As I sat in my cell, awaiting trial, I cast my mind back to the stories my grandmother would tell me. Of the time before they came to power in this part of the world and thought and sight was free.
It was at least two generations before I was born, that the black cross church came to power. First it was just local elections in the more conservative areas that they saw joy. Then at state level, then, when the rest of the nation could tolerate the extremity no longer this land was cut free.
They will tell you they won a war, but my grandmother told me it was just indifference, lack of patience and the north no longer wanting to economically support the hatred of us here in the south. And so, without a shot being fired, the 4 states were free, and under the iron thumb of the church of the black cross.
Now, I am its latest victim. Arrested in the dead of night and dragged from my bed. A neighbour had seen me bathe at the river naked. It was so hot, and the sun felt so good. Who ever had seen me had told the secret police, and now here I am, awaiting trial for indecency and lewd behaviour.