The room was cold, not just in the temperature of the room but the overall appearance. Everything was stone, the bed, the walls; the only real freedom you had was the small window in the ceiling. Mine was at the moment facing Mars. I had spent the past three weeks in this cell staring up through that window watching the stars.
I shouldn't even be in this cell; I'm twenty-one years old. I should have been floated for what I did but instead they are deciding my fate. I'm really not entirely sure what's worse. Knowing that my life needed discussing or the fact that I could still potentially be tossed out into space. Not that being floated is a horrible fate; I wouldn't feel pain for too long. Sure the fear alone would probably kill me, but that still seems more pleasant than waiting to hear what the council plans on doing with me.
The key tones to the cell door began to chime causing me to stand up and move backwards till my back was flushed right against the wall. I watched as one of the guards walked in followed by my old boss Abby. Pushing my hair out of my face and behind my ear I slouched slightly against the wall.
"Rayne. How are you? Everything ok?" She actually had the audacity to act as if she never turned me in?
"Peachy. I take it this visit means you have all come to a conclusion?"
Abby sighed, clearly upset by the fact that I was no longer happy with her. She used to be like a mother to me. Clarke a sister, and Jake like a dad. When I was twelve my parents had found out through Jake about the oxygen levels in the Ark depleting and tried to spread word. That got them floated only days after Jake.
I had no one after that. Abby let me live with her and Clarke; I even worked in the medical wing. Healing. That's what they had me doing, healing people who were going to die. It was inevitable that they would if the oxygen is depleting, it only means that we will all die slowly. What did I do to get in here?
I gave medicine to a sick child, apparently that is treason and punishable of death. Death. For doing my job, figures that'd be the reason I'd be going down.
"Rayne." Kane's voice rang in my ears. I looked up from my feet to realize that I was no longer in the cell but in the Council room.
"Kane; my most absolute favorite person ever."
The smirk that was growing on his lips only made me want to punch it off his face. "We have an offer we want to make you." He began. "Accept and complete said offer you will be absolved of all your crimes against the people of the Ark."
I cocked my head to the side; "What is this offer?" I asked.
"We are sending the one hundred delinquents to Earth. We need to see if the Earth is safe enough to send the rest of the Ark's population down. We believe it is now time for us to return home." He continued.
"You mean you all finally believe Jake?" I asked gaining a stern look from Abby.
"I take it their going to need a medic and that's why I'm being sent down?"
"Rayne." Abby's calming tone came to my ears, as she walked towards me placing her hands on my shoulder. "I need you to watch Clarke. We know the other children going down with her will not be as likely to keep to the rules we give them, we need you to keep in contact with us if all else fails."
"I'll watch Clarke. When do I leave?" I asked.
"Now." Kane said as they lead me back to my old home to prepare for departure of the Ark. I walked into the place I had called home, Abby told me I had exactly an hour to shower and get dressed to go to the drop ship.
Stepping into the shower I turned on the hot water letting it fall onto me from above my head, drenching me entirely as I washed my hair for what would probably be the last time in a long time. Once stepping the shower and drying off my body I slipped into a pair of boy shorts and a sports bra. Looking up from the sink, I whipped the mirror clear. My shoulder length red hair was dampened.
"I hate the color green." I commented to myself. My green eyes always reminded me of my mother. I hated that she chose to follow my dad into being condemned over staying with me. In the same breath I missed her and loved her with all my heart. She chose to protect everyone on the Ark.
I pulled on a black halter-top on over top of my bra, sitting down on my bed I put on my blue skinny jeans. Walking over to my closet I grabbed a white tunic putting it on next. I pulled my green beanie on my head before kneeling to the ground and pulling the box from under my bed. Taking out the only two items I had left of my parents. Pulling out my father's red and black plaid shirt I smiled.
I put the shirt on over top of my tunic before turning my attention back to the box taking out my mothers jean vest. Putting it on over my dad's shirt. I sat back down on my bed putting on a pair of socks and leg warmers overtop of those. Before putting my dark green combat boots on, it was the only clothes I owned but you never know what the Earth is supposed to be like. I then walked towards the door grabbing my jacket pulling it on before making my way back to where Abby told me the drop ship would be.
"Abby." I greeted her.
"I have to put this on you to monitor your vitals while you are down there. Don't take it off Rayne; it's the only way we will know what the conditions of Earth are like. They all have them on." She said as they put a type of bracelet on my wrist. Needless to say it hurt like hell.
A guard then took me roughly by the arm and pulled me onto the drop ship not before Abby stopped him. "Rayne, any medical supplies you will need are in a lock box. The code to get in will be your fingerprint and yours alone. Good luck. And please keep an eye on Clarke you're all she's going to have down there." I just nodded as the man pushed me into the drop ship and began to put me into a seat before locking me into place.
I was welcomed into the ship by the screaming and cries of one hundred youths. None of which knew what was going on, they must have just assumed this was a cleansing and that they where all being condemned and killed off. Soon I could feel the harsh jolt letting me know we had been dropped from the Ark and where now in a direct free fall down to Earth.
I heard a screen turn on and shakily tell everyone what was going on. I couldn't find enough of it in me to care about what he was saying. That man killed both my parents for trying to protect the human race. They wanted me to help them. Tough; I would do anything but help them. Sending me here was setting me free. I would keep my promise to watch over Clarke. She was like a younger sister to me; I felt the need to keep her safe. I shut my eyes hearing all the kids around me talking and laughing. Till there was screaming and crying. Then; then there was silence.
Opening my eyes, I realized what that silence meant. No machine hum, no whirling from the oxygen stabilizers, No chancellor Jaha talking over the screen. I undid the belt that was strapping me down and followed most of the young kids towards a massive door as many more began to come down from the second compartment.
In front of me was a guard; I don't remember Abby saying anything about a guard being on the drop ship. He was tall, at least a foot taller than me. I could also be standing on an angle. He had short black hair, and one hell of a piercing gaze.
He and another young guy where trying to open the door. When I heard Clarke's voice yelling from behind me. "The air could be toxic!" She scolded. The man who was in front of me in the uniform turned more so that I could see his face. His black hair was brushed back, his face covered in freckles. I would be lying if I said he wasn't absolutely gorgeous.
"If the air is toxic, we're all dead anyway." His cool voice snaked over each word.
Clarke was coming closer about to say something again when a girl in the back cut her off. "Bellamy?" a soft voice questioned.
The young girl got closer, her hair was long and deep brown, her smile widen when she saw the man near me. "My god, look how big you are," He said his once cold voice now warm and inviting. This must be Octavia Blake, the young girl whose mother was floated for simply giving birth to her. I remembered that day; they found her under the floor and immediately put her away for being born. Stupid punishment if you asked me.
She had wrapped her arms around the guy's neck pulling him into a hug. "What the hell are you wearing? A guard's uniform?" She asked him with a slight smirk.
"I borrowed it to get onto the drop ship," He replied to her. "Someone has got to keep an eye on you." She gave him another hug as Clarke interrupted their reunion.
"Where's your wrist band." She snapped. Typical Clarke, just like her mother. Snappy and to the point.
"Do you mind? I haven't seen my brother in a year." Octavia said moving away from her brother.
"No one has a brother," Someone said from behind them.
"That's Octavia Blake, the girl they found in the floor." A girl said with a laugh.
Octavia who was more then upset by the comments being directed at her went to lunge at the girl who was standing a few feet from me, lucky for her. Bellamy coughed her mid jump; "Octavia, Octavia no." he began. "Lets give them something else to remember you by." He said.
"Yea, like what?" She snapped.
He just smirked at her, "Like being the first person on the ground in one hundred years."
The girl smiled as Clarke noticed me; "Rayne…" she said causing Octavia and Bellamy to take notice of me.
"Long time Clarke." I said softly.
"How… how are you on the drop ship…" She began to ask.
"Not important right now. What is important, is giving this girly here something to put to her name. Being known for being under a floor isn't as exciting as being the first to touch the ground. Is it?" I said looking at Octavia who had a grin on her face. "Exactly." She said as they pressed the button causing the door so slowly lower before being solid on the ground.
It was bright, brighter than any florescent light I'd ever had to use. Everything was so over grown, the trees where taller than I'd ever imagined them to be, covered in thick green moss growing up the trunks and all over the fallen trees. They're where many large green plants growing up from the ground. There was a thick musky scent, which I only assumed to be what the smell of a forest to be. I instantly turned my attention to Octavia who was hesitantly walking towards the edge of the ramp before taking a light leap off the bottom.
She took a few more steps forwards clearly taking in her surroundings, she looked so happy when she finally turned back to face us all before immediately turning back in her original direction and shouting on the top of her lungs. "We're back bitches!"
Everyone then began to push and run to get out of the drop ship to check out the surroundings for themselves. I too walked out and made my way towards a tree stump. Sitting on it looking all around me, only to see Clarke and Wells making their way towards me. Why was Wells here, did I even want to know?
"Why are you here Rayne." Clarke snapped at me crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's been great seeing you again too Clarke. You know it's only been a year since the last time we even spoke but thanks for asking how I've been. I have been really great actually, how about you?" I said my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You know Clarke," I continued. "Asking politely will get you much farther than being a spoilt brat about shit. Obviously I'm here for a reason. I'm a medic; you're all on a planet we know nothing about. People could get hurt. You do the math with that one, Wells you're dads apiece of shit. No offence." I said as I walked off.
Even if I promised to keep her safe; doesn't mean I have to put up with bull shit like that. I guess even though I hated green, I would probably need to get used to it considering it is literally everywhere you look down here.
"Hey thanks for that back there." I heard a soft voice come from in front of me. I lifted my head to see Octavia standing in front of me with a wide grin on her face.
"No need to thank me. I was just being human." I told her as her brother began to walk towards us. I heard a loud distinct sigh come from Octavia's mouth causing me to smirk slightly.
"Was that girl your sister?" Octavia asked once her brother was standing next to her.
"Clarke?" I asked causing her to nod her head.
"No; when my… " I paused. "She is well she's just someone I happen to know." I told her granting a look from her and a shifted expression from her brother.
"She seemed shocked to see you." I nodded turning slightly to see Clarke and Wells getting themselves into trouble. "That's one way you could put it I guess. Clarke and I have a weird relationship. Should one of us stop them?" I asked her brother as another boy intervened for us.
Finn. I remember him too; the 'space walker' is what everyone was calling him. The three of us began to walk towards them as we heard them discussing how they needed to go to Mount Weather.
"We're on the ground." Bellamy said once we'd gotten close enough. "Or is that not good enough for you?" He asked them.
A crowed started to grow around us as Clarke and Wells looked at me. Clarke her face full of disgust as to whom I was standing with and Wells was more a face of caution. "We need to find Mount Weather." He said, "You heard my father's message. That has to be our first priority."
"Screw your father." Octavia shouted. She took the words right out of my mouth. In all honesty, His dad was the reason I no longer had a family.
"What, you think you're in charge here, you and your little princess?" She finished saying. Clarke just rolled her eyes; "Do you think we care who's in charge?" She said. I sighed looking over at Bellamy who just lowered his head shaking it before tossing it back.
"We need to get to Mount Weather, not because the Chancellor said so, but because the longer we wait, the hungrier we'll get, and the harder this'll be." Clarke finished. "How long do you think we'll last without those supplies?" She continued. Bellamy just shrugged, "It's at least a twenty mile trek from this location Clarke that's if we're even in the right mountain scape." I told her.
"So if we want to get there before dark we'd have to leave now." She snapped at me. "Chill." I said to her.
Bellamy took a deep breath before smirking at me. "I've got a better idea," He started saying, "You two go, find it for us. Let the privileged do the hard work for a change." He said.
How did he know I wasn't amongst the privileged on the Ark? Did he know who I was? Did he know about my parents or was he just being nice to me because I was nice to his sister.
"You're not listening," Wells began to say, "We all need to go."
I sighed as they all began to continue bickering, I walked away I didn't need a bigger headache than I already had. When I got back to the drop ship I sat on the ramp and watched as Clarke and Finn began to leave followed by a pair of boys and Octavia. I looked back down to my feet, how was I supposed to make myself useful to these kids. All I knew was basic medicine and even then I have no idea if that's useful to the things out here.
Looking back up I saw Bellamy standing in front of me along side him where two other guys. "We need to talk." He said to me as he held his hand out to help me off the ground.
"Normally those words never lead to anything good." I mumbled to myself causing him to chuckle softly as we entered the drop ship.