"Let's go" I say, brushing past Madi.

"Thank you for changing your mind. Why did you change your mind?" She asks, head tilted, sharper than most kids her age.

"Maybe I should reconsider" I mutter

"Uh, nope. All good here. I love you mom"  she said, switching the last phrase into that unknown language.

I blink, watching her go.
"Interesting language. English lexical source. Maybe a creole via a pidgin stage. Come on I know where Abby is" I mutter to jade

The library smells like dust and desperation. Abby's hunched over a desk piled with books, jackson hovering nervously behind her. They're arguing, voices frayed at the edges.

I pivot to leave before they notice me, but Jackson's voice pins me in place.
"Diana." He called out.

He comes over to me.
"She hasn't slept in two days. I'm worried she might relapse." He says

Abby snaps without even looking up.
"I don't want drugs. I want to save Marcus. Is there something wrong with that?" She said

"You go. I'll talk to her" I tell jackson, and he hesitates before finally nodding and slipping out.

Abby sighs, rubbing her temple.
"It's better late than never." She muttered

I drift closer, letting my hand skim a book spine.
"I heard what you guys were talking about. This might help" I pluck a random book off the shelf.

"How?" She asks warily

"You said he needs hemodialysis" I said

She looks at the title.
"This is about nightblood. It's worthless. I actually read a book by that same author. Propaganda on a Eugenics project, purifying the bloodline. And you thought what we did in Becca's lab was bad? I mean, that woman was a monster." Abby hands me a book

"Or a visionary" I mumble before I can stop myself. Nice one, Josie. Real casual. I turn quickly, pretending I was done with the conversation anyway.

But Abby's sharp. Too sharp.
"Could you take notes for me, please?" She asked, handing me a book and pen.

I sit and scribble as she talks.
"The fibers of this leaf can double as a surgical mesh. And the stomata is large enough that the wound would be able to breathe....." she trails off suddenly, eyes narrowing.

"What?" I ask, keeping my tone even.

"Aren't you right handed? Why are you writing with your left?" She asked

My stomach flips. How brilliant. I froze, unsure of what to say.

"Diana, are you feeling ok?" She pressed

Time to redirect. I grab another book and flip it open.
"Here. The lan hudie rhopalocera." I say

"What?" She asks

"Well, if you can't do dialysis this guy metabolizes and creatine. Look it says so right there." I jab at the page

She blinks, then nods slowly.
"That's really good. That's good. Go get jackson, please." She said, sitting back down.

"Of course" I said, and I'm up and out before she can pin me down any harder.

I round the corner. My eyes meet Bellamy and Murphy breaking into sanctum.

"Okay, just go inside, Josie....but that Murphy is kind of cute." I mumble

Then follow.

Focus. Don't blow it.

I slip into sanctum reliquary. I spot them all, the whole audience. Bellamy, Murphy, Clarke, Gaia, and Jordan.

"This is sanctums holiest place. You shouldn't be here." I snap. They all turn to me, and I quickly cover.
"I'm sorry. I just, uh-I saw you on the steps." I add

"Does that mean your bodyguard could too?" Murphy asks with that infuriating smirk.

"Good point. Let's take this outside." I start, moving back toward the door.

"Not yet" Gaia said, already frozen in front of the skeletons.

"The mark of the flame? They're all commanders." She whispers

"That's why the symbol was on the flag." Clarke adds, her brow furrowing.

"Well, it's all coming together now, isn't it? Now can we please go?" Murphy says

Bellamy leans in, studying the front row.
"The ones in the front row must be the original Eligius team. There's 12 of them, oh, and they take kids." He said

"Familial love is a powerful motivator. People will do anything to ensure the survival of the ones they love. Now let's ensure our survival and get the hell out of here" I say, mentally cursing myself for sounding too Josephine.

But Jordan already cracked open another door.
"Operating room attached to a crypt. Really?" Murphy muttered

The lights flare on inside, revealing the grotesque marriage of operating room and crypt. Skeletons, medical tables, monitors.

"She was here. This was Delilah's, I'm sure of it. Still think I'm overreacting?" Jordan said

Bellamy starts connecting the dots.
"Okay, let's think this through. Becca created the flame after apocalypse one. She obviously provided the tech on Eligius 3 before that. That means that-" he starts

"They're not commanders." Gaia finished

"Right. So what the hell are they?" Bellamy asks

Jordan's already on the computer.
"Let's find out" he said

"Monty talk him how to hack too. That's my kind of parenting." Murphy smirked.

"No hacking needed. The Eligius 3 systems all use the same access code." Jordan answered.

I mentally slapped myself. I really have to tell dad to delete those codes.

I drift to the back, biting the inside of my cheek as the recording plays. My first rebirth. My first scream. My first breath in a borrowed body.

"So far, Josie's consciousness herself appears to be whole, in other words- Eureka. More soon." Gabriel's voice echoed.

"They're immortal" Murphy mutters

"They're murderers. They murdered Delilah." Jordan snaps

"It's not murder if they go willingly." I slip out before I can stop myself.

Jordan's eyes flashed.
"Did that girl look willing to you?" He snapped

"That's how they made it better, easier, by manipulating people into believing they were sacrificing themselves to some false gods" clarke says, voice tight with disgust.

I turn away, jaw tight, grabbing a stray needle. I was going to need it.

"Becoming one with the primes. Like Delilah's mother said" gaia murmurs

Murphy shrugged.
"Well, so much for respecting their faith. I mean, no offense, you let a bunch of kids fight to the death to become your god" he said

"Murphy, that's enough" Bellamy says sharply, then looks at me.

"Diana- you're okay with this?" He asks

"Well, I didn't say that. I just don't think they pose a threat to us, that's all." I answer

"They pose a threat to you. You're a nightblood. And based on what we just saw, I'm thinking that's the only reason they let us stay" Bellamy says, voice heavy.

Gaia stiffens.
"Madi. I have to get to her before they find out what she is" she said

I almost gasp. Madi, she's a nightblood.

"I'll go with you" I volunteer instantly, too fast. But it sells. She bolts, and I follow.

"Bring her back to the tavern so we can decide what to do." Bellamy calls after us.

And I don't look back.