Wounds [Bellamy Blake]

Earth [Chapter 1]

                “Prisoner 27, please put your hands above your head.” I heard a voice echo through my small square of a room.

                My birthday was only a few days from now, when I would turn eighteen, but I was supposed to have those few days to sit in my cell and brood about how I was going to die. Floating was how they did it; basically send you off into space where your body would freeze and boil at the same time, all while you were suffocating. A wretched way to die, of course, but it was quick and free; no blood or gore involved. I knew that this was what I was to face, and in reality, I wasn’t afraid of the death. It would be quick, and it would make life a fraction of a fraction better on the arc; saving resources.

                “Might as well get it over with.” I said with a roll of my eyes as I stood facing my window, arms above my head and feet shoulder width apart.

                “You’re not getting floated.” The guard said as he slipped a metal wrist band on my arm. It caused a painful pinch, but I only flinched slightly.

                “Well I’m of no use to you.” I said, trying to figure it out, “Am I getting a fair trial?”

                “No.” Was all the guard said.

                As I was brought out from my cell, I saw that all the other prisoners, all youths, were in similar situations; some were fighting and trying to be free, and thus receiving a shock to settle them down. Everyone had the metal wrist band, as far as I could see. We were all being brought to the same area, and I wondered how they could get away with a mass murder of children. But as I neared the location where we were all being herded, I realized that it was a drop ship.

                “Fuck…” I said bitterly as I was forced into a harsh plastic seat, then buckled in. Everyone was either saying something about their families, or –like me- patiently sitting down and obeying. I had no family to say goodbye to, and I figured whatever they were doing with the one hundred of us was better than being floated. Hopefully.

                It was chaos from that moment on; while the chancellor was explaining what was going to happen to us, though he hardly had even a clue, though most of the kids weren’t listening. There was fighting already, and I knew that there was no way this would end well. If we even landed on Earth alive, and it was survivable, how could one hundred delinquents under the age of eighteen survive?

                I rested my eyes as the turbulence began. I held them shut as the screaming proceeded; a loud commotion made the whole drop ship shake and shudder, then there was a crash. There was panic then; I could sense it in the air without even opening my eyes. When we landed was when I finally opened my eyes. Everyone detached themselves from their seats, though there was at least one kid that would never touch the ground.

                Before I even had the chance to take of my safety belt, I heard shouting, something about the girl who lived under the floor. My eyes flickered up and they fell upon the beautiful and elusive Octavia; she was well known for being hidden under the floor for sixteen years. It wasn’t her presence that surprised me, but her older brother. He was not under eighteen, so him being on this drop ship was questionable, though I kept my questions to myself.

                Bellamy Blake was well known for his assistance in hiding his sister under the floor; though it was only his mother who got floated for her crimes of having a second child. I didn’t make the rules, and since I was on this drop ship, I obviously didn’t agree with them either. My crimes were deserving of being floated, and I was aware of that when I committed them. I wondered what Bellamy had done to get on the drop ship, and I decided to make it my first goal on Earth, aside from just surviving.

                The doors opened and Bellamy granted his sister to be the first person on Earth in ninety-seven years. Though the other hundred kids would have wanted that honour, I knew that it was Octavia Blake who deserved the freedom of fresh air and sunshine on her cheeks before the rest of us. Though I had been locked up for two years, she had her whole life under her belt. The darker skinned girl was ecstatic and shouted something out, “We’re back, bitches!”

                 As everyone filed out of the drop ship, chaos was sure to follow. I rose slowly, my eyes searching for anyone I would recognize. Of course, there was Finn and Wells; everyone knew them. Finn was notorious for his space walking, and Wells was the son of the chancellor. I feared for his safety. Another person I recognized was Clarke, higher born than myself, and most of the kids here were low born like me.

                She seemed to have some reason to her words, but no one cared to listen. Kids were causing a ruckus, and I feared what the noise might bring to us; danger most likely lurked around every corner, though it was hard to say. How could any living thing have survived the nuclear war that desolated the planet? The trees and Earth still lived, but could anything else? Animals? People?

                There were many questions, but none that couldn’t be answered in time.

                I was a patient person.

                My first question was Bellamy Blake, so I walked over to him silently; one of my many skills from living on the arc as a criminal.

                “Bellamy Blake.” I said smoothly, catching his attention.

                “You are?”

                I didn’t take offence to his lack of knowledge about me. “Avarice Dasheill, call me Ava.”

                My name seemed of interest to Bellamy Blake.

Thanks for reading! I had a lot of fun writing this; started last night and I am currently on chapter five, keeping ahead of the game. Chapters will remain roughly 1000 words, though I might make them longer if I feel inclined. Normally I write 1500-1800 word chapters, but I find they take a very long time to write and edit, where as 1000 word is much simpler; I cranked out 4000 words yesterday! Please comment and vote, I'd love to know what you think!

Also, I just changed the title from Feral Love to "Wounds".