Missing pieces of my skull, I'll sew on patches of my own soul.

— Meteor Shower, Cavetown

━━━━━━ September 24, 2149

"WHEN WERE YOU BORN?" Casey asked, her words a whisper in the silent night, but Bellamy heard her clear as day. She had long since picked up a stick, beating it against the dirt in anxious fours. After Charlotte had killed herself and Murphy was banished, she couldn't even think of sleeping. The thought of returning to her tent where Murphy's cot was waiting for his return was too much to bear.

⠀⠀⠀"March 30th," Bellamy answered her, voice gravelly from the early morning. He glanced out of his peripheral to her with a raised brow.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy wasn't the catalyst—that was Clarke—but the confirmation the others needed to continue their assault against Murphy. And yet, Murphy was the one to bury himself deeper in this pit. Casey knew it, though she would never admit it out loud. She would cast him aside and never speak of him again. Because they would only bring up how cruel and awful he was when she knows his brighter parts just as well.

⠀⠀⠀Casey did hold resentment in her heart for him. She would forever. But with the wristbands dead, she knew there was little else she could do but accept that she was stuck with him in her life. And he was here, sitting beside her as she grieved the loss of her brother. This was him apologizing for the part he played, and she accepted that there was no other way to say it.

⠀⠀⠀Casey slipped off the log so she could lay on the ground and rested her head against the bark. Then she turned her gaze to the sky and searched for the constellation she wanted. She used her fingers to calculate where it sat to point it out to him more easily.

⠀⠀⠀"If you look forty-nine degrees from the horizon, you can find Aries," Casey said with a bright smile. It hurt, but she felt it. She hadn't had much time to look at the stars from Earth. Either exhausted or in pain since they landed. Bellamy looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Your birth sign," she answered.

⠀⠀⠀"What did you just do with your hands?" Bellamy asked curiously, mimicking her gestures the best he could.

⠀⠀⠀Casey laughed nervously and explained, "It's from an old astronomy textbook. If you want to show someone a constellation from the ground, you can use your hands to roughly tell them the degrees it is rather than pointing wildly at the sky."

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy slid down the log and looked up. After a few minutes of instructions on Casey's part, Bellamy could find the constellation. They sat in silence, staring at the flickering stars.

⠀⠀⠀"In Greek myth, Aries is the golden ram that rescued Phrixus and was later sacrificed to the gods," Bellamy mused in a soft tone he typically reserved for Octavia. "The ram's fleece is known as the Golden Fleece. It had healing capabilities and was later stolen by Jason and the Argonauts."

⠀⠀⠀"Mm, interesting. I don't know a lot about mythology," Casey said, her eyes pinned to the sky. "What about Virgo?"

⠀⠀⠀"There are a few, but I like the version that sees Virgo as Persephone. She was the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest, and kidnapped by the god of the underworld, Hades. In Demeter's grief, the crops withered. Zeus commanded Hades to return Persephone so the harvests could be fruitful again, as long as Persephone never ate anything. Hades gave her a pomegranate, or in some versions, she takes it willingly and must stay with Hades for four months each year. Virgo is visible during these four months," Bellamy retold with such passion that Casey was surprised he held more depth than just survival and Octavia. He turned to her, curious, as he asked, "Is that your birth sign?"

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah," she sighed.

⠀⠀⠀"Then I think it's pretty fitting, Farmer Casey," he said with a smile.

⠀⠀⠀Suddenly, an ear-splitting roar interrupted their conversation. They stood to their feet, trying to find the source, but saw nothing. Only a streak of bright light peeking through the branches gave any indication of where the noise was coming from.

⠀⠀⠀"Come on," Bellamy called to Casey, taking her wrist and pulling her through the trees back to camp.

⠀⠀⠀Some of the teens were already waiting outside, standing by the dead fire and staring at the bright streak across the sky. Octavia stumbled out of her tent as Casey and Bellamy approached, glancing at them with a scowl. Her eyes darted toward the sky as Casey lingered on her friend's coldness.

⠀⠀⠀"They're coming to help us," Jones claimed, grabbing Casey's attention to look skyward. She looked to see the faintest resemblance of a pod streaking toward the ground. "Now we can kick some Grounder ass!"

⠀⠀⠀"Please tell me they brought down some shampoo," Roma begged wistfully, clutching her hands together.

⠀⠀⠀Casey turned to make a remark to Roma when she caught sight of Bellamy's crestfallen expression. Her brows furrowed as she noticed the worry between his brow and the determination darkening his eyes. Casey knew Bellamy hadn't been honest with any of them about why he posed as a guard. Casey thought that the Ark's attempt to make contact likely had to be why he looked so desperate.

⠀⠀⠀He turned on his heel, their hands still in grip, and—without either realizing—fell away and entered the strategy tent. A handful of his most trusted allies followed after him. Casey followed as well, curious to know how he wanted to handle this.

⠀⠀⠀Casey caught Bellamy's eyes, glancing back at her for a moment, but he continued en route like he had seen past her. He opened the flap for the boys, and just as Casey was about to pass through, he stopped her.

⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing?" he asked, exhausted.

⠀⠀⠀"I want to know what's going on," Casey said firmly, moving to walk past him, but he held her back. "Let me through, Bellamy."

⠀⠀⠀"No can do, sunshine," Bellamy chastised her, trying to keep the air light between them like it had been in the woods. "Stay out here," he told her, pushing her back a few steps before slipping inside.

⠀⠀⠀Casey frowned but did as she was asked. That didn't mean she couldn't stand on the other side and listen in where her shadow was engulfed by the looming trees.

⠀⠀⠀She watched as Octavia stormed inside the tent and demanded, "We should get going. Everyone's ready."

⠀⠀⠀"No one's going anywhere. Not while it's dark. It isn't safe. We'll head out at first light. Pass the word," Bellamy answered her.

⠀⠀⠀"Everyone for a hundred miles saw this thing come down. What if the Grounders get to it first?" Octavia asked. "Bell, we should go now."

⠀⠀⠀"I said we wait till sunrise," Bellamy repeated himself, frustrated, before walking out of the tent.

⠀⠀⠀Casey followed after him, slipping in behind him as he went into his own, and watched as he picked up a pack. He turned to find Casey in his way once again. He sighed, her knowing smirk getting under his skin.

⠀⠀⠀"So, we're going to the pod, right?" she asked.

⠀⠀⠀"You're not coming," Bellamy told her immediately, stalking out as quickly as he went in. She followed him around the tent, waiting between camp and the trees. "Stay here and keep everyone out of trouble.

⠀⠀⠀"I know I have blonde hair, but if you couldn't tell, I'm Casey. Not Clarke," she said, spitting her name out like dirt. "I'm coming."

⠀⠀⠀"No, Case, I'm serious," Bellamy firmly stated.

⠀⠀⠀"Alright, fine," Casey sighed, lazily walking back toward camp. "I guess I could go talk to my friends, Monty and Jasper, about how you're going to look for the pod. Or, this might get your sister to finally forgive me. She'd be thrilled to hear the news. Oh, look, Oc—!"

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy's hand clamped over her mouth and dragged her into the woods before his sister noticed.

⠀⠀⠀"Fine, come on."

THE SUN BEGAN TO rise, the air warming and the path ahead was a little easier to see. As they walked in silence, Casey watched Bellamy from her position a step behind him. He carried himself as straight as a board, with no question for error in his step and the slightest bit of arrogance that always radiated off of him. However, after the events of the night before, Casey could see how his shoulders began to hunch, inviting the weight to drag him further down.

⠀⠀⠀She knew that as she could see him, he could see her. Behind her fiery disposition, witty comments, and questionable loyalty to a psycho teenager, she was tired. Not the kind of tired from having an all-nighter chasing down a soon-to-be child murderer, but the type that had piled on for years.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy looked down at his hands and sighed. He turned his eyes to the trees and slowed his steps so they fell inline side by side.

⠀⠀⠀"I wanted to say I'm sorry," he said.

⠀⠀⠀"For what?" Casey asked, her eyes pinned to him already.

⠀⠀⠀"Murphy," he said bluntly. A rush of concern, disappointment, fear, and doubt washed over Casey, consuming her until Bellamy continued. "I know he was like a brother to you. I don't know what I'd do without Octavia."

⠀⠀⠀Casey sighed, running a hand through her hair as it caught on knots and grime. It had been days since she had a chance to bathe.

⠀⠀⠀"So, I've been thinking about how you keep telling me I can't have my garden," she said, turning to different matters. She didn't want to talk about Murphy. He was Schrodinger's cat. Neither dead nor alive, and she didn't want to open that box to see which it was. "But what if we started it inside the camp? I know there's not a lot of room—"

⠀⠀⠀"Casey," Bellamy cut her off with a scoff. "Come on, talk to me. Please."

⠀⠀⠀"I don't really want to talk about it," Casey told him with a forced laugh. Her eyes cut toward his concerned ones, but she couldn't hold his gaze. "We're getting along, for once. I think you had a part in what happened, but... I don't blame you for how it ended."

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy huffed as if he didn't expect that. Casey thought he was stupid, considering she couldn't be the more mature person than she had been. She was trying to be the bigger person now that Murphy was gone, especially since she was stuck with these delinquents for the rest of her life.

⠀⠀⠀"I keep thinking about it. Over and over," Casey mumbled after a few minutes, nervously fiddling with her hands before settling on tapping in fours where the wristband used to be. "And, to be honest, I think she might've killed me if she hadn't killed herself," she admitted, paranoia in her veins as she looked around.

⠀⠀⠀The urge tickled her spine. She needed to check and see if Charlotte or Murphy were lying in their path, close to death, in need of help. Just as she had done when the fog rolled around. It was becoming overbearing, like waves washing over her. She turned, ready to go back to check. She needed to check. It clawed at her mind and her skin, pulling her forth as she tried to move back. She headed for the trees and started to look behind them.

⠀⠀⠀"Why do you say that?" Bellamy asked as he watched her with furrowed brows.

⠀⠀⠀"She hated my mom. You heard her," she said, distracted.

⠀⠀⠀"That doesn't mean she'd kill you," Bellamy sighed.

⠀⠀⠀Casey moved on, checking trees they'd already passed and moving away from the crash site. Surprisingly, Bellamy didn't leave her behind. He followed her five minutes back into a clearing they'd already passed through.

⠀⠀⠀"Casey, you know I'm right," Bellamy claimed.

⠀⠀⠀His words brought her back to the present, and she scoffed as he walked closer.

⠀⠀⠀"She said that it didn't matter that I wasn't my mom," Casey explained passively, trying to keep her temper choked down as she moved on to the next tree.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy jogged to catch up with her, placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her to face him. "I wouldn't let her. I protect my people. Just like I tried to do for her."

⠀⠀⠀"And Wells? John?" she retorted, untouched by his assurance. He sent her a solemn look but didn't try to argue. She nodded and continued her plight.

⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing?" he asked.

⠀⠀⠀"Checking," she answered vaguely.

⠀⠀⠀Before he could ask for clarity, a voice broke through the woods, calling out his name. Then, Octavia made her presence known with an angry expression. Her attention focused on Bellamy while Casey dismissed her as she looked around the trees. She knew she wasn't going to find anything, but what if there was a slim chance someone was hurt?

⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing?" Octavia asked.

⠀⠀⠀"Go back to camp," Bellamy demanded. "It isn't safe."

⠀⠀⠀Octavia scoffed, pointing in Casey's direction. "And what? She's okay to go with you? What is with you guys?" she snapped, but her question was rhetorical as she quickly continued. "You lied to everyone. You lied to me. You just want whatever's in that pod."

⠀⠀⠀Octavia struck a nerve there as Bellamy shoved her back. "Just go home!"

⠀⠀⠀"You always want to play big brother, huh? Well, guess what? Jokes on me! You're a selfish dick," she hissed.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy's face fell. "I did this for. To protect you! If the Ark finds out we're alive, they'll come down, and when they do... I'm dead."

⠀⠀⠀There was a beat of silence. Everything Bellamy had done was starting to catch up to him.

⠀⠀⠀"What did you do?" Octavia asked, taking a step back in fear.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy stared at her, his mouth open, but nothing came back. He turned to Casey, her attention focused elsewhere, but she listened, curious to know what he had done to protect his sister.

⠀⠀⠀"I shot him," he admitted, turning to Octavia sharply. "I shot Jaha."

⠀⠀⠀"What?" Octavia asked, shocked.

⠀⠀⠀"I found out they were sending you to Earth. I couldn't let you go alone. Someone came to me with a deal. Do this, kill him, and they'd get me on the dropship. And I did it," he said.

⠀⠀⠀"You killed the Chancellor?"

⠀⠀⠀"He floated out mother. He locked you up. He deserved it," Bellamy claimed, trying to keep Octavia on his side. But every word he said had her slipping further back.

⠀⠀⠀"I didn't ask you to do that," Octavia said, the words tumbling out of her mouth.

⠀⠀⠀"You're right," Bellamy nodded, composing himself. "I made the choice. This is on me. Whatever they sent down, I'll take care of it."

⠀⠀⠀Octavia backed away. "I didn't ask for any of this," she said, turning on her heel and running back to camp.

⠀⠀⠀"You should go back with her," Bellamy said quietly, fists clenched.

⠀⠀⠀Casey moved away from the trees. Her skin crawled in desperate need to search for hours, but she could feel the tension Bellamy held. He was about to do something she needed to stop.

⠀⠀⠀"Why? Because you're feeling sorry for yourself?" she asked, raising a brow.

⠀⠀⠀"No," Bellamy strained to say. "Because you're not needed here. You'll just get in my way."

⠀⠀⠀"Bellamy," Casey laughed. He was a fool for thinking she was there for anything else. "That's why I'm here. To stop you from ruining our chance of contacting the Ark. If you do, we're all gonna die, and it'll be your fault."

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy turned on his heel, not looking for a lecture, and started to walk away. Casey followed as the urge clung to her ankles, trying to draw her back into her dance of anxiety. She made it within striking distance and caught his wrist.

⠀⠀⠀"Bellamy, listen," she said, pulling him back. Bellamy didn't turn to look at her, but he didn't try to move away. "These kids, they respect you. They all hate Jaha. Even me. They'll do anything to protect you. They'll... We'll protect you just like... just like you'd do for us. You still have a chance to stop."

⠀⠀⠀"That's sweet, sunshine," Bellamy said, looking back at her with a condescending smirk. "But it's not good enough. I still need to destroy it."

THE POD CRASH-LANDED IN the middle of a clearing that Casey doubted was its intended destination, like their dropship. However, there wasn't much time to consider it with Bellamy a few steps ahead of her. He stopped at the tree line and watched as she approached. He sighed, obviously drained.

⠀⠀⠀"It felt like we were finally getting along," he muttered, Casey barely able to hear him. "But I have to do this."

⠀⠀⠀Casey moved forward, but he was quick. He kicked his foot out in front of her, causing her to trip face-first into the ground. He sprinted ahead before her nose even impacted the ground. It was sore, but thankfully, she didn't hear it crack. She pulled herself to her hands and knees before she could stand to her full height.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy made it to the pod, cutting wires that connected it to the radio. Casey stumbled down the hill before she picked up speed and sprinted for Bellamy. He was heading for the river that sat just a few feet from the crashed pod. He stood at the edge of the water, hesitating. It gave Casey an advantage as she slammed into him sideways and forced them both down.

⠀⠀⠀Her body landed on top of him, and she used her position to move up and try to grab the radio from Bellamy's iron grip. He stretched his arm above his head and kept it at a distance from her. Her nails embedded into his elbow, unable to move further as his hand pinned against her back.

⠀⠀⠀"Casey!" Bellamy shouted into her ear.

⠀⠀⠀He tried to stand, but she kicked his thigh back down. His grip loosened, and she was able to slip from his hold and grab the radio. She started for the trees, barely making it four steps away before Bellamy tackled her, shoving her face into the dirt. His hand wrapped around her, tearing the radio from her grip.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy stood, rushing for the river, and stopped ankle-deep before tossing the radio into the river without looking back.

⠀⠀⠀Casey's heart fell into her stomach, all breath leaving her, as the small scratches burned mildly at her face. She ran for the river and screeched, "Bellamy! Come on! That was our—That was our only chance!"

⠀⠀⠀"We don't need them!" Bellamy bellowed, taking her shoulders and holding her at arm's length. She recognized his tone from when he would rally the others on what they needed to do to survive. "They'll come down here and enforce their rules on all of us like they did on the Ark. Do you want that?! After everything that they've done to us?"

⠀⠀⠀"I don't care about them!" Casey yelled. She flung away from him, distress apparent in every minute detail of her expression, her posture, her words. Her eyes pooled with tears, and the look Bellamy sent her reflected just how small and alone she felt. "I want my mom," she stressed. "And, I get it, Bellamy. I get that the Ark took something away from you, and it wasn't just your mom or Octavia. It was you and your whole life they stole. But there are people up there that all of these kids love and want to see again. So why do you get to decide that for them?

⠀⠀⠀"We don't even have to stay with the Ark. We could leave and fend for ourselves. As long as I know that my mom is safe, I'll be okay. There's a whole world for us to explore," Casey said, pleading.

⠀⠀⠀The devastating silence that followed put Casey on the edge of screaming. Bellamy stared at her, his expression blank and undeterred. Casey realized that his mind was made up no matter what she said. So, Casey composed herself, gave Bellamy a curt nod, and turned back toward the river.

⠀⠀⠀"I'm going to look for the radio if anyone asks," she concluded simply.

CASEY WADED THROUGH THE river alone, looking for the radio to save them all. It was likely waterlogged and a far-fetched plan, but it was better than sitting on her ass doing nothing.

⠀⠀⠀As she combed the river, she couldn't help but be reminded of the monster that lurked beneath. This river and the one they tried to cross on their way to Mount Weather were definitely the same. It was daunting to move through the water without Jasper to point out the thing that was barreling towards her. Though, she had been a lot more distracted then. She ensured to keep her eyes darting between the sand below and the far-off reaches of the water.

⠀⠀⠀An hour had passed in her search when the leaves began to rustle, a few twigs snapped, and her heart pounded against her chest. Then, Bellamy broke through the trees with a group of the others behind him. He had a scowl on his face as he glared out toward the river. Casey assumed they had learned what Bellamy had done and forced him back here to look for the radio.

⠀⠀⠀"Hey, you guys decided to join me!" Casey called out, her sweet tone harboring a pound of annoyance. "I've already checked that half four times, but you can double-check if you want," she explained, waving her hands toward the first half of the river.

⠀⠀⠀The kids followed her direction, a larger chunk looking through the areas she hadn't looked through yet while a handful double-checked her search. Bellamy was the only one not to join them, squatting beside the riverbed and sulking. He caught Casey's eye as he scanned the group, and his frown deepened. She smiled back, raising her middle finger at him. He laughed mockingly before turning his gaze back toward the ground.

⠀⠀⠀Beside Casey, a dark-haired girl a couple inches shorter than her chuckled. Her lips were pulled into a bright grin that Casey would remember for ages. She had dark brown eyes, nearly as dark as the night sky, and thick lashes that Casey was startled to find unrecognizable. She didn't even remember the girl from a passing glance. She was certain she would've remembered that contagious laugh or doe eyes staring back at her.

⠀⠀⠀"You guys seem like good friends," the new girl commented, glancing at Bellamy with a smirk.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy looked at them, feeling the point of their gaze, and scowled.

⠀⠀⠀"Best friends," Casey said with a soft laugh. She turned her attention away from Bellamy and asked, "I don't recognize you. You..." her heart stopped again, and she stared with wide eyes. "Oh, God, you were in that pod, weren't you?"

⠀⠀⠀"Um, yeah," Raven replied sheepishly. Her hand raised subconsciously to the dried blood along her hairline and ghosted fingers over the cut.

⠀⠀⠀"I was so focused on Bellamy that I didn't even think to check. Seems like I can't do anything right," she sighed, her shoulders hunching over as the one time her damn need to check didn't kick in when absolutely necessary.

⠀⠀⠀"No, it's alright. I get it. You did good," she assured her with a smile that forced Casey's mind to stall to a stop. "I'm Raven, by the way."

⠀⠀⠀Casey stared for a little too long before realizing Raven spoke. "Casey," she greeted with a slanted smile.

⠀⠀⠀Raven grinned, amused by her, before they returned to a blissful silence. Casey moved down the river, and without realizing it, she stood beside Bellamy's sulking form. She looked up and rolled her eyes but attempted to keep her distance.

⠀⠀⠀"Have they told you?" Bellamy asked under his breath. There was not a scrap of emotion to hint at the meaning of his question.

⠀⠀⠀"No, what?" she asked.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy stood, running his hand over his face as he considered his words. He stepped into the river, soaking the bottom half of his pants, and stood face-to-face with her. Casey straightened herself out, glaring up at Bellamy as she waited for what he had to say.

⠀⠀⠀"They're, um, they're going to kill three hundred people if we can't contact them. Tonight," Bellamy explained, his face carved into stone, while Casey flushed in anger. "There's not enough oxygen."

⠀⠀⠀Casey's hands clenched at her side, and her jaw tightened so hard that it was about to crack. Images of three hundred faceless people dying the same way she imagined herself dying on the Ark. Her lungs burning, eyes melting, everything numb around her as the stars ate away at her body. Now, her mom could be one of those people. The only person that ever truly loved and protected her all of her life could be dead in a day.

⠀⠀⠀If her mom thought Casey had died after the wristbands short-circuited, then she had no doubt that her mom might give up her life to save the many. The many that were dwindling down to a few with every day that passed.

⠀⠀⠀Anger simmered in her gut, starting slowly before it boiled over into rage, taking control of her body and head. All she could see was red. Red and Bellamy. Casey slammed her body into his and forced them back into the water. He yelped in surprise before his voice was taken by the waves. He fought against her as Casey's hands beat into his chest, her knees pinned into his thighs, and they would drown together if she didn't stop.

⠀⠀⠀Water sloshed against her skin, giving brief moments for her to breathe, before hands wrapped around her body and pulled her off of Bellamy.

⠀⠀⠀"Fuck you, Bellamy Blake!" Casey screamed, kicking her legs out wildly as she tried to make a lunge for him again. "Fuck you! My fucking mom is up there," she sobbed, her knees going weak as she leaned forward in the grip holding her back.

⠀⠀⠀"Casey, it's okay, we'll find the radio. We'll fix this," Clarke whispered behind her soothingly. But Casey wasn't calmed. She was outraged, burned by Clarke's touch, the girl who broke apart her family in the first place.

⠀⠀⠀"Don't touch me, Clarke. Don't talk to me. This is as much your fault as it is his!" Casey snapped at her.

⠀⠀⠀Clarke's face fell at Casey's words. She opened her mouth to try and say something, but Casey was already looking for someone else. She spotted Finn, the only one who hadn't betrayed her yet, and said, "I'm looking for the radio on the other side of the river if you need me."

⠀⠀⠀Time sped by quickly in dead silence. Jones found the radio as a group formed around Raven as she looked over the soaked device. Casey stood at the back, miserably wet from head to toe, as she watched with her arms crossed. She couldn't stand to be around them anymore but couldn't just leave without drawing attention. She ran her hand through her hair, anxious.

⠀⠀⠀"Can you fix it?" Clarke asked.

⠀⠀⠀"Maybe, but it'll take half a day just to dry out the components to see what's broken," Raven explained.

⠀⠀⠀"Like I said," Bellamy claimed, his eyes held to Raven as he continued, "It's too late."

⠀⠀⠀"Do you have any idea what you did? Do you even care?" Clarke spat at him.

⠀⠀⠀Bellamy glared at her. His eyes flickered to Casey as she began to pace, glancing at him. Water sloshed around her feet, and soft mutters fell from her lips.

⠀⠀⠀He returned to Clarke and said, "You asked me to help. I helped."

⠀⠀⠀"Three hundred people are gonna die today because of you!" Clarke screamed. She looked ready to fight him, too, but unlike Casey, held herself back.

⠀⠀⠀"Hold up," Raven called before further tension arose. "We don't have to talk to the Ark. We just have to let them know we're down here, right?"

⠀⠀⠀"Yeah, but how do we do that with no radio?" Finn asked.

⠀⠀⠀Raven explained how they could create flares from the crashed pod and use scraps from the dropship to create rockets. She was a lot smarter than any of them, even Monty, and they were lucky to have her. With her instruction, they prepared the flares back at camp under Raven's watchful supervision.

⠀⠀⠀"We need to launch those flares ASAP if we have any hope of saving those people," Raven called out as she maneuvered through camp. "Finn, get that control panel to camp. Casey, pull out those fire circuits in one piece, or they won't work. Clarke, can I get a hand?" she asked, pulling Clarke from where she stood awkwardly by Casey. "Work these bolts here gently. Rocket fuel likes to go boom. We're gonna need power to fire."

⠀⠀⠀"They're tying in the batteries on the dropship. Should be ready when we get there," Clarke informed her.

⠀⠀⠀"Great. So what's the problem?"

⠀⠀⠀"Nothing. I just, uh... Well, if we get the rockets to launch, will they see them from the Ark?" Clarke asked.

⠀⠀⠀Casey's ears perked up at her question, her own curiosity getting the best of her. She leaned around the dropship to hear them better.

⠀⠀⠀"Like the good book says, it's all about burn time and cloud cover, but I know your mom will be watching. I've never seen anyone love someone the way she loves you. You know that, right?" Raven asked, and for some reason, Casey felt those words were meant for her, too.

"HEY, RAVEN," CASEY GREETED. There were a few minutes before the flares were scheduled to be fired, and time ticked by in an anxious manner. "I just, I wanted to say thank you. I know we don't know anything for sure, but this could save so many people because of you."

⠀⠀⠀Raven smiled kindly. "It was nothing, Casey. We all need to do our part to survive." She pulled Casey into a hug, and while Casey hesitated for a moment, she returned the hug with a tight grip. Raven pulled away and said, "I have to get these flares out. I'll talk to you later, alright?"

⠀⠀⠀"Y-Yeah," Casey called, face red, as she watched Raven towards Finn, who waited for her.

⠀⠀⠀Not long later, the flares were lit and whizzed into the sky, bright red and beautiful. Casey started to cry. She had never cried as much as she did on the ground. It was aggravating and stressful, but so was the ground that forced her into this emotional state. She rubbed the tears from her cheeks and breathed in.

⠀⠀⠀When she looked back at the crowd, she noticed Bellamy staring at her. He stood next to Clarke, his eyes half-lidded and full of guilt. He seemed to regret his actions. She scoffed, unable to look at him any longer. She returned her eyes to the rockets, knowing that, in the end, they found a way to signal the Ark. She just hoped her mom would see them.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Here comes Raven! About to wreck Bellamy's future relationship with Casey for a while 🤪 This is Bellamy fic... I promise. (But Casey and Raven will have a full relationship that goes from this to their eventual downfall). Yikes!

There's some things going on at home right now, but I hope to keep updating this weekly since I already have these chapters edited. All I need to do is through the chapter into Grammarly and format the text part. Thank you Past Ashley for setting up the formatting of graphics and lyrics like a month ago!

CHAPTER TIME FRAME: Season 1, Episode 5: Twilight's Last Gleaming

Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you'd like, they keep me motivated! However, this is an all kind of reader safe space. So, even if you ghost read or comment on every chapter, I hope you know it means the world to me that you've come to spend your time in this fic ♡

NEXT TIME: Octavia is missing. Casey helps Bellamy look around camp, but ends up joining Clarke and Raven in search of a transmitter.