Homecoming

“My father—” he began.

The woman’s expression softened. She knew who he was—and who he was asking about. “I’m sorry,” she said, her soft words still landing like a punch in the gut. She hesitated, as if unsure how much to share. “He was still in a coma when we launched. There were no more dropships available. The oxygen supply was essentially gone, and the ship—well, the ship was… it was breaking apart. There were five or six hours left, at most.”

A silent scream of grief and guilt surged up in Wells, but he held it in. If he let himself feel the full weight of his loss at once, he would surely break into pieces. His whole body began to shake. The image of his father slowly suffocating made Wells gasp for air, as if the Earthborn’s hands were still wrapped around his neck.

Wells staggered and almost lost his balance, then felt someone at his side, steadying him. It was Bellamy.

“Wells,” Bellamy said. “I’m so sorry, man.” His face was full of sympathy and something else… pain?

Wells nodded. In his own grief, he had forgotten that Bellamy had lost his father too—lost him before he ever even met him. In fact, every single Colonist on the planet had lost someone—lots of people. All the family, neighbors, and friends they’d left behind had already perished, destined to sleep forever in a giant, silent ship orbiting Earth. The Colony had turned into a tomb.

“It’s a shame you never got to know him,” Wells said, fighting to keep his voice even. Although he’d tried to prepare for the worst, he’d never been quite able to accept the fact that he’d never see his father step off a dropship, his face a mixture of surprise and delight as he saw the wonders of Earth, and how much his son had accomplished. He’d never join Wells around the campfire, listening to the happy chatter, and tell Wells that he was proud of him.

A curious look came over Bellamy, and he smiled. “You know what, though? I think I kind of did get to know him.”

“What are you talking about?” Wells asked, racking his brain for a memory of when his father would’ve been able to spend real time with Bellamy.

“From what I’ve heard, he was incredibly smart, hard working, and deeply committed to helping others… kind of like someone else I know.”

Wells stared at him for a moment, then sighed. “If you’re talking about me, you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m nothing like my father.”

“That’s not what Clarke told me. She said that you have all your father’s best qualities—his strength, his honor—but that you have your mother’s kindness and humor.” Bellamy paused and looked thoughtful. “I’ve never heard you say anything funny, of course, but I figured I’d take Clarke’s word for it.”

To his surprise, Wells let out a small laugh before Bellamy’s face grew serious again. “Listen, I know you’ve suffered in ways I can’t really understand. No one should have to go through anything like this. But you’re not alone, okay? Not only do you have a hundred people who think you’re a hero, maybe more than that actually, but whatever, we’ll count later. What I mean is that you don’t just have friends, you have a family. I’m proud to have you as a brother.”

Bellamy was right. The pain of losing Sasha and his father and countless friends on the battlefield today would never go away, but Earth was still his home, where he belonged. The sorrow in his heart seemed to lift a little as he and Bellamy hugged and slapped each other on the back.

Earth was where his family lived.

CHAPTER 28

Bellamy

Bellamy paused in front of the door to the hospital cabin. Apparently, the Vice Chancellor wanted to talk to him, but Bellamy wasn’t exactly in the mood for a chat. He was exhausted from the previous day’s battle and its grisly aftermath. He and Wells had already buried several Earthborns, then set about collecting the blood-stained weapons they’d left behind. The camp would be having a burial ceremony for the Colonists and kids who had died in the attacks, later that day. Thank god, Octavia was okay, but not all of the hundred had been so lucky.

Yet despite the terrifying attack and the devastating losses of several of their people, the mood in the camp was still brighter than it’d been when Bellamy, Wells, and Clarke had been marched in two nights earlier. People were laughing again, and the new Colonists were asking the hundred for help and advice, no longer wary of angering Rhodes.

Part of Bellamy wanted to turn around and find Octavia, who’d organized a game of hide-and-seek for the younger kids. It was hard to let her out of his sight after everything they’d just gone through. But, after a moment, his curiosity got the better of him, and he stepped inside.

The cabin was full of injured Colonists and kids, but Clarke’s usual efficiency and rapport with her patients kept the mood from being too grim. Thankfully, it seemed that most of her patients were going to make quick recoveries.

Bellamy walked toward the back where a long white sheet had been nailed into the ceiling and hung down to the floor like a curtain, giving the Vice Chancellor a tiny bit of privacy. In his head, he ran through everything Rhodes could possibly say to him, planning his response. If the man so much as threatened him or Octavia, there was no telling what he’d do to him. He didn’t care if he was injured and helpless in a hospital bed.

Bellamy nodded at the guard positioned in front of the divider, then stepped around and stared at the man lying in the bed behind it.