SOLDIER
book one
It's been 97 years since a nuclear explosion radiated life on Earth and life support on The Ark is now failing. In a desperate attempt to grant the citizens of the SpaceCraft more time, 100 juvenile delinquents are sent down to the...
Chapter Twenty-Three: Contents Under Pressure (Part 1)
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A STORM thundered outside, rain hammering wildly against the dropship's metallic hull and lighting striking the ground as a crowd huddled inside for shelter. Finn, barely conscious, lay on a makeshift table, the knife still embedded in his chest, blood steadily seeping out around the blade, pooling against his flesh.
Standing beside Raven, Vivienne hugged her arms close, her gaze fixed on the floor while Raven's fingers danced across the radio, trying to contact The Ark. Vivienne's thoughts raced, torn between the sight of Finn lying just centimeters away, his life slowly slipping away, and the gnawing dread that twisted her insides at the thought of a response from The Ark—maybe even from her father.
"This is Raven Reyes, calling Ark Station," she repeated, her voice steady despite the growing frustration. The silence that followed felt suffocating, with only the faint crackle of static in response. No voices, no answers—just the empty void on the other end. Raven's fingers hovered over the controls, tension creeping into her movements, but still, she kept trying.
Glancing up from the floor, Vivienne noticed the subtle tremble in Raven's hands. Without a word, she uncrossed her arms and gently placed one of her hands on top of Raven's, steadying her shaking fingers. Raven looked up at the blonde girl she barely knew, her eyes filled with fear and frustration. A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek before she took a deep, shaky breath, gathering herself.
"You can do this, Raven," Vivienne whispered, her voice steady and quiet, meant only for the girl beside her. She gently traced her thumb over Raven's trembling hand in a soothing motion. Deep down, a selfish part of Vivienne wished Raven would never manage to contact The Ark. Yet, despite the unease twisting inside her, she knew it had to be done—for Finn's life, and the lives of many more to come.
"Calling Ark Station," Raven repeated, her voice louder now, competing with the relentless drumming of rain against the dropship. "Please, come in." Her gaze flicked to Finn, where Clarke knelt beside him, re-wrapping the fabric around the knife still lodged in his chest. "We need you."
•••
On The Ark
"CALLING Ark Station," Raven Reyes' voice crackled through the static, the faint signal echoing across the space station. Conversations halted, people froze mid-step, their ears straining to catch the words.
In the Council Chambers, Doctor Abby Griffin—recently spared from execution—felt her heart skip, the fragile flicker of hope she'd held since spotting the flares in the sky now brightening into something undeniable.
"Raven..." Abby breathed out shakily, her voice trembling with both relief and shock as her wide eyes locked onto the comms speaker. "She's still alive."
