384 days. That's how long I have been stuck in this stupid cell that I don't belong in. I'm sorry, where are my manners? It's almost as if I've been locked in isolation for the past year and nineteen days. Let me give you some background.
My name is Clarke Griffin. Yes, that Clarke Griffin. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, so let me answer the ones I can. I am locked up in the Skybox because I know things. At least I wasn't floated for it, like my dad. Jake Griffin learned that the Ark is running out of oxygen, and he tried to warn the rest of the Ark. Even though he didn't want me to because it was dangerous, I promised to help him. He was making a video message with me behind the camera when guards came storming in, the chancellor behind them. They grabbed my dad and smashed the camera. I tried to stop them but the chancellor held me back. Apparently my dad's best friend, Thelonious Jaha, learned of his plans and warned the council. My dad was arrested and floated two days later. I was placed in isolation at the age of sixteen for knowing too much. I have a few more weeks until I turn eighteen and get floated myself. That's pretty much all you need to know about me.
Oh, and one more thing. The chancellor is my mother, Abigail Griffin.
If you're reading this, it's because I'm
The piece of charcoal in my hand smashes into dust as I use up the last bit of this charcoal stick.
"Damn it." I breathe, wiping my hands on my pants. Before I can pull up my mattress to reveal my stash, I hear heavy footsteps outside of my cell. Guards. Why are they here? It's not dinner time yet. And there seem to be more than usual. The door opens and two guards armed with shock batons enter, the echo of their boots loud in my usually silent cell.
"Prisoner 319, face the wall." The taller guard says sternly. I stand up but don't follow the rest of his instructions. "Prisoner 319–" The guard starts again, but I cut him off.
"What's going on? It's not my time yet. I still have two more weeks." I take a step back as the guard approaches me. "Please." I beg as he shoves me against the wall. I try to fight him, but he presses my face against the cool metal. I open my mouth to speak, but someone beats me to it.
"Clarke." I freeze at the familiar voice saying my name. I turn around slowly, the guard holding my arm tightly. He looks between me and the source of the voice warily, waiting for instructions. I clench my fists at the sight of the wide grin on her face. "Clarke." She says again, this time in greeting, as if she hadn't locked her own daughter up for more than a year.
"Chancellor Griffin." I meet my mother's gaze, struggling to keep my voice steady. If she's hurt by my formal interaction she doesn't show it. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" She shakes her head sadly at my tone, taking a step forwards. I flinch, and the guard tightens his grip on my arm. My mother raises her hand, and the guard releases me, taking a step back. I cross my arms expectantly.
"We're saving you, Clarke. You and 99 other prisoners. We're sending you to the ground, to earth." She speaks quickly so I can't interrupt. I just laugh at her. I can't believe this.
"You're not saving me, you're sending us to our death." I glare at my mother, thinking about the reasoning behind this decision. Then it hits me. "The Ark is dying, isn't it? Dad was right. There really is something wrong with the oxygen, and no one can fix it. So you're sending juvenile delinquents, your own daughter, to a radiation soaked planet so that you can live!" I feel my face get redder as my voice gets louder. I take a step forwards, and before I can say anything else I feel a sharp prick on the back of my shoulder. I turn to see one of the guards holding a tranquilizer gun. I turn back to my mom just as I begin to fall forwards, unable to control my body. She catches me easily, holding me tightly to her chest. I want to move away, not wanting help from her, but I can't move. The last thing I hear before everything goes black is my mom's voice.
"This is for your own good, Clarke. You're a leader, they need you." She uses her fingertips to close my eyelids.
I wake up with a jolt. Everything around me is shaking. My eyes scan my surroundings quickly. Canvas rope holds me into a metal chair. Other kids are in the same situation. Some are talking and laughing, while others are looking around nervously. Some are unconscious like I was, probably having put up a good fight. I realize the ship we're in is already hurtling down to earth. A large screen in front of me lights up, and my mother's face appears. I don't pay attention to what she's saying; I'm too busy thinking about what will happen once we reach the ground.
"Fucking bitch!" Someone yells. People around me laugh. I can feel my face reddening.
"That means you too." I look up to see a boy with dark hair past his chin floating in front of me. I ignore his insult. He smiles, continuing. "Looks like your mom floated me after all."
"What are you doing? Go back to your seat before you die!" I reprimand, glaring at him. He only smirks.
"What's wrong, Traitor? Scared I'm going to die the same way your dad did?" He does a backflip in the air, earning a few hollers from nearby kids. I shake my head.
"I don't care if you die, Spacewalker." His smile grows.
"My name's Finn, but I like Spacewalker." He does another flip. Suddenly the drop ship shakes violently, sending Finn crashing into the ceiling.
"Finn!" I yell. "Finn, are you alright?" He floats down slowly, obviously trying to hide his pain.
"So you do care about me after all." I roll my eyes as he goes back to his seat, high fiving his friends. The shaking is growing, and I can feel my teeth vibrating. I look around to see some kids squeezing their eyes shut in fear. Maybe mom's right, I think. Maybe I can be a leader. There's one final jolt before complete stillness.
"Listen. No machine hum." A boy across from me says.
"That's a first." His friend says. People begin to unbuckle their seat belts, standing on wobbly legs.
"The outer door is on the lower level. Let's go!" Everyone starts crowding their way down the ladder. I try to push past them
"No. We can't just open the doors." I make my way to the door, where there's a boy who looks older wearing a guard's uniform.
"Hey, back it up, guys." The boy says, obviously trying to take control. I go up to him.
"The air could be toxic." He shakes his head. I see Finn pushing through the crowd, coming to stand next to this older boy.
"The mini Chancellor here seems to think she's in charge." Before I can open my mouth to argue, I hear a small voice behind me.
"Bellamy?" A girl my age steps out of the crowd, running up to the curly haired guard, who's apparently named Bellamy.
"My god, look how big you are." Bellamy says, grinning at the girl. She looks him up and down.
"What the hell are you wearing? A guards uniform?" So maybe Bellamy isn't a guard.
"I borrowed it to get on the drop ship. Someone has to keep an eye on you." He laughs. Whispers begin to circle around that this girl is Octavia Blake, Bellamy's sister.
"No one has a sister." I muse aloud. The girl, Octavia, glares at me. Bellamy puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Let's give them something else to remember you by." He smiles down at his sister who looks at him curiously.
"Yeah? Like what?"
"Like being the first person on the ground in a hundred years." Octavia's eyes light up at this. Bellamy opens the door, and Octavia steps out onto the ground. Everyone is watching her. She inhales deeply and then exhales. Nothing happens. She turns to us with a huge grin on her face then looks up at the sky.
"We're back, bitches!" She yells proudly. Everyone cheers, running out of the drop ship. I let go of a breath I didn't know I was holding. Even though I was at the front of the crowd, I am the last out of the drop ship. I look up at the tall trees, smiling as fresh air hits me, the sound of kids cheering all around me. I hear someone next to me and I look down. Bellamy is looking at me curiously.
"So you're Chancellor Griffin's daughter?" He asks. I look at him suspiciously.
"Yeah," I say, crossing my arms, "what about it?"
"I think you know." Before I can respond, I feel something hard hit the back of my head. I crumple to the ground. The last thing I see are Bellamy's boots as he nudges my head with his boot. I close my eyes, letting the pain take over.