The So Called 'Rebel'

One~ Don't be Scared

I’ve been imprisoned for what I think is eight months to my calculations. My eighteenth birthday is in six days, so I’ll basically be gone soon. Some people probably lose count of the days they’ve been locked up. But I’ve been counting them. And in six days I’m bound to be out of here. I’d prefer it better if I could just stay locked up forever. But in this society any crime is punished by death, unless you’re under the age of eighteen.
 Or maybe my execution could be now. I hear faint voices of guards just outside my cell. I felt a rush of panic going through my body. I was clenching my hands in fists with frustration. I didn’t only feel panic, I also felt anger. They really couldn’t wait at least another five or four more days to float me? Or at least wait till the day I actually turned eighteen?
 Then the door burst open. Two guards walked in. One with his head down, holding a case of these silver wristbands. He looked familiar. The sight of them didn’t look so comfortable. There were probably a dozen needles in each of those things. They most likely created a new form of execution for the young delinquents.
 “Face the wall and hold your right arm out.” Said a familiar deep voice. I know it was a guard, but the voice did sound really familiar. Like someone I’ve known since my childhood.
 “Alexander?” I asked turning around to see. Alexander was my neighbor before I ended up here. He’s two years older than me. I grew up seeing him all my life. I remember him always being nice to me and my parents. “Is that you?” I asked. I do recall him training for a guard. I just never really knew he became one. Last time I saw him he was still a cadet. Well, on his way to being one.
 “Just turn around and hold out your wrist.” Said the other guard. He obviously didn’t sound nice. He was holding a baton in his hand. By the look on his face he was just waiting for the moment to come to be able to use it.
 I followed the orders and held out my wrist. From the corner of my eye I saw Alexander grabbing one of those wristbands from the case. I didn’t notice it was Alexander when they first walked in.
 “I’m still not eighteen. I’m not supposed to be executed yet.” I said more sharply than I meant to sound. Now I hope I wasn’t going to get executed. Or hit with the baton.
 “I’ll take it from here,” said Alexander to the other guard. “Just wait outside.” And the guard followed his orders without arguing. He looked up and nodded at me as a greeting. “You’re not being executed.” He said holding my right hand in his. His grip was gentle. Now that I remember he was a softy. Wonder how he ended up wanting to be a guard in the first place.
 “Then what’s with the wristbands with the dozen needles?” I asked. “It sure seems to shout ‘execution’ to me.” He took a deep breath and tightened his grip on my hand. He was on one knee in front of me. It looked like he was about to ask me to be his wife.
 He lifted my hand and put it under his chin. “Mirna, a hundred of you are being sent to earth.” He said. It all sounded ridiculous to me. Nobody’s left the Ark in ninety-seven years. And the earth isn’t supposed to be livable for another hundred years.  
 “Okay, put that bracelet thing on me while I process it through my mind.” I said taking a deep breath of air and letting it process.
 The reason why I’m locked up is for hacking into the Ark’s system and nearly hijacking a council meeting― which by the way I wasn’t aware of. But I do recall seeing something about a mission to earth. I just didn’t know who was going to be a part of it. But it looks like it was going to be us. The juvenile delinquents. It does make sense. The council is more likely waiting for the day of our execution. If we get sent to earth and instantly die the moment we get there it wouldn’t really matter to them. As I said, they’re just waiting to execute us.
 But either way, looks like I’m going to earth.
▫➖➖➖▫
After going through the pain of getting the god-damned wristband on me I was escorted by Alexander to the ship. There were loads of teenagers around my age boarding on the ship. Alexander explained to me on the way there that nobody else knew about the council’s decision on sending us prisoners to earth. That meant my parents didn’t have any clue about what was about to happen to me. Something I didn’t really liked. They were and most likely still very protective of me. I might have been taken away from them, but they’ll always be protective of me. I just know it. And Alexander told me they still are.
 I was standing at the entrance of the ship with Alexander. Once I stepped foot in that ship I couldn’t go back. Or really had a choice.
 “When everyone finds out about this― because trust me they will,” I said raising an eyebrow. “Please tell my parents I love them.” I said. I felt a tear coming out of the corner of my eye. I hated the thought that I might never see my parents again. The two people that would sacrifice anything for me.
 “I will. I promise.” He said feeling my sentiment. “Now, go see what’s waiting down there.” He said playfully hitting my shoulder.
 With that I boarded on. I quickly rushed over to the first seat I saw empty. Most of the people had already settled. I saw quite a few familiar faces as I was making my way towards the seat.
 It was weird to me how we had to sit on the second floor of the ship. It isn’t something most people wouldn’t really notice.
 I quickly noticed a familiar Asian kid on the side next to a kid wearing goggles. Monty. A partner of mine when I studying technology. And the place I was going to sit in was right beside him.
 Although he was always better at it than me, he’d always say I was better at hacking. Which I hate to say was right. Now that I think of it I’ve always been more of an artistic or literary person. I don’t know how I ended up studying to be a technician, I could’ve easily been a literary teacher.
 “Should I be surprised to see you here?” I sarcastically asked. I knew he had some moonshine thing going on. At least I think. Goggles was probably his partner, I assume.
 “At least I didn’t hijack a council meeting.” He responded back with a smirk.
 “Hey,” I said defending myself. “For starters, I didn’t hijack a meeting. And second, I wasn’t aware I was about to hijack one.” I said as I was buckling myself in the seat. He was standing against the wall in front of me― obviously buckled. Some people were standing. Most were sitting. There were only a couple people against the wall.
 The moment after I buckled myself the ship started to launch. I can just imagine the reactions of people on the Ark if they saw this. And trust me, I bet people saw.
 I closed my eyes to keep myself calm. I griped my hands on the handles of the seat. All I could feel was the vibrations the ship was making as it dropped. The laughter of all the others that were on board filled my ears. There was one laugh that stood out particularly.
 I opened my eyes and started looking around. I swear to god I know that laugh. One of a friend.
 “Hannah?!” I shouted. I was turning my head all over the place. I haven’t seen her ever since I got locked up.
 Everyone was screaming around me. Which obviously got me more worried. And to top that the whole ship was shaking dangerously. There had to be a malfunction.
 “What’s happening?!” I shouted at Monty. I could feel the concern look on my face.
 “Spacewalker decided to strike again. This time with two followers.” He smirked.
 “Idiots,” I muttered to myself. “We’re most likely going to land soon, are we?” I asked directing to Monty and his friend.
 “Probably―” Monty’s friend was cut off by a sudden crash. The ship landed.
 “Well, right on cue,” I laughed. Suddenly everyone around me started to unbuckle themselves from their seats. I was quick to unbuckle myself. I wanted to see what earth looked like. But most importantly to find Hannah.
 I darted straight to the ladder thing that would lead me to the main floor of the dropship so I could exit.
 Climbing down the ladder the thought of how slow everyone else was ticked me off. If they expect us to survive down here the really did choose the wrong people.
 I finally got to the bottom of the ladder. I jumped off with a sigh of happiness. But was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
 "Who's there?" I asked sounding more scared than I intended to. I turned around trying to find where the sound came from.
 I suddenly felt a hand wrap around my wrist. I jumped and let out a quiet scream. Loud enough that nobody in the other two levels would be able to hear.
 "Don't be scared. I don't mean any harm." I turned around to be greeted by a male with a pair of gorgeous brown eyes. I slightly backed away and started to study his features. He also had thick dark brown hair, and a light dusting of freckles on his face.   
 I felt a click with him. Sometimes when you meet someone for the very first time there's a click. I don't believe in love at first sight but i do believe in that click. And that click was happening right now as I look at him.
 "I'm Bellamy," he said extending his hand out for me to shake it. "And you are..?"
 "Mirna," I replied taking his hand.
 Bellamy. That's his name. Bellamy.