Chapter Text
“Murphy.” A hand shook him roughly, wrenching him from the last tendrils of sleep and he groaned. He’d been sleeping peacefully for once.
“Murphy,” the voice tried again and when all he did was burrow his face further into his pillow, the voice sighed, irritated. They seemed to turn away for a moment in defeat and Murphy relaxed, hopeful that he could resume his sleep. There was a reason he had chosen this spot to pitch his tent, right along the boundaries of Arcadia and hidden away from the rest of Arcadia’s population. He’d had complete peace and quiet here the last month and up until now he had been convinced no one knew or for that matter cared where he had pitched his tent. Apparently however, there had been an exception to that rule and that said exception now yanked back his cover, exposing him to the chilly morning air. Cursing in frustration, he opened his eyes to glare at the intruder.
It was early morning, the sun only just beginning to rise but he could still make out Bellamy’s face looming above him and he blinked in surprise. “If you were planning to kill me, it’s usually easier to do so while I’m asleep,” he drawled, eyeing the gun currently slung over Bellamy’s shoulder.
Bellamy ignored him, instead throwing a shirt at his face. “Get up, you’re coming with me.” He began rooting around Murphy’s tent, tossing articles of clothing into a bag as Murphy watched, irritated. “Going where exactly? If you’re planning to run away or something then I want no part.”
Bellamy paused his sudden destruction of Murphy’s tent to glance up at him. “I’m going looking for Clarke and you’re coming with me. She’s in danger, or will be soon enough…..I’ll explain it all later but right now we need to get going.”
Murphy started to wonder if he was dreaming. That, or he’d accidentally eaten jobi nuts and was currently hallucinating because there was no way in hell Bellamy would come looking for him for help. Bellamy was looking at him expectantly so he replied, “I think you’ve mistaken me for someone who cares about Clarke.”
Bellamy snorted. “I know you don’t give a damn about Clarke.”
“Then why the hell are you here?” He demanded, feeling increasingly bewildered.
Bellamy sighed and straightened up, “Because I know you’re sick to death of peeling vegetables, sick of being treated like dirt around this camp. If you come with me, I’ll speak to Kane, get you a better duty, maybe even get you on guard duty if you’re lucky. And,” he paused, removing the gun from his shoulder and tossing it in his direction, “if you help me, you’ll also have this.”
Murphy caught the gun and said nothing, his mind torn. He’d lived a peaceful life the past month, keeping his head down and rarely interacting with the rest of Arcadia. On the other hand, he did detest peeling vegetables for the camp, the monotony of it almost boring him to tears. He’d been handed one of the lowest jobs once he returned to Arcadia and, to add insult to injury, he’d purposely been given a blunt knife, as if they thought he might try and slit people’s throats at a moments notice. He’d accepted it at the time without complaint, swallowing both his anger and pride but it still made his blood boil whenever he thought about it.
Bellamy moved towards the entrance of his tent as Murphy sat in silence but he paused before exiting. “You have five minutes to be up and ready, after that I’m leaving.” He left without a second glance.
Murphy spent the next minute making up his mind but didn’t leave the tent for another seven because seriously, fuck Bellamy Blake.
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Murphy had figured they would simply walk out the main gates but instead found himself being led further away from the main Arcadia population, towards a lone figure crouching by the camps electrical fencing. This figure turned out to be Raven, much to Murphy’s dismay, considering he’d done a damn good job of avoiding her in the last month. As they approached, Raven straightened up and opened her mouth, only to snap it shut again when she spotted Murphy. A look of shock and disgust flashed across her face as she glared at Murphy.
“This is who who’ve chosen to bring with you!?” she hissed at Bellamy, finally turning her glare on him.
“Trust me, I’m as shocked as you are,” Murphy deadpanned, smirking at her when she gave him a disgusted look.
“I know you haven’t exactly been a leader in the last month Bellamy, but people still look up to you, are still willing to help you. You shouldn’t have to resort to him,” she shot him another dirty look before continuing. “Miller, Harper, Monroe, Bellamy you know you could have gone to Octavia-“
“Enough,” Bellamy cut across her, giving her a hard look. “I’ve made my decision and I’m sticking with it, end of discussion. Now are you going to turn off the electricity for me or not?”
For a moment Raven didn’t budge, instead she stared at Bellamy, as if searching his face would help her to discover why he had lost so much sense that he had started to trust Murphy. After a beat she sighed and stepped back, muttering, “Already done.”
Bellamy stepped around her and threw his stuff over the wiring and after a beat, Murphy did the same. He paused as he looked out through the fencing at the surrounding forest and wondered, not for the first time, if he was making a mistake. He fingered the gun slung over his shoulder, the touch instantly calming him but quickly eyed the gun attached to Bellamy’s hip. Was he signing his own death warrant?
He turned back to the two, his mind still troubled and watched as they embraced, Raven saying something in a voice too low for Murphy to hear. Then she turned to him, jabbing her finger into his bony chest. “As for you,” she started, as Murphy took a wary couple of steps back, “If you return without Bellamy I’m going to assume you’ve killed him and shoot you on the spot. Got it?”
“Duly noted.” He smirked at her and turned around to follow Bellamy through the fencing. He paused just before climbing through and turned to watch Raven walk away, her limp more prominent than ever. She was the only one he let talk to her like that without giving a cruel or sarcastic reply back because she was perhaps the only one who had earned that right.
“You going to stay crouched like that all day or what?”
Swallowing his guilt, he turned to follow, swathing away Bellamy’s offered hand of assistance.
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Once having left the Arcadia fencing, Bellamy quickened the pace until they were almost sprinting down the slope of open land, making a bee line for the wooded area. He said nothing to Murphy, his expression unreadable.
“So,” Murphy started, jogging to keep up with Bellamy’s quick strides, “Are you going to explain what all of this is about?”
Bellamy took a minute to reply, glancing back at Arcadia as he spoke, “I will, once we’re deeper into the forest.” He fiddled with his gun for a second before dropping his hands to his sides again.
Murphy eyed Bellamy’s hand movements warily, before glancing at his surroundings. The sun had begun its ascent into the sky, casting a weak orange glow on the forest up ahead. Most of Arcadia’s people were yet to wake, any guards were posted at the gate and Murphy and Bellamy were heading in the opposite direction. They were completely alone.
Fear began to take root in Murphy, spreading when Bellamy continued to remain silent. He put his hand on his own gun and attempted to remain calm. If Bellamy had wanted him dead, there were much easier methods he could have done it by. Poison. Slitting his throat at night. Hell, he probably could have shot him in the middle of Arcadia and no one would have cared, frankly he would have been doing them all a favour. Plus, Bellamy had given him a gun. Surely he wouldn’t arm him if he planned to kill him.
Unless of course the gun wasn’t loaded. Of course. That was it, Murphy was an idiot. They were nearing the trees now, nearing a place that was out of gunshot so Bellamy could put a bullet in his head. His breath quickened and he glanced back quickly at Arcadia. Should he make a run for it? He looked at the gun that his quivering hand was touching. He had to make sure.
In one quick movement, he pulled out his gun, aimed it at the sky and pulled the trigger. The gunshot was deafening as it filled the relative silence and Murphy staggered back a couple of steps in surprise.
Bellamy whirled around and stared at him in shock. “What the hell are you doing?” he hissed, glancing up at Arcadia in fear.
“It fired,” Murphy said, staring at the gun in surprise.
Bellamy stared at him as if he’d grown another head. “Of course it fired! That’s what guns do when you pull the trigger!”
Murphy was about to reply when the sound of voices coming from Arcadia stopped him. Bellamy had apparently heard them too because he grabbed Murphy roughly by the front of the jacket and tugged him towards the woods.
“Do anything else to attract their attention and I’ll knock you out,” he threatened before they made a dash for cover, leaving Murphy more confused than ever.