Chapter 30

Not long, she said, and the universe laughed in my face.

No joke. My luck is just shit.

Here I am, struggling to breathe through my contractions, and beginning to panic that Clarke will not be here to help me birth my first child.

Depending on my labour, will depend whether this is my last.

"Quinn," I hear Bellamy call as she rushes up to my side. "Quinn, I just-"

"It's okay, Bellamy. You don't have to say anything. Honestly, if you and Raven want to be together then go for it. I'm happy for you. Really, I am."

He shakes his head. "It wasn't like that at all," he says. "She needed to try and move on from Finn."

And she used sex? Oh no. That's a recipe for disaster.

"Yeah, it didn't really help. I think it may of made it worse."

Of course it would've. Sex doesn't help with emotional problems. Not long-term, anyways.

"So, yeah. You don't have to worry about that."

"Even if it was the case, I'd still be happy for you, Bellamy." I'm sincere when I say this. "I just want to see you happy."

"Thanks, Quinn."

"And I'm sorry for walking in without knocking or anything, it's just- I was going through a painful contraction and-"

"Are you okay now?" Panic drenched in his voice as I watch him look me over.

"I'm fine. It's okay at the moment."

He relaxes. "Well, if you need anything, I'm here."

These boys really need to think before they speak.

Hello, contraction number two.

I grab his hand and squeeze just as much as I did with Kai, and watching his face, I want to laugh.

Laugh afterwards, Quinn.

When it's all over, Bellamy says, "How many more of those are yet to come?"

Grinning I respond, "Many."

Any pain is worth the expression these boys wear whilst I grip their hands.

"Great." His face. His face says it all. He wants this over.

Me, too, Bellamy. Me, too.

"Nice gown."

Was wondering how long it'd take him to comment on my latest fashion accessory.

"I know, it's hot, right?"

"Definitely."

"Careful there, Blake. Get to excited, and we'll be onto to baby number two."

I'm joking. Never again will I let this man touch me like that again.

"Let's just get this one out the way first, shall we?"

One and only one, Bellamy. No more.

Changing the subject, I ask, "So, what's the update? What are we going to do about Clarke?"

"Don't you worry about that." I feel like a child not being told the truth about their parent's divorce. "Just focus on getting through this labour."

"Bellamy-"

"Please, Quinn. Just keep your mind focused on our child. Please."

He sounds desperate and drained, which is the only reason why I let it go.

"Okay," I say with a nod.

He touches my stomach in a protective way before walking off, radiating stress everywhere.

One day without his princess, and this happens?

Sighing, I continue to walk until I reach the drop ship.

A change of scenery couldn't hurt.

I head in, though I wish I hadn't. For there, I witness John suffocating the boy, who went off with Finn and Clarke, aka the boy who wouldn't shut up, aka Myles.

I don't say anything. I'm silent. But noise distracts John as he suddenly hears Jasper heading down the ladder. His eyes move from Jasper and then me.

"H- he stopped breathing, I was just- I was just trying to help," John tries to explain.

We know what you did, John. You can't fool us.

Jasper continues to climb down the ladder before eyeing up firearm on the table. It becomes a race, but John wins. And next thing I know, he's got it pointed at us. I try to back out of the drop ship, but no such luck.

"Ah, ah, Brady. Or I shoot him right here, right now."

"Okay, okay," I hold up my hands and move so John has access to the door.

"Murphy, just put the gun down," Jasper says, trying to tame the beast.

"He- he tried to kill me." Justifying his actions just doesn't work.

Jasper tries to run, but again, no such luck.

John points the gun straight at him. "Hey, don't move!"

"Okay, it's cool."

"No, it's not. You know what'll happen to me if you tell Bellamy."

He's right. John will die.

I close my eyes when I hear Jasper's walkie. "Tell Bellamy, what?"

Seems my luck has changed after all.

Now he knows. Bellamy knows something's up.

I want to shout to him for help, but I know better. The minute I do, I cannot guarantee Jasper or I will make it out alive.

Why am I stuck in this cycle with my life being at risk because of John?

Bad luck, probably.

Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, but if it gets to three times, it'll become a pattern.

"Give me the radio, Jasper."

Slowly, Jasper begins to pull it out. However, his stupidity gets him knocked unconscious.

"Murphy has a gun, he killed Myles-"

And that's all he gets to say before he drops down after being whacked by John.

I jump back, and I watch John stalk towards me.

"Say anything, and you'll be next. Understood?"

I nod quickly.

"Murphy, the hell are you doing?" Bellamy asks through the radio, just as John closes the drop ship.

I hear him yelling over and over, in an attempt to get John's attention.

"Murphy! Murphy! Open the damn door!"

"You try to be a hero, Jasper and Quinn will die!"

"You have Quinn in there?" Bellamy yells again, panic laced in this voice.

But John doesn't respond.

"Don't hurt her! Please don't hurt her!"

Looking at me, John says, "Sit down, next to Jasper. Hands where I can see them."

I do as he says, but at the wrong moment, I feel another contraction.

Screwing my eyes shut, I turn and grasp the ground.

"Brady, do I need to repeat myself?"

"I'm having a contraction, John. Give me a minute."

God, this is the worst time to be in labour.

Once it's over, I show him my hands. "Okay, now I'm ready."

"Good," he says before tying my hands together.

"You know, you don't need to do this. Okay? We can figure something out."

"Nice try, but you hate me. And that means, I can no longer trust you."

"Trust me, really? You're the one going around killing people, not me. You are the one not to be trusted."

"They tried to kill me first. I'm just getting justice."

"You don't need to-"

I'm lost when another contraction hits. My entire body is filled with pain as I struggle to breathe through it.

"How long has this been going on for?" John asks.

"What?"

Is he asking about my child's upcoming birth?

"Your contractions."

"It's close to twenty-fours now, why do you ask?"

Yes, twenty-four hours. I never thought it would happen, but it has.

"Because I want to know whether I'm going to have to help deliver the baby."

Huh?

"You want to help me?"

"No, of course not."

Duh, Quinn.

"But I'm certainly not going to watch you die, squeezing your legs shut."

"Well, if you kill me, you may will."

"I'm not going to kill you, Quinn."

Now I'm even more confused.

"But you said-"

"I know what I said, but I don't want you. I want Bellamy, and that is the only way I'm going to get him," he explains. "By threatening you."

"John, you hate me. Why not kill me?"

People may be confused by the situation and think I want to die, but in truth, I just want answers.

"I don't hate you, Quinn," he informs. "You said that, not me."

I look away because I can no longer make contact with those eyes.

Recognising this, he leans forward and whispers, "I never meant to hurt you, Quinn. Not then, and definitely not now."

"Those are just words, John. Actions are required to prove your point," I tell him, still not looking his way.

"I will prove it to you, Quinn," he says. "I will, I promise."

Don't make promises you can't keep.