Chapter Text
Clarke had always loved this holiday. It was called Halloween on Earth, but on the Ark it was known as All Hallow’s Eve. Clarke was not exactly sure how it was celebrated on Earth, but she had heard stories of the grande and elaborate costumes that were worn.
She had always assumed that that is why they wear masks to the party, to try to keep the tradition alive. Clarke could not help but wonder how the tradition started; why did they wear costumes on Earth? No one ever talked about things like this. They were expected to evolve the Earth traditions, but at the same time, leave the past on the ground. Clarke always assumed it was just too much of a painful reminder of the nuclear apocalypse that left the Earth an unlivable barren wasteland.
On the Ark, All Hallow’s Eve was celebrated by having all of the families—mostly of the Phoenix class—baking sweets with the extra rations for the night. The lower classes usually chose to keep the rations for themselves. This was frowned upon, but still allowed. Once all the sweets where complete, the families would bring them to the Recreation Hall. They would set up stations and one member of the family would stay behind and give out one treat to every child.
A mask was prepared by each citizen of the Ark. The kind that covered the whole face. Each mask different. All handmade. Every citizen of the Ark that was under the age of 18 would be given one at random and they were required to wear it. They were handed out randomly so no one could be recognized by the mask they had made.
Clarke loved this holiday for a few reasons.
First, she loved being able to hand out food to all the little kids; she was able to give them all a special little treat. Most of the kids on the Ark did not have enough food, so this was really something special. It was the only time she could give away her extra rations without having to worry about getting arrested.
Though, that did not stop her from doing it the rest of the year. She often gave the younger kids her rations; she believed they needed them more.
Second, she loved that it was one of the only events where the different classes were allowed to mingle.
Class mixing was not illegal but very, very frowned upon. Most of the Phoenix kids married other Phoenix kids. This kept everyone in their place, where they were needed.
If a Phoenix fell in love with someone of a lower class there where two options. The lower class would have to prove they could live up to Phoenix standards. There was only one way to do this, only one way to get out of whatever class you were born into: join the guard.
The partner from the lower class would have to join the guard and work their way up the ranks until they were important enough to matter to the Phoenix class. This almost never happened because it is rare and it would take years to reach a high enough rank guard job. By then, the Phoenix had almost always moved on to someone more appropriate for their class level.
The second option was even rarer. If joining the guard did not work out and they still wanted to be together, the Phoenix would have to abandon. Abandon everything. Their family, rank, job, and go live in whatever class their loved one was born into. This only happened twice to Clark’s knowledge.
The third reason Clarke loved this holiday was the masks. It would be the only night of the year that she was not Clarke: the Princess of the Ark. No, she would be just a normal fifteen year old girl.
Or at least she would be if her parents ever let her participated. She was always stuck leaving with them after they passed out the sweets.
Her parents never let her leave there sight. They had their reasons and Clarke knew that, but it did not make it suck any less.
Being a Phoenix was enough to have most of the Ark hate you.
Being best friends with the Chancellor and his son Wells made you plenty of enemies. If they were not scared that your close family friend, the Chancellor, would float them, they would probably try to kill you. Kill you just because of who you are.
This is what bothered Clarke the most. Clarke was a kind, caring person. She loved the ones close to her dearly. She wanted nothing more than to make everyone’s life on the Ark better.
She is even learning to be a doctor like her mom. Even though secretly she wanted to be an artist.
The only problem was there was no need for artists on the Ark. Doctors, on the other hand, were always in demand. Becoming the next Chief of the Medical Department like her mom this will lock in her position in the Phoenix class long after her parents are gone. Her mom Abby is actually the second most important person on the Ark. Second only to Chancellor Thelonius Jaha himself.
Her mother was important and Clarke was more like her than she would like to admit. But she was always closer to her father. This is why she approached her father as her mother was preparing her mask for All Hallow’s Eve.
“Daddy?” She said softly trying to get his attention without alerting her mom’s hawk-like ears.
“Yes, Clarke?” He said to her. He was obviously suspicious of her tone.
“Can I talk to you?” She asked from her room.
“Yes, dear.” He said following her into her small room. “What do you want Clarke?” He asked knowing his daughter too well.
“I want to go to the party this year. I’m 15 now. In a few months, I’ll be 16 and my life will change. This may be the last time I will have the chance to just go to this and have fun.” She told him.
“Clarke you know the reason we can’t let you go.”
“I do. I get it but I’ll be wearing a mask. No one will know it’s me. It’s the only time I can go out and just be me. Please, dad?” She begged.
“Your mom is not going to agree.” He told her softly.
The truth is he felt bad for his daughter. She never got to have any friends or fun. Besides hanging out with Wells, the only time she had contact with people her own age was when she worked in the infirmary.
“If you take my side, she will be out numbered.” She told him with a devilish little grin on her face.
“Okay, I’ll talk to her but no promises.”
Before he was able to leave the room, Clarke wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a big hug.
“Thank you dad.” She whispered, before letting him go.
She watched him as he walked out of her room. Once the door was closed behind him, she quickly started going through her clothes. She pulled out a pair of light blue jeans and a white tank top. She did not have many clothes. No one did, but she had more than most.
She placed the clothes down on her bed and looked them over. They were nothing special but that was the point. She wanted to blend in, not scream ‘Hey! I’m Clarke, Clarke Griffin over here!’
A few minutes later, her mother entered her room. From the expression on her face, Clarke could tell her father talked to her and she was not happy about it.
“I cannot believe you went behind my back and turned your father on me.” Abby told her daughter frustrated.
Abby knew she was being over dramatic but it always bothered her how close Clarke was to her dad. The two of them always ganged up on her. She just wished the two of them could understand she was just trying to keep Clarke safe.
“Mom I did not turn him on you. He just agrees with me. It may be my last chance to go. No one will know it’s me. I won’t even tell Wells. Promise.” She pleaded with her mom.
Clarke desperately wished her mom would understand that she wanted to be a normal teenager. Just for one night.
All Clarke ever did was study and work in the infirmary. Her only free time is always spent with Wells, at his place. It was the only time she could get away from her mom’s watchful eyes. Even though Wells was her best friend, she wished she had more than just one friend.
“Stop whining, Clarke! Your father made it very clear that you’re going.” Abby told Clarke.
“Really? I can go?” Clarke asked in disbelief.
She instantly filled with excitement.
“I have some rules you will follow.” Abby told Clarke sternly.
Clarke was so excited that she really did not care. Her mom could give her all the rules in the world and it would not bring down Clarke’s mood.
“Yeah, fine. What are they?” Clarke asked.
“First rule: you will come and hand out the sweets with us like you do every year. Understood?” Abby asked Clarke.
“Understood.” Clarke answered.
“Second: you will leave the party with us like you do every year. Grab a mask on your way out. Once back home, you will change and then go back.” Abby told Clarke.
“’Kay.” Clarke quickly answered.
“Third: you will not take your mask of or tell anyone your name. No one.”
“Yep.” Clarke quickly answered.
“Fourth: stay out of trouble. Come home right after. No trying to sneak out to any illegal after parties or-”
“Mom, I know.” Clarke said cutting her mom off mid-sentence.
“Okay.” Abby said looking behind Clarke and to her bed.
“Put something nicer on to pass out the sweets.” She told Clarke as she pointed to the clothes on her bed.
“Yes, mom.” Clarke answered as she pushed her mom out of the room so she could get ready.
She did not have many clothes, so she knew exactly what her mom wanted her to wear. She pulled out the red dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She pulled the dress down over her body and gently rubbed out all the wrinkles. Once she was done, the dress rested just above her knees.
She looked down and adjusted her scoop neckline so it was showing of her plump C-cup breasts, without showing any of her bra.
She grabbed her hair brush and quickly pulled her blonde hair back into a high, tight bun.
She slipped into her only pare of heels. They were black and went with everything.
She absolutely hated dressing like this but it was what was expected of her.
When Clarke was all done getting ready, she walked out to meet her parents. They were both dressed like her. Her mom was in almost the exact same dress, just in a deep purple. Her father was in dark dress pants and a blue button up shirt.
“Clarke, you look beautiful.” Abby told her daughter with a genuine smile on her face.
“I think she looked better before.” Her father stated, obviously not approving of her attire.
“Thanks, dad.” Clarke said. Her words dripping with sarcasm.
“Let’s get going.” Abby says as she shoved four containers of sweets into her husband’s hands.
The three of them made their way down hall after hall. They stuck out wearing their nice clothes. Clarke could feel everyone’s disapproving eyes on her. She truthfully wished she could just disappear. Wished that no one knew who she was.
Unfortunately, that was not her reality. She was privileged, and family friends with the Chancellor and his family so everyone knew who she was. Whether they liked her or hated, her everyone knew her. Well knew of her, but no one actually knew her.
They were getting closer to the celebration. The crowd was getting bigger and the sound of children’s laughter was getting louder. Clarke’s foul mood instantly vanished when she saw the happy smiles of the kids who were running around.
They were all happy to have a night out past curfew.
Clarke stayed close to her parents, as they made their way into the Recreation Hall. She greeted everyone that her parents did. When they finally made their way over to their booth, Clarke left her parents to set up. She went over to the next booth to greet Wells and his father.
“Hey, Wells.” Clarke called out when she reached his booth.
Wells, who was too busy helping his father set up, did not see her approach.
“Hi, Clarke” Wells responded before looking up.
He did not need to look up to know it was Clarke. He would recognize his best friends voice anywhere.
When he finally finished what he was doing and looked up, he was shocked.
He had known Clarke his whole life, but he must have missed the part where she grew up. The girl standing in front of him was not his best friend, but a very attractive young lady.
Her dress fit her womanly curves like it was a second skin. Curves that Wells had never even known she had. She must have been hiding them under all of the baggy shirts and jeans she always had on.
The dresses’ neckline hung low enough to show off cleavage. Wells could not help but wonder when Clarke had developed such large breast. They were not there this time last year.
Her golden blonde hair was pulled back showing of her face and long neck.
Wells felt himself staring, but was not able to stop. This was not some girl—this was Clarke—but still, he could not look away.
“Is something wrong?” Clarke asked finally breaking the silence between the two of them.
Wells felt his chocolate colored cheeks boil over with embarrassment.
“Nothing. You look great.” He told her, shaking his head to rid him of his previous thoughts.
“Thank you. You don’t look to bad yourself.” Clarke responded.
Wells felt his chest tighten slightly when Clarke gave him the same superficial compliment she always gave him when he compliments her.
“Hello, Clarke.” A voice said from behind Wells.
Clarke looked over to see Wells’ father,
“Good evening, Chancellor.” Clarke responded formally.
“My, don’t you look lovely tonight?” He told her.
“Thank you, my mom picked it out.” She told him truthfully.
“She did a good job. You look lovely.” He said before going back to making sure everything was set up.
“So is your mom letting you go this year?” Wells asked about the party.
“No.” Clarke lied.
“You?” Clarke asked.
“What do you think?” Wells responded angrily.
“Sorry.” Clarke said. “But I need to get back. See you later.” She said as she ran over to her booth.
It was almost 6pm and the sweet handouts were about to start.
Sweet handouts were from 6 to 7 pm. There was a 30 minute break for cleanup. Then the party started at 7:30pm and went on until 12am.
“Clarke, can you check the scanner to make sure it is working?” Abby asked.
Everyone who got sweets will be scanned to ensure they only get one treat from each booth.
Clarke did not answer she just grabbed the scanner and scanned her wrist.
Her name, information, and picture were all pulled up on the screen.
“All set.” She called back.
It was time and Clarke was so excited to hand out the sweets. Almost as excited about going to the party after.