21 The Prisoner

Never have I slept that good before. Maybe I was utterly exhausted, or perhaps it was the beautiful woman I was currently snuggling with. Whatever the reason for my peaceful sleep, I wasn't complaining. As I lay here holding Lexa, I can't help but think this is all just a dream. I remember going through the early stages of puberty and noticing how much Lexa was growing. During that time my thoughts were anything but innocent. Now here I was, laying next to that very girl, feeling completely content.

Lexa woke up not much later than I did. I knew she was awake by the shift in her breathing, as well as the fact that she was currently stroking the hand that was wrapped comfortably just underneath her breasts. We laid there in silence for a while, just enjoying one another's company before we were forced to get up by our responsibilities. Getting dressed was an interesting experience, and it took much longer than usual. I blame that completely on Lexa though, she was the one that seduced me for a morning… workout.

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Polis was in an uproar this morning. By now, word has spread far and wide of Skaikru. The Invaders that fell from the sky, burning down villages with balls of fire, capturing and torturing a well respected warrior. Not many people haven't heard of them by now, and due to their actions, they were not well liked by anyone in the coalition... and there was one of them in this very city, right now.

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John Murphy's PoV:

I was exhausted and in pain. For the past few days, I have had nothing but horrible luck. First I almost get hung because some little bitch kills someone with my knife. Secondly, I am banished from camp because apparently it's okay for kids to be killers and it's wrong to punish them. Thirdly, I was captured by these scary ass grounders. I hadn't even been banished for a few hours before some big dude wearing bones on his face jumped down from a tree and kicked my ass. The next thing I know, I am tied up, and stuck in a cell with some badass looking woman asking me questions about camp. I answered her the best I could. I think whatever I said was useful because she left without kicking my ass too.

I don't know how long I was in that cell for, but eventually they dragged me out of it and put a gag in my mouth. Bound and gagged, I was led through the village in which I was kept. I was surprised, they looked like normal people. They looked like how we do when we walk around camp.

Eventually, I was led to a group of grounders on horses. Everyone in the group was wearing heavy furs and leathers and some kind of mask, each mask was unique in some way though. The man that had been leading me, said something I couldn't understand to what appeared to be the man in charge of the group. The lead man grabbed rope out of a pack on the side of his horse and then tied it to the similar rope that was binding my hands together. "Ok so these are my escorts somewhere, but where?" I wonder. Once they seemed like they had everything ready, I was pulled forward by the horse.

I was walking for what seemed like hours before we arrived at some kind of grounder city. I was in awe… It looked like how ancient bazaars were described in the books they were given during history class back on The Ark. Hundreds of people were milling back and forth trading goods. In the center of all of it, was this huge tower. If I had to take a guess, I'd say that was where the head honcho was.

A little ways into the city was when it started, gone was the jovial and generally uplifting atmosphere and in its place? Fear, anger, hate, sadness… That was all I could feel being directed at me. Is this what the grounders thought of us? More than once I heard the word "Invader" thrown at me like a horrible curse. I felt as if these guards surrounding me weren't here, I'd most likely be killed. I decided to quicken my pace, being closer to the guards made me feel a little bit safer. Who knows if one of these grounders would give into their urges and decide to rush me.

Finally arriving at the tower's base, the man holding my rope hops off of his horse. Walking closer to me, he unsheathes a knife with a sadistic looking smile on his face. Just when I thought I was going to be stabbed, the man laughs in my face. "Your reaction was priceless!" The man loudly says, laughing at me while he cuts the rope tying me to his horse but leaving the original rope that binds my hands. In response I glared at him, which only made him laugh even harder.

Pushing me forward to the guards at the entrance of the tower, they speak in some kind of grounder language so I couldn't understand a single word of it. Once they were done speaking, one of the guards grabbed my shoulder and pushed me towards some kind of weird elevator.

The ride up was tense, and so was I. I didn't know where I was going or what was going to happen to me. Since I was still gagged I wasn't able to voice my questions to my escort, not that he'd answer me anyway. When the elevator finally stopped the guard shoved me out of the elevator. Luckily I was able to catch myself before I fell. "Move." The guard ordered, pointing down the hall towards a large set of double doors.

Not needing to be told twice, I walked towards where he wanted. Arriving at the door, two of the largest guards that I have seen so far grab my arms and drag me inside. The room was large with high walls and pillars. At the head of the large open was a throne-like chair, sitting in it was a grounder woman. Whoever this woman was must be extremely important, and very obviously the one in charge.

Next to the grounder woman was a large man equipped with a spear and a sword at his hip. He was giving me a look that said "I fucking dare you to try something." Not wanting to put myself in any more danger than I already am, I don't put up any fight while the two men drag me closer to the woman.

When I am a good ten feet from the throne the woman puts up her hand, signaling to the guards that I am close enough. "Remove his binds and gag." The woman commands in a firm voice, the guards not wasting any time in obeying.

With my gag being roughly pulled from my mouth and the rope binding my hands together finally cut, I nearly cried out in relief. It felt so good to finally have them removed after having them on all day.

"Thank you." I croak out to the woman on the throne, figuring that my best chance of survival was to be as cooperative as possible. Nodding at my words, the woman turns to the man by her side. He was whispering something in her ear that I couldn't hear, I could only hope that it wasn't a discussion about my death.

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James PoV:

The guards dragged a young man through the door. Looking in pretty rough shape, he was covered in dirt, grime, and blood. He couldn't have been more than a few years younger than myself.

"Remove his binds and gag." Lexa commands the guards responsible for escorting the prisoner. Once his binds were removed, the prisoner had a weak smile on his face. "Thank you." He thanked Lexa weakly. Based on what direction his questioning heads in, I may have a crazy idea.

"Lexa, we should get him cleaned up before starting any questioning. I have a plan and it requires his complete cooperation." I whisper in her ear, being careful not to let the prisoner speak.

"Very well, I trust your judgement James. I only hope you know what you're doing." She whispers in reply before turning back to the prisoner.

"What is your name?" Lexa asks the prisoner.

"My name is John Murphy." He answers promptly, looking absolutely terrified. Staring down at him for a while, Lexa was making him squirm under her hard gaze.

"John, you will follow my Shield, you will get cleaned up, you will be fed, and you will not be a problem. We resume your questioning in the evening. Is that understood?" Lexa demands firmly, making sure that he understands any trouble will not be tolerated.

"Y-yeah, loud and clear." John stutters out, eager to get cleaned and fed.

"You will address her as Heda!" I say loudly, sending a harsh glare at him.

"I apologize Heda" John bursts out, scared that I was going to spear him on the spot. Looking at Lexa I see that she is amused by the situation. She has a small smirk on her face as she looks back at me.

"You are forgiven." She says with amusement dancing in her eyes, but John doesn't seem to notice as he is too scared. Wavin her hand in my direction, I walk towards the door.

"Follow." I command, walking past John. He quickly starts after me and matches my pace as I lead him towards my quarters.

Walking back to the elevator was a journey in silence. I took the chance to observe the young man next to me. He had pale skin and dark brown hair that was parted in the middle. It could have just been all of the dirt and grime he was covered with, but it appeared that he had some rough looking rope burns on his neck. I decided to wait till he was cleaned up before asking about it, it was likely that he would be more forthcoming with information if he was comfortable.

Eventually we arrived at my quarters, holding the door open, I motioned for him to get inside.

"Find a seat while we wait for the servants to arrive." I tell him calmly, walking over to one of the chairs around my table after I close the door behind him. Hesitantly, John follows my orders and sits across from me. It was only a few minutes before some servants arrived, carrying buckets of warm water for the bath. Once It was filled, I ordered John to go and get cleaned up while I requested some food. John was a lot less hesitant around me than when we first got here, I believe it had to do with us sitting in silence and him not realizing I was going to kill him. Rather eagerly, John went into the bathroom to clean, nearly stumbling over himself. While he was taking a bath I started to go over the plan in my head. I was going to question him while he was eating and his answers would determine whether or not I would take him on as a second or not. Obviously he wasn't welcome back at the Skaikru camp and Lexa would be the one to

determine if he was to live or not based on her own line of questioning. Shaking my head at the situation, I retrieved some old clothes from my room and left them on the table for John when he was finished.

I knew he wouldn't try anything. He was in the middle of the most secure place in the coalition and I was perhaps the most deadly warrior here. He was terrified of trying anything as it seemed he actually valued his life, which was a good thing.

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While I was waiting for John to get finished with his bath, a servant had delivered a wide array of food as instructed. There were fresh fruits, vegetables, and plenty of spiced meats to choose from. Choosing a nice hunk of venison and a few fresh fruits for myself, I started eating.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened up revealing a very satisfied looking John Murphy. Now that the dirt and blood was cleaned up, I could see that his face was bruised quite badly and the rope burns on his neck were worse than I would have that. Whoever did that to him certainly didn't seem to like John at all. Realizing he was wearing his dirty clothing from previously, I pointed at the bundle of clothes on the table near the food.

"Here are some of my old clothes, change in the bathroom. I will not be eating next to you if you smell like those nasty rags you are wearing. Leave your current clothes on the floor there. A servant will take care of them." I say firmly, pointing out that his current clothes smelt like pure shit.

John had to tear his eyes away from the buffet that had been laid out for him. Quickly grabbing the provided clothing, he returns back to the bathroom eager to change so he can eat. Returning quicker than I thought possible, he takes his seat across from me. He hesitated in grabbing a plate so I eased his worries.

"It's alright, eat what you want." I tell him calmly, enjoying a piece of fruit I had picked out. I wanted to let him eat a little first before I started my questioning. Not needing to be twice, John piled his plate high with food and dug in.

Once I was finished with my own meal, I started the questioning. "So tell me John, why were you sent to Earth?" I ask seriously, looking for any sign that he would lie to me.

For a few seconds it seemed like John wasn't going to answer me, it seemed he was having an eternal conflict within himself. Eventually coming to a decision, he answered.

"Myself and ninety nine others were sent here because we were expendable." He finally answered, looking down at his plate while he spoke. Motioning for him to elaborate further, he does. "We were all prisoners on The Ark. You see, every crime on the Ark is punishable by getting floated, killed" He adds at my questioning look of the term floated. "That's only if you commit a crime above the age of eighteen though. If you commit any crime before eighteen you are put into the skybox, where you will stay until your eighteenth birthday. Then your case will be reviewed and it will be decided whether you are still to float or not." He explained it to me. Even though I was from The Ark, I was raised in that single room the entire time, and didn't know of anything.

"Why were you locked up?" I ask curiously, wanting to know whether or not he could be trusted. Obviously it seemed to be significant for John because as soon as I asked it, he seemed to lock up. Giving him time, I allowed him to decide for himself whether or not he wants to tell me.

"I was sick, and so my dad stole medicine for me to get better…" he paused, trying to regather himself before speaking. "When the guards found out, they floated him. They floated him because of me." John spoke quietly, struggling to speak on the subject. "After I got better, I was angry. The unfairness of all of it, The Ark's rules, The chancellor, myself, and the man who arrested my father. I was arrested because I set fire to the guards living quarters who arrested my father." He finished strongly, holding a lot of passion for the subject.

I felt sorry for him, just like myself he was dropped to Earth. The difference though was he didn't have a choice in the matter. A father killed because he was trying to help his son just seemed wrong. Knowing I needed to gain a bit of his trust if he was to become my second..

I decided to tell him my own story.