A Future Dystopia

Leo and I are living in a future dystopian Rome. The city is covered with a multitude of abandoned skyscrapers. It is a concrete jungle with subtle reminders of the distant history of the city. There is a post-apocalyptic vibe which can be seen throughout the city and the people who walk its streets.

The government controls everything. It assigns names to people when they are born, it assigns their job and people must receive approval for any significant action in their lives. Leo and I are not married but are dating and his assigned name is not actually Leo, but "Hav". Hav and I want to get married and must receive permission from the government. In order to receive permission, you must take many psychological, personality and compatibility tests.

Something weird happens every day - giant governmental spaceships come down in each neighbourhood and announces 20 names on giant screens and speakers throughout the city. The people whose names are announced must report to the spaceship. They board it, it takes off and returns several hours later, with one of the 20 people missing. Forever. The remaining 19 people have no recollection of where they have gone or what they have done while "away".

Hav and I are going to get a marriage permission when the daily name announcement is broadcasted through screens and speakers throughout the dystopian city. Chills run down my spine as I hear Hav's name being called out. He has 30 minutes to report to the spaceship. I won't let him go. I beg and pray for him not to go. I cannot lose him.

We decide to run. To where? We don't know. What seems like a mix between a SWAT team and professional assassins begins to look for us. We run but we don't even know what lies beyond the city walls...

To be continued.