WARZONE | BLAKE

[001] welcome to earth

2 years ago, I picked up the gun that had killed my father and used it to shoot the man who had shot him. 2 years ago, I was locked away into confinement due to being considered unsafe to the other prisoners, and had to hear the news my mom had been floated from a family friend, Marcus Kane. 2 years ago, my life ended. Today it begins again.

I sat on the floor, in the corner of my cell room, my knees bent and my arms laying upon them. I wasn't sure how long I had left here, but I knew it was only a few months. On the Ark, if you commit a crime, even as small as theft, you get floated for it. However, if you are under the age of 18 you get to live- that is of course until your 18th birthday where you'll be put on trial and it's decided whether you live or die there. Almost every single 18 year old put on trial gets floated, especially ones with crimes as harsh as mine.

If this were a few years ago, Kane would probably be able to convince the council not to have me floated, as I acted on pain, and the man did murder a member of the council in cold blood. Also the fact that it was 2 years ago, and I was only young would have helped my case. However, now that the Ark is running out of resources and oxygen, there is no saving me. Killing me could save hundreds of others who haven't done anything wrong.

So here I sat, knowing nothing but these 4 walls. Isolated.

Suddenly the cell doors opened, forcing me to rise to my feet. I furrow my eyebrows. I have no concept of the time, but I do know for a fact it isn't time for food.

I watch as three armed guards hurry into my cell, pointing their guns in my direction and I immediately raise my hands in total surrender. What the hell is going on? Am I being floated early? Have the laws changed since I've been here? They can't have, Kane would have warned me.

"Prisoner 3-1-7 face the wall!" They announce, and I hesitantly obey, slowly turning to face the wall, worried about what will happen next.

I feel a large hand grab onto my wrist, shivering against their touch, having not have been this close to anyone in years. I wince as a metallic cuff bites into my skin. "What the hell is this? I want to speak to Kane! Let me speak to Kane, please." I beg, as the guard turns me around and begins to lead me out my cell.

I furrow my eyebrows as I look around, noticing multiple prisoners being taking out of their cells and led in the same direction I am being taken. It's weird being outside of my cell. It would be nice to be able to enjoy no longer being in a small cramped cell anymore, only it's quite hard to do that when you and multiple others appear to be on your way to being floated.

The guards finally let me go and order me to follow the crowd of other teenagers. I furrow my eyebrows at this but obey. Is this some sort of mass execution? Something like this has never been done before, but considering our oxygen levels, I wouldn't be surprised.

As I near the end of the crowd, my eyes widen as I spot Kane stood next to Councillor Abby Griffin and my heart stops along with the rest of my body. I haven't seen him for 2 years, and right now, he's the closest thing I have to family. I don't know what takes over me but I find myself running toward him and wrapping my short arms around him, trying to hold back the tears trying to escape from my eyes.

"Kane? What's going on? Please tell me what's going on." I ask him after I let go. "You're going to ground, Ariel. You and 99 other prisoners." He softly smiles at me, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Wh- What? No we can't, it isn't survivable yet, we'll die!"