I ran my hand through my dark hair and sighed, looking at Jack, one of the few friends I had.
“You’re such a baby,” I said.
“No, I’m just not a criminal,” Jack replied.
“They’re hiding something. And hacking into the Ark’s system is the only way we’re gonna find out what’s going on,” I reminded him.
“Well I don’t wanna be put in a holding cell,” Jack said.
“Jack-”
“No. I’m going. Bye Nera,” he left the room and I watched the door close behind him. I shook my head and turned back to the computer, continuing to hack into the Ark’s system. I smiled as I got into the system. But my smile faded when I found out that... the Ark’s... dying. The door burst open and two guards walked in.
“Nera Clarkson, you’re under arrest,” one of them said.
“Oh great,” I sighed as they grabbed me and pulled me out of the room. As they dragged me out of the room I saw Jack and Wells, the chancellor’s son. “You son of a bitch!” I yelled at him. I lunged at him but the guards held me back. “You told them!” The guards had to drag me away from Jack as I continued to yell at him. The guards took me through the halls of the ship. I didn’t even try to struggle, knowing that any resistance was futile.
“Nera?” I recognised that voice. Bellamy. We’d been friends for as long as I could remember.
“Bellamy!” I shouted.
“Nera!” Bellamy followed the guards as they took me away. “What’s going on?” He demanded but the guards ignored him and took me to the holding cells. They threw me into an empty cell and I hit the floor hard. I lifted my head and looked up only to see the door close.
That was the last time I saw Jack. And the last time I saw anybody, except the guards and occasionally Bellamy. He would try to visit me but most times he was told to go away. I’ve been in this cell for two years and three months, according to the numbers on the wall. These have been two of the most boring years of my life. However, it will all end tomorrow, on my 18th birthday, when I will be reviewed, and then they will decide to float me. That’s what happens to criminals on the Ark. If they’re under 18 they’re put in a holding cell. If they’re 18 or over they’re floated. Every crime, no matter how small, is punishable by death here. It’s stupid, but that’s just how it is here. I hate it on the Ark. Every place is the same boring grey colour. It’s dull and lifeless. But I don’t know any different. I’ve read about what Earth used to be like 97 years ago. Before the nuclear apocalypse that forced everyone to live in space stations. There used to be 12 space stations but now there is only one; forged from the 12 that there used to be. We’ve been told that we have to wait at least 100 years until the Earth will be survivable again. But I am stuck in this cell with only my thoughts to keep me company seeing as I’ve never had a cell mate. It’s always just been me. So what have I been doing with my time? Thinking. Well, I’ve been singing as well. I sing the old songs that people listened to before the nuclear apocalypse, they are much better than the rubbish music the Ark tried to play. I hear the door open and I look up seeing two guards walk in.
“Prisoner 314, face the wall,” one of them commands. I stand up and face the back wall.
“You couldn’t wait until tomorrow, could you?” I say, sighing.
“Quiet. Hold out your right arm,” the guard orders. I glance over my shoulder and see him taking a silver wristband out of a box full of them.
YOU ARE READING
The Fight For Survival
FanfictionNera was an ordinary girl with loving parents and a few close friends. She was bright and understanding and was in a lot of top classes on the Ark. But a difficult time ends with her in lock up and eventually an impossible mission to the ground with...
