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chapter forty, Nonbelievers

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Nova stands near Madi's bed looking down at her, still impersonating Violet while Clarke sits in the chair in front of Russel while he stitches her chip back into her neck just like he did to Nova. "After the execution, we found more graffiti. Who knows what poison those escaped prisoners are spreading. One of them already killed Simone. If this continues, they are going to come for us. Right now, their rebellion is at a tipping point. Must crush it tonight. Get everything back to normal." Russel rants as he puts in the last stitch in the back of Clarke's neck. Nova continues to look down at Madi and sees she's beginning to wake up.

"When our people see all of us returned at once, they will fall to their knees" Russel sighs and Nova looks over at him with a deadly look in her eyes wanting to kill him right then and there but she knew there was a plan that she had to follow. "We should've killed you first. Once we're free, you will burn" Madi declares and Nova tilts her head in confusion as she knows that can't be Madi talking.

"Well, that's a little dramatic" Clarke says before Madi begins to fight against her bonds. "Uhh! You will all burn! You will not get rid of us! We are eternal!" Madi screams and Nova locks eyes with Clarke who's eyes are watery but she keeps her composure for the sake of Madi and the others.

"Guards, bring the Doctors" Russel orders and Nova turns her head towards the door that opens wide and Abby, Jackson, Raven, and the Guards enter. Abby freezes when she sees Clarke. Raven locks eyes with Nova and looks her up and down shocked that Nova's really gone, or so she thought. "She'll tear out the IVs. We have to take her again" Jackson says as he rushes to Madi's bedside. "I know what you're doing, Reyes. You think you're smart enough to get rid of me? If you don't stop, I will kill this child" Madi states and Nova definitely knows something is going with the flame in Madi's head.

Just as Madi says that Jackson places a syringe in her arm, drugging her and making her fall unconscious. "That's better. Thank you. There. How do you feel?" Russel asks as he looks around the room. Abby sees Clarke's face and begins to cry. Nova notices no one really cares for her so she looks away from the rest of the group and grips her fist tightly. "Peachy keen Josephine. Oh, stop it. I'm not her" Clarke scoffs and Nova sighs as she turns her head back to the group. "Yeah, you missed it, they were so easy to kill" Nova states as she tilts her head and Raven furrows her eyebrows as she looks to Nova.

"If it's too hard for you to continue, my healers will take your place. They're already familiar with the process. It would be no trouble" Russel states and Abby raises her hand, "No. I can do it" Abby declares as she wipes a tear from her cheek. "Good. Remember, this was the deal that saved you from the pyre. I'd hate for that to change" Russel says and Nova holds back her harsh comments and urge to kill Russel.

"Well... we have business to handle. See ya!" Nova cheers as she brushes last Raven and Clarke, Russell, and the Guards leave after her. "Meet with you soon dad" Clarke says and Russel nods his head as him and the guards walk the opposite way. Clarke grabs ahold of Nova's arm and brings her into a room. "Are you okay?" Nova asks looking to Clarke who is obviously thinking of Madi. "Madi..." Clarke breathes out and Nova places a reassuring hand on Clarke's shoulder and looks into her eyes. "Raven's smart, she will save Madi" Nova states and Clarke nods her head repeatedly trying to believe Nova's statement while Nova was trying to also.

"Okay" Clarke whispers as she lets out a sigh and clears her throat as her and Nova lock eyes once again. Nova forms a smile on her face as she looks into Clarke's eyes. Clarke leans in and places her lips onto Nova's making the kiss more passionate but slow. Shortly after, Nova and Clarke pulled away mutually. "I'm going to go with Russel and see Murphy and Emori. Let's hope they don't accept this immortal deal" Clarke says as she rests her hand on Nova's cheek.

"What will you do?" Clarke asks. "I- I'll figure it out" Nova says and Clarke nods her head as she pecks Nova's lips on her way out. Nova was left in the room alone and a tear slid down her face. No one cared that she was dead. Even though she wasn't that's what everyone else believed yet no one cared. Abby or Jackson didn't even give Nova so much as a glance. "Ugh" Nova groans as she rolls her eyes and wipes the tears from her eyes.

A couple hours later Nova met back up with Clarke and the guards and Clarke let Nova know what had happened to Ryker and that Murphy and Emori accepted the deal for immortality. They made there way to the great hall where Priya and Delilah's parents were at. "Priya. There you are. I've been looking all over" Clarke greets before she lets out a sigh and Nova tilts her head looking to Priya. "Josie. Violet. I heard you two had quite the adventure" Priya taunts and Nova smiles forcefully and looks to Priya. "Yes, very fun times and we can tell you all about it, but first we need your help with something in the Machine Shop" Nova states and Priya furrows her eyebrows.

"What did Ryker do now?" Priya asks as she takes a few steps forward. "More like what didn't he do. Dad asked him to wipe one of the prisoners, but he's completely lost his nerve. It's embarrassing" Clarke says as she rolls her eyes, living up to her role as Josephine. "He's never wanted to face the reality of our situation. Let's go" Priya says as she looks between Clarke and Nova and all of a sudden Echo jumps out of the hiding place and takes out a Guard. Gaia and Miller start taking out Guards and Blythe Ann joins in and takes out a Guard herself.

"Guys! Let's go!" Priya shouts and rushes towards Nova and Clarke. Nova wastes no time in lifting her head and kicking Priya straight in the face knocking her down to the ground. "I knew it" Echo says as she rushes to Clarke and hugs her. Gaia and Miller walk over to Nova and both pull her in for a hug. "We missed you" Gaia whispers and Nova smiles as she sinks into the hug before letting go. "You can come out now" Echo says and Nova turns her head towards the bar and sees Theo come out of his hiding spot.

"Theo?" Nova questions as Theo starts approaching her. "Nova" Theo says and pulls Nova in for a hug. Nova chuckles a little bit as she's a little shocked at the sudden hug from Theo, "Oh.. Okay" Nova jokes as she hugs Theo back and soon pulls away. "What are you doing?" Nova asks. "He helped us with everything. He killed Ryker for me and told us things about the primes. He wanted to help because he didn't think you deserved what happened to you" Echo explains and Nova locks eyes with Theo who sends her a nervous smile. "You helped my people?" Nova asks and Theo nods his head. "I had to" Theo whispers as Clarke walks over to him and embraces his hand which he accepts, "Thank you" Clarke greets and Theo nods his head.

"Have you guys seen Madi?" Gaia asks and Clarke nods her head. "How-How are you here?" Gaia asks shockingly as she looks between Clarke and Nova, "We can explain this later but we need to lower the shield" Nova says and looks over to Echo who forms a slight smile on her face, "Bellamy's out there" Echo realizes and Nova nods her head. "With the cavalry. I'll get Priya to help me take down the Reactor, and then we go after Madi" Clarke states and everyone nods her head.

Clarke, Nova, Gaia, Echo, Theo and Miller went to the Machine Shop with an unconscious Priya and laid her down on the table and soon after an alarm started to blare loudly in the distance. "It's too soon. We have to get that shield down. Wake her up" Clarke orders and Gaia starts shaking and tapping an unconscious Priya. "Priya" Theo calls out and she slowly starts to wake up. "We need your help" Clarke states and Priya looks around at the people standing above her.

"Let's get straight to the point. Take down the Reactor and you get Ryker back" Nova says, "If you don't..." Clarke trials off before she places Ryker's Mind Drive on the table with a clatter. She picks up a mallet and holds it over Ryker's Mind Drive. "Are we clear?" Clarke asks and Priya doesn't answer so Clarke prepares to strike Ryker's Mind Drive. "Wait!" Priya shouts and Clarke stops. "I'll help" Priya says and Clarke sets the mallet down and Priya did exactly what she said she'd do, she helped them put the shield down.

Bellamy, Octavia, and the Children of Gabriel run towards Clarke, Echo, Miller, Gaia, and Priya on the outskirts of Sanctum. Bellamy and Echo share a hug. "What took you so long? I hate to cut the moment short, but Russell told the people that it was a false alarm. They're not evacuating. We have no distraction" Clarke says as everyone around her catches their breaths. "What about him?" Octavia asks as she points to Theo. "We can trust him" Nova defends and Octavia nods her head.

"The rest of our friends are still in trouble, and we don't have the people to fight our way through" Echo argues and Bellamy shakes his head, "We're not here to fight. We're here to liberate" Bellamy defends and Octavia and Nova lock eyes. "Bellamy's right, and the only weapon we need for that is truth" Layla defends. "You sound like Gabriel" Nelson jokes and Nova looks around, "Where is he? The alarm went off way too soon" Nova realizes and looks to Layla and Nelson.

"Hold on. They won't believe us just because we tell them the truth" Echo says changing the subject quickly. "So what do we do?" Nova asks. "Well, Ryker did start this. I know we can get Priya to finish it. She'd do anything for her son" Theo intervenes, "Well, it can't be Me or Nova. We're supposed to be Violet and Josephine" Clarke says as she locks eyes with Bellamy and ends up giving Ryker's Mind Drive to him.

Clarke, Octavia, Theo, Miller, Echo, Gaia, and the Children of Gabriel run to hiding places along the outskirts of the crowd in front of the Palace. Two people emerge in the distance, walking towards the crowd. Through a Guard's scope, it shows Bellamy leading Priya towards the crowd. Nova and the rest of the group watch the mess unfold and tries to talk to the people of Sanctum and make the Primes out to be bad guys because they are and Priya backs him up just like Theo said she would. Russell walks out of the castle, out onto the balcony over the crowd. "Liars!" People shout from the crowd and Bellamy slowly but surely hands Priya Ryker's mind drive for cooperating.

"I am disappointed in you, Priya. I'm disappointed in all of you. According to our adjustment protocol...nonbelievers must be purified!" Russel shouts and Theo widens his eyes, "Oh no" Theo mumbles and Nova looks over at him confused. "What is it?" Nova asks and just as she asks Russell tosses a bomb filled with Red Sun Toxin into the crowd. "Oh my god" Nova breathes out as she watches the people of Sanctum run around in fear, afraid they are going to die. Clarke, Octavia, Bellamy, Echo, Miller, Gaia, Nova and the Children of Gabriel pull out their antitoxin and Nova shares with Theo and she thanks him gratefully for it.

Bellamy soon joins the rest of the group and Layla looks to him confused, "Where the hell is Priya?" Layla asks and Bellamy sighs as he grabs his antitoxin. "The toxin separated us. The crowd got between us" Bellamy says before he breathes it in. "Die, nonbeliever! Uhh!" A women shouts and just like that the crowd starts to attack each other.

Guards pull Madi, Raven, and Jackson out of the Palace and Nova realizes Abby isn't with them. "Jax? Jax!" Miller shouts and Miller starts running towards Jackson but Octavia holds him back, "Wait, Miller-". "I do not take order from you anymore!" Miller shouts and Nova steps in between them and looks to Miller with shock. "Miller, she's right. You'll never make it past the Guards" Bellamy's says an Nova and Clarke lock eyes. "We can though" Nova points out.

"I'm going with you" Gaia volunteers. "Me too" Theo states and Nova looks over at him. "Theo- You saved my people so let me keep you safe" Nova advices and Theo looks to her with his eyes narrowed not taking no for an answer and neither is Gaia. "Ok. Miller, stay here and protect the others. I'll get him back. Trust me" Clarke promises and Nova notices some people of Sanctum rushing towards the group. "Guys! Look!" Nova calls out and the crowd starts rushing the group and Bellamy punches the first man in the face. Nova spins around, swinging her leg knocking the women rushing towards her to the ground.

"We should go" Nova says as she grabs Theo's arm and moves him out of the way before a man could get ahold of him. Clarke, Theo, Nova and Gaia go towards where Madi, Jackson, Raven, and the Guards went.

Clarke, Nova, Theo and Gaia enter the Palace into the Great Hall. Gaia and Theo are dressed in disguises as guards to not draw much attention. They both keep their heads down to avoid any confrontation. "Thank God. Where have you been?" Russel says as he stands to his feet rushes to Nova and Clarke. "I was looking for Priya. But then I was blocked by a bunch of Gabriel's lunatic Children" Clarke answers and Nova sighs, "Oh, She's dead, by the way. What the hell is going on?" Nova asks as she narrows her eyes at Russel.

"We're leaving Sanctum until it's purified" Russel sates and Simone who's in Abby's body enters. "Oh shit..." Nova whispers to herself as she looks to Abby who isn't Abby anymore. "Your Mother murdered her Mother. Ironic, don't you think?" Gabriel mocks and Clarke snaps Gabriel across the face. "Uhh! How could I have ever loved such a traitor?" Clarke grunts and Nova tightens her fists as she sees what they have done. "Oh, sweetheart. At least you have closure" Simone says in Abby's voice just with a sort of tang to it.

"That's enough. Now that we're all accounted for, it's time to go. Have you all taken the antitoxin?" Russel asks and Nova furrows her eyebrows. "Where will we be going?" Nova asks. "To space, of course. Sanctum has lost us. For now, anyway" Russel answers and Nova chuckles humorlessly as she's confused. "Russel, We have no pilot and Priya's like.. dead" Nova argues, "Maybe if you didn't kill the Lee's" A women in the crowd adds but is interrupted by Russel. "That won't be a problem. We don't need the Lees. do we, Raven?" Russel asks and Nova looks over at Raven who has tears staining her face.

"Go float yourself, murderer" Raven argues and Simone grabs a Guard's gun and points it a Madi. Simone cocks the gun. "How about now? You have 3 seconds" Simone says and Nova locks eyes with Raven.

1...

Raven locks eyes with Clarke and Clarke nods her head secretly.

2...

"Ok" Raven agrees and Nova and Clarke both force a smile on their face. "Great choice" Nova mocks as she locks eyes with Raven as she sniffles in her tears. "Excellent. Guards, take the prisoners" Russel orders. "We're using the tunnel, but be prepared for anything" Russel informs as Madi, Raven, Jackson, Miranda, Caleb, Jasmine, and some Guards exit and Russell and Simone exit after them. Murphy and Emori start to head towards the door back into Sanctum.

"Where are you guys going?" Nova asks and Murphy turns around hostile. "You killed them. All they did was help each other and help us and you killed them" Murphy argues and Nova is shocked at the sudden grief. "We're staying" Emori informs and Nova sighs. "We're gonna save our people" Murphy states and Nova forms a smile on her face. "I would have never thought those words would come out of your mouth" Nova says as he furrows his eyebrows and looks to Clarke. "I'm proud of you, Murphy" Clarke says as she smiles up at Murphy and Murphy's face drops into a face of realization.

"Just so you know, Josephine called me John" Murphy states and Nova locks eyes with Emori before Russel enters the room again. "Josie, Violet, Daniel, Kaylee, is there a problem?" He asks. "They changed their minds. Cowards" Clarke scoffs as she turns away from them and looks to Russel. "The Mind Drive is a terrible thing to waste. Josie, Violet bring your Guards and let's go" Russel orders and Nova nods her head and her guards begin moving forward and Gaia and Theo move forwards with them.

"Wait. She's one of them" Russel points out and Guards point their guns at Gaia. Gaia raises her hands in surrender. "Hey!" Russel shouts as he snatches Theo's hood off of his head. "You're from Sanctum... traitor. Throw them to the wolves" Russel orders as he pushes Theo away roughly.

"No. I saw her in Clarke's mind. Threatening the child may work on Raven, but if I'm right, we need her to get on that ship" Clarke defends and Russel nods his head. "And this one?" Russel asks as Nova and Theo lock eyes. "They trust him. He saved them so if we take away there only source of Sanctum, they'll lose their minds" Nova defends and Russel taps the sides of his head. "Smart" Russel says before him, Clarke, Nova, Theo and Gaia exit.

Indra and other Grounder stand in front of the airlock door. Guns raised. "Transport ship is secure. Airlock engaged. Airlock secure" Computer voice says on loud speaker before the door hisses as it opens and Raven, Theo, Madi, and Gaia are kneeling with Simone, Russell, Violet and Clarke holding guns to their heads.