Utterly For Not {B.B}

Hearing

The guard and I walked for about five more minutes before arriving at the doorway of the council room, where two more guards stood at each side of the doorway. The guard who had escorted me gave them a nod and they then opened the door. As I entered, the figures of the council became clear. However, only the Chancellor Jaha, Councilman Kane, and Councilwoman Griffin were seated at the table.

Once they noticed my arrival they stand from their seats and look at me. The guard positions me where to stand before looking back at the council. I stand tall as I look right at Jaha.

"Chancellor," I begin respectively, "you called?"

"Yes, Lauralie we did." Jaha then looks at my restraints and then the guard, "Those aren't necessary, if you will." The guard approaches me and grabs the bridge of the cuffs, lifting my hands with it. He takes out a key card and swipes it over the small screen on the top. I hear my cuffs make a sound before unlatching from my wrists and falling to the floor. I rub my wrists at the irritation and look back again at the guard. "Thank you." I say gratefully.

The guard simply nods and proceeds to leave the room, only leaving the council and myself.

The chamber fills with silence. Jaha looks at me and begins to speak. "Lauralie Hughes, you have committed the crime of assault against a guard of the Ark with no explanation as to why. You are well aware of the punishment of anyone who commits a crime on the Ark. We simply cannot afford to tolerate this kind of behavior from you, especially at your elevated status as Mr. Sinclair's first protégé."

I let out a shaky breath before I reply,
"Yes sir, I am well aware of the punishment and I am prepared to receive it." I had turned nineteen only a few weeks ago, so I was more than qualified to be floated for what I had done. "You know more than most that I have no relatives to see me off, so when will I be floated?"

Silence surfaces yet again before Kane speaks up. "We aren't going to float you."

His words hit me like a meteor shower. I looked at him ridiculously and my voice shook as I attempted to reply. "What do you mean? Any adult who commits a crime, no matter the severity, is sentenced to death. What makes me any different from anyone else?!"

People have committed lesser crimes compared to mine and they were still floated. First I was filed with relief at the fact I wasn't going to die, but then it was quickly replaced by confusion and anger. What was so important that made me an exception?

"As I have said before," Jaha began again, "Sinclair has brought a fact to my attention that is saving your life. When Sinclair was to retire, you were to take his place at the head of his department. Every single one of your reports is spotless, never a single flaw in your work. Frankly, killing you might be putting the Ark in danger as well."

"So I get off scot-free but the next sorry son of a bitch who steals food for his family gets executed? I'll take my chances outside." I sneered. They needed me because without me, they might die to.

"Sounds pretty ungrateful for the people who just saved your life." Kane scoffed. "You are probably the only human on the Ark who is given this chance and you'll just throw it away?"

"Unlike you Councilman, I will die with my people. I will never be the one who stands on the other side of that airlock, especially when I've done just as worse as they have."

"Alright, let's settle down," Abby had spoken up for the first time, "Lauralie, we aren't killing you, but you can't just go back to your job like nothing happened."

I looked at her questionably. "Then what happens then?"

"You will be stripped of your department title and be demoted to custodial worker. Your knowledge may prove useful tomorrow, but today Sinclair is still here." Jaha replied.

I couldn't help but feel relieved that my life was being spared, but it still felt wrong. While others were executed for their crimes, I would get to live. I felt as if I was betraying my own people. I clenched my fists and looked at my feet, the entire situation making my head dizzy.

"Lauralie," Abby began, "I know this will be difficult for you, but we have to think about the Ark's future. You know I wouldn't have put this on you unless it was absolutely necessary."

I let my hands undo themselves and look back up to Jaha, Kane, and Abby. Fixing my composure, I walk towards Chancellor Jaha and stiffly hold out my hand.

"You have a deal."

{First chapter done! I hope you all enjoyed and more is soon to come. Much love, Zeller}