Page 1 of Lawless
Prologue
MARIPOSA
Have you ever been to a graduation that felt like a funeral?
That was exactly how mine felt. Somber. Tense. Everyone, graduates and faculty alike, kept their true feelings under a neutral mask. No one wanted to say it, but we all knew.
Instead of celebrating our bright new future, we were already mourning the death of it.
The Collapse happened during my freshman year at Northwestern Medical College. We were still bright-eyed and hopeful then, so confident we'd be the ones to restore order and justice to the world upon graduation.
The United States of America ceased to exist and every state became its own independent faction with its own laws and regulations. Some slid right back into the dark ages, stripping away the rights of women and minorities as their people cheered.
Others went in the complete opposite direction, welcomingallpeople and practices with open arms. This led to violent internal conflicts as ideas and opinions clashed.
Still, we remained hopeful.
Then the wars broke out, too many to count or name. Some dragged on for years, others mere skirmishes that lasted less than a day.
Every morning, news spread of another self-appointed governor being assassinated, or the invasion of one territory into another. Borders were redrawn and new capitals erected, always by some power-hungry maniac who seized the opportunity when it suited him best. Until the next one assassinated him and started the process all over again.
Those who weren't killed or kidnapped, and could afford to do so, fled the country. Many took the dangerous trek to Canada, others fled to Latin America, although the situation wasn't much better down there. And the ultra-rich, the ones who could still afford plane passage after half of the international airports were bombed, flew across the oceans to greener pastures in Europe and Africa.
Most African countries succeeded in overthrowing their tyrannical dictators in the last century. America had apparently forgotten how to do it. The home of the brave became a land of lawlessness.
And we, the graduating class of 2100, would be the ones inheriting that land.
Congratulations to us.
So, can you blame us for having such a grim graduation ceremony? Not even anyone's parents cracked a smile.
Dr. Brooks, the dean of the Gonzalez Nursing School, stepped up to the podium like he was about to deliver a eulogy.
"I prepared a speech for today that was full of hope and optimism," he began, his jaw tense as he took in the faces of the graduates. "But then I heard the news this morning and realized what a disservice it would be to the young people at this ceremony if I were to sugarcoat the truth."
Aside from paper programs and graduation robes fluttering in the warm breeze, no one made a sound. Early this morning, the battle that had been waging for weeks sixty miles south of here, had ceased. Because the last of those defending our last little shred of independence had been gunned down by armed rebels. As of nine o'clock this morning, Warsaw County, Texas had been annexed into the Republic of Texahoma.
Dr. Brooks looked out grimly over all of the graduates, as if he were sentencing us to death himself.
"The world you have inherited is cruel," he said. "It's unjust. It's lawless and unfair. Your generation will be the one to pay for our shortcomings. Our sorrys are too little, too late.“
In the silence between his words, the wind carried sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams from the distant battleground. Although at this point, it was nothing more than a massacre.
No one reacted. We had all gotten used to those sounds.
The faculty in attendance wore harrowed expressions throughout the speech, their eyes staring blankly forward. It was clear that no one disagreed with him.
"There is only one piece of advice I can give to you all," his voice cracked as he went on. "Be better than what we've become. Bring compassion and heart back to this violent world."
* * *
"You've gotta be kidding me."
I rolled my eyes toward the clock on the wall. It had been nearly an hour since I was put on hold and the looping music made me want to blow my brains out.
And get lost in all the other brain matter scattered across the street? I don't think so, sister.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. What can I do for you?"
