Second Chance//Bellamy Blake

-1-

Violet Kane lay on her back, sparkling blue eyes glued to the cold metal ceiling while she threw her cellmate's ball up in the air and caught it repeatedly. He had been taken to solitary for the past two days for throwing food at another delinquent in the cafeteria and stirring up a fight. Violet missed him, his presence always brought her comfort.

Violet never really made friends easily, she went through multiple cell mates after she and her best friend Nathan Miller were forced to be separated. The two were great thieves and when working together they were not easily caught. The Sky Box 'Black Market' was practically run by them for a while. Five months after their arrest though the guards caught on and decided enough was enough. They moved Nathan to the other side of the Sky Box, then proceeded to switch their schedules so they never saw each other.

Violet's current cellmate was John Murphy. He was arrested after setting fire to his father's arresting officer's quarters, a crime Violet almost admired him for. While he was arrested for avenging his father she was arrested for theft, how boring. She could have committed any other crime and ended up in the same spot, but theft is what she happened to get caught for.

Murphy didn't understand why Violet had run off so many cellmates before him. She had an attitude and her sarcasm was sometimes harsh but he didn't mind it, honestly, he enjoyed the banter most of the time. She had a habit of humming while she did almost anything, he found it annoying at first but grew unbothered by it eventually and found comfort in hearing it sometimes rather than the constant machine hum of the Ark.

Time was slowly ticking away for the two of them, on the Ark, anyone below the age of 18 is not subjected to capital punishment. Capital punishment is a fancy word the Gaurd uses for execution, most people on the Ark refer to it as "floated". In one week and one day, Violet would see what was on the other side of the metal coffin she's been stuck in her whole life, she'd see the outside for a split second before the air would be sucked from her lungs and her lifeless body would float away into the abyss of space. Johns would be only a week later.

Once you turn 18 in the Sky Box your file gets reviewed and you are either let back into society or you're floated. Violet knew she would get floated, her Father may be on the council but he arrested her and never came to visit. It was clear that he really wouldn't fight for her to live. It bothered her when she was first locked up but she'd settled with it, she was ready for the end. She honestly couldn't picture getting out, she was in training to be a guard and they clearly wouldn't let her continue that, so then what?

Violet's mindless throws were cut to a halt when her cell door slammed open. She stood up fixing her long blonde hair to recognize the guard marching in, Evan Bennett. "Evan, I thought you were coming by early. I've missed you." She stated, flirting with the guard who she was currently seeing. Getting with a guard certainly had its advantages in the Sky Box, Evan and her past flings never stopped showering her with gifts from the outside world.

"I'm flattered Kane, but that's not why I'm here." He stated as he approached her, looked down and searched her eyes for a moment. "You've got a new cellmate for the night." He finished as he ushered another guard in. The guard held onto a girl who looked around the same age as Violet. She was average height, had flaming red hair, and green eyes, and was wearing a black jacket, jeans, blue shirt, and brown boots.

The other guard happened to be Nathan's Father, Violet gave him a weak smile and wave but his face remained stone cold. Presumably, he still held a grudge against her for being a part of his son's arrest. Violet couldn't help but at least try and be kind to him though, she did love Nathan dearly. In any other situation when running into David Miller she would normally ask how Nathan was or what he's been up to but the only thought running through her head now was if she was going to get Murphy back.

Evan uncuffed the girl and turned back to Violet's concerned face. "Don't worry, Murphy will be back tomorrow after he's done serving his last night in solitary," Evan said reading the look on her face. She nodded thankful for the comforting words. 

Evan and Major Miller left swiftly slamming the heavy door behind them. Violet shifted awkwardly hoping this girl would explain why she was there but she didn't. Unable to handle the awkward silence Violet opened her mouth and put her hand out towards the girl. "Violet Kane. and you are..."

"I'm Libia Walker." She stated, shaking hands with Violet. "You're the leader of the Guards' daughter right?" Libia asked intrigued.

Violet hated her father's position, and being a council kid. Everyone knew who you were, kissing up to you as if she had a say in anything the man did. It never felt like she had any true friends as a young kid other than the kids of other council members, and then again they were only friends out of convenience. She was lucky enough to branch out and befriend Nathan and Gina when she joined her cadet group, unlike the other council kids. 

"Yep that's me, boy did my dad love having a thief for a kid." She laughed easing the tension and moving past the topic of her father. "Do you know who's gonna be your cellmate from now on?" She asked attempting to continue the conversation.

"Oh, I'm getting floated tomorrow that's why I'm just here for the night." She replied with a sort of content tone, almost as if she had just accepted her fate with open arms.

"Oh come on they'll review you, you'll probably be fine," Violet replied trying to be optimistic, normally that wasn't her strong suit but she really tried her best.

Libia just shook her head with a smile. "No, I knocked out a guard when they were taking my best friend's stuff to the redistribution center. I'm 'violent' and only a janitor from factory station, so they're not losing much." She explained. "Besides they've been floating everyone lately, even engineers and farmers. Tomorrows my birthday, that's why they can't float me yet." She added.

Violet was shocked by her response and remained silent for a moment collecting her thoughts. Libia cut in before she could reply.

"Sorry, that was a lot to lay on you. - let's talk about something else." She said taking a seat on the lower bunk. "What's your normal cellmate like?" She asked as Violet sat down on the floor, leaning against the wall and facing Libia.

Violet let out a small laugh thinking of Murphy. "He's something, our sarcasm is toxic. You're lucky he's not here tonight. He and I are like brother and sister, we bud heads here and there but he's always got my back and I've always got his." She explained.

"Sounds like you guys were meant to be cellmates." Libia laughed.

Before Violet could respond the lights in the room went out earlier than normal and several aggressive bangs at the door followed before Evan's voice echoed "It's lights out Kane!"

"Fuck you, Bennett!" She shouted back annoyed and now unable to see anything.

"Well in that case...Which beds mine?" Libia asked while suppressing laughter at the encounter she just witnessed.

"Murphy's demanding ass took the top bunk." She stated through the darkness. Libia laughed and crawled up the ladder to the top. Violet made her way to her bed and got comfortable.

"Good night," Libia whispered from above.

"Night," Violet replied before sinking into the darkness.