Mistake » John Murphy

Screwed

Chapter 36

So, as much as I hate to say it, Bellamy was right. My place is with Raven, away from the battle and safe with my daughter.

Stupid Bellamy and his stupid brain.

Even if I don't like it, I have to accept it. We can't all be fighting.

"Finn, Clarke, do you see it anywhere?"

Instead of fighting, I'm helping. I can't be useless forever.

"No," they both respond.

"Raven, we can't find the ignition system," I inform.

Silence lingers up the ladder.

"Raven?" I call out.

"I can't feel my legs," I hear her voice break.

Oh wait, that's my heart.

I hated her before, but now I just feel sorry for her. If I could trade places, I would. She doesn't deserve this pain. Her fate shouldn't be sealed after one bullet.

If only you could see her now, John.

"Okay, hold on. We're coming," I tell her as we make our way back to her.

I got up first, then Clarke, and Finn behind her.

"Okay, let me see," Clarke says before heading over and lifting up Raven's shirt.

Horror made its way to Clarke's face, which could only leave you to one conclusion; it's bad. Real bad.

When no one says anything, Raven realises the truth. "That bad, huh?"

"Raven, the bullet's in your spin," Clarke states. "You're bleeding internally."

"We better do this fast then, huh?" Raven says, pulling the strong card.

Let me be that strong.

"Get back down there," she tells us.

"What if we can slow the bleeding? Would that help?" Finn asks.

"Well, of course it would help. Can you tell me how to do that?" Clarke questions.

"The stuff the grounders had; coagulant. You said that Lincoln had some, too."

"Yeah, it's in a box with the antidote, but I really-"

"I'm betting that there's more in his cave, if I can get there-"

"What, wait a second! No!" Raven protests.

"I can make it."

Boys and their optimism. Correction: Finn and his optimism. Now that pair goes better than even Finn and Clarke.

"Clarke, tell him he's being an idiot," Raven pleads.

"Raven," Finn whispers.

"What?" Her strength is preventing the tears from joining us. "I'm not gonna let you die to save me."

"Fine. If you won't let me save you, how about we save everybody else? You're the only one who can fire those rockets. If you die, we all die," Finn explains.

He's right, though. We need her.

"I'll be right back," he says, rising to his feet and heading towards the door.

"Finn, wait," Clarke calls, rushing after him.

Aww my Flarke.

Watching them have a heart-to-heart warms mine up real fast.

Don't be jealous, Quinn.

~

"Do you see it, or don't you?" Raven asks, demanding to know our current situation.

"No," I respond.

"It's a mess down here," Clarke states.

Worse than my old bedroom on the Ark.

"It'll be orange," Raven tells us. "Look harder!"

We continue looking as chaos lingers on the radio.

We're fucking screwed.

"You have to find the wire that connects the manual override to the electromagnet."

That was a lot of complicated words this blonde isn't made for.

"It's not rocket science."

Fucking looks like it to me.

"It is rocket science, actually."

Thank you, Clarke. I'm not the only dumb blonde here.

"Guess we finally found something you're not good at," Raven says, bringing the awkwardness to a ten.

Guess Finn isn't needed after all.

"I used to be picked first for everything," Raven continues. "Earth skills, zero G mech course," she lists. "First every time."

I was first to be arrested for teen pregnancy. Just like Raven and her firsts. No? I mean, that's something.

Whatever.

"So, how the hell did I end up here?"

Not even silence could answer her, so instead, I did.

"Hey, Raven," I call up. "I'd pick you first."

"Course you would. I'm awesome."

My daily reminder.

Silence dances as we concentrate on our mission until luck reaches out to me.

"Hey, I found it. Orange wire," I tell her.

"About time! Now follow that wire to the override panel!"

Her orders leave us stuck when we see the damage.

"Raven, it's fried. Totally useless," Clarke states.

Fuck.

"Tell me this isn't as bad as I think," I say.

"Either you know how to splice a wire?"

We both shake our heads.

"No," Clarke replies. "Neither of us do."

Doesn't she know my job is teen pregnancy, and Clarke's is leadership. Neither one of our job descriptions say 'mechanic'.

"Then it's worse," she sighs.

Is is okay for me to say we're fucking screwed, now?