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chapter fifty-two, Life or Death?

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"I had a feeling you'd come and join us" Cadogan says as Nova and Madi land in the stone room. "Shall we begin then?" Cadogan asks as Nova stands to her feet and helps Madi to hers. "I'm not leaving her side so what-". "I didn't expect you too. Follow me" Cadogan urges as he exits the stone room and Madi and Nova lock eyes before they follow him into the memory extraction room where Levitt is waiting for them.

"Sir. And you must be Madi. My name's Levitt. So glad you've chosen to join us" Levitt says as he greets Madi and looks over to see Nova. "Nice to see you... again" Levitt says and Nova nods her head towards him. "It's ok. Just have a seat right here. I know it looks scary, but don't worry. It won't hurt. Pain interferes with the readings" Levitt says and Madi looks up at Nova. "I'm right here. We only do this if you want too" Nova states and Madi nods her head as she walks over and takes a seat in the chair.

"I'd advise you to stay back" Cadogan states and Nova furrows her eyebrows as she looks over at Levitt who was staring at her but quickly looks away and begins to put straps on Madi's ankles and a mesh around Madi's head. "Do we really need all of-" Nova says as the machine begins clacking as restraints go around Madi's wrists. "Hey! Just wait!" Nova shouts as she lunges towards Madi but all of a sudden 5 guards come out of ghost mode and knock Nova to the ground and one of them stomp their foot on her back

"I said to stay back" Cadogan says as Nova breathes heavily trying to fight against the person but knows her and Madi are outnumbered. "We're gonna start by going through a baseline scenario. Imagine you're in an endless desert with a vast, purple sky. A hand reaches out for your own. Whose is it?" Levitt asks as Clarke flashes through Madi's memories. "Well done, Madi. I know you're afraid, but if your mind contains the final code, it'll all be worth it" Cadogan says as he looks down at Madi.

"You're wrong" Madi declares and Cadogan furrows his eyebrows. "Gabriel said Jordan studied the texts. You think it's a war because you want a war...but it's actually a test someone has to take" Madi explains and Cadogan chuckles humorlessly as he looks over at Nova who continues to fight against the persons foot on her back. " I am sorry, but I find it unlikely that a boy who studied the texts once know better than those of us who have spent generations with them" Cadogan states and Nova chuckles to herself. "That boy she's talking about is really smart. You'd be surprised" Nova says as she elbows the persons leg off her back but before she can do anything else she feels a pain in her chest as one of the guards zap her.

"Ah!" Nova cries out as she breathes heavily trying to catch her breath after the hard hit she took. "Madi, I don't want a war. I don't want to send my children to die. If I could spare all of us the pain of fighting, then I welcome that test" Cadogan says as he ignores Nova's cries as the door to the room opens and Cadogan's disciples enter. "Forgive the interruption, my Shepherd. We received a signal from Earth. Two nano-tags have been activated" They inform and Cadogan sighs as he nods his head. "Madi's people are no doubt worried about her, but she'll be with them soon enough. For now, leave them there. They'll thank us after we've transcended, taking them with us" Cadogan states and Nova scoffs as she looks over at Cadogan.

"Thank you? We'd never thank a crazy lunatic like you!" Nova screams and Cadogan smiles gracefully at Nova. "Begin Levitt" Cadogan orders and Levitt opens Madi's sketchbook and shows her a picture of her drawing of Callie. "Is the system malfunctioning?" Cadogan asks as the screen isn't showing the memory properly. "No, sire. Just give me a moment. Madi, I need you to be very still now. I'm going deeper. Just focus on the drawing. What else do you remember about her?" Levitt asks frantically and Madi shrugs her shoulders. "Nothing. I-I don't know" Madi declares.

"Don't worry, Madi. We'll figure this out together" Cadogan promises and Nova slowly shakes her head. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this to save my friends, my family" Madi states as she looks down at Nova on the ground.

"Things are going to get rough. Nova will try to help. I want you to beat her to the fullest extent and if she tries to fight back... I'll hurt the child" Cadogan says and Nova widens her eyes as she is lifted up to her feet by one of the guards. "No! No!" Nova screams before one of the guard punch her across the face knocking her to the ground. "Remember. Fight back and the child gets hurt" Cadogan taunts as Nova receives several kicks to her stomach and even her face.

Cadogan watches Becca's memories play but the screen becomes static and the memories fade away. "Mm" Nova groans as she spits out a pool of blood form her mouth after one of the guard sent her yet another punch. "No. No. Bring it back. Bring it back!" Cadogan demands and Levitt looks around frantically. "I'm trying. It's just a fragment. I had to activate the extra-synaptic gaba receptors just to gain access" Levitt states and Cadogan looks over at Madi with a deadly look in his eyes and Nova notices. "I want to see my daughter again" Cadogan states.

"If I push deeper, I may be able to find more of Becca's memories, but it's risky" Levitt says and Nova widens her eyes as she listens in on the conversation and the guards take a break from hitting her. "Then be careful. We need her memories intact" Cadogan says as Madi begins breathing rapidly but memories from the flame and Madi's own memories start to play on the screen.

"Stop this already!" Nova begs and one for the guards sends a harsh kick to Nova's stomach making her fall to the ground. "No!" Madi screams while she begins to fight against the restraints. "What's wrong?" Levitt asks assuringly. "I saw everything. Becca went to the other side. She said he's not ready. I'm done helping you. Let Nova go!" Madi begs as she continues to fight against her restraints.

"Becca and I had a disagreement. A long time ago. You're only seeing her side of the story, and she may have been right back then, but I've spent centuries preparing us, improving us. Now is our time" Cadogan states as he looks back towards the screen. "Alright. Let's start again" Levitt says and Nova shakes her head. "You're hurting her! Leave it alone!" Nova shouts while Madi begins fighting against the restraint again. "Madi, stop it. You're hurting yourself" Levitt says and Nova looks over at Madi. "Madi... Clam down, okay?" Nova states but it seems Madi is under too much pressure and continues to fight against her restraints.

Levitt calls over two of the guards that were beating on Nova and has them hold Madi down against the chair. "Madi! Leave her alone!" Nova begs as she tries to rush to Madi but the guards grab her arms and knock her down to the ground. "No!" Nova cries out as her face hit the floor roughly.

"Again, Mr. Levitt" Cadogan orders and Levitt looks to his shepherd with wide eyes. "Sir, we need to do this another way" Levitt suggests and Cadogan scoffs. "There is no other way. You're too close to this. You're dismissed" Cadogan states and Levitt nods his head. "Summon Shoana" Cadogan orders and Levitt takes off his gloves and glasses and prepares to leave. "Leave me alone! Aah!" Madi begs as the guards continue to hold her down. "Let her go! Madi!" Nova screams as the guards begin to twist one of her arms slowly causing her to scream out in pain.

Levitt takes one last look at Madi and Nova and leaves. Levitt enters the hallway and sees 12 Guards at the door. "Madi, stop this. Are you trying to kill yourself? For the good of the many, I have no choice but to continue" Cadogan states as he continues the process all while Madi is still struggling. "Please! Stop!" Nova begs as tears slide down her cheek while her head is being pushed down to the floor but Cadogan doesn't stop. He kept going until Madi was pale and wasn't moving anymore.

"Madi? Madi?!" Nova calls out as she watches the guards slowly back away from her. Nova sees black blood pouring out of Madi's ears but Madi looks unresponsive... practically dead. "No... Madi.." Nova breathes out as Cadogan walks over to Nova. "Lift her up and pin her against the wall" Cadogan orders and his guard pull Nova up roughly against the wall and hold her arms and legs against the wall as well. A tear slides down Nova's cheeks as blood slowly drips out of her nose and ears from when the guards beat her to the fullest extent.

"I didn't want to do that but I got what I needed" Cadogan states as he stands in front of Nova who swallows a large lump in her throat. "Why... Madi, she's a kid. Someone's child" Nova says weakly as more tears slide down her cheeks from her eyes. "I had a daughter too! You think I wanted to do that?" Cadogan asks and Nova nods her head slowly. "I believe you wanted to do that" Nova says as she looks into Cadogan's eyes.

"So what will it be Nova... life or death?" Cadogan asks and Nova clears her throat. "I've asked myself that question a lot.. Shepherd and i think i finally have an answer" Nova declares as she looks over at Madi and back over at Cadogan who's eager for her answer.

"I choose Clarke- I will always choose Clarke. I was never scared of death. I was never scared to Live. The only thing I was scared of was losing Clarke because I love her. It took a long time for me to admit it but I do. I love Clarke Griffin" Nova states and Cadogan furrows his eyebrows and tilts his head to the side as he looks at Nova pleading her love for Clarke. "Clarke- she is the commander of death. You've chosen death Nova Bailey" Cadogan declares and Nova closes her eyes slowly and nods her head.

"Yes, I've chosen.. death and to be honest death seems really great right about now so you do what you have to do while I do the same. For my people, for my people I have lost, and Clarke" Nova states as she continues to look at Cadogan while silence fills the room. "Your blood has already stained my floors. What's a little more?" Cadogan asks as Nova's lips quivers. "Kill her" Cadogan orders as he walks out the room with three of his guards while two stay behind. One of the guards pulls out their knife from their suit and stabs Nova right in the abdomen. "Oh..." Nova breathes out as she widens her eyes at the feeling of the knife entering her.

The guard rips their blade out of Nova's stomach and the only sound filling the room was the sound of Nova's blood hitting the floors. "Mm" Nova cries out as the guard stabs her yet again, this time just little bit harder. Multiple tears fall down Nova's cheek before the guard rips their knife out of Nova's stomach and tosses her onto the ground where the rest of her blood lies. "For Clarke.." Nova whispers as she places her hand on her open wound and knows there's no saving her this time...

TO BE CONTINUED