They walked in silence around the curve of the river bend. As they went, they saw one last Protector stare after them with empty eyes.

Ahead of her, Wells shuddered to a stop.

“Do you know him?” Glass asked.

Wells nodded. “He was my trainer. Oak.”

After a long moment, Oak turned and limped back toward the Stone.

“They’ll regroup,” Luke said, his voice tight. “We should expect a skirmish as soon as we start back west—”

“I doubt it,” Glass cut in quietly. “They don’t have anyone commanding them anymore. It’ll take them longer than a few hours to figure out how to start thinking for themselves. They’ll have to find their way back to other groups of Protectors, and there aren’t any other settlements near here, at least not from what I’d gathered. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about them again.” She paused, thinking about everything they’d just experienced. “The explosions. Were those you?”

Luke grinned. Then his brow furrowed. “It wasn’t my neatest work. We only had an hour to plant the explosives and I never got a clear look at the foundations…”

“You saved all these people, Luke,” Glass said, squeezing his arm.

“I’m glad. But honestly…?” He pulled her closer. “There was only one person I was thinking about saving. I didn’t expect it to do that much damage, Glass. If you hadn’t come out of there all right… I don’t know what I would have done.”

“Don’t think about that,” Glass said quickly, pushing a curly lock of hair out of his eyes. “You did what you had to do. Now just… look forward.”

Luke’s gaze was distant as his mind worked. Glass’s heart swelled at the familiar look. It felt so good to be back by his side.

“Let’s head toward the woods at the next bend in the river and set up a camp with a well-guarded perimeter. Light a fire, get these people warm.”

Glass smiled in approval, but Luke was still thinking.

“And then we can head west, back to our camp tomorrow.” He shook his head, his eyes landing on hers. “But what about the rest of them?”

“They’ll go back to their own homes, I guess. Or make new ones.” She took his hand and lifted it to her lips. “You’ve given them that chance.”

Luke motioned to Wells, up ahead, and Wells nodded briskly, veering west.

As they reached the bend, Glass realized she didn’t have a clear picture of what they were even going home to. Had it been destroyed completely or had her people fought back? Either way, there would be some rebuilding ahead. And she would do what she could to help. She’d make this world her home.

Glass stood on the riverbank and peered up at the morning sky, searching in vain for a tiny speck of light, the place where they used to live.

Thank you, she silently called out, her eyes blurring and spilling over. I made it, Mom. I’m still here. I still exist. And I’ll never stop saying thank you.

 

 

CHAPTER 31

Bellamy

They needed to chop wood for the bonfire and hunt dinner to feed their friends and their new allies, but as far as Bellamy was concerned, all that could wait—because his little sister was telling him about her girlfriend.

“She’s from Walden, maybe you knew her. I didn’t, but it seems like we’ve known each other, like, forever…” Octavia blushed to almost the color of her hair ribbon. “She’s just ridiculously funny. I mean, even with everything that was going on, she could always find something to make me laugh…”

Bellamy couldn’t stop grinning, and it wasn’t just because of Octavia’s enthusiasm. It was the simple fact that she was here, standing in front of him, safe and sound and acting like the only thing that happened this past week was meeting Anna.

Everything that Octavia had faced over her lifetime would have broken a weaker person. But Bellamy’s sister was as resilient as steel. As ever, his pride for her verged on awe. He shook his head slightly, listening to her go on.

“And she’s got a serious knack for invention! Her brain is incredible, I’m telling you. She was training to work on the plumbing systems back on the ship, but she’s helping Luke make torches right now and I was thinking if those two get to talking, back at camp, she could make a real contribution to… What?”

Octavia put her hands on her hips. She’d finally noticed Bellamy’s amused expression—but was reading it completely wrong.

Bellamy laughed, arms wide. “I’m sold! Your girlfriend is clearly brilliant and wonderful and you are even more clearly crazy about her.”

Octavia bit her lip, looking at her feet. “I don’t know if she’s my girlfriend exactly.”

Bellamy raised an eyebrow. “Still want to play the field?”

Her smile crept upward. “No, I just haven’t asked her.”

“So ask her now,” he said, nudging her shoulder. “Seriously, go do it. Right this second. Nothing’s guaranteed down here, O. We have to seize the chances we’ve got.”

She drew a giddy breath. “I really think you’re going to like her.”

Bellamy had never seen Octavia look more nervous. He pulled her into a hug and said, “Of course I’ll like her.”

Octavia peered up at him, eyes glittering; then she darted off across the small sandy inlet to find Anna. As Bellamy watched her go, his eyes drifted over the makeshift campsite and landed on Clarke.

She was kneeling beside the bonfire, tending to one of the escapees who’d been injured by falling debris. She looked so determined, so capable, so caring, that Bellamy’s breath caught in his chest.

And right then, he knew beyond certainty that the only future worth living was one with her in it.

Wells came in from the forest, hauling branches for the fire. Bellamy shook himself out of his reverie and strode over to him. “Could you use any help?”

Wells wiped his forehead, heaving a breath. “I think we’re good on wood for now, but we’ll need to prepare one of Bellamy’s kills for dinner. Or… all of his kills,” he said, glancing around at the crowd.

Bellamy shrugged, smiling. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure it out as we go.”

“It’s worked out so far, hasn’t it?” Wells said, attempting an exhausted smile.