Chapter Four: Lexa

Chapter Four 

~ Lexa ~

We sat around our little unsteady table, laughing like we did most nights. There was barely enough food to fend off our hunger, and what we could save, we had to; winter was coming. Sooner or later food would become even scarcer. It wasn’t like we had any money to just go to the market, like the people who lived outside our woods. It wasn’t like we could get jobs. Not in this country. 

We were all wanted. Every single one of us within these woods. We all had escaped prosecution. We all had a kill order on us. But we chose to live our lives unafraid. Me, Jaxon, Grey, and Will had all made the decision a long time ago that we were our people’s first defense. Many of the people we were protecting were grown-ups. But they were scared, so they let kids take over. Grey’s little sister, Gracelyn lived with us too, but she was too little to understand the role we had to play yet. 

We had talked briefly of retreating deeper into the woods. To be more among our people. But that would defeat everything we had stood for for so long. No. We would stay, and we would continue to try and fight. But I have to say, it had been really hard since Will got taken from right under our noses. 

“Lexa,” Jaxon commented. “You’re not eating.” 

“I’m not hungry.” I answered, bringing my attention back to the table. It wasn’t necessarily a lie. I hadn’t had much of an appetite lately. 

“Not eating won’t save Will,” Grey responded gently. 

Grey and Jaxon were like brothers to me. They teased me relentlessly, especially when I was younger. But they were also fiercely protective of me. They had been since the day we all met. 

8-years-old and I had run into the woods to tell the others what had happened to my mom. The group was a mix of young and old. I told my message to the small village of us and went to return home. Will was the one who asked me where I was going when I turned to leave. 

“To my home.” I had responded. “I need to be there so I can warn everyone if there’s danger.” 

“We’re going with you.” Will had answered.

And the band of unwanted kids, Will, Grey and Jaxon. The troublemakers of the village, the ones who pillaged off of everyone else’s stuff came home with me and never left. 

“I wasn’t thinking about Will.” I lied. 

“Then why did you get that far away look in your eyes?” Gracie asked. 

“I was just thinking about what our next move is going to be,” I tried to smile. “How we’re going to save Will.” 

“And everyone else?” Gracie asked, her voice small. 

“And everyone else.” I replied with a sigh. “One problem at a time though.” 

  

I jumped at the sound of a knock at the door, before grabbing a knife from my belt. It was strange. We had sensors set up so only people with powers could get through without triggering it. There were very few people without our protection out in the world now, and there were signals used if there was an emergency in the villages of the woods. 

I saw Grey move toward the door, his short sword out and ready as the knocking got more urgent.

He nodded at us, and Jax and I nodded back as Gracie ran to her hiding spot by the fireplace. We were ready. 

Grey threw the door open and had his short sword to the throat of a girl about our ages. 

“Name?” Grey asked menacingly. 

“Wait!” I called out, placing my knives back in my pocket. “Let her go.” 

“What?” Grey and Jax said at the same time. 

“I know her.” I answered. 

Grey lowered his sword but didn’t let go of her.

And I took a good look at her. Her straight blonde hair was matted and messy. Her clothes were ripped. She was a mess of a person. Not put together like the girl I knew. Or even the girl I had seen earlier in the day. But I would know those eyes anywhere. 

“S.” I said through clenched teeth. “What are you doing here?” 

She didn’t answer at first, but she eventually looked up and met my eyes. 

“Thanks for not letting them kill me.” She said finally. 

“I haven’t decided what they’re going to do yet.” I stated, trying to keep myself looking tough and fearless, but my heart was racing. 

Her eyes got big at my comment, but she seemed to pull it together. 

“I came to tell you something.” She answered, but Grey still had her arm. 

“How did you find me?” I interrogated. 

“I had help.” She answered, still trying to sound elusive, full on knowing it wasn’t an acceptable answer.

“Won’t your parents be worried?” 

This time she shifted as she reached for something in her pocket. 

“Yea. I risked everything to come here.” She answered, pulling her hand back out, and to my surprise, it was empty. 

“Okay.” I sighed. “Let’s get you cleaned up. You can borrow some of my clothes.” 

“No.” She stated firmly, unmoving as Grey released her arm. 

I froze. “No?” 

“No.” She repeated. “I can change my clothes later. First, I need you to tell me everything you know about what they do to the sick, and why all three of you have a bounty on your heads.” 

I froze. She knew something. She had to. But I wasn’t sure if I was ready to risk everything on her yet. 

“Why?” I asked. 

“Because I know where Will is.” 

And in that moment I swear my heart stopped, and I thought for a second it might never beat again.