The Untouchables

Prologue

Atoma is split into four different sectors.

To the west, is what we call the "Harvest Sector". Most of the able-bodied, athletic workers live in this sector, and it's also where all of the produce, agriculture, and most of the stone comes from for the four Sectors.

To the east and north lies the forest land. All of our lumber comes from this Sector. Not that we use lumber anymore, since we found stone is less expensive to harvest. So the people are spread far and few between, and aside from the select number of remaining active lumber sites and towns, it's really nothing but forest and shrubbery, and old railroad tracks.

To the south and along the coast, is the Fishing Sector.

My home Sector.

The salty, ocean breezes blow all throughout the Sector. The sun glistens off of the water as we work, the waves lapping up against our ankles. Docks and boats line the coast, coming and going as they please.

Our job is to fish for the four Sectors, as we are the only Sector along the coast of an ocean. We use fishing rods, spears, nets, traps, even bows and arrows to catch the fish.

But one Sector lies in the middle of us all.

The President's Sector.

Well, he's less of a "President", and more of our Monarch. At least that's what everyone calls him who isn't a Ranger or a loyalist.

Twenty years ago, there was a nuclear war that wiped out the nations of the world. The only thing that came out of the Thirty Years War was the unified nation of Atoma.

The last nation.

We had to flee the west, due to the radiation, and massive craters left in the ground. We call it The Badlands.

Twenty years ago, a man rose to power. Telling us he would be our leader, our President. But so far, this man has done nothing but abuse his power in his position. He controls and manipulates his Sectors, like puppets on strings.

The Monarch never leaves the cushy, luxurious, comfort of his castle. He never visits the Sectors, he always has his Rangers patrol the Sectors, and perform an examination. They make sure nobody steals the product we produce or restrains the product, and if you're caught, they'll most likely just kill you on the spot. It doesn't happen very often, but it scares us enough just to think about it.

We aren't allowed to leave the Sectors we live in. They're all surrounded by a fence, or a massive wall, in the case of the Harvest and Monarch's Sectors. We're all told it's to keep the Beasts out, but I really think it's to keep us all in.

Every family has a work quota. Every month, each family is given an amount they have to produce by the end of the month, which corresponds to the amount of food each family gets. They do it so everyone can survive by selling their product, and that the Monarch can make money off of each and every one of us.

We're all his slaves. We work for him, he keeps us alive.

He has everyone under a tight-knit law.

So if we follow his rules, no one gets hurt.

As long as you're not different, outwardly spoken, rebelling against him or the system, you and your loved ones are safe. No badmouthing our "President", the Rangers, or your Superiors. If you stay in line, you stay safe.