Cragen Academy

Chapter One

"Marian Wendall." The voice resounded within the auditorium, echoing from the enormous speakers. A brief but approving applause followed from behind the body of students, where their waiting parents sat shoulder-to-shoulder.

Marian had been anticipating this moment for the last hour, but regardless, a deep blush still formed on the apples of her cheeks. She stood from her seat— her head held high and glanced over the heads of her fellow peers. Her eyes focused on the center of the stage, where she imagined the camera would be, and she smiled appropriately. She didn't dare look over at the large screen that would no doubt be zoomed in on her face, although she had noticed that most of the other students couldn't seem to have helped themselves. As the next name was announced, she brushed her pleated uniform skirt under herself and quickly sat back down, hands folded neatly into her lap.

It was a long process, going through the names of each student in the district who had finished their ninth year of schooling. Marian did her best to maintain her composure as the Director of Education neared the end of the list. However, she found her eyes wandering towards the girl sitting diagonally from her, only one row away.

Her friend, Tinsley Jenkins, clapped after each announcement. This movement wasn't noticeable to those who kept their eyes directed at the stage, but the distraction was why Mrs. Pahnski, their ninth-year educationalist, had urged the classroom to keep their hands tucked under their bottoms. Students were forbidden to make any gesture that drew attention to themselves.

She supposed it no longer mattered if Tinsley obeyed the rules. Her friend had come to the end of her educational allowance. Tinsley had faired well at Arbon Educational Institution but was comfortable doing little more. Her parents worked in a postal room, and thats where she hoped to end up as well.

Marian allowed her eyes to glance around briefly at the surrounding bodies, recognizing the sides of a few faces and the uniforms of others. The school was represented by a traditional blue uniform and a red vest. The pit of her stomach filled with a hollowness that crept into her throat. This was the reality for the majority of her peers. She likely wouldn't see them again for several years, if at all. Government regulations considered all fifteen-year-olds to be of working age, which meant that if you weren't given sponsorship for higher education, the district leaders would assign you a job upon completion of the ninth year. Most everyone around her would have their job assignments by tomorrow.

The ninth-year ceremony was a recognition for students and parents alike. For a child to make it this far in Wayland District was an achievement. Most citizens were forced to stop attending school after their basic educational requirements were met. If you could read, write, and count, you were guaranteed a job, and although these happened to be lowly jobs that didn't offer much pay, every banknote helped when you lived in the Wayland District.

In her 5th year of education, Marian learned in her Historical Accounts class that the downfall of the country, previously known as the United States of America, began with a catastrophic shortage of these lowly workers. The cost of all goods, services, and taxes had grown devastatingly high, but the pedestrian jobs didn't pay enough to survive. Therefore, everyone grew this belief that the only way to live comfortably was to have, at a minimum, a college degree. Some went on to earn multiple, hoping it would give them an advantage.

This educational movement flooded the workforce with competition, and since there weren't enough high-paying jobs for everyone, employers began increasing their requirements. They could demand almost anything from you, and you would oblige because you were easily replaceable. Hundreds were waiting to take your place. Many who had withdrawn these large loans to acquire a degree were financially ruined. The end of the United States of America happened shortly after. It wasn't just one set of events that brought a once-great nation to its knees. The currency collapsed. Citizens who could barely feed their families defaulted on bank loans and property taxes. Banking institutions had no choice but to close their doors after this, with several executives disappearing with whatever funds were left to steal. What little money people had in their checking accounts had vanished with them. The congressional leaders began garnishing wages in a vain attempt to keep the banks and government afloat. The citizens revolted, refusing to work or pay taxes. It was chaos, and that was before people began tearing down fences to gated communities and targeting the rich. It was every man for himself.