The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 1

"Clarke. Clarke, honey wake up."

Someone's shaking my shoulder. I groan sleepily and press my face further into my bed. It's hard and uncomfortable and doesn't at all feel like my one at home. I jolt awake when I remember where I am. I flinch away from the hands, pressing myself against the wall. It's dark and I can't see enough to make out anything other than the shape of the person waking me up. Is it time for me to be floated? It can't be. My birthdays not for a few months.

"Clarke?"

I exhale, releasing most of the tension in my body. It's my mother. But for her to risk coming here in the middle of the night... Something must have gone horribly wrong.

"Mom?" I whisper, my voice hoarse from disuse. This past year in solitary hasn't given me much need to talk.

"Yeah, honey it's me. Come with me please." There's urgency in her voice that strikes terror into my heart.

"Ok."

She takes my hand, surprising me with its suddenness. Mom pulls me up, and I wrap my arms around her. I let out a shaky breath. I've missed her.

"We're headed to the Mecha station. Put this on and stay close to me." She murmurs, pulling away slightly.

I take what she hands me. It's a baseball cap. I put it on and follow as she leads me. She taps twice on the door and Jackson opens it. I blink, surprised to see him.

"Thank you, Jackson. Now get out of here so you don't get caught." Mom says.

"Yes ma'am, though I could say the same to you. Stay safe, Abby. And it's nice to see you again, Clarke." He gives me a nod and smiles. "Goodbye."

His words ring of finality and I feel a familiar panic rising in my throat. Why are we going to Mecha station?

I follow her silently out of the Sky Box, taking my first breath of free air in a year. I keep my head down, trying to act normal around the patrolling guards.

When we're in an empty corridor, I ask the question that's been in my mind since I knew it was Abby in my cell. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain everything when we get to Mecha, I promise." Mom responds quietly.

Walking there feels like it takes hours but in reality it might be twenty minutes. Mom flashes her Council card to the card reader and the door to Mecha opens with a hiss.

To my surprise, there's already someone else here. This pretty girl that can't be much older than me with black hair and grease on her clothes.

"Hey, Abby. Is this her?" She wipes her hands on her pants.

"Yes. Clarke, this is Raven." Mom gestures to her but I'm not sure why she's here.

"Nice to meet you, Clarke. I'm Raven Reyes, the youngest Zero-G Mechanic in 52 years." She gives me a cocky grin. We shake hands and Raven looks to mom. "Have you told her yet?"

Mom looks almost sheepish. "No."

"Come on, Abby. You broke your daughter out of prison and dragged her here and didn't even explain what's going on?" Raven sighs.

"I was going to tell her when we got here." Mom defends, crossing her arms.

"Really." Raven doesn't look impressed in the least. "Fine, just tell her now before Kane finds out she's gone and storms the Ark looking for her."

"Jaha has been adamant for this past year, blocking all of my attempts to get you pardoned. Now, he's gone further. He's going to float you."

"Mom, that's the entire reason I was in the Sky Box, they were waiting for me to turn 18 so they could float me." I say, confused.

"No honey, he has decided to use his power as chancellor to float you before you turn 18."

"Can he even do that?" I question.

"Apparently." Mom sighs. "That's why I've been working with Raven. She's been refurbishing an escape pod."

"An escape pod?" My eyes widen. "You want to send me to earth?"

"Yes. We're going to be sending 100 delinquents down later."

"If we survive that long." Raven mutters.

"Raven." Mom scolds. "Clarke, I'm sorry but you don't really have a good choice here. Please say you'll go."

I swallow. "Will you be coming down?"

"If it's safe, honey. I love you." She wraps me in her arms and I let a few tears fall, grieving for everything and everyone I'm leaving behind.

I step back after a couple minutes and take a deep breath. "I love you too, mom."

Raven ushers me into the escape pod and tells me what to press when. "Stay safe, Clarke." She says.

She leaves the pod and closes the door behind her. Mom and Raven both get back behind a sealed door so they won't get pulled into space when I'm ready to be launched. I mentally go over everything I have to do in my head and press the button. I'm immediately sucked back towards earth.

Let me know what you think about the story so far and the title (not sure about it)! Thank you for reading and stay awesome!