When she was only 13, Sawyer Mason was young and innocent, with green eyes that were constantly sparkling with either happiness or amusement. Although she was short - matching her mother's height at 5'2, despite her father's impressive 6' stature - her personality made her memorable. Before the so-called "incident," Sawyer was a loving girl. She loved to read, she loved to spend time with her parents, she loved to help other people. She was filled with the love and care she felt for others around her, that her parents instilled in her, knowing from a young age that if one shows you love, and respect, and loyalty, you repay the same. And even if they don't, give it to them anyway. Her parents were very much happily in love, even if they were lifelong residents of Factory. Neither of their jobs paid very much, but they made enough to get by, as the rest of Factory did, and they loved their daughter.

At least, they did.

After the incident, they didn't. They didn't love the Sawyer that was found standing in a pool of blood the day after her 14th birthday. She was immediately arrested without resistance - the guards would disagree with this, stating that they simply wouldn't slam a 14 year old into a metal wall without resistance - and would've been promptly floated if the public hadn't gotten wind that a 14 year old had been arrested. Unfortunately, their illegal actions would've been discovered quickly. While they tried to squander the rumors of the attack with grief for the victims of an "unfortunate accident," her parents were known in Factory, and the Counsel couldn't float her without public outcry of injustice. As per the laws of the Ark, each juvenile was arrested and sent to prison. They were to rot in there until they turn 18, when the Council reviews them to decide whether or not they would be pardoned. However, there was no law that determined when the review process happened. The review was where Sawyer found herself that very afternoon.

Sawyer would never forget standing in the Council Chambers in Alpha. It was the first time she'd ever stepped foot in Alpha without a mop in hand, and even if she cared enough to gawk, the assigned guards were dragging her behind them - quite literally, as there was a short chain attached to her handcuffs, and they were walking quicker than she could ever hope to - with the hopes of concealing what they were doing, and the hopes of concealing her. Others would question why she'd done what she'd done, and they couldn't have that. So there stood in the Council Chambers, feeling at peace. Feeling relieved. It was only hours after she'd killed the guards, and she supposed that most other children were filled with pure terror when they stood before the Council, waiting to be sentenced to death. But Sawyer felt nothing.

Her mother and father were standing hard and straight in the corner, clutching onto each other's hands with tears on both their faces. But their tears weren't for the girl opposite the room from them. Their expressions made their opinions perfectly clear: they despised this Sawyer. They were crying because their Sawyer was already dead, and they were grieving over her. The peppy girl who'd skipped down the hallways and loved life with the naivety of other girls her age. The girl who, every day when they came home, would kiss them on the cheek and ask how their days were, despite knowing that their answers were the same every single day. The one who told them she loved them every single night, so they would never forget. As far as her parents were concerned, their Sawyer was just another body on this Sawyer's conscience. Their Sawyer wouldn't have done this. Their Sawyer would've never killed anybody, much less 3 guards with seemingly no reason. This Sawyer killed their Sawyer.

If they only knew that their Sawyer had died days before then.

"Sawyer Mason, I must say that I am surprised to see you standing here. A small, seemingly innocent girl from the Factory Station, standing before me, awaiting her fate. Only 14, with so much hope left in your life, so much left to do in your life, so much potential squandered," Chancellor Jaha shook his head. His hands were folded on the table in the way that he always had them, which Sawyer found condescending, especially paired with his words. She might've scowled if her face hadn't been frozen. They weren't concerned about a small girl from Factory. She was little more than a future body to hold a mop. "Well. You stand before us, after the murder of three innnocent guardsmen. Murder, as we are all well aware, is a capitol crime. It is custom for me to ask if you would like to say anything on your own behalf." Every Council Member now looked at her with intense hatred in their eyes, or disappointment, or shock. Or a mixture of those expressions. One pair of eyes might've contained a hint of pity, but it was so faint that it could've been imagined. The room was silent for a minute, with all eyes on Sawyer.

Sawyer said nothing. The blood was on her hands, and she was well aware that nothing, even the pure truth, would change her fate. She was going to die, to repay the lives she had taken. If they could float her twice for each of them, they would. Their blood was literally on her hands - and a bit on her face, and arms. And matting her hair. Some had even seeped through the soles of her cheap Factory shoes and into her socks. They hadn't let her wash before dragging her to her review, only given her oversized prison clothes over her normal ones so that she wouldn't attract more attention than usual with the blood covering her clothing. Sawyer vaguely wondered if her parents were the ones to clean up the blood of the guardsmen. It seemed like the thing that the Ark would make them do.

"No? That's unfortunate. I believe that brings us to the vote. All in favor of the termination of Sawyer Mason's life in 4 years time, on September 26th, 2149." Chancellor Jaha looked around at the Council, of which every hand shot into the air immediately. That was it. "Sawyer Mason, your fate has been decided. You will be executed in 4 years time for the crime of triple homicide. Until then, you will spend your time in juvenile lockup."

"I propose solitary confinement." One of the Council Members spoke up before Chancellor Jaha could officially end the review. Some looked at him in shock, some in fervent agreement, and one in revulsion.

"I object. Council Member Kane, you're proposing that we put a 14 year old in solitary for 4 years-"

"I know what I am proposing, Council Member Griffin. I am proposing that we lock up the perpetrator of a triple homicide with no remorse for her actions in solitary. To keep the rest of the prisoners, and the guards, safe." Most of the Council was persuaded by Kane's reasoning, but the one unapproving, the only woman, Council Member Griffin, showed disdain instead of unease at his proposal.

"A 14 year old in solitary for 4 years? She is only a child!"

"Not a child. I am proposing that we place not a child, but a violent, dangerous murderer in solitary for 4 years." The two were locked in a power struggle that had clearly been taking place since long before her review. I won't kill the other prisoners, because they don't deserve to die, Sawyer thought to herself, watching the exchange with a blank expression. The Council kept glancing back at her, as though if they did not make sure she was still there, she would break free. Sawyer couldn't break free even if she tried. Besides, she didn't want to give the guards next to her any excuse to touch her - she'd been adamantly avoiding looking at them, bile rising each time she did. The woman did not speak up for her again.

"All in favor of solitary confinement?" All the Council raised their hands, Council Member Griffin's raising after a momentary pause, deciding upon her wait. It was then that Sawyer realized that she was to spend the rest of her life alone, with only guards to keep her company. Her parents began crying audibly once more, and Sawyer didn't flinch. Her emotions had been leached out of her, and into the floor of the review room. She was empty.

If she had the option, she would've chosen to be floated right then.