Survival ✘ Bellamy Blake

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0. | THE PROLOUGE

Shit.

Ryan was never fond of taking people's advice nor was he one to listen even if he knew you were right. It was a troublesome trait that passed on from his family to him and usually got him caught in bad situations. It was a miracle he hadn't been floated yet, though what he was doing right now might finally be the straw that broke the camels back as he swiftly maneuvered through the Ark's dimly lit corridors, an excuse already pre-planned in his head if there happened to be a guard on patrol but thankfully he had seen none so that definitely made what he was doing a lot easier.

And why was he sneaking through the Ark at the ungodly hours of the night? To make possibly the worst decision in his life. He was going to get his niece to earth.

"We're sending the hundred to earth."

"Wait, what?"

Ryan's eyes followed his brother as he paced back and forth. He wasn't sure what shocked him more, the fact that the council was sending a bunch of kids to a radiated wasteland or the fact that he didn't know the council was sending a bunch of kids to a radiated wasteland.

"What about Raina?" He asked, leaning over the table to see his older brother's reaction in his face. Marcus only shook his head and finally met his curious stare. "I got Jaha to let her stay. We both know earth isn't survivable - "

"What? So she can sit in that cell for the next two months until the council decides to float her?" Marcus visibly winced at his words. "Earth could be a second chance for her."

"Earth would just be an earlier death sentence." He finally stopped pacing and sat in the chair across from him. "With a hundred criminals gone, she'd have a better chance at her case being reviewed."

Ryan shook his head as he stared at his brother with utter disbelief. "You can't be serious."  He scoffed. The Ark hasn't reviewed a case in ninety seven years, what made him think they'd start now?

"I am not sending my daughter to a toxic wasteland." Marcus shot back sternly as he hardened his stare. "If the kids survive, we'll take the next ship down with Raina. Until then, we wait."

It wasn't a question but rather a warning. Ryan bit the inside of his cheek and stayed silent because he knew his brother was impossible to convince. Marcus seemed contented with Ryan's reaction and nodded before he stood up, walking past his brother but stopped midway. "This is the right choice, Ryan."

Another nod and Ryan waited for the door to shut before he stood up himself. Maybe his brother had a point but it was obvious what the right choice was and he at least wanted his niece to see earth.

As he rounded a corner, Ryan slipped out his ID chip and slid the card through its slot. He entered his four number code and the little red light above the door flickered and a beep rang. Ryan cringed at how it echoed down the corridor but knew the chances of anyone down this hall at this time was unlikely. He waited for the door to open then went in and marched down until he reached his niece's cell.

Now he took out his ID chip again. He knew if they reviewed the previous log of who entered, they'd see he had visited her cell at the dead of night and probably question it, but he didn't care. By then, she'd already be on earth and what happened had already happened.

As the ring sounded, indicating he could opened the door, Ryan drew in a breath. He couldn't turn back now. Even if there was a little bit of doubt in his mind about the radiation risk. He knew Marcus was pushing the inevitable fact and this could be her only chance.

Ryan's hand wrapped around the door handle and he twisted it slowly, then peered in through the gap and closed the door behind him. He finally turned to Raina as she sat criss cross on the floor with her hair tied up in a red ribbon and only lifted her head when the door opened. Her confused widened eyes met Ryan's and a smile found its way onto his face.

"You wanna see earth, kid?"