Two-hundred years in the future, three-fourths of North America remain in destruction and inhabitable as the result of nuclear war. The area that was once known as New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and some parts of Virginia are all that remain. Where the white house once sat, now rests a kingdom set apart from the rest of the provinces by towering, electric walls. The people within have become genetically modified works of art, showcasing natural vibrant colors of hair and eyes, mutated into something new. Their king is more a dictator than a proper ruler, shielding his people from the outside world while he works on extinction beyond the walls. His name is Gaius Reiss and one of his many tricks is that of distraction. In order to maintain balance, when a young man or woman from outside the wall turn eighteen, they are each forced to place their hand inside of a box which causes immense pain, scarring their skin until a crest is left in permanent red. The box analyzes their brains, setting their future for them. If one rebels, they are killed instantly. If one refuses to do their job, they are killed instantly. If one tries to run away or fight, they are killed instantly. All prisoners of the same snake eyed man. Mera Calliope is an only child, always cold and starving. She is a conscientious, compassionate young woman who can also be as ferocious as a wolf. Mera knows what happens when she turns eighteen. She knows all the rules and prepares herself for the reading that will soon tell her what her fate will be. However, the crest she receives is one that is most unexpected and rare. [ For further detail, take a peek into the story for my introduction page! ]