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chapter six, I'll end it myself

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"MILLER, TELL SOME OF THE GUARDS TO keep this tent secure. Don't let Bellamy or Clarke know anything" Nova orders and Miller pulls his hood on and walks out the tent, leaving Octavia, Nova, Kara, one of the guards and Indra in the tent to come up with a plan to take the valley.

"They don't know we're coming. So, all three passageways will be wide open, but the village will be fortified" Octavia explains while pointing to areas on the map. Nova looks around the map then looks up to face one of her guards, "Where's the water source?" Nova asks and he points to the water source on the map.

"Why? What are you thinking?" Indra questions before Clarke, Bellamy and Miller walk in together.

"My question exactly" Clarke states and Nova rolls her eyes not wanting to turn around and face Clarke. "Miller, orders were given to you-" Kara begins as Miller pulls down his hood, "I know my orders. I think we should listen to what Clarke has to say" Miller states and Nova lifts her eyebrows in shock before looking to Octavia and turning her body around to face Clarke.

"You can't take the sea route" Clarke states as Nova leans her arm on her sword handle which is hanging out of her holster. "Why? You said the sea is gone. Is it passable or not?" Indra voices while looking to Clarke.

"Yes, maybe. But you have to understand--". "Maybe is 50/50. I'll take my chances" Nova interrupts as she pushes pass Clarke, but Bellamy tries to stop her and all of Nova's guards either pull out their guns and swords and point them at Bellamy.

Bellamy and Clarke look around in shock and see Nova didn't even flinch.

"It's okay. You can stand down" Nova orders nicely and she hears everyone put their swords or guns away and sends Bellamy a mischievous smile.

"Can you just hear us out?" Bellamy questions.

"Nova, we're all on the same team. No one wants to get to that valley more than me. It's my home. But this way is too risky" Clarke states trying to create a new plan.

"Risky how?" Octavia asks, stepping next to Nova to protect like she has been doing for the last 6 years. "Show me then" Nova pleads as she looks to Clarke who nods her head and walks over to the map.

"You chose the shortest route, which makes sense, but the dry seabed is hit by almost constant sandstorms" Clarke explains looking to Nova while Octavia clears her throat looking between the two before standing in the middle of them and looking to Clarke.

"We have the tents from the second dawn. Sand won't be a problem" Octavia states and Nova nods her head agreeing with Octavia.

"It's not just sand. Some of it is crystalized in Praimfaya. I'm talking shards of glass like razor blades. Your tents will be torn to shreds and so will you" Clarke states and Nova let's out a sigh as she wants that valley, and she needs it to save her people.

"Well, I need that valley so are you going to give me another solution or try to talk me out of it?" Nova questions meeting eyes with Clarke as she leans forward on the table. "Wait, the sea route will take 6 days. The next shortest path adds 50 miles. That's two days if we're lucky" Kara intrudes looking to Octavia and Clarke.

"How do we know there won't be sandstorms on the longer routes?" Indra intrudes trying to find more answers. "Okay, enough!" Nova shouts slightly lifting her hand.

"We need food. The hydro farm is barely feeding us now, so if this is the last living valley on Earth, then it should be ours" Nova states, pointing her finger on the map. "Diyoza thinks the same thing" Bellamy voices.

"I don't really care what Diyoza thinks. She wasn't in that bunker for 6 years not knowing when she'll be able to get out" Nova states. "We need that valley. And we will do whatever it takes to get it" Nova states, looking to everyone in the tent before she leaves with Octavia, Kara, Miller and another guard following after her.

As nightfall enveloped them, Wonkru gathered around the crackling fire, the only source of light and warmth in the darkened expanse. Nova stood before them, holding a portion of their meager meal. The shadows danced around her, highlighting the gravity in her eyes.

"We honor those who died so we might live," Nova intoned, her voice steady but carrying the weight of their collective grief. "All of me for all of us." With that, she took a bite of her food and began distributing it around the circle, each piece a silent tribute to the countless lives lost in the bunker, the lives she had taken. The pain was deep, but she steeled herself, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

As she continued to serve the food, Indra spoke softly, her words heavy with empathy. "Your brother loves you, Octavia. And Clarke... she loves you, Keket."

Nova's gaze dropped to the fire, her throat tightening. "I... love her too," she murmured, her voice barely audible. She could not meet Indra or Octavia's eyes, the weight of her emotions too intense.

Octavia's voice cut through the silence, her tone resolute. "I say love is... weakness." Nova slowly turned her head to face Octavia, their eyes locking in a moment of shared intensity. Octavia's eyes, unwavering, conveyed a stark truth. "Love no one... and no one can hurt you," she declared.

Nova's gaze lingered on Octavia for a moment longer before she finally looked away. "I guess it depends on how hard you love," she replied quietly, leaving Octavia to contemplate their shared history in the bunker. The fire's glow flickered across their faces, casting a melancholic light on the unspoken bonds and unresolved tensions that hung between them.

"Help! Help us!" Someone shouts in the distance. Nova furrows her eyebrows in confusion as she stands to her feet quickly along with all of Wonkru. "It's the scouts" Indra points out and Nova sighs looking into the distance where the screams are heard.

"Miller? Miller! What is it?" Nova asks as Miller and a bunch of the other scouts' rush towards the camp. Octavia and Nova start marching towards them curiously.

"Are we under attack?" Octavia shouts as her and Nova get closer to Miller who's holding up one of the scouts. "I don't know what's wrong. Please! Hurry! Someone help him!" Miller screams as he drops the man on the ground. Everyone gathers around in a circle not knowing what to do as the man squirms around on the ground.

"Out of my way! I can help" Clarke says with a med kit in her hand but Kara stops her from getting any closer, "Not you" Kara demands and Clarke scoffs, looking to Nova.

"Kara. Let her through" Nova demands and Kara moves out of Clarke's way and Clarke rushes down and checks the man's pulse. "He's alive but his heart's racing" Clarke states and Nova sighs looking over to Miller.

"Care to tell me what happened?" Nova questions while Octavia bends down to check on the man with Clarke and Miller breathes heavily, shrugging his shoulders.

"We separated to cover more ground. Then I hear him screaming out that they're everywhere. Then I get to him and there's nothing. It's just more screaming and--" Miller explains quickly but Nova heard every word and stood behind Octavia looking down at the man and sees something moving around in his stomach making Clarke and Octavia jump back and the crowd around him shriek out of fear.

"What the hell is that?" Nova questions taking a step back. "There's something inside of him" Clarke says as she slowly crawls towards the man. "We got to get him to the tent!" Nova calls out while Miller and Bellamy lift up the man and start rushing towards the tent with Octavia, Clarke, Indra and Nova following behind.

"Nobody else comes inside" Clarke states looking to Octavia who looks to Nova for the order. Nova nods her head and Octavia leaves to let everyone know they can't enter and walks back in but stays out of the way along with Nova.

"Clarke, what is this?" Indra questions as Clarke removes the man's jacket. "I don't know. Miller, tell us exactly what happened" Clarke orders and all eyes were on Miller waiting for an explanation.

"Nothing happened. We stopped to eat. Then we separated again. Next thing I knew, he was screaming" Miller explains breathing heavily while Clarke turned to him.

"Let me see your rations" Clarke states and Nova furrows her eyebrows. "Nothing is wrong with our rations" Nova states looking to Clarke whose shrugs, "He was eating when it happened" Clarke states and Octavia shakes her head.

"If it was the rations, Miller would have it, too. They share everything" Octavia points out.

"Well, it got in him somehow" Clarke states as Bellamy points something out and flashing his flashlight at it and Clarke begins to examine it before she lifts her head in realization. "It came from the sand. We have to go back" Clarke states and Kara steps up, "No" she states.

"Nova, he told Miller that they were everywhere" Clarke says looking to Nova in desperation.

"But Miller just said he saw nothing" Octavia states motioning to Miller. "Everywhere could mean everywhere inside him. I agree with Bloodreina" Kara states and Nova looks over at Kara and rolls her eyes, leaving the room silent and everyone waiting for Nova to make a decision.

"Bloodreina, I need to speak with you" Nova states and Octavia and Nova speaks off to the side privately. "We won't have another chance to get to us valley. We need it" Octavia points out and Nova groans in annoyance.

"Nova," Octavia calls out slightly grabbing her hand. Nova looks down at their hands touching and looks back up at Octavia.

"We have to fight" Octavia prompts as she slowly removes her hand from Nova's. Nova nods slowly and turns to face everyone in the tent.

"We march on at first light" Nova states and Nova sees Clarke expression drop into shocked one.

"Keket, what about Obika?" Miller asks genuinely considered for his well-being. Nova balls up her fist and looks down to Obika who is unconscious, and she shakes her head.

"If he's not better by then...I'll end his pain myself" Nova states as she walks past Octavia and exits the tent.