P R O L O G U E

25.9K 697 366
                                    

In the year 2024, the United States of America fell into an economic depression far worse than the Great Depression of 1930. Hundreds of thousands were forced to evacuate their homes to live on the streets, while others fought for their lives daily. The rich became the poor, and the poor starved to the point of emaciation and death. The country was then divided into six regions, doing away with democracy and politics. Each region was governed by a commander, who also served as the leader of the facilities that were placed in each state of their region.

The six commanders sought help internationally, as the land of the free became the land of destruction and turmoil. The Republic of China, which was the wealthiest and most industrialized country in the world, offered to help. But there was one rule. In order for China to help boost America out of the economic depression, the United States had to adopt the "two-child policy", which the Chinese had been using since the 1970s. The policy stated that each family was allowed to have two children, but none more. There was also another stipulation to the deal. Every ten years the commanders of the six regions in America will take the newborns (boys and girls alike) from the previous year and shall place them into a learning facility where they will stay for the next twenty years.

These facilities would be put in place to teach the children harsh ways of life, to deter them from making the same mistakes past generations have. Over time, the children become less compassionate and less empathetic. Once the twenty years was up, they would graduate and be put back out into society. The six commanders were hesitant to take such a brutal deal, knowing the United States would be indebted to the Chinese. After a few days of deliberation, the six commanders agreed to the deal, the contract going into effect immediately. The six commanders made an exception and declared that every 5,000th child from each state would be spared from the facility. "Do not fear. Your children will be safe. They will not be harmed, nor will they be indoctrinated in any way. Our country will rise again." – Commander Solomon of Region Four

Lazaretto (Camren)Where stories live. Discover now