Chapter 2

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By NoHomie22


 As we stepped out, the vibrant green of the grass contrasted sharply with the cold, metallic world we had left behind. I took a deep breath, the fresh air filling my lungs, grounding me in this new reality.

"Look!" Jasper pointed toward the horizon, where the mountains loomed like ancient sentinels.

"We're really on Earth."

"What do we do now?" Monty asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace of the moment.

"We survive," I said, my heart quickening with determination.

"We find a way to make this place our home."

As we gathered together, our group formed a fragile alliance, and I felt the weight of our shared fate pressing down on us. 

The ship had barely settled on the ground when I wandered off, the hum of machinery fading behind me. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety, thoughts of the morning still buzzing in my mind.

The forest around me was alive with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves, a stark contrast to the chaos I expected once we touched down. I took a deep breath, inhaling the earthy scent of damp soil and pine needles, letting it wash over me.

"Crazy, right?" I muttered to myself, taking in the vibrant greens and browns. I was ready to get flooded with adrenaline and fear, and instead, here I was, lost in a forest. After a few moments of tranquility, I turned back, ready to find the others.

As I walked, I spotted Jasper and Monty, their heads bent together as they whispered. A playful grin spread across my face.

"Boo!" I shouted, lunging forward.

Jasper yelped, a high-pitched sound that made me laugh. "What theโ€”! You scared the crap out of me!"

"Yeah, well, you should pay more attention!" I teased, but before I could finish, a firm grip seized my arm.

"Five of us. Can we go now?" Finn's voice was urgent, his brown eyes darting to the blond beside him. She simply nodded.

"Sounds like a partyโ€”make it six!" Octavia chimed in, breezing past us, her excitement palpable.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Bellamy's voice was sharp as he caught Octavia by the wrist, pulling her back gently but firmly.

"Going for a walk?" she replied, confusion knitting her brow.

The blond girl stepped closer, her expression darkening. "Hey, were you trying to take this off?" she pointed to the wristband strapped tightly around Finns wrist.

"Yeah, so?" he shot back defiantly, but the tension in the air was thickening.

"SO, this wristband transmits your vital signs to the Ark. Take it off, and they'll think you're dead!"  her voice rising slightly.

"Should I care?" Finn shrugged, a hint of defiance in his tone.

"Do you want the people you love to think you're dead?" she snapped, her eyes blazing. "Do you want them to follow you down here in two months? Because they won't if they think we're dead!"

Finn looked away, shame washing over him. I could see it the embarrassment etched into his features.

"Well, I don't have anyone up there, so I couldn't care less," I chimed in, trying to lighten the mood, but her expression shifted to one of disbelief.

"Are you serious? Do you have any idea how many people are waiting to get down here? You should at least consider what you're saying before you say it. Now, let's go!" She started walking, her back stiff with frustration.

I exchanged glances with Bellamy, who was staring at Octavia. It pained me to see the worry etched on his face.

"Don't worry, I'll look after her," I assured him, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. He locked his gaze with mine, and I could feel the weight of his unspoken fears.

"If something happens to her..." he began, but I cut him off.

"It won't, don't worry," I promised, forcing a smile.

He sighed, glancing at Octavia, who was now a few paces ahead. "Okay, go on," he conceded, his voice a mix of resignation and trust.

Octavia turned, her face brightening as she caught Bellamy's eye. She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, a tender gesture that made my heart flutter.

"Let's go, then!" she called, her spirit lifting the tension that had settled over us.

As we trudged deeper into the forest, the sounds of nature surrounded us, drowning out the chaos of our past. I could hear the leaves crunching beneath our feet, the distant chatter of birds, and the occasional rustle of something unseen in the underbrush.

"Do you think we'll find anything interesting out here?" Jasper asked, glancing around with wide-eyed curiosity.

"Maybe some wild berries or something," Monty suggested, his voice lightening.

"Or a bear!" I chimed in dramatically, my eyes darting to the thick bushes.

"Shut up, Luna !" Monty laughed, rolling his eyes. "Bears don't even eat people. They're more scared of us than we are of them."

"Yeah, unless you provoke them!" Finn shot back, grinning.

As the banter continued, I felt the bond between us strengthening, the tension from earlier fading into the background. But with every step deeper into the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. The stakes were high survival was our only goal, and danger lurked at every turn.

My heart racedโ€”not just from the thrill of adventure, but from the weight of what it meant to be free down here, away from the watchful eyes of the Ark. We were all searching for something, and I was determined to find it. 

As we walked through the dense underbrush, the smell of damp earth and wildflowers filled the air. My heart raced with the thrill of exploration, but the joy of the moment was interrupted when I caught sight of Finn. He was kneeling beside a cluster of flowers, carefully plucking one and tucking it into Octavia's hair. A smile crept across my face, the scene between them radiating an innocent charm.

"That, my friend, is game," Jasper said, stopping Monty and me in our tracks, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

I glanced at Monty, who looked less than impressed.

"That, my friend, is poison sumac," he replied, his eyes narrowing in concern.

Panic surged through me, sharp and cold. "What? Is it?" Octavia asked, brushing the flower away from her hair.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing back to the lessons we'd had about plants in the wild.

"No, the flowers aren't poisonous," I said, trying to project confidence. "They're medicinal."

"Calming, actually," Monty added, his tone more reassuring than mine.

"Hey guys, would you try to keep up?" a voice interrupted. The blonde who had caught my attention earlier. She rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated with our pace.

"Come on, Clark. How do you block all this out?" Finn asked, and I felt a flicker of recognition. Her name had slipped through the cracks of memory, but now it clicked. Her mother had worked with mine before she passed away.

"Well, it's simple," she replied, shrugging. "I wonder how we haven't seen any animals. Maybe it's because there are none left, or maybe we've already been exposed to enough radiation to kill us. Sure is pretty though, come on." With that, she walked ahead, leaving a trail of uncertainty in her wake.

"Someone should slip her some poison sumac," I muttered under my breath, earning a few small giggles behind me. I hastened my step to catch up with her, the laughter fading as I approached.

Clark was kneeling by a cluster of trees, gesturing for us to be quiet. I crouched beside her, my heart pounding in anticipation. She pointed, and my breath caught in my throat.

A deer stood before us, regal and serene, its fur glistening in the dappled sunlight.

"No animals, huh?" Finn grinned, stepping forward. But as he did, his foot cracked a twig, and the deer's ears perked up. In an instant, it turned, revealing the horror of its two heads. I stumbled back, my heart racing in fear.

"What the fuck was that?" I gasped, shaking my head in disbelief.

"I think it was exposed to the radiation for too long," Clark said, her voice steady, but I could see the tremor in her hands.

I stared at the spot where the creature had stood, my pulse quickening.

"We need to keep moving," I said, turning away from the bizarre sight. The others followed close behind, their chatter fading into the background as we pressed on.









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