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For a ht in the clearing had changed as the sky grew darker, low She was more beautiful on Earth than he’d ever seen her

Their eyes locked, and a chill traveled down his spine Less than a year ago, he’d been able to tell what she was thinking just by looking at her But now her expression was inscrutable

"What are you doing here, Wells?" she asked, her voice strained and weary

She’s in shock, Wells told hi explanation "I came for you," he said softly

Her face assuh the barriers, a mixture of sorrow, frustration, and pity that seeht into his chest

"I wish you hadn’t" She sighed and pushed past hilance

Her words knocked the air out of him, and for ahow to breathe Then he heard a chorus of murmurs from the bonfire behind him, an Cehiw d turned, curious despite hi upward at the sky, which was turning into a sye streaks appeared in the blue, like an oboe joining a flute, turning a solo into a duet That harmony built into a crescendo of colors as yellow and then pink added their voices to the chorus The sky darkened, throwing the array of colors into even sharper relief The word sunset couldn’t possibly contain theof the beauty above them, and for the millionth time since they’d landed, Wells found that the words they’d been taught to describe Earth paled in co

Even Clarke, who hadn’t stoppedsince the crash, froze in her tracks, her head tilted up to better appreciate theplace overhead Wells didn’t have to see her face to know that her eyes would be widened in awe, hershe had only ever drea they had only ever dreamed about, Wells corrected hier, pain hardening into so dense and sharp in his chest It was the first sunset hu it alone

CHAPTER 7

Bellamy

Bellamy squinted up at the sunrise He’d always assumed those ancient poets had been full of shit, or at least had ht It was crazy to watch the sky go froray and then explode into streaks of color It didn’t ain, Bellamy had never been the artistic type

He leaned over and pulled Octavia’s blanket up over her shoulder He’d spotted it sticking out of one of the supply containers the night before and had practically knocked out so tussle Bella as his breath crystallized in front of hier than it would on the ship, where the ventilation systes before it had a chance to leave your irl had finished evaluating Octavia and determined she only had a sprained ankle, Bellamy had carried her over toward the trees where they’d spent the night They were going to keep their distance until he figured out how many of these kids were real cri place at the wrong time

Bellamy squeezed his sister’s hand It was his fault she’d been Confined It was his fault she was here He should’ve known she’d been planning sory some of the children in her unit had been It had been only ato feed the His selfless little sister was sentenced to die for having too big of a heart

It was his job to protect her And for the first time in her life, he’d failed

Bellamy threw his shoulders back and raised his chin He was tall for a six-year-old, but that didn’t stop people froh the crowd at the distribution center It wasn’t against the rules for children to come on their own, but it was rare He went over the list his mother had made him repeat back to her three times before she’d let him leave their flat F trieClarkeFiber rain--two credits Tuber flakes--one credit Protein loaf--three credits

He darted around tos that looked like brains Bellaot all the good stuff froetables probably had little, mushy white brains themselves

Bellaht the packet that slid out, and tucked it under his arm He started to ht and shiny caught his eye Bellamy turned and saw a pile of red, round fruit inside a display case Nors they locked away--twisted carrots that relyblack-hole zombies than food But these were different The fruit was a rosy pink, the sahbor Rilla turned when they played alien invasion in the corridor Or used to play before Rilla’s father was taken away by the guards and Rilla was sent to live in the care center

Bellamy stood on his tiptoes to read the number on the data panel Eleven credits That sounded like a lot, but he wanted to do sootten out of bed for three days Bella that tired

"Do you want one?" an irritated voice asked He looked up and sao at him "Order it or step aside"

Heat rose to Bella away But then a surge of indignation washed over his e to let so his mother the treat she deserved "I’ll take two," he said in the haughty voice that always ot that froers all over them," he added pointedly