomach. Octavia shakes her head and starts running away.

"Octavia. Wait! Where will you go?" Kane asks.

Nova knows Octavia will survive. She lost the person she loves and she needs time. Time to grieve. Nova understands that too well. Jaha bends down toward llian and unties his hand.

"What are you doing?" Kane asks.

"Saving our people. Same as you" Jaha says as Nova turns to look at Fio. "Let's go" Fio whispers as he and Nova walk into the ship to see people looking around in fear.

It was a couple hours later, it was still daylight out but it was very gloomy as the clouds covered the sun. Nova, Iris and Fio were helping clean up around outside when Bellamy pulled up and walks through the gate. Nova cleaned off her hands and walks over to Bellamy.

"Welcome back" Nova greets Bellamy with a pat on the back. "Hey-" Bellamy begins as the rain starts pouring down. As soon as a drop hits Nova's skin, it begins to burn, causing her to wince in pain.

"Black rain!" Bellamy shouts urgently, his voice cutting through the chaos. Kane, joining him, looks up at the sky as the raindrops hit his skin, hissing with discomfort. "Black rain! Sound the alarm! This is not a drill! Go inside!" Bellamy's voice booms over the clamor as the alarm blares loudly, signaling an emergency.

People scramble towards the safety of the ship, their panic palpable. Fio spots Nova and rushes to her side. The rain pelts down, and Nova's skin sizzles under the assault, but she pushes through, determined.

"Fio!" Nova shouts through the torrential downpour as she sees Iris standing alone, calmly observing the chaos. Iris remains eerily composed, unfazed by the black rain that scorches everyone else.

"Fio, Iris is out there!" Nova points desperately. Fio's eyes widen in alarm. He and Nova quickly make their way back into the storm. They find Iris standing in the rain, seemingly unaffected. Her skin is untouched by the burning rain.

"Iris!" Nova calls out as they reach her, her concern evident. Iris looks at them with a calm expression. "It doesn't hurt me. I'm fine," Iris says, but Nova and Fio are determined to get her inside.

Ignoring Iris's reassurances, Nova and Fio help her into the ship. As they lay Iris down on the floor, they notice she seems in better shape compared to others who have come in after her. Nova immediately grabs water from a nearby tub and begins splashing it onto her own skin and Iris's, trying to soothe the burning.

"Iris, are you sure you're, okay?" Nova asks, her voice laced with worry as she continues to wash away the remnants of the black rain. Iris nods, letting out a few coughs but appearing otherwise unharmed.

Fio, meanwhile, strips off his jacket and shirt, scrubbing his skin vigorously to stop the burning sensation. His movements are frantic, but he works quickly to alleviate the pain.

"I need to find Octavia" Bellamy shouts worriedly and Nova looks over at him then clears her throat not making eye contact with him as Kane tells him the news.

"My wife. She was outside the wall. I need to know if she's ok" Someone calls out.

"Check in with your section leaders. We'll get a head count as soon as we can" Kane reassures.

" Hello? Can anyone hear me? Look, we're caught in the rain, and it burns. We're trapped in the rubble just north of the factory crash. Please. Can anybody hear me?" Some says speaking into Kane's radio.

"This is Chancellor Kane. I hear you. Can you hear me?" Kane asks trying to figure out what's going on.

"Kane. Kane, it's Mark Colton. Look, please, my son is soaked with black rain. Please. You got to help us. Hurry!" The man on the radio says and Kane looks over to Bellamy.

Nova's eyes dart to Iris's skin, and to her astonishment, there are no burns or signs of distress. The black rain seems to have had no effect on her. Nova's concern is evident as she leans closer. "Are you okay?" she asks, her voice laced with worry.

Iris takes a few deep breaths, nodding in reassurance. "I'm fine. It just stings a little," she says, but her skin remains unscathed. Nova helps Iris to her feet, guiding her gently towards Clarke's room, which Clarke had offered her for safety.

"Here," Nova says, her voice soft as she lays Iris down on the bed. "I said I'm fine," Iris insists, rubbing her arms where a faint tingling remains. "It's so strange. The rain should've-"

"Should've killed me?" Iris finishes the thought with a wry smile. She looks at Nova, her gaze playful but kind.

Nova meets Iris's gaze for a moment before looking away, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I guess it wouldn't have been so bad for you now, would it?" Iris teases lightly.

Nova clears her throat and shifts her focus, a mixture of relief and discomfort in her expression. "I guess it wouldn't," she replies quietly, her eyes meeting Iris's once more. The warmth in Iris's smile is almost too much to bear.

Taking a deep breath, Nova turns her head away, trying to shake off the emotions that are creeping up on her. She knows she can't allow herself to be swayed down that path again. The past lingers, but she pushes it aside, focusing on the task at hand.