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chapter thirty-four, Blame Game

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AFTER THEY FOUND JAHA, THEY WENT BACK TO CAMP. Everyone gathered outside and waited for Chancellor Abby to come out with more information. Nova, Clarke and Finn stood by each other while Nova's mother was with Abby helping make decisions since they became good friends up on the Ark.

Once Abby, Layla and Jaha came outside and stood in front of their people. All eyes were on them.

"By now, you've all heard the rumor" Abby speaks up then pauses for brief moment looking around in the crowd. "And unfortunately, it's true. The Grounders are coming. We have a difficult decision to make. Thankfully, Chancellor Jaha has found his way back to us, and we are discussing all options" Abby confesses making some people gasp in the crowd.

"But to be safe, you need to pack. Now. Whatever you can carry. We may need to leave at a moment's notice" Jaha interrupts making Clarke and Nova look to each other as they hear what Jaha is saying.

"Where will we go?" A skeptical man ask out loud.

"I don't know, is the answer. But I heard of a place... a city of light. It's across the Dead Zone" Jaha answers honestly.

"What makes you think we'll get there?" The skeptical man asks again.

"Because we got here. I have faith. And right now, given the alternative, that's good enough for me" Jaha states and Nova shakes her head. "Not for us" Clarke speaks up surging forward to the conversation.

"If we leave, what happens to our people in mount weather?" Clarke asks earning nods from people in the crowd.

"As your mother said, that is a very difficult decision to make, but the time has come for each and every one of us to ask. "Is this how the story of our people ends? Did we come all this way just to die tomorrow? because if we're not gone, by the time that sunrises, that is exactly what will happen" Jaha states walking back and forth while talking.

"No decisions have been made. In the meantime, please report to your station supervisor and gather emergency supplies" Layla speaks up for Abby and Abby nods in agreement causing everyone to do as she says. Bellamy comes up behind Nova and Clarke.

"Bellamy" Nova says as she sees him. "Where have you been?" Clarke asks and he sighs

"In the drop ship. You need to come back with me right now" Bellamy states and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"Is everything okay?" Nova asks and Bellamy clears his throat. "I'll explain on the way. Bring your med kit and meet me by Raven's gate" Bellamy says as he walks away.

"Nova, you can come with me. Finn-" Clarke says and Finn shakes his head. "Go with Bellamy. Your mom said no decision has been made. If that changes, I'll let you two know" Finn says and Clarke hurries in the drop ship and grabs her Med Kit and meets Nova outside.

As they're walking to Raven's gate, Layla calls out her daughter's name.

Nova and Clarke stop in place and Nova closes her eyes and sighs in slight annoyance. "Just go. If I can make it there I will" Nova says telling Clarke to go.

"Nova, I don't want you walking out alone" Clarke declares and Nova shakes her head.

"Go. I'll be fine. I promise" Nova says holding Clarke's hand. Clarke sighs and starts walking away as Layla gets closer and closer to Nova. "Hey, Sweetie" Layla greets and Nova turns around and smiles at her mom.

"Hi, mom" Nova greets as her mom puts her hand out and traces all the scratches on Nova's face. "Mom, I'm fine" Nova says moving her mom's hand away.

"Okay, what is wrong with you? Where did Clarke go?" Layla asks and Nova rolls her eyes. "Nowhere, she's fine" Nova says shaking her head and walking past her mom. Layla grabs her arm and swings her back around.

"Nova, I don't know what the hell has gotten into you, but I am your mother and-" Layla states and Nova snatches her arm away.

"You killed a village mom! You could have caused a war! We are in danger because of your actions!" Nova shouts finally standing up to her mother. Layla's eyes widen and shakes her head.

"I did all of that for you. I was worried about you! You did the same exact thing when you killed that guard and got sent away for 2 years!" Layla shouts throwing her hands in the air. "That- That was different okay, I was trying to help, Dad" Nova says pointing at her mother as tears fill her eyes.

"No, Nova, it isn't different. We both did terrible things for family. You have no reason to bash me for this when your just as bad" Layla says getting her daughters face and staring her down.

"Now, where did Clarke go? I should let her mother know" Layla says changing the subject. "I don't know" Nova mumbles not answer her question. "Nova, I know you know so tell me" Layla pressures as Nova shrugs her shoulders.

"She didn't tell me" Nova answers lying through her teeth.

"Fine. You want to do this?" Layla asks and Nova shakes her head.

"I'm not doing anything" Nova states and Layla scoffs shaking her head as she walks past her daughter in disbelief.

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EVER SINCE NOVA HAD THAT ARGUMENT WITH HER MOM, she didn't want to leave so she stayed outside sitting on a log playing with grass out of boredom to pass the time. It was starting to get dark, and Nova wondered if Clarke was alright.

Finn came and sat next to Nova hesitantly. It was silent for the most part, but it was a well-deserved and comforting silence. "I'm sorry" Finn speaks up and Nova looks over at him confused.

"For what?" Nova asks while wiping the grass off her hands. "Your mom. I didn't think she would join in on the killing and... she did" Finn states and Nova sighs before placing her head on Finn's shoulder.

"I heard you guys arguing" Finn says and Nova sighs as Finn wraps his arm around Nova, his hand resting on her shoulder.

"We both said what we had to say. Nothing more to it, I guess-" Nova says but is immediately cut off by everyone gathering around. Nova and Finn stand up and see Jaha, Abby and Layla standing before everyone.

"I know you've been waiting for an answer all day" Abby speaks up and pauses before looking over at Jaha. "We're leaving. Everyone needs to pack up what they can carry" Abby states and Nova and Finn look over to each other.

"Go. Tell Clarke. I'll stall them. Somehow" Nova says and Finn nods before rushing off to Raven's gate. Nova sighs and moves through the crowd until she is in front of everyone.

"We shouldn't have to leave!" Nova speaks up stepping on the platform.

"Nova Bailey, What are you doing?" Layla asks and Nova looks over at her mom then back at the crowd. "We shouldn't be afraid of the grounders. Th- They should be afraid of us! Look at this place" Nova shouts gesturing around.

"We took the time and effort. I mean, we fell from the sky! We deserve to be here" Nova says clearing her throat a little anxious as she's never spoke in-front of a crowd like this.

"If we stay. We all die! What don't you understand about that?" Jaha asks looking down at Nova.

"If we leave, we could die. Who even knows if that place you were talking about is real? You've never been there" Nova says and Jaha sighs looking down. "It's too much of a risk. You know how long that walk will be? How many of us will die of dehydration or starvation?" Nova says and some people in the crowd begin cheering.

"This is our home too!"

"Yeah!"

"HEY!" Abby shouts getting everyone's attention. "We are leaving. End of discussion. Pack up" Abby says and Nova groans in defeat and jumps off the platform.

"Mom!" Nova hears Clarke shout in the distance. Nova looks over and see's Clarke rushing over. "Where we're you? We're leaving" Abby says and Nova shrugs as Clarke looks at her.

"I tried" Nova says and Clarke shakes her head. "No, you're good" Clarke says catching her breath.

"Mom, Listen. I know how to stop the attack" Clarke states and Nova looks at Clarke with a smile on her face. Jaha overhears and stands next to Abby. "What're you talking about?" Jaha asks.

"We haven't been able to negotiate with the Grounders because we haven't had anything to offer them. The biggest threat they face is from the Reapers. I think we may be able to eliminate that threat for them once and for all" Clarke says and Abby is silent for a moment. All you hear is the chatter of people in the distant. Abby sighs and looks at her daughter.

"How?"

"Abby. You can't seriously" Jaha states sternly as shouting is heard in the distant but it's coming far from camp. Nova and everyone else turn their heads and sees torches and tons of people marching up over the hill.

Nova realizes it's grounders and widens her eyes.

"They're here" Jaha mumbles.

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"They're not attacking yet, which means we still have time, right?" Nova questions and Clarke nods in agreement. "We have two hours until dawn" Layla states letting Abby know.

"Let me talk to the Commander. She was Anya's Second. Maybe she'll listen" Clarke says with conviction and Nova looks back at Abby. "We don't even know if the Commander is here" Jaha says getting frustrated.

"She has to be. They wouldn't march without her permission" Nova says pointing to the huge herd outside their camp. "Yeah, and Nyko told us. You have to at least let her try" Finn says joining in the conversation.

"Abby, we're wasting time. I think you need to give Jaha the authority now" Layla says and Nova furrows her eyebrows in confusion at her mother's words. "Hold on. Clarke, you said that Lincoln is going through withdrawal" Abby says and Clarke nods.

"We don't even know what he's withdrawing from. The detox alone could kill him" Abby says and Clarke sighs looking at her mother. "That's where you come in. You have to save him" Clarke states and Abby shakes her head slowly.

"And if I can't?"

"That's not an option" Clarke states with a face of determination. "We are risking everything on a bluff? Abby, we have an out" Jaha mumbles in her ear before becoming more impatient.

"We have a way to save the lives of our people" Jaha states and Nova scoffs.

"And we are saving them. By saving one of theirs" Nova states pointing to the grounders outside their gates. "And we wouldn't be saving them all, would we?" Nova asks crossing her arms.

"We will come back for the children in mount weather!" Jaha shouts.

"No, we won't! Not if we're fleeing to walk through the desert!" Finn shouts back. Jaha looks at Abby with a stone-cold look. "I...am the elected Chancellor of the Ark. And I am not going to let you risk the lives of more people; do you understand? I'm going to ask you once again. give...the order to begin the exodus" Jaha demands and Abby looks at him calmly but coldly.

"No. Are you through?" Abby asks and Nova and Clarke glance at each other.

Jaha turns around and slowly approaches the two guards behind Abby. "Sergeant Miller. Major Byrne. I am relieving Doctor Griffin of her command. Place these four into custody, but make sure they are ready to leave with the rest of us within the hour" Jaha orders but they don't move.

"Right now, Major! Or the blood of everyone in this camp will be on your hands, too" Jaha shouts and demands but they still... don't... move.

"Major Byrne, Sergeant Miller" Abby says stepping towards them. "Put Chancellor Jaha in the stockade" Abby orders and they move saying yes ma'am and grabbing each of Jaha's arms.

"Everything we did to survive... You're just throwing it all away. Why?" Jaha asks sadly.

"Because I have faith in my daughter and her friends" Abby states as they take away Jaha. "Abby. I can't let you kill my daughter" Layla states walking up next to Abby. Abby looks to Nova and Nova clears her throat and nods her head towards Abby.

"Lock up Layla Bailey too!" Abby shouts and another guard walks up taking Layla into custody.

"Nova! Wait!" Layla shouts as she's being taken away. "I'm sorry" Abby apologizes and Nova shakes her head. "It's okay."

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NOW TIME FOR OPERATION SAVE LINCOLN and form a truce. Nova took her and Abby to the drop ship to save Lincoln while Clarke went and talked to the commander. Nova was obviously worried about Clarke, but she knew she could handle herself.

Abby and Nova made it to the dropship, and it brought back so many memories for Nova, but she went in anyway and climbed the latter to see Octavia sitting next to an unconscious Lincoln.

"Oh, thank god. Where's Clarke?" Octavia asks standing up and helping Nova up. "Stopping a war. We have Abby" Nova says helping Abby up the latter and she quickly rushes to Lincoln and starts examining him.

Abby injects Lincoln with a serum to stop his fever, but it doesn't seem to be working. "Why isn't it working?" Octavia asks frantically as her eyes fill with water. "His heart's stopped" Abby says feeling Lincoln's pulse. Nova looks over at Nyko, the tall muscular grounder behind her.

"You're their healer. Tilt his head back. Pull his chin down to open his airway" Abby demands angrily as she starts pumping his chest. "Come on..." Abby begs breathlessly after pumping his chest.

Nova paces back and forth as Octavia cries out in sadness. Abby slowly stops pumping his chest and Octavia looks at her. "You're stopping" Octavia realizes and Abby shakes her head.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not possible. You're wrong!" Octavia says with her voice shaking in desperation.

"Come back..." Octavia cries out as she kisses Lincoln's head. Nova bends down to Octavia and rubs her back. Nova hears the hatch open, and Clarke climbs up with a girl with black paint on her face who Nova stared at but quickly stopped once she looked back. There was also a dark-skinned women next to her.

"I'll kill them all" she says.

"Please. You don't have to do this" Clarke says with her hands up and voice shaking.

"You lied, and you're out of time" The commander says with venom in her voice. Bellamy holds an electric stick and bends down and shocks Lincoln. Abby watches him and tilts her head.

"Do it again" Abby says making Nova and Octavia step away from him and Bellamy hesitantly shocks Lincoln again causing a breath to come from Lincoln. Octavia quickly bends down towards Lincoln happy as he blinks his eyes open.

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"LINCOLN'S RECOVERY WAS..." The commander, Lexa pauses searching for the right word. "Impressive. No one's ever survived such a fate before" Lexa says congratulating them.

"It's not complicated, really. We just have to keep them alive long enough for the drug to leave their system" Clarke states as the commander stares her down and Nova notices.

"You may have your truce" Lexa states and Nova smiles as she looks to Clarke. "I just need one thing in return" Lexa asks and Clarke nods.

"Tell me" Clarke says listening with open ears.

"I want the one you call Finn and... the older women... Layla" Lexa states and Nova feels her heart start to pound out of her chest. Why would they want them?

"Our truce begins with their deaths" Lexa states and Nova feels like she can't breathe. All eyes on her.