Zenith // Bellamy Blake

One||Clarke

Noelle sat on the uncomfortable bed in the prison cell as she awaited her dad's arrival. He always came to visit around this time but today he was late, probably due to a council meeting. Both her parents were part of the council until she was born and her mother was floated, now it was just her dad and her 'uncle' Markus Kane.

Noelle wasn't a prisoner, however. She was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a gene mutation that causes mucus build up in the lungs, and a very low tolerance to solar radiation. Her low tolerance caused her to have blue hair and to be confined to one of the prison cells to limit contact with other people. Her only visitors were her dad, Markus, and a few people her age who were brought in to tutor her. Abby had been working with the other doctors and medical students to find a way to let Noelle leave confinement but it was a slow process.

The door finally opened and Noelle jumped up ready to hug her dad. She slowly began to back up as two guards walked in. She began to panic as they asked her to stand against the wall.

"Guys, I'm not a prisoner, I swear." she spluttered as they advanced towards her. "I'm Noelle Pierce, you're making a mistake."

"I got this one guys, she needs a special wrist band, anyways." Abby Griffin, the doctor of the Ark spoke as she walked into the cell. Noelle walked towards Abby and began asking her questions.

"What do you mean by wrist band? Why do I need a special one? What's going on? Where's my da-" Noelle stopped speaking and started taking deep breaths. "Abby I can't breath." She gasped out.

"Noelle, listen to me, you're okay. You need to calm down. We're sending you to the ground," Abby spoke softly, resting her hand on the panicking girl, "You're going to Earth."

Everything Noelle learned about Earth was bad. Radiation, nuclear war, no life. They couldn't send her down there. She'd spent her entire life in this cell, she knew nothing about survival.

A sharp pinch emitted from her wrist and when she looked down there was a chunky, metal wristband on it. Noelle tried pulling it off but it only stung more.

"Abby, I know nothing about survival. I'm going to die. Oh, god." Noelle sat down on the ground and curled up in a ball thinking about her impending death. "And what about the radiation? I can't even handle the radiation up here, how am I supposed to handle it on earth, without you?!"

The doctor placed her hand on the girl's frail shoulder. She then handed her an inhaler which Noelle took gratefully and puffed it twice, breathing deeply for ten seconds.

"That's what the wristband is for, but we're wasting time, you have to get on the drop ship now," Abby quickly helped Noelle up and led her to the drop ship. Noelle said nothing as she sat down and Abby strapped her in. She was in shock. She was being sent to Earth with a severe health condition and 99 prisoners, some murderers. Abby patted her shoulder before turning to leave.

"Abby, wait!" Noelle struggled to get the seatbelt off, "what about my father? Don't I get to say goodbye?" Abby sadly shook her head before exiting the drop ship. Noelle continued to struggle as a boy sat down next to her and strapped in.

"You do know that the seat belts don't release until the drop ship has landed, right?" He spoke as he watched Noelle in amusement. She snapped her head to his and shook her head shyly. "Well, when we safely land the seat belts will release on their own so sit back and enjoy the atmosphere."

Noelle sighed and rested her head against the headrest. She listened as the drop ship door closed and the rockets fired. The ship jerked causing her to subconsciously grip the boy's hand.

"Whoa there, shouldn't you buy me dinner first?" He laughed but squeezed her hand back anyways. "I'm Finn by the way."

"Noelle." She spoke through gritted teeth as the drop ship continued to shake. Her hand gripped his tighter as people started screaming. "What's happening?"