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chapter twenty, Luna

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NOVA AWAKENDED FROM HER LONG SLUMBER, her senses slowly coming back to life. She blinked and looked around, realizing she was in some sort of box-like enclosure.

"Nova, hey," Clarke's familiar voice called out. Clarke grabbed her hand and helped her to her feet.

"Where the hell are we?" Nova asked, scanning her surroundings with confusion.

She patted herself down, noticing her weapons were missing. "My weapons are gone," Nova declared, her voice tinged with frustration.

"Mine too," Fio echoed, sweat beading on his forehead as he looked around.

Meanwhile, Octavia was pounding on the walls, trying to find a way out. Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a woman entered. She had reddish hair, wore a short-sleeve shirt, leather jeans, and large boots. Her beauty was striking, and Fio looked starstruck, as if he'd seen a ghost from his past.

"Luna," Fio mumbled, his voice filled with a mix of awe and longing. The woman's eyes locked onto Fio, sharing the same look of recognition and deep emotion.

"Fio," Luna murmured softly, a smile briefly appearing on her face before she composed herself.

"Where is Lincoln?" Luna demanded, her voice turning hard and tough once more.

"He's dead," Fio replied, his words softening Luna's expression slightly.

"Lincoln said that you would help us," Clarke interjected, her tone pleading.

Luna tilted her head, assessing the situation. "Luna, you're the last of your kind. The last night-blood," Clarke continued, hoping to appeal to her sense of duty.

"What about Iris? Don't tell me she's dead too," Luna pleaded, her voice cracking slightly.

Fio cleared his throat. "You know Iris, and she is not who she seems. Iris is my sister, and I love her unconditionally, but she is not fit to lead my people. They will die before she can even sit on the throne," he explained.

Luna remained silent, her throat working as she tried to process everything. The tension in the room was palpable until Nova broke the silence. "Her spirit has chosen you to become the next commander. Titus entrusted Clarke with the flame to give to you," Nova said firmly.

Luna looked over at Clarke. "Then he should have told you that I left my conclave, swearing to never kill again," Luna stated, her voice filled with conviction.

Nova sighed, feeling the weight of disappointment. Convincing Luna seemed impossible. "You don't have to kill. To lead is your birthright. How you lead is your choice. Here," Clarke said, pulling out the flame and showing it to Luna. "This is the flame. It holds the spirits of the commanders. Of Lexa. Will you take it and become the next commander?" Clarke asked, her voice hopeful.

There was a moment of silence as Luna looked at Fio one last time before turning back to Clarke. "No."

Luna gently closed Clarke's palm around the flame and turned to leave. Nova furrowed her eyebrows, frustration boiling over as she followed Luna out of the box.

"Hey!" Nova shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the vast emptiness around them. Clarke, Bellamy, Octavia, Nova, Fio, and Jasper stepped out to see they were on an oil rig in the middle of the ocean.

"Oh... what the hell," Nova muttered, looking around and seeing nothing but water stretching endlessly in every direction.

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OCTAVIA, NOVA, JASPER SAT BY EACH OTHER while a girl gave a speech on the stage. Octavia and Nova weren't listening as much. They just wanted their weapons so they could get out of here because it's clear Luna wasn't trying to help in any way.

Nova looks over to Fio, Clarke and Bellamy who are now talking to Luna. Fio continues to have that same look in his eye when he looks at Luna, but Nova won't push and say anything about it. Luna then starts walking closer to Nova and hands Octavia Lincoln's journal back.

"You probably want this back" Luna says as Octavia takes it from her. "Thank you" Octavia says and Luna nods her head. "When do we get our weapons back? I would really love my sword," Nova asked, her voice tinged with frustration.

Luna sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You get them when you leave," she answered curtly before turning to walk away.

Nova scoffed, stepping over Octavia and quickly following Luna. "Luna!" she called out, her voice echoing. Luna stopped in her tracks and turned around, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto Nova.

"I thought you'd be someone to help us. That's what Lincoln said. That you help people. So why aren't you doing that?" Nova asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

"I help people, but 'helping' Trikru always revolves around death. You may say no one will die, but I know they will. I swore to never kill again, and I am not getting some... flame put into my neck for people I barely know," Luna replied, her tone firm and unyielding.

Nova shook her head slowly, frustration boiling over. "Iris has gone crazy, okay? She cut off the heads of children! She tried to kill me and Clarke and ended up shooting Lexa. She isn't fit for this, and Fio knows it too. I've seen the way you two look at each other, so do it for him," Nova implored.

Luna stepped towards Nova, her eyes piercing. "Iris, if you care about her the way I think you do, don't. Because I did once too," Luna stated, her voice tinged with a mixture of regret and resolve.

Nova furrowed her eyebrows, confused. "Then why does Fio look at you like-" Nova began to ask, but Luna cut her off.

"Fio was always in love with me, but I loved Iris. That's why Fio looks at me like that. So don't come into my home asking questions and stating things you know nothing about. You get your weapons when you get on the boat to leave. Then, I never have to see you again," Luna declared, turning her back on Nova and walking away.

Nova stood there, her heart heavy with the weight of Luna's words. She watched as Luna's figure disappeared into the distance, feeling a mixture of anger, sorrow, and helplessness. She had hoped for an ally, someone who could help them, but instead, she was left with more questions and a deep sense of loss.

Applause is heard as the girl has finished her story and Nova went back into the room and sat next to Octavia. "She's a lost cause. She'll never become commander for us" Nova realizes and Octavia looks ahead as she sits by the fire.

"Yeah, I know" Octavia mumbles.

Octavia and Nova meet up with Clarke, Bellamy and Fio. "Where's Jasper?" Clarke asks and Nova points over to him talking to a girl smiling causing Nova to smile.

"We have to get him" Clarke says about to take a step forward when Nova stops her.

"Clarke, how long has it been since you have seen Jasper smile?" Nova asks and Clarke can't even answer so she relaxes in her spot and lets Jasper go.

Clarke lets out a sigh and looks to the group. "We can't just leave. We have to get this flame in her head" Clarke complains and Nova shrugs.

"I don't think we have a choice. She won't budge" Nova states.

"Maybe we do" Clarke says and Bellamy furrows his eyebrows. "What do you mean?" Bellamy wonders. "I mean putting this into her head without asking" Clarke answers and Fio immediately disagrees.

"That's not how it works. They must perform the ritual," Fio stated firmly, his voice unwavering.

Clarke sighed, frustration evident. "Yeah, no way, Clarke! This isn't like Emerson; he was trying to kill us!" Octavia shouted, her voice low but intense. Clarke closed her eyes, taking a moment before looking at Octavia.

"You think I don't know that?" Clarke shot back, her tone sharp.

"Clarke, we don't have to do this. We can fight, we can go back to Arkadia. We can arm up," Bellamy suggested, his voice filled with urgency. Nova nodded in agreement. "We can't force her to do something like that. It's been years since she's even been on Trikru grounds. We can fight this," Nova added, her eyes pleading.

Clarke shook her head, her expression grim. "Fight who? It's an army of our own people. I don't like this any more than you do. But if Raven's right and the code on this thing can stop ALIE...Give me a better idea," Clarke challenged, looking around at everyone.

"We'll stay here. It's the only way they'll leave you alone with her," Bellamy said, his voice steady. Nova shook her head in disbelief.

"You guys are actually doing this? Forcing it into her head with permission?" Nova asked, her voice rising in anger.

"Iris and Ontari aren't fit to lead them. So, if I have to force her, I will," Clarke stated, her voice cold and resolute.

"Even ALIE gives people a choice," Octavia interjected, her voice tinged with disgust. Bellamy looked at his sister, his expression conflicted.

"We gave her one, and she said no," Bellamy said quietly, trying to justify their actions.

"Doesn't mean we force her to do something she is not comfortable doing," Nova argued, her voice trembling with emotion. She looked at Clarke, who couldn't meet her eyes.

The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of their decisions hanging heavy in the air. They were trapped in a dystopian nightmare, forced to make impossible choices. Each word spoken added to the growing divide between them, as they struggled to find a way forward in a world that had stripped them of so much.