Short Stories - Dystopia I

Sometimes, it's best to leave your comfort zone. I have decided to push myself for some creativity. I'm not a writer (as if you couldn't tell), but I have decided to push that aside to write some corny stories. The text below is from one of these stories.


Society had taken a serious turn. Fear had become paralyzing, and the people didn't believe that they could solve their problems. They turned to the warring factions to take charge. Some sided with the Totalitarians. Others sided with the Passivists. Either way, they begged their leaders to provide security. In exchange, they would sacrifice freedom and embrace oppression.

Despite their problems, some families wanted at least something of their own. One option maintained during the war was to raise a family. The Gonast family embraced this option. They brought a girl, Prota, into this world.

There can be complications with introducing a baby into the middle of a war. Among them is an ongoing assault to children's rights. Once a child reaches five years of age, lives of children become especially troublesome. Parents are expected to hand their children over to the factions. At that point, these children would be molded to fit the roles developed by the factions.

The Gonast family embraced passivism, but District 42 was controlled by the Totalitarians. Totalitarians had been known to punish dissenters quite severely. Although they portrayed themselves as opposed to greed and corruption, they exploited finances as a means of control. Outside of certain castes, it was nearly impossible to survive without a job. Employers in District 42 were known to fire individuals who dissented.

When Prota turned five, the Totalitarians sent one of their vans to her neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Gonast walked Prota to the pickup site and put her on the van themselves. They truly believed they were acting in Prota's best interests. They believed they were starting Prota on a path that would not only lead to survival, but also success. In reality, Prota had just become entrenched in a life of forced misery.