The 100: Forsaken Sky

Chapter 1: The Fall

The small, cramped cell was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of Eli's heavy breathing. His body moved in a fluid, almost mechanical motion as he completed the final set of push-ups. Sweat beaded on his brow, dripping down into his eyes, but he didn't pause. His muscles burned, his lungs screamed for air, but he ignored the pain. Every rep, every movement, every breath was controlled, a demonstration of pure willpower.

For Eli Carter, this was just another day in the Ark's prison. The past two years had been a blur of confinement, isolation, and a constant reminder that he had been cast aside for exposing the truth. But if there was one thing he had learned in that time, it was how to use his body to its fullest potential. He'd pushed himself beyond the limits of what he once thought possible. His physique was now a finely tuned machine, stronger, faster, and more agile than anyone could have predicted.

And yet, no one—except for a select few—knew the full extent of his abilities.

The door to his cell slid open with a sharp hiss, pulling Eli out of his focus. He didn't flinch, didn't pause in his training, but his mind instantly sharpened. He recognized the sound of that door. The guards were coming to get him. He stopped his push-ups, his chest heaving with exertion, and wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand. Slowly, he stood, his eyes never leaving the door as two guards stepped into the room, flanking him.

"You're needed in the control room, Carter," one of them said gruffly.

"Am I being executed?" Eli's voice was calm, almost sarcastic, as he made his way toward them.

The guards exchanged an unreadable look but said nothing. They didn't need to answer. Eli knew better than anyone how expendable he was to the Ark's ruling class. But they would need him for something, at least for now.

He followed them down the narrow hallways of the prison, his boots tapping lightly against the metal floor. As they moved through the Ark's sterile corridors, Eli's thoughts drifted. He had always known that his strength wasn't just the product of hard work. It was something innate—something that set him apart from everyone else. His body had evolved in a way that was beyond the human norm. He had tested his limits in the prison, and now, as he neared the end of his sentence, he had no regrets. His past actions—his decision to expose the flaws in the Ark's system—were simply a necessary sacrifice. The Ark was dying, and he had been the only one willing to see it.

He had no fear of what was to come. His only concern now was the future—and the future was on the ground.

The guards led him into a large, sterile room, its walls lined with blinking monitors and complex technology. He didn't flinch at the sight of the officials who sat behind the control panels. His expression remained impassive as they beckoned him forward.

One of them, a man Eli didn't recognize, looked up from a screen. "Carter, we have a job for you."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "And what is it? Delivering the truth again?"

The man didn't smile. "We're sending you to Earth. You'll be joining a group of 100 delinquents. Your task is to lead them, keep them in line. You'll be the one they look to for direction. We need you down there, Carter."

Eli's jaw tightened. "Why me? Why now?"

"Because you're the only one who's capable of surviving down there. And the Ark doesn't have any more time to waste. You'll be part of the first wave, a test. Do well, and you might have a chance to prove your worth beyond this prison."

Eli didn't need any more explanation. He nodded silently. There was nothing left for him in the Ark anyway. Down on Earth, he would find something else—something better.