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chapter thirty, Dart

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After Violet's game of Go Fish with Murphy she wondered outside and all of a sudden a random guy appears in front of her. "Nova! Hey! You wandered away last night with Clarke" The boy shouts and Violet furrows her eyebrows as the boy looks Nova up and down. "Your hair? You changed it-" He says until his face slowly drops into realization. "Violet Miller?" The boy asks and Violet clears her throat.

"How did you-" Violet starts to asks. "You don't go from brown to blonde over night. Especially Nova she doesn't look like the type" The boy says and Violet shrugs. "Her people bought it" Violet says and the boy shakes his head. "Why do you look so... sad?" Violet asks looking at the boy weirdly. "Nova she was nice. She didn't deserve this. Hallowed be your name, Violet" The boy says sadly yet still worships her before he puts something back in his pocket and walks away leaving Violet to think about her actions.

"Nova!" Violet hears and she turns around to Josephine. Violet walks over to Josephine, "Was was that?" she asks and Violet shrugs as she looks in the distance and sees Bellamy and Murphy going up to the castle. "Look" Violet says and her and Josephine look at the two in the distance before looking to each other. "That Murphy is kinda cute" Josephine says and Violet scoffs. "Murphy? Gaia is definitely cuter" Violet says and Josephine giggles and rolls her eyes playfully before her and Violet rush up to the castle to meet with 'their people'.

"They went into the holiest place" Josephine says as she burst through the door with Violet. "This is Sanctum's holiest place. You shouldn't be here" Josephine says and they start to look at Clarke weirdly before Violet clears her throat. "I'm sorry. I just, uh, I saw you on the steps" Josephine catches herself. "Does that mean your bodyguard could, too?" Murphy asks and Violet looks over at Gaia and quickly looks away so it's not weird. "Maybe we should take this outside" Violet says and Murphy rolls his eyes. "You don't get to turn blonde and start barking orders" Murphy argues. "Why did you go blonde?" Bellamy adds and Violet rolls her eyes.

"Guys, look!" Gaia shouts as she looks at the skeletons. "They all have the mark of the flame. They're all commanders" Gaia states and Bellamy takes a look. "That's why the symbol was on the flag" Bellamy adds and Murphy claps his hands. "Well, it's all coming together, isn't it? Now can we please ago?" Murphy says as Bellamy walks to the front row to look at the other skeletons. "The ones in the front row must be the original Eligius team. There's 12 of them. Oh, and they take kids" Bellamy points out and Violet and Josephine lock eyes.

"Familial love is a powerful motivator. People will do anything to ensure the survival of the ones they love. Now let's ensure our survival and get the hell out of here" Josephine who's impersonating Clarke insists until a heavy door creaks and everyone looks back to see Jordan has opened a door. "Open sesame" Jordan says as he turns to the group and smiles. "Shit!" Violet whispers to herself and looks to Josephine and motions her towards the door and they all walk in and turn the light on revealing a operating room. The same room Josephine and Violet woke up in.

"Operating room attached to a crypt. Really?" Murphy questions looking around with uncertainty as Jordan walks over to an item lying on a table. "She was here. This was Delilah's. I'm sure of it. Still think I'm overreacting?" Jordan asks and Violet rolls her eyes. "Yes, we're in their business. I say we just mind ours and leave" Violet suggests and Murphy nods in agreement. "Okay, let's think this through. Becca created the flame after apocalypse one. She obviously provided the tech to Eligius III before that. That means that--" Bellamy says and Violet looks at everyone hoping they don't find out the truth but deep down she does. Deep down Violet knows what's going on here is wrong but the question is Will she do something about it?

"They're not commanders" Gaia answers. "Right. So what the hell are they?" Bellamy asks as he looks around the room. "Let's find out" Jordan says as he walks over to the computers and sits down in the chair and everyone gathers around. Josephine and Violet stay close to each other as Jordan begins typing on the computer. "Monty taught him how to hack, too. That's my kind of parenting" Murphy cheers and Jordan sighs. "No hacking needed. The Eligius system all use the same access code" Jordan says as he gets into the system and Violet sighs looking away from the computer.

"Eureka. Try that" Gaia says and Violet looks over at Josephine who doesn't meet her eyes. Jordan presses on Eureka's video and Violet begins to watch it. "Here we go again. Today's subject is Brooke, Earth embryo 47. Presents with black blood. 21 Earth years old, 22 doing time in the incubator" The man says on the video as a girl screams in the background. "You can do this, Gabriel. 25 years of work, the failures. This is the one" Someone on the video says and Violet tilts her head as she looks at the body Gabriel was in.

"If I'm right, the reason all previous metempsychosis trials have failed is because the host's neuroanatomy was not developed enough to support the file size of a mature human mind" Gabriel says as the girl continues to scream in the background. "Gabriel, let's go. I'll hold her down. Do it" Another man says as he goes over to the girl and holds her down. "Do-Do what? What are they doing?" Murphy asks but no one answers so he looks back at the video. Violet gets closer and watches intensely.

"For God's sake, give her a sedative!" The guy shouts and Gabriel steps away from the camera and shakes his head. "We can't. Full consciousness is crucial. You know that" Gabriel says as he injects something in the girls arm on the video and the girl starts to calm down. "Rostral Dorsolateral Pontine Tegmentum's now fully dormant. We have to wait for the serum to reahc the claustrum. And dormant" Gabriel says and Violet back away from the computer and looks at the group who's in shock."Did they just kill that girl? Did we just watch someone die?" Jordan asks as Gabriel begins speaking on the video again, "Heart rate and breathing -- normal. Lower brain function is still intact. The body's ready" Gabriel says and looks at the video and sees the man handing Gabriel the chip to put in the girls head.

On the video they watch the girl begin tn wake up and the men around her panic but they call the girl Josephine which grabs everyone's attention. "The key is a fully developed brain. Once the adult host's consciousness is gone, the mind stored in the drive uploads with ease. Now, we still have loads of tests to run, but so far, Josie's conciousness, herself, appears to be whole. In other words, eureka. More soon" Gabriel says and the video ends leaving everyone in shock in confusion except Josephine and Violet but they don't show it. They try to show as much empathy as possible.

"They're immortal" Murphy points out and Violet clears her throat secretly. "They're murderers. They murdered Delilah" Jordan stands up from his seat. "If they went willingly.. is really murder?" Josephine asks, "Did that girl look willing to you?!" Jordan snaps and Violet looks to Josephine and shakes her head and Josephine walks away from the group. "That's how they made it better, easier, by manipulating people into believing they were sacraficing themselves to some false gods. 'Becoming one with the primes' like Delilah's mother said" Gaia states and Violet looks around to the group and knows they've figured it out. But at least they don't know about Nova and Clarke yet.

"Well, so much for respecting their faith. I mean, no offense. We let a bunch of kids fight to the death to become your God" Murphy says and Gaia looks to Murphy with anger before locking eyes Violet and looks away. "Clarke, you're okay with this?" Bellamy asks and everyone looks to her. "Well, I didn't say that. I just don't think they pose a threat to us, that's all" Clarke aka Josephine shrugs and Violet notices her putting something in her pocket.

"They pose a threat to you. You're a nightblood. And based on what we just saw, I'm thinking that's the only reason they let us stay" Bellamy states. "Madi. I have to get her before they find out what she is" Gaia says as she starts walking to the door and Josephine joins her. "Bring her back to the tavern so we can decide what to do" Bellamy says before Gaia and Josephine leave and everyone follows them out and stop once they reach the room with all the skeletons.

" I hate to say it, but I agree with Clarke. This isn't our fight" Murphy says and Violet steps forward. "You don't say anything. We already know you want a fight" Bellamy says and Violet furrows her eyebrows but plays it cool. "I just want to live. Bellamy these people know how to do that forever, as it turns out. That wouldn't suck either" Murphy states and Violet looks between them. "Reattach the keypad outside the tunnel. We're right behind you" Bellamy says changing the subject before Murphy follows orders and leaves. "You too" Bellamy says and Violet follows Murphy out.

Violet then parted ways with Murphy and went to her room in the castle. She was able to sit in silence for a few minutes until loud knocks were heard at her door and the door opened revealing Russel. "What now?" Violet asks as Russel walks towards her. "Give me details" Russel says and Violet groans and stands to her feet. "I would asks if you want to hear good news or bad news but sadly there is no good news. They got into the lab. They know everything" Violet states and Russel widens his eyes in shock. "Do they know about you? Josie?" Russel asks and Violet shakes her head. "Not yet but that doesn't mean they won't. These people are smart. Plus Clarke wasn't the only person with blood like ours" Violet states and Russels let's out a worried sigh.

"Well how many more are there" Russel questions and Violet shrugs her shoulders, "I'm guessing at least one more. If they aren't here with us then they could be on ship with the rest of their people" Violet states and Russel looks speechless and doesn't know what to do. "Russel, you have to think fast. You did this. Those people are about to leave soon so stop the hand wringing and do what needs to be done" Violet argues looking to Russel angrily. "Then you need to convince them not to leave" Russel states and Violet rolls her eyes, "Impossible".

"Then make it possible! I won't lower myself to their level" Russel says and Violet scoffs looking Russel up and down. "Seems like you already have" Violet says and Russel locks eyes with Violet. "Now, as much as I would love to ruin lives like you ruined mine. I'm tired. I'm ready to sleep I'm sure Nova's gone so please- leave" Violet encourages with a tired look on her face but Russel doesn't leave the room. "You'll get to sleep, but after you find out who has blood like ours. If you're right and they have more we can resurrect the others and it won't matter what we did for you and Josie. Or that you killed Kaylee" Russel says and Violet shakes her head. "Whatever but just so you know this won't end well. They'll find out who I am and kill me before they burn this place to the ground. This is what happens when you have no plan and do things impulsively" Violet argues before she leaves her own room.

~~

Violet and Josephine met up with the group and sat around the table trying to discuss if they should stay or not while they were still pretending to be Nova and Clarke and so far everyone was falling for it. "Clarke, you realize staying says we're okay with what they're doing" Madi states and Clarke aka Josephine secretly rolls her eyes at her comment while Murphy downs another drink and agrees with Madi. " Yeah, and what's the alternative? Go back to space? Sleep for another hundred years on our way to a planet even less likely to support life?" Murphy questions leaving everyone speechless for awhile.

"We can... build our own compound" Bellamy suggests and Violet clears her throat at his comment and locks eyes with Josephine but quickly looks away. " we won't last out there on our own" Murphy argues. "Emori, Echo and Raven will be back in the morning. They'll know everything we need to build a radiation shield, after that it's just hard work" Bellamy states giving them another plan to say here and survive with the new people of Sanctum.

"Over how many lifetimes? No seriously, how many eclipses? How many swarms? How many terrorist attacks?" Murphy asks leaning forward in his chair looking to Bellamy for answers. " I agree with John. I don't like who they are either, but we need them to survive" Clarke agrees and Violet leans forward in her chair to act like she's interested in the conversation when she is not. " they are murderers, raising people to give up their bodies, brainwashing them and to believing they're gods" Jordan states as he begins to think of what they did to Delilah.

"He's right. It's a perversion of everything Bekka Pramheda believed. The flame was about passing wisdom onto the next line, not keeping it all to yourself" Gaia states agreeing with Jordan. " yeah, well, no offense, but Becca wasn't a guard either. She was a scientist who made herself a night blood in the lab the same way Abby did to Clarke" Murphy argues and Violet noticed Josephine as shocked as she is at what they just heard Murphy say. They can make night bloods. "So much for doing better" Madi remarks as she rests her head on the table while while Jordan stands to his feet heading towards Priya who's taken over Delilah's body.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Bellamy shouts as him and Murphy rush up to Jordan to try and stop him. " I know what you did" Kordan says and Priya looks to Jordan in confusion but looks to him like he's a peasant and Josephine and Violet lock eyes and Violet walks over to Josephine. "You heard that right" Violet whispers and Josephine nods her head secretly and they both start to sneak out of the building together without anyone seeing them and when they do they meet up with Jada outside.

"Jackpot. Follow us" Josephine says as Jada, her and Violet begin walking towards the castle. "Hey! Wait up!" Violet hears behind and turns around to see Bellamy rushing up to them and begins internally screaming. "What's up?" Josephine says tilting her head as Bellamy looks to Violet who he thinks is Nova and Jada standing behind them for protection.

"I want to talk to you alone" Bellamy says looking to Josephine who he thinks is Clarke. Violet and Josephine look to each other as they don't understand what he said but Violet tries to go along with it. "I'll- Uh, wait for you out here" Violet says patting Josephine's back awkwardly as her and Bellamy go into a building by themselves. "Should we go in?" Jada whispers and Violet raises her hand to quiet Jada. "She can do this" Violet says as she stands outside the building trying to listen in but only hears faint voices and not clear words.

After awhile Violet hears grunts that sounded like they were fighting and what made her rush in was hearing a loud thud hit the ground. Violet rushed in and saw Bellamy lying on the ground unable to move but she saw his eyes open which only meant one thing. "paralyzing dart" Violet mumbles and looks to Josephine who drops the dart onto the ground.

After the incident Violet, Josephine and Jada went over to the library to see Clarke's mother but didn't go in. Instead, they stayed outside and listened in on the conversation and heard them talking about a guy named Kane and he didn't have very long to live. Violet began to see that Abby was not stable and for that reason she couldn't be the key to all of this although she was a big part. Violet also knows Josephine seen it too so they started walking away from the library when Jada stopped them. " where are you going? I thought you said the mother is the key" Jada whispers and Violet sighs. " oh, she is trust me she is, she's the whole ball game and if we're going to win the game, we're going to need a better coach. A great one at that" Violet explains as they walk away and go to the great hall to find the person everyone thinks is useless but can be very very valuable.

"John.. Murphy" Violet greets as her and Josephine take a seat in front of him. Murphy looks to them confused as he sips his drink. "Penny for your thoughts?" Josephine asks and Murphy furrows his eyebrows, "What's a penny?" Murphy asks and Violet lets out a sigh. "Oh God, it's something from our time" Violet says which gets Murphy thinking as he looks between Violet and Josephine a little longer.

"Let me guess. Bellamy convinced you we should leave paradise and take our chances in hell" Murphy says and Josephine sighs. " why would I leave my home? That's it. Fill in the blanks, John" Josephine says and Murphy tilts his head. "You never call me-" Murphy stops mid sentence as he looks scared but also relaxed. "Well, before you freak out and raise your voice, we have a question for you" Violet interrupts as Murphy realizes who's sitting in front of him.

"You're not Clarke and you're not Nova" Murphy says putting two and two together. "Um- Clarke and Nova are dead. Josephine's parents kind of killed them and brought us back" Violet explains. "But, the real question is, how would you like to be immortal, too?" Josephine asks as her and Violet smile at Murphy who shrugs his shoulders. "I'm listening".