Elena Perez Kane paced around the cold metal box that she called home. Her gnawed down fingernails scratching at an old scab that lay on her forearm. It was practically soundless, the only thing to be heard, being her shoes colliding with the metal flooring of her cell. She could just about make out faint noises from the other side of the heavy door, but they weren't clear enough for her to want to listen in. Her thoughts were all scattered, racking her mind for an explanation to why she was still there—still alive. It was beginning to drive her crazy.

She had been locked up almost four years, just three months after her mother, Sofia, had been floated. She wasn't all that fond of her mother, but she was all that Elena had. After the 'funeral', the fourteen year old girl was forced to live with her father, Marcus Kane. He never payed her any attention, and cared much more about his job, than his own flesh and blood.

Elena was tired of not being seen. She was tired of having nobody, and so she turned to a life of stealing whatever she could get her hands on. It started off innocent—only taking extra medical supplies when she had a headache, or stealing some pencils so she could scribble down her thought. It quickly turned into her stealing strayed weapons, or even that one time she straight up stole the shoes off a man's feet.

Resulting in her arrest. (only because he got hurt)

The brunette turned eighteen just a week ago, and she hadn't yet been floated for her crimes. She couldn't figure out why that was, exactly. It's not like The Council on The Ark would've had a change of heart—literally every crime on The Ark was punishable by death. Maybe there was some kind of malfunction... but that wouldn't stop them from murdering a freshly turned adult.

The aggravating sound of her cell door being pushed open, pulled Elena from her thoughts. She swiftly turned around to see her father standing by the door with a solemn look. This had to be it. There was no way this wasn't it. Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach at the thought. She would never admit it, but she was terrified of dying. Being forcefully pulled out into the abyss of space, wasn't too appealing. She took a seat on her unmade bed, and dropped her head into her clammed up hands. She tried to even out her breathing, but to no avail, she couldn't help but hyperventilate over the situation.

Marcus made his way over to the distressed girl, and sat down beside her. He placed his left hand on the middle of her back, and rubbed circles into her thin,
worn, grey t-shirt. She shoved his arm away with her elbow, and took in a breath. "Don't." She uttered. "You put me here." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I done what I had to do." He coldly told her. "You broke the law, you know the rules. No exceptions"

Elena scoffed, biting her lip in frustration. "What you had to do...right." She felt a tear in the corner of her eye, and was quick to blink it away, not wanting to give her father the satisfaction of seeing her weak.

Marcus let out a shaky breath. He ran his hands over his clad jeans, and looked at his daughter. "Listen to me, Elena. I've fought hard for you.. for you to get this opportunity." He began, watching as her eyes crinkled with confusion. "You're not getting floated."

"What are you talking about?" She wondered, turning her head ever so slightly, to see his eager smile with the corner of her eyes. "You're going to Earth." He breathed out heavily, attempting to take her hand in his cold grasp. She casually pulled her hand onto her lap, and interlaced her fingers together. "Yeah, right."

Her father sighed, and ran his hands down his heated face. The stress of the situation was making him feel beyond hot, sweating with nerves. He never showed it, but he did love Elena—she was his little girl, after all. He couldn't bare the thought of her dying. He had argument after argument with Chancellor Jaha, begging for his daughter to get a second chance like the other delinquents in the Sky Box. His pleads didn't go unheard, especially when Wells Jaha had got himself arrested, and The Chancellor knew he needed someone to keep him safe on the ground.

"I promise you, sweetheart—"

"Don't call me that." She shook her head, keeping her stare on her fidgety fingers. "Just tell me when." Her voice was quiet when she spoke. She was nervous, yet the idea of going down to Earth, was exhilarating. It was her biggest dream—her only dream, really. The stories she heard growing up would never be enough for her. She needed to feel the grass beneath her bare feet, feel the wind blowing through her hair. She needed to smell the fresh, crisp air, and feel the rain on her skin. She needed her freedom, her peace.

"Today. You're going today."