After the War, we got a new leader. They moved us all to big communities. Any who wouldn't follow their rules were banished to the woods outside the "City" as they called it. The woods were deadly, everyone was violent and blood-thirsty. Or so I was told. I wanted to believe they could be saved. That even the banished, or "Outcasts" as they were called, were worth saving. That we could reach peace once again. But I would never say that aloud. That would get me banished. I don't want to test my theory until I'm much older. Father told me that I might make it to work for the government. I wished to get a government job so badly, especially a scientist. Then I could tell them of my crazy theory and they would allow me to test it, I hoped. They may just kill me anyway. You never know with the Government. Apparently it was different before the war. I wouldn't know, I was part of the 12th Post-War generation. All we know about life before the War is from books written in a strange language. It was the same language as our markings.
Part of the new rule's ideals was selected mates. We were taught that we were only to love our mate, and no one else. If your mate was banished then you were out of luck and usually killed. My older sister had that happen. Her mate ran away, not liking the system. And so she was killed, starved in the dungeons under the Capitol. To get to the Capitol, you took underground cars that were called Subways before the war. It was quite strange, but also fun. We didn't get to go often, but when we did we would stay a few days. Father worked for the Capitol, so he got to go everyday. I don't think that's fair.

NOTES
Jerome on Mitch, Mitch on Preston, Preston on Rob, Rob on Lachlan, Lachlan on Vikk, Vikk on Jerome.
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Jerome is son of the "King". (Capitol/ Washington)
Mitch is a peasant who's father works for the Capitol as janitor. (New York City)
Preston is son of the "Captain" of Orlando. (Orlando)
Rob is a peasant working for the "Captain" of Orlando as slave. (Orlando)
Lachlan is a guard who patrols the Bubble for outsiders coming in. (Capitol/Washington)
Vikk is a farm hand that works for "Captain" of New York City. (New York City)
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Jerome finds Mitch, Mitch finds Preston, Lachlan finds Vikk, Rob finds Lachlan, Preston finds Rob, Vikk finds Jerome.
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