Heaven Can't Wait - Chapter 50

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Chapter Fifty - Not a Grateful Bunch

Bellamy’s surprised to find the Mess bursting with people when he gets there. It’s also obvious he arrived just in time as tensions simmer between the groups of Arkadians and Grounders facing off in the center of the room. They shout at each other as the Mess Hall attendants try to maintain order, and other smaller groups have broken off, possibly plotting. Bellamy doesn’t like plotting.

He forces his way to what he assumes are the leaders—the ones yelling the loudest. The poor girl passing out rations looks terrified. Bellamy isn’t surprised to find Olsen at the head of the Arkadians. Just as Bellamy gets to his side, he shoves the lead Grounder—a man with a cane who’s half his size.

“Whoa,” Bellamy shouts, jumping between them before the Grounder can start swinging his very legal-to-carry weapon. “What’s going on.”

He looks from Olsen to the Grounder to the poor girl now in tears. He knows her—she was one of the hundred. “Campbell, right?” he says to her. “Are you okay?”

She nods and wipes her eyes. “I w- wa- was j- just trying t- t-”

“T- t- t- what?” Olsen taunts.

Bellamy gives him a shove back. “That’s enough—let her speak.”

Campbell shakes her head, bursting into tears then runs off, dropping her kettle and ladle behind her. The pot lands at Bellamy’s feet, sloshing hot broth over his boots. He blinks at the retreating form of the small girl. “What just happened?”

“I can explain,” says a calm voice suddenly at his side. He turns to find Niylah looking serene as always if not a little fed up. It’s a look his mother often gave them when she was at her wit’s end. “There seems to be a conflict in the scheduling for the Mess Hall. Second shift was given the same breakfast slot as the Grounders.” She motions to the two groups. “You can see the problem.”

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