Chapter 51: Ch. 51 – The Army Stirs while You Sleep

How many times had it been now that I had woken up in pain since I entered the world of 'the 100'? I had lost track of the number, but I did know that this was the worst damage that I had taken so far, and it was not from the amount of pain, rather the lack of it. I could feel nothing from the waist down, yet from the waist up, my body ached with a foggy pain that made me think I was drugged.

 

Opening my eyes, I was assaulted by a bright light, making me groan. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust, and I found myself in a white room. I could not move around too much, but turning my head to the right, I saw Echo sleeping on a white couch.

 

"Echo," I called out with a hoarse voice.

 

She immediately sprang awake and took a split second to realize where she was then looked at me. She sighed and stood up, crossing over to me with a relieved expression on her face. Dropping into a small chair, she said, "About time that you woke up."

 

"How long have... I been out?" I asked weakly.

 

"Nearly two days. Abby did what she could, but..." Echo let her words die off, but I already had a feeling of what the 'but' was.

 

"I'm paralyzed, huh?"

 

Echo nodded her head.

 

"Well... there is still my healing to try, so hopefully, it's not permanent. Where's Raven? I remember grabbing her too," I asked.

 

"She's here in the Mountain, and recovered from whatever Iseto did to her, but she hasn't been able to accept what happened. Luna is watching over her right now," Echo replied softly.

 

I sighed, "Did his power affect you and Luna too?"

 

She nodded, "Every painful memory that I had, seemed to be brought to the front of my mind and a bloodthirsty fury was trying to claim my mind, but I wouldn't have lived as long as I have, if I never learned to control my hatred."

 

"Yeah, Raven does have a temper even though I rarely see it," I sighed.

 

"I should go get Abby. She wanted to know when you woke up... Do you want me to tell Raven?"

 

"Not yet... She doesn't need to see me like this. It will only make things harder for her," I replied quietly.

 

"As you wish," Echo agreed with a nod.

 

She stood up and headed out of my view. I heard the door open and close, but I could not see it, since I was flat on my back. The only thing that I had to look at was a replica painting of the Starry Night that was hanging above the couch where Echo had been sleeping, so I just waited in silence, with nothing but the thoughts in my mind.

 

I was scared that I would not walk again, and I was worried about whether or not Raven would be able to handle what Iseto's power had done to her. I could still remember the unnatural anger that had been rising inside of me as my memories played throughout my mind under his influence, but I knew that it was rooted in my true feelings. I still hated and blamed myself for letting Lincoln, Finn, and the others die when I could have done more, if I had not been afraid.

 

About ten or twenty minutes later, I heard the door open, and Abby, Echo, Kane, and Indra walked into my field of view. They split up on either side of me and looked down at me with concerned expressions. It reminded me of the time that I had been taken to the hospital as a child after I fell out of a tree. I had been strapped to a backboard with a neck brace on while my family gathered around me as they waited for the doctor's report.

 

"It's great to see all of you again so soon and with such happy expressions," I mocked.

 

Kane gave a heavy sigh and Abby tried to smile, but it was very strained. Indra and Echo were both more on the stoic side, expression wise, but I knew them well enough to recognize that they were truly worried about me.

 

"I'm sorry, Octavia. There is nothing that I can do. The impact from your escape shattered all of the vertebrae in your lumbar and most of the muscles in your back were ripped apart," Abby explained.

 

"That's fine... Hopefully, my healing is as logic-defying as Clarke likes to say; if not, make Echo take care of me, so someone else can share in my misery," I chuckled.

 

"I don't think I would be making jokes in your position," Kane remarked.

 

"It's either laugh or cry, Kane, and I haven't given up yet. I still have my powers, so even if I can't walk, that doesn't mean I'm useless," I replied.

 

"A warrior's spirit is not easily broken," Indra said with a nod of approval.

 

"I prefer the term 'Stubborn Fool'," I retorted.

 

For once, I truly broke through Echo's icy shell as she could not help but chuckle at my remark, and even Indra smirked.

 

"I know it's a lot to ask of you right now, but we need to know as much as we can about Iseto and his powers," Kane said with a sober tone.

 

"It's fine... I don't fully understand it yet, but somehow, he is able to brainwash thousands of people and make them little more than mindless slaves that follow his orders. There is another group within his army that he has a more solid hold on... They can act almost normally, but they are aggressive, and I could sense the tainted energy in them like a brand, so Lexa can too. Whatever Iseto's powers are, they involve stirring strong feelings of anger and hatred... perfect for turning a bunker into a bloodbath. Somehow, he infected Raven with his powers and caused her to shoot me in the chest, so that should tell you just how dangerous he can be," I explained.

 

"That's... along with the lines of what Echo and Luna told us, but with more detail into his power. Echo mentioned that his body grew in size and turned red; do you know anything about that?" Kane asked.

 

"I'm not completely sure. I transformed myself due to my rage at him attacking Raven... If Echo had not yelled at me, I might have completely forgotten about them and just fought Iseto," I replied honestly. "I was barely able to dodge his first attack and blocking his second threw me back nearly ten feet. You might not understand the reference, but I believe Lexa would, when I say that I would compare it to a berserker's rage."

 

"I'll tell her," Kane said with a nod.

 

"Is there anything that you need, to aid with your healing?" Abby asked.

 

"Sunlight makes it easier, but I don't want a lot of people seeing me in this state. We all know that I am a deterrent to help keep Azgeda in line, so I would prefer to keep this quiet, at least, until it is a definite condition. Otherwise, I'll need food and water whenever I wake up between my healing sessions. Thankfully, my time in Azgeda greatly increased my healing abilities, so let's hope for a miracle," I replied.

 

"I'll see to it personally," Abby agreed.

 

Kane and Indra both gave me a nod before they headed out of the room with Abby. Echo stayed behind and sat down in the chair that she had before. For her, there was a complicated expression on her face which made me sigh. I reached out weakly and poked her in the forehead, much to her annoyance.

 

"That's better. Your annoyed scowl is better than your worried one," I teased.

 

"Playing tough isn't your style," Echo complained.

 

"But playing the fool is," I chuckled. "Don't condemn me yet. I haven't even started trying to heal myself."

 

Echo's jaw tensed, and she looked away. She placed a hand on my arm as she said, "Thank you for protecting me. I would have taken that hit if you had not twisted in the last moment."

 

"I already told you, I protect my family."

 

She looked back at me and said softly, "We thought we were going to lose you with how much blood you were losing. I... I was scared that you'd be gone."

 

"I'm sorry for worrying you, but you know me... I'm a stubborn fool," I replied with a light chuckle.

 

Echo smirked as she stood up and shook her head. She leaned down, cupping my cheek, and kissed me on the lips. While I was stunned by the kiss, she pulled away and said, "I know your heart belongs to Raven, but there is a spot for you in mine I've realized. Start healing yourself; I'll see you in a few days."

 

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"Wait... Echo..." I said, but she did not.

 

Echo walked out of my room and did not stop or turn around. I let out a heavy sigh and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes before I let out another sigh. I knew that there were feelings between Echo and me; it would be strange not to after how close we had to be while we were still in Azgeda. It was foolish to think that we were just close friends, but I never thought she would actually confess like that. She was not the type to express her emotions, and even less so for something like this.

 

Despite the new situation that wanted to tug at my mind, I put my thoughts aside and focused on my healing. Unfortunately, healing with Light would always purify any foreign chemicals, meaning my pain meds. The amount of damage that I had taken was alarming to say the least, but thankfully my healing was as powerful as I had hoped. 

 

By the end of the first day, feeling had returned to my legs above my knees, and on the second, I could wiggle my toes. Abby ran some simple tests on me to measure how much my healing powers could do, but I refused to let her take me out of the room before I could walk again. It took another day and a half, but I managed to walk from my room to the main clinic with a little help. While I sat in Abby's office as she looked over my x-rays, Kane, Indra, and Roan walked in.

 

"I knew you wouldn't die easily," Roan remarked as I stood up slowly.

 

"I faked the whole accident just to get a few days off," I retorted with a chuckle. "So, what brings you all to my doctor appointment?"

 

"After you returned, I sent out a team of engineers to set up a mobile station and the drones from Becca's Island to scout out the army since Lexa's scouts have stopped reporting back. Members of Boudalankru and Podakru have joined his numbers, and this morning, they have started mobilizing," Kane said as he handed me a tablet with recorded videos of the army's movement.

 

Scanning through them, I could see that the army had nearly doubled in size and were marching our way. Strangely, the last few videos were of a small group that had branched off from the main army, but I recognized the leader as Iseto.

 

"Where is he headed?" I asked as I handed the tablet back.

 

Kane tapped a few icons and the screen changed to a map with multiple dots. "This is the drone that's following Iseto, and Indra says that he has crossed into Yujleda's lands."

 

"Because the near twenty thousand people that he's gathered isn't enough," I scoffed. "I need another two days, Kane, minimum."

 

"Actually, we had another idea for now. Lexa ordered that the remaining loyal clans start bringing their members for the bunkers after you left, and they have started to arrive. We're not exactly sure how his powers work, but we were hoping that you could watch over the intake process starting tomorrow morning. You won't need to do anything officially, but we were hoping that your senses could still work while you heal yourself," Kane suggested.

 

"That's doable, if you find me a nice sunny spot and a decent chair to sit in," I agreed.

 

"Of course, Octavia. Now that you're up, I'll set up a video call with Lexa and her group for tomorrow evening, so that we can decide how we are going to proceed moving forward," Kane said.

 

"Alright, I'll be there."

 

Kane gave me a nod and led Roan out of the room. Indra placed a hand on my shoulder as she silently asked if I was okay. I smiled, nodding my head, and only then did she follow the others out.

 

"So, what's the verdict, doc?" I asked after everyone else left.

 

"The vertebrae have fused back together and there are no signs of any of the fractures in your hips. Over half of the damage to your muscles has also been repaired... It makes absolutely no sense," Abby sighed.

 

I chuckled, "It wouldn't be the first time that I was called a freak of nature."

 

"Well, you're fine, Octavia. There's nothing that I can do for you other than change your bandages until you heal the rest of your wounds."

 

"Good, then I have a favor to ask. Can you take me to Raven?"

 

Abby nodded her head and agreed quietly, "Of course."

 

Abby helped me out of the clinic and over to the elevator. We took it to level five and headed down to the residential wing.

 

"She hasn't left her quarters since you all arrived. Only Luna and Echo were able to get her to talk, but they left the day after you woke up to head back to Polis," Abby explained as we walked.

 

"Iseto's power is unsettling to say the least. For me, it brought out every memory of anger and failure that I've had, putting me into a trance of sorts while I was forced to relive them. I'm not sure if I would have broken through it without being shot as terrible as that sounds."

 

"Why were Echo and Luna able to withstand it when Raven couldn't?"

 

"My best guess is something that Echo mentioned when I asked her about what she felt. She knows how to control her hatred, and I imagine that Luna does too, after everything that she's been through. There are tragedies in both of their pasts, that would have driven lesser people to kill themselves, out of the guilt and burden that they've carried since their childhoods."

 

"This is a twisted world, isn't it?" Abby remarked.

 

"That's why we need to do better. As horrible as what Praimfaya is, it's also a chance to rewrite our future and build a world in peace."

 

Abby smiled and nodded her head then stopped at a door. "This is her room... I'll come by and get you in the morning, since I'll be checking over everyone for signs of illness."

 

"Thanks," I said and then watched her walk away.

 

I knocked on the door, but there was no answer. I tried to open the door, but found it locked, not that that could keep me out for long. Channeling my mana into the door, I found the lock easily and undid it. The lights were off when I opened the door, but I could still navigate with my Wind Domain. 

 

The living room was empty, but I could sense Raven's charm not too far away. I headed for the far door and opened it quietly. A lamp was on, so I could see Raven laying on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. I did not say anything as I walked up behind her and sat down on the edge of the bed. She rolled over with a start, but froze the moment that she saw me.

 

"Hey, beautiful," I said as I reached out and stroked her cheek.

 

Tears started building up in her eyes, but she buried her face in my side as she threw her arms around me. I held in my groan of pain because I knew that she did not need any more guilt right now and just let her cry it out. I had no idea what she had experienced under Iseto's influence and what she remembered, but I had the feeling that she knew she shot me, either by her memories or someone told her since she would apologize occasionally.

 

"Raven, you were under his control. It wasn't your fault," I said gently.

 

"I wanted to kill you," she replied.

 

"You could have, but you didn't. You were close enough to shoot me in the heart and didn't which means that you were still fighting him. He has thousands of people under his control... I nearly lost myself to it... It wasn't your fault," I insisted.

 

Raven let go of me and sat up, wiping her tears away. I tucked her hair behind her ear, then pulled her towards me and kissed her. I could feel the tension in her body dissolve, as she accepted that I did not hate her. She put her arm around my shoulders, but I could not hold back the wince of pain since my healing had been focused on my internal injuries, and not repairing the skin.

 

"What is it?" Raven asked, pulling away.

 

"I've got another two days' worth of healing. It seems that I wanted to kill myself in a flying accident in this life, since I've already done the car accident experience. You weren't awake for the escape, but I certainly need to practice flying before I try to use it again in such a way," I explained with a light chuckle at the end.

 

"Rebecca," she sighed.

 

"It's fine," I replied, cupping her cheek. "We walked into an obvious trap and survived. That's all that matters."

 

She smiled, "I love you."

 

"I love you too."

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