William walked into school, dreading the day once more. The high school was fairly clean. A little graffiti coloring the walls here and there. Lockers lined the walls of the hallways. As teachers greeted this or that person, other students streamed in.
He didn’t know most of the kids. To him, they were merely faces in the crowd, just as he was to them. Everyone behaved in the same manner as before. Civilized and proper as order was restored to the country. William let out a long sigh as he tried to push his dark thoughts away. He was 17 now, almost 18. The year of hell was almost a distant memory for him now. As it was for most everyone.
It had been almost five years since the world ended. Four long years since the Dragoons took over and restored order. That’s what it turned into. A usurpation of power. Out with the old government, in with their own. It had been bloody at the start, but the Dragoons were too strong. The fight was out of the average person after scrounging for survival for an entire year. It took them only a couple of weeks to get the power plants running and the people living in homes again, all before the winter months.
In just a few weeks, the world turned around. But not all of it was right. William suffered significant losses during that period. His parents and friends were included. Will hadn’t seen either of his parents die, but he had seen the bodies. His father had been offed by looters, and his mother was most likely killed by the Goons.
Over time, as the Dragoons took power, they had their own derogatory term attributed to them. Goons, because that was what they were. Thugs and rapists that took over the country and did what they wanted.
But even William could admit they had done good. America was a lot like it had been before. No new lines on maps, no new names for places—we were still the United States. With the removal of D.C., New York City became the new capital. States now had the autonomy to choose their leaders, and voting for the country's ruler was no longer necessary. Mayors and governors made the laws with councils in the area; no longer was there a master government to govern them all. The hegemony of the Goons remained a distant issue, largely disregarded in daily life.
William pushed the thoughts away again. Chewing his lip, he settled into his seat in the classroom. Many students had already taken their seats. People were excited that the last day of school was finally there. Everyone Will knew had skipped a grade. The country ignored the fact that the year of anarchy even happened. That time period, now referred to as the Anarchist War, was a dark mark in history that many ignored. While most were glad to graduate on time, William had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. Maybe one more year to think would have afforded him the opportunity to figure it out.
“Heyo,” Lindsey said as she sat beside him.
He turned to her and asked, "What's up?" She was shorter than Will, only about 5 feet, 8 inches tall. She wore her thin, light red hair tied back in a ponytail. There were some faded freckles on her cheeks, the pale skin peeking out of her tanktop was without blemishes.
Lindsey Fields was one of the few people Will looked forward to seeing. Following the restoration of order, they occupied adjacent apartments. William living with his uncle, Lindsey living with her mom. They became friends, but once people started working again, she moved away. William had thought they would never meet again, but they ended up going to the same public school.
“Nothin much. Excited for graduation?” She asked.
Will rolled his eyes. “Why would I be excited?” He asked, putting on a smirk.
“I don’t know. It’s the end of school for us. No more assignments. No more Mrs. Clarkson,” she whispered the last part. Lindsey had a constant feud with the teacher. No rhyme or reason for it; just two people not getting along.
“So you’re not going to college?” Will asked.
“Well, yeah, I plan to,” she said, her lip quirking up in an annoyed smile.
“Then this is just another day like any other,” he said. “I am excited for summer, though.”
“Good,” she said with a wide smile. “Me too. I’m going to my dad’s for the summer.”
“I know, I know. Fancy California dad is putting you up all summer,” Will said, rolling his eyes. “You can shut up about it, you know?”
“Actually, I can’t,” she assured. Will laughed, and they both quieted down as the teacher entered the room. People took their seats, and the older Mr. Hugh gave a long sigh as he eyed us. Mr. Hugh, along with many others, was present at the survival camp during the most challenging times. Will and Mr. Hugh hadn't spoken about it in the years since the world ended. A simple nod to one another was all they did. They made a small gesture, preserving the moment when they had witnessed each other at their lowest.
“I don’t see the point of classes for today, but to each their own,” the old man said. “Anything you all want to talk about?” He asked. Moving toward the small podium, he taught pre-calculus behind, he stared over the wide grouping of kids. “Anything at all? Future plans? College? Summer fun? Hell, I’d be willing to talk about the Dragoons if you all are interested.” He continued to stand, watching us.
As he glared at us, people coughed or made themselves busy looking at something else. No one offered anything up. After a long minute, the old teacher let out a sigh and nodded. “Do what you want, then. I’m here if you want to talk.” He barely finished his sentence before the others began excitedly conversing with each other.
William remembered that cell phones were once the go-to distraction. Nowadays, you were left to talk or sit by yourself. With the Dragoons taking over, the technology and comforts of the old world were no longer common. Cell phones existed, but they were for simple calls. There are no fancy lithium batteries or supply of microchips from around the world.
While America is back up and running to a similar standard to what it used to, the rest of the world was not. Anarchy reigned everywhere. At least that was what the news painted for the American people. While our nightmare had come to an end, theirs was just beginning. New leaders, always fighting; plagues, death, and destruction happened everywhere. No nuclear bombs detonated, no massive calamity pinpointed a specific issue, simply no more leaders, and the world descended into chaos.
There were conspiracy theories, of course. Theories William believed wholeheartedly. The Dragoons showed up and showed their strength too easily. The average person knew the Arcs had something to do with the world's end, but there was no proof. There were no witnesses or hidden cameras, or at least none that Will had seen.
To be honest, he wasn’t sure why they didn’t just fess up to it. You ended the world, might as well take credit. But they didn’t. They sat far away in their Tower on the east coast and only showed their faces when some new rebellion against their rule popped up.
“Quit brooding,” Lindsey whispered over to him. She had finished conversing with a few of her friends standing beside her.
“I’m not brooding,” Will mumbled.
She smiled wide at him. Shoving his shoulder as she laughed. “Come on, be happy. No more school, no more responsibilities. Force a smile. I don’t care. But stop brooding.”
Will rolled his eyes but nodded. “Fine, tell me what you have planned this summer.”
Her smile got wider somehow. “So, my dad has it all planned out. He runs this TV station, so we are going to…”
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She continued on, and Will listened. As another day in the post-apocalyptic world unfolded, he eagerly anticipated its conclusion. He did force a smile on. He gradually came to terms with the reality that he wouldn't need to perform this task any longer. At least for a while. Who knew? Maybe he would continue his education.
—-
“Congratulations,” the principal said from the front of the stage. She was an older woman. Having made a name for herself a few years back by taking in dozens of kids and protecting them during the worst of it. She had lost an arm during the fighting. There were rumors that she severed her arm to feed the children, but there were also reports that she sustained a bite and the wound became infected, necessitating the amputation. Either way, she was a hero in many kid’s and parent’s eyes. When the world stabilized, she went back to teaching. She did her utmost to care for the children. She stood on the auditorium stage, lights focused on her as the senior students sat in the front rows.
The principal locked eyes with myself and many others, smiling slightly. It was not a joyful smile, but rather a sorrowful one, as if she genuinely regretted the fact that she would be seeing many of us for the last time.
"Typically, a graduation is a significant celebration. Parents and distant relatives would come to see it. Congratulate each and every one of you for finishing your standard education,” she said slowly. “But this less than stellar celebration for your accomplishments is yet another reminder of the world we live in.”
There was a quiet air in the auditorium as she said the words. Most everyone knew what she meant. The world was not what it used to be. The apocalyptic event claimed the lives of 1 in 3 individuals during the Anarchist War. The numbers hadn’t been so bad once, but the Dragoons took power and skyrocketed the death toll as they seized control of the country.
“I hope we can get back to that one day. We want to return to a place in our society where people recognize and appreciate your accomplishments. I hope that your kids will be able to know that. Will be able to have a world we can be proud of.” The principal continued to look around. A somber smile on her lips. Will sensed the fear and anger she harbored. Where others might perceive her as a tired old woman, he still sensed a fierce determination within her. But he had a feeling that this graduation would be different. He worried how different it would be.
“With that, I will begin announcing names for receiving your diplomas,” she said. One of the assistants wheeled out a cart with small black books stacked upon one another. “S-” She paused. Struggling to say the words. William frowned as he waited. It took her some time to get the next words out. "I will be asking some of you to stay on the stage." Please line up in front of the curtain,” she said quickly. William’s frown deepened. He had heard rumors of students being singled out, but he hoped it wasn’t what he feared it would be.
“Daniel Adams,” she said, referring to the first senior she called. The boy stood up at the corner of the front row of seats. People slowly clapped for him as graduation music played over the speakers in the auditorium. The clapping intensified with the call of another name. Daniel received his diploma, and name after name was called.
It wasn’t long until the principal asked the first person to stay on the stage. Confused, the girl moved to stand in front of the curtain. She awkwardly stood at the front, visible to everyone, while they called out more names. She didn't have to wait long before someone else joined her. But as the principal continued with the names, they were quickly forgotten. She began announcing the achievements of individuals she was familiar with. The valedictorian, the person going to school the most days, some students that were already accepted into top-tier schools.
People’s names were called, some were sent to line up by the curtain, most came back to sit down in their assigned seats. William ignored his concern until Lindsey Fields was called in. She too was told to hang back and wait with the others. Frowning, Will’s heart rate increased as he became more worried. Lindsey acted like it didn’t bother her, but most of them were worried.
When the procession finally got to his name, William walked up the stage slowly. The assistant handed him his diploma and shook his hand. He walked behind the principal and thought he was in the clear, but after she announced the next name, she pulled back from the microphone, saying, “William, stay on stage, please.”
Will hesitated, but locking eyes with her, he nodded. He and the others dutifully lined up, remaining silent as they tried not to look directly into the stage lights. The auditorium now a black mass of indistinguishable faces. Sweat beading down his forehead, he waited patiently as more names were called.
To keep himself busy, he tried to guess how many students were graduating. Most likely around 1,000 kids. Everyone's school day concluded after lunch, leaving the seniors behind for this brief ceremony. Attempting to estimate the number of individuals receiving special attention, including himself, he estimated it to be approximately 1 in 20, so about 5%. As the names ticked by, more students joined his line.
As the final student received their diploma and took their seat, Will glanced at the backside of the principal, who then turned to face them. Scratching the stump of her missing arm, she frowned at each one of the lined-up students.
“I-” She said, but was cut off.
“Thank you, Principal,” a voice said from the side of the stage. As she walked out of the darkness, a woman in a black uniform emerged on stage. The uniform was distinct. She wore a uniform in a military style, featuring unmistakable gold etching along the sleeves. She was a Goon. The first William had seen in years, and to his surprise, she was a Dragoon he recognized.
Shorter than William, she was about 5 feet, 9 inches tall. She had short, dark brown hair tied in a bun. Her cheekbones and nose were very sharp, but her eyes were what told William she was dangerous. She studied the line of students around him, locking eyes with William first. He could almost feel it as she stared at him. The power she held. The power that all the Goons held that he had learned to not question. The power that made her the most dangerous woman in the room.
The feeling lasted for a moment, then fled as her eyes drifted away from him. The principal stood behind the podium, her remaining fist gripped in anger as the Goon came up. “Can we please not?" The principal tried to say, but was cut off.
“Spare me; I have a few of these around the city to do,” the Goon said. Pushing the principal out of the way, she took the older woman’s place with a smile on her face.
Too stricken with fear to do much else, William stood there. A quick glance to either side of the stage showed more men and women in the black Goon uniforms. William also recognized the men and women present. Unlike the speaker, he knew these people from school. They had been in normal clothes, conducting “audits” during some classes. The truth about their presence was rapidly dawning on him.
“Hello,” the Goon at the podium said to the other students in the auditorium. They had begun to whisper to one another, but as her voice rang out, they quieted. “My name is Katarina Little. I am a Dragoon.” The words were simple but impactful.
This was Chicago. Most people were aware that the Goons were primarily located on either the east or west coast. There had been a large presence of them back in the day when they were establishing their power, but it had been a long time since William saw a Goon in uniform. He gulped, his mouth dry as she continued.
“I am here on a mission of... let’s call it revelation,” she said after a short pause. “All of you students have been living your lives in utter ignorance. You don't realize that my kind are all around you. She turned back slightly, eyeing William with a smirk on her lips. “As you can see by those behind me. Arcs were around you your entire lives.”
The words made William’s heart skip a beat. He knew this was coming somehow, but it was still a shock to be ousted as an Arc in such an open place. These were the kids he saw every day. These were individuals he had known for years, and now they all understood that he possessed a unique power. He had a power that made him different from them. He shared this power with those who had destroyed the world he once knew.
The crowd didn’t take it well. Some yelled, “No!” Others yelled, “Liar.” But as they focused on the ashamed faces of those lined up on either side of Will, they died down. He understood their shame because he felt it himself. His head down, he wished he could disappear behind the curtain, but the last thing he wanted was a Goon tackling him.
One kid made a run for it. He tried to move to behind the curtain then he screamed as he began to float. One of the Goons on the sidelines came forward, his hand outstretched at the kid trying to escape.
Katarina cautioned, "Don't run," as the boy invisibly returned to his previous position. The kids around him stepped back, as if trying not to touch the unseen force that had so easily picked him up and set him down. “There is nowhere to run,” Katarina said with a smile.
The boy calmed down, but once the Goon let him go, he slumped to the ground on his knees. With some tears in his eyes, he hid his face with his hands. William felt for him; he too wanted to cry but didn’t. Gritting his teeth, he stared forward, his eyes boring into the back of Katarina’s head.
“There you have it,” Katarina said. “We Arcs are everywhere. They were with you throughout your entire life. Hiding amongst you. So take this as a warning as you venture out into the real world. We can be anyone. Can do anything. And will always be watching.”
William wasn’t quite sure what the point of this whole thing was. But before he could think about it she turned around and faced the lined up group. “Perfect,” she said, staring at all of them. “Follow me.”
Turning to the side, she walked back the way she came. William hesitated, as everyone else did. Gripping his small black diploma in his hands, he waited, but one of the other Goons prodded someone at the start of the line. The procession soon began, and the former students began to walk single-file. Their heads hung low, sadly, as if they were heading off to the gallows, which, for all Will knew, he could be.