But the sound grew louder and clearer—and it was definitely a voice. She wasn’t making this up. Goose bumps sprinkled her skin, and her heart began to pound in her chest. Clarke knew that voice.
It was her mom.
The words grew to full volume. “Radio check,” her mom said in a neutral tone, as if she’d spoken those words a thousand times before. “Radio check. Alpha X-ray radio check.”
Clarke closed her eyes and let her mother’s voice wash over her, filling her with the most wonderful mix of relief and joy, like the sound of a heartbeat after a patient had gone into cardiac arrest. Her hands shook as she reached for the button that transmitted her voice across the airwaves.
“Mom?” Clarke called out, trembling. “Is—is that you?”
There was a long pause, and Clarke held her breath until her chest began to hurt.
“Clarke? Clarke?” There was no question: It was her mom. Then Clarke heard a man’s voice calling out in the background. Her dad. It was true. They were alive. “Clarke, where are you?” her mom asked across the frequencies, with equal parts amazement and disbelief. “Are you on Earth?”
“Yes… I’m here. I’m—” A sob tore its way out of her throat as tears began to stream down her face.
“Clarke, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
She tried to tell her mother that she was fine, but nothing came out of her mouth except more sobs. Clarke released all the tears she’d been too numb to shed during her long, lonely months in Confinement when she’d believed she was truly alone in the universe. Her heart was so full of joy, her happiness was almost an ache, yet she couldn’t stop crying.
“Clarke, oh God. What’s going on? Where are you?”
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and tried to take a breath. “I’m fine. I just can’t believe I’m talking to you. They told me they floated you. I—I thought you were dead!” She thought of all the one-sided conversations she’d had with her parents over the past year and a half, imagining what they’d say when she told them about her trial, about Wells, and, most of all, about the wonders of Earth. For eighteen months, everything she’d thought, everything she’d told them, every prayer and every plea had been met with nothing but suffocating silence. And now the silence had lifted, releasing a weight she hadn’t realized had been chained to her heart.
“It’s okay, Clarke. We’re here. We’re alive. Where are you now?” Her father’s voice was so solid, so reassuring.
“I’m in Mount Weather,” she said, grinning as she wiped her nose on her sleeve. “Where are you?”
“Oh, Cl—” her mom began, but her words were cut off sharply as the high whine returned.
“No!” Clarke shouted. “No, no, no!” She swiped frantically at the dials, but she couldn’t find the right frequency again. Her tears of joy turned to frustration as anxiety welled up in her chest. It felt like losing them all over again. “Damn it,” she cried, smacking her hand against the console. She had to get the signal back.
Before she had a chance to try anything else, the door burst open, and a few of Max’s men ran into the room.
“Clarke,” one of them said. “They’re here. Let’s go.”
“But it’s too early,” she said, startled. “How did they get here so fast?”
“We don’t know, but we need to move into position.”
Her head swam as she tried to process what this meant. Rhodes and his guards were preparing to attack Mount Weather. “But we’re not ready—”
“We have to be ready,” the man said. “Time to move.”
Clarke jumped from her seat and wiped tears from her face, grateful that everyone else would be too preoccupied to ask why she was crying. Without a backward glance at the flashing lights and endless hiss and crackle of the radio, she ran from the room, ready to arm herself for battle.
CHAPTER 23: Bellamy
Bellamy’s shoulder didn’t hurt anymore. The adrenaline coursing through his body was better than any painkiller. He hopped from one foot to the other and shook out his hands, which were itching for a weapon. He couldn’t decide what would be more satisfying—sending one of his perfectly aimed arrows right through Rhodes’s throat or thrusting a spear into his chest.
The Earthborns were gathering in the cavernous hall that had become their command center. Many of the adults were arming themselves with knives, spears, and the odd bow, while others were preparing to lead the children and the elderly deeper into the fortress. Bellamy reached for a bow, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tested the string.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Clarke asked quietly. “You were shot, Bel. You have a long way to go before you’re fully recovered.”
“Save your breath, Griffin,” he said as he began rooting around for arrows. “You know there’s no way in hell I’m letting these people risk their lives for me while I sit around twiddling my thumbs.”
“Just be careful.” Her face was pale, and her eyes were red. In the few minutes they’d had together, preparing for the fight, she’d told him about speaking to her parents. But there was no time to celebrate that small miracle; they both had to focus their attention on the task at hand—making Vice Chancellor Rhodes regret he’d ever set foot on Earth.
“Careful is my middle name,” he said, placing a few arrows that had passed his inspection to the side.
She smiled. “I believe you’ve also said the same thing about Danger and Victory.”
“That’s me. Bellamy Careful Danger Victory Blake.”
“I’m jealous. I don’t even have one middle name.”
“Oh, I can think of a few that would suit you,” Bellamy said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Let’s see, how about Clarke Know-It-All… Bossy…” She rolled her eyes and smacked him playfully on the chest. He smirked and pulled her closer, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “… Brilliant… Sexy Griffin.”
“I’m not sure all that will fit on an office door, but I like it.”
“Everybody ready?” Wells asked, striding toward them. His whole demeanor had changed. Although he was only wearing a faded, stained T-shirt, and ripped, slightly too-short pants, he moved like he was still wearing his officer’s uniform. A few weeks ago, Wells’s bearing might’ve irritated Bellamy, but right now, he felt grateful that his brother was so capable.
“I’m more than ready,” Bellamy said, trying to psych everyone up. He reached over to bump fists with Felix, who was pale and shifting from side to side nervously. “I can’t wait to kick some Colony-Guard ass.” Bellamy shot Wells a devilish grin.
“I wish I had your confidence,” Felix said.
“It’s not confidence,” Bellamy quipped. “It’s arrogance. There’s a big difference.”
“Whatever it is, it’s a good thing,” said Wells to Bellamy’s surprise. “We’re going to need it.”
At Max’s nod, Wells stepped to the front of the room, which quickly fell silent, although the tension was so thick, the air practically buzzed with it.
“Friends,” Max began, his tone grave. “We have news that there are about two dozen Colonists approaching Mount Weather. In just a moment, we will go to our appointed positions and prepare to fight. They have arrived much more quickly than we expected them to, but rest assured, we’ll meet them with all our might. And remember: Our goal is not to inflict harm, but to prevent them from committing senseless acts of violence against others. If we need to use strength to protect ourselves, then so be it. But that is not our purpose.”