“There’s too many scavengers in this sector.” The Demonstrator announced to a regiment of new scavengers; full of misfits and criminals. A Demonstrator is a veteran scavenger who had earned enough and lived long enough to be worthy of teaching his ways to the less experienced.

“Unfortunately, some of you must die. Mostly the weak and feeble. The slow and the dumb. Pass the test and you will be initiated into our system. Fail, and you will be die. Any who refuse will die.” He taps his bracelet like a ticking bomb. “There is no option but to participate.” He says firmly as he paces along the hangar.

They call me “Bread Boy”. Infamously sent to The Lower for stealing bread by accident. I’ve grown a bit now. They keep children mostly inside to do menial tasks purposefully for children. The upkeep is less and so when the children come of age. That is when they decide that the food would need to be earned.

I’ve heard many older men speak about this rare but seemingly legal and ordinary night. They say it’s keeping the population leaner but it’s as awful as it sounds. They call it ‘incapacitate night’. Usually at night when the old mares and shadows stalk the Junkland.

“A quick elimination round will start us off.” He pauses. The man next to me bows his head and starts to cry. A Demonstrator from the back comes up to him and tasers him. He falls to the ground and becomes silent. Everyone else faces forward in fear. “You will be released into the Junkland. You must find any of the items on this lists provided.” He raises up a sheet of paper. A list of items that the town needs. Supplies and repair equipment.

“Returning empty-handed will be your death so do not disappoint.”

I check my flashlight and the item list. My heart is racing. I hope I can find something quickly and nearby. At least before the others. A horn blasts and the hangar doors raise. A line of Demonstrators with tasers keep the block of scavengers moving. I rush out but making sure I’m not too forward or too behind. There’s a shrill of a mare in the distance. Haunting. Daunting and relentless. I am shivering with fear and excitement. This is my first excursion out of the town. And it may be my last...