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chapter fifty, Bellamy...

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Nova, Clarke, Echo, and Octavia met up Gabriel in a dining room type set up. They've placed a large table for them but nobody has the desire to eat except one person. "Thank God for the Flame. Doubt they'd serve us saji bowls in jail" Gabriel says as he sits down at the dining table and digs into his food. "How could you eat right now?" Octavia asks as she pushes her bowl away. "That's his speciality" Nova says as she places her hand on Clarke's shoulder and Clarke grabs Nova's hand and grips it gracefully as she lets out a sigh of relief.

"Gabriel's right. If they didn't believe I had the Flame, we'd be in cells" Clarke states as she rubs Nova's hand and stands to her feet making Nova's hand slide off her shoulder. "Clarke, where are you going?" Nova asks. "To wake the others. It's time to go back to Sanctum" Clarke declares as she turns to face Nova.

"Clarke, we're under house arrest" Gabriel determines as he grabs his napkin. "I'm aware of that. I'm also aware our leverage disappears the moment he puts me in front of that stone" Clarke states and Nova sighs as she takes Clarke's seat. "So what are you gonna do?" Echo asks. "I'm gonna offer to do it as soon as the rest of you are safely back on Sanctum" Clarke states and Nova shakes her head standing to her feet immediately.

"No, they'll kill you. I'm staying" Nova states as she looks to Clarke. "You're not sacrificing yourself anymore" Nova argues as the door opens making everyone turn their heads. "Make way for the Shepherd" Someone calls out as a man in full wool clothes walks in before a few guards and Cadogan.

"We need to talk. I'm ready to help you. But only after my friends are..." Clarke says when someone else walks into the room and Nova widens her eyes as she sees it's, "Bellamy?" Clarke questions as he walks further into the room. He now has a fully grown beard and mustache and his hair has grown to its fullest extent. Octavia tries to step towards her brother but the guards immediately pull their weapons on her. "How? We saw you die" Echo questions as she shakes her head in disbelief.

"It's hard to keep the Blakes down" Octavia determines as tears fall from her eyes and a smile forms on her face. "Hold. She has the Key" Cadogan says as he stops his guards from shooting Clarke when she pulled Bellamy into a hug. "I hope that now you're ready to help us, Clarke. Too much blood has been spilled. Each death is a child of earth who won't transcend. I'll give you time to reunite while we make preparations" Cadogan says as his people start to leave the room.

"My Shepherd...There's something you should know" Bellamy says before Cadogan and his people exit the room. Nova's smile drops as she looks to Bellamy afraid at what he's about to say. "Clarke doesn't have the Key. The Flame was destroyed. I'm sorry" Bellamy confesses, ruining there plan and betraying his people.

Cadogan had his people arrest Nova and the rest of them. Nova was roomed with Octavia and Clarke since Theo decided to stay with Raven since it's been a few years since he's seen her in a few years. Nova sits next to Clarke on her bed while Octavia sits on the other and Nova can't help but think it's a little awkward with them three in a room together. Octavia begins to laugh and Nova and Clarke both turn their heads to face Octavia. "Something funny? Because I don't see anything humorous about this" Clarke states as Octavia lets out a sigh.

"I'm smiling because I realized, I finally understand you" Octavia confesses. "Really? How so?" Clarke asks mockingly. "You have Madi, I have Hope. I'd do anything to keep her safe" Octavia admits and Nova smiles at her words. "How long were you on Penance?" Clarke asks and Nova nudges her shoulder. "It's called Skyring" Nova remarks as she chuckles. "10 years. Good ones" Octavia answers as she looks down at the floor.

"What's wrong?" Nova asks. "A couple of days ago, she was just our little girl. Now she's messed up like the rest of us" Octavia says while she sheds a tear as Clarke goes over to her mattress to comfort her and shortly after the cell door opens and Bellamy enters through with two guards.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me" Nova calls out as she stands to her feet and looks to the two guards. "You need backup to talk to us now?" Clarke asks as she looks Bellamy up and down noticing his attire. Bellamy allows the guards to leave and they do under his orders. Clarke walks over to Bellamy as the cell door closes. "It's about time. I have been racking my brain, trying to figure out how telling Cadogan about the Flame helps us. You know what I've come up with? It doesn't" Clarke argues as she looks to Bellamy who shrugs his shoulders. "I couldn't lie to him".

"And Echo was ready to kill everyone on this damn planet for you" Nova mumbles as she looks at Bellamy with her arms crossed. "I had an experience, something that changed me to my core" Bellamy says and Nova furrows her eyebrows as Bellamy explains how he saw his mother one last time and Clarke was beginning to feel bad but that didn't change that she was still upset her betrayed them.

"Clarke, I...I know how this sounds, but it's real. A war is coming, the last war we will ever fight. Win it, and we become the light" Bellamy explains and Nova shakes her head as she looks to Bellamy who's changed. Changed as a person. "Is that what the cult leader told you?" Clarke asks keeping her guard up with Bellamy at the moment. "Did he tell you what happens if we lose?" Octavia asks and Bellamy is determined they won't lose.

"Oh my god! We will into crystal, wiped out, like Medusa turning people into stone! It's the end of everything, Bellamy and you're worshiping it!" Nova shouts as she slowly walks towards Bellamy. "Not everything, just us. If I told you that the AI that destroyed the Earth was storming our minds in a city of light, would that be any more believable? What about a group of astronauts turning into gods by transferring their minds into the bodies of their own followers in order to live forever?" Bellamy questions and Nova scoffs as she looks away from Bellamy.

"Ok. Yes. We've seen our share of crazy, but that doesn't change the fact that fighting some war to become the light is as ridiculous as the clothes your wearing" Clarke argues as she looks Bellamy up and down. "There's one way to find out. Tell me where The Flame is" Bellamy demands and Clarke shakes her head. "Yesterday, you were offering it up in exchange for safe passage" Bellamy states and Clarke scoffs.

"Yesterday, I was bluffing! I made a deal to save my friends knowing damn well I had no intention of following through with it. Today, I'm standing in front of my best friend, who I thought was dead, and I don't even recognize him" Clarke cries out and Bellamy slowly steps towards her. "Clarke, I am the same person who brought you back from the dead, who refused to give up on you" Bellamy argues and Nova shakes her head. "Really? Because you look like the same person who tortured me up on the ark and taunted me when we got to the ground!" Nova shouts as she looks Bellamy.

"Even if you're right, even if everything you're saying is true, I will not help that man start his war" Clarke declares and Bellamy sighs, "Tell me where The Flame is" Bellamy demands. "Tell me or dozens of Disciples are dead, including First Disciple Anders" Bellamy says and Nova looks between Clarke and Bellamy. "Clarke, if you don't tell me where it is, they will execute all of you. Please, let me help" Bellamy begs and Clarke shakes her head. "Go float yourself".

Bellamy sighs and calls the guards from the hallway into the room. "Take this one to M-Cap" Bellamy orders referring to Clarke. "No!" Nova shouts as guards grab onto Clarke and Nova waste no time and kicks one in the ribs trying to get them away from Clarke. "Nova, stop!" Bellamy orders as he grabs Nova and pulls her away before she causes more damage. "No! Clarke!" Nova cries out as the guards drag Clarke out of the room and Bellamy holds Nova back. "Bellamy, let me go! Clarke!" Nova calls out and once all the guards are out of the room he lets go of Nova. "Bellamy, what are you doing?" Octavia asks as she holds Nova's arm.

"What I have to do" Bellamy states before he leaves the cell with the door closing behind him.

~~

Octavia and Nova were taken from there cell and taken to the stone room where they met up with everyone else in the group. "Cadogan, Bellamy, and Clarke enter the room along with some more guards and Clarke notices her friends in handcuffs. "Clarke!" Nova calls out but when she tries to move the guards immediately point there weapons at her.

"Why are they still restrained? We had a deal" Clarke states and Raven furrows her eyebrows. "Clarke, what is this? What deal?" Raven asks and Clarke locks eyes with Cadogan. "He releases all of us, and I take him to The Flame" Clarke answers and Nova scoffs as Cadogan turns to one of his people. "Release their restraints one at a time" Cadogan orders before he turns back to Nova and the group. "Any violence will be met with lethal force." Cadogan assures as the man takes off Miller's handcuffs.

"Clarke, please tell me we're doing the right thing" Nova urges and Clarke nods her head to Nova as the anomaly opens and the man removes Nova's handcuffs. Miller puts on his helmet as he prepares to go into The Anomaly and soon Nova and the rest of the group does the same except for Raven since they don't remove her handcuffs since they're sending the fighters through first.

"Come on" Echo says as she and Nova walk towards the anomaly together.

But they weren't sent back to Sanctum. They were sent to a place Nova wanted to stay away from forever...