Some say the world came to an end, and for over 7 billion people that was true. However, for our ancestors that survived, the world merely changed. Some would argue for the better and others for the worst. Our history teachers taught us that greed and hunger for power caused a chain reaction of events leading to an epidemic that plagued the world and bombings that ultimately destroyed it. Majority of cities were reduced to dust and casualties were in the billions.
In order to control those corrupt, humanistic feelings and cravings, the Escape Room was created. Every two years, we are brought into a virtual reality experience, much like a video game, except everything you feel and touch is real. In the Escape Room, the rules are easy; in order to pass you must escape the mazes and challenges presented to you. The game goes up in difficulty each time the player enters and tests different emotions and capabilities. If you don't escape within a given amount of time, the game ends, but your mind is trapped inside. Since you can't supply yourself with food, water, and other necessities, you eventually die. This might seem unsympathetic, but according to our government, with limited supplies it's important to weed out the weak and those that are deemed useless to the colony. Most of us disapprove of these methods, but there is nothing we can do.
Based off scores, each member of the colony is assigned a job matching our skill set. Much like the world before ours we have doctors, farmers, engineers and more. We are told that there are 20 colonies like ours. Each community is star shaped, composing of several globe like structures. The outer ring of globes contains a certain ecosystem in order to grow certain crops or raise livestock and fish. The center piece is a square structure with tall, gray concrete walls and an open roof, not there is much to see past the cloudy grey sky. Buildings tower high with apartments and government offices, while streets remain below with cars and pedestrians. The globe itself uses solar and wind power along with its own energy sources. It has its own temperature control system, which is always cold, and a steady oxygen supply with a special filtration system. It's a whole new world here and it is just beginning.