Night had fallen when Shaw came over, crouching with a canteen. He offered it, and after a long hesitation, I finally drank.

"Come on. What harm can come from telling me your name?" He said gently

I stayed silent.

He sighed, settling into a chair across from me.
"Well, believe it or not. This is the best conversation I've had in over a hundred years. I was an alter boy in a church just like this. Saginaw, about two hours outside Detroit. On my Harley, I'd make it in one. God I miss that bike. More than I miss most of the people." He said

But before anyone could say anything else, a voice crackled through the radio.

"Someone just ran out of that cave" they said

My chest tightened. Madi.

The lady- Diyoza- strode in, radio in hand, calm but watchful.

"I got the shot" the man- McCreary's- voice came through.

"No!" The word ripped from me before I could stop.
"She's just a child." I add

Diyozas brow arched.
"She speaks." She said to Shaw

"Please- She's my daughter" I begged

Her voice stayed calm.
"How many others in the woods?" She asked

"None. It's just the two of us. I am begging you- Tell him not to shoot." I said

She lifted the radio.
"Fire at will" she said

Panic rushed through me.
"I know where they are. That's our summer hunting grounds. She's leading them into a trap. Listen to me. If you don't stop them right now more of your men will die." I said firmly

"I believe her" Shaw said quickly

"It's the truth. If you let her go, I will tell you everything" I say

Diyoza studied me for a long moment, then spoke into the radio.
"All units, stand down. Over." She said

"If we stand down, she'll get away. I'm taking the shot" McCeary growled

Her tone sharpened.
"Falk, if mccreary disobeys, shoot him in the leg. Harris is falk disobeys shoot him in the head." She said

Silence. Then:
"Standing down" he replied

I exhaled, almost shaking.

"There may be traps near your position. Check it out and report back, over." She said

A beat later.
"Son of a bitch. Another bear trap. Almost stepped right in it." He said

"Report back to base over and out" she finished. Placing the radio down.

"Thank you" I whispered

Diyoza leaned in.
"Thank you for telling the truth. As long as you keep doing that, your daughter in the woods will stay alive and so will you. Do we understand each other?" She asked

"Yes" I nod, forcing myself to sit tall.

"Good. Then let's begin. Start with how the world ended" she asked

"Which time?" I shot back

I told her what the Ark had taught us, about the war, about Allie. But before I could go far, McCearys voice cut in:

"We have six more hostiles. At least one is armed, are we still playing nice?" He said

My blood ran cold.

"Stand by. Find out where they are and reinforce their position. Not you Mccreary." She ordered, then her eyes snapped back at me.

"What did I tell you would happen if you lied to me?" she asked

"I didn't lie. I don't know who they are-" I start

Her fist cracked across my face.

"Take her outside. Use the collar." She said

"I thought you'd never ask" Mccreary smirked

"Colonel, she's cooperating." Shaw argued

"Which is why she'll live. Her friends on the other hand....Four of ours are dead, it's time to even the score" Diyoza snapped

McCeary yanked me out, shoved me down the stairs, and locked the collar around my neck. I clawed at it, desperate, but he smirked.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You might burn your fingers" he said

The collar lit up. Agony surged through me, every nerve on fire. My body convulsed, collapsing into the dirt. I bit back a scream, but a broken sound still escaped.

I was back at the dropship. That's what it felt like- as flashes flew through my head.

I crawled forward, gasping.
"Please. I wasn't lying." I said

"Hit her again" diyoza ordered

Pain tore through me again, white-hot, my vision blurring.

"I don't know who that was." I rasped

"You made your point." Shaw said firmly

"You might be right. But just in case, hit her again" she said

The shock hit harder this time. My head pounded, the world tilting sideways.

Then- headlights.

I forced my head up, dread flooding me.
"Madi...no" I mumbled

"Hold fire until my command" Diyoza said

"Come out with your hands high" diyoza yelled.

The door opened, but it wasn't Madi. The figure that stepped from the rover taller, broader.

And then I heard the voice.

"I'm unarmed, just want to talk." They said

My heart nearly stopped. That voice.

Bellamy.

Alive.

"Talk. Give me one good reason not to kill you where you stand." Diyoza challenged

"How about I give you 283? That's how many of your people are going to die if you and I can't make a deal." He countered

He raised something in his hand. The rover backed off. Slowly, he stepped forward.

"That's fair enough" Diyoza said, intrigued.

"283 lives for one. She must be pretty important to you" she continued, tilting her head towards me.

"She is" Bellamy said without hesitation.