[ WP ] As it turns out , the desolation is not worldwide , you 've just been living on an `` Apocalypse Reserve '' your whole life .

Okay, I've always wanted to do one of these and this is my first one, so here it goes: 
 
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 It was midnight and my stomach growled with hunger. I've been travelling with my dog over the arid wastelad for the last five days heading east, towards the sunrise. We've been sleeping during the day and walking during the night, all the while conserving what little food and water we had. Unfortunately, we ran out of food two days ago. It was too late to turn back, so the only thing left to do was go forward. At least we still had half a canteen of water left. 
 
 The desert around us was not completely devoid of life. The moon was almost full and in the dim light, I could make out cactus along with tufts of weeds growing in the dry soil. There were also mice and lizards every so often. It was n't enough to fill you, but just enough to keep you from starving. Ever since the great nuclear exchange, people have had to scrape by however they can. Good thing I've been doing this for a while. 
 
 We kept walking east until we saw the sun rise over the horizon. Up ahead, I could make out a fence against the red glare of the sun. Yes, this is it! The trip was worthwhile! I knew I would find it! The map was not wrong. I totally forgot about the hunger pangs and I ran forward with my dog trailing behind me. When I made it up to the fence, I could tell by the early morning light that it was new and well maintained. I had n't seen anything like this since the days before the bombs dropped. I looked to my left and right and saw that the fence ran on, seemingly for miles. According to the map, there should be a door somewhere along here. 
 
 I began searching for some kind of secret door but found nothing. Behind me, I heard my dog begin to bark at a high pitched mechanical sound. As I turned to look, I saw a small hovering drone above me. `` What?...'' I thought as a dart flew from the drone and pierced my neck. As I pulled the dart from my neck, I started to black out. 
 
 When I woke up I was surrounded by men wearing hazmat suits. There were four of them in the orange suits with the clear plastic face shield, and two of them were holding AR-15's pointed up in the air. I decided that they were n't raiders because the suits looked brand new and because I was still alive for some reason. 
 
 `` He's awake'' One of the men said. He was a young man in his 20's with clear skin and all his teeth. 
 
 `` Okay, good.'' said another man. He was balding and had wire frame glasses on. `` So you found the edge of the reserve, congratulations!'' 
 
 `` So it's true,'' I said. `` We really ARE being kept like animals!'' 
 
 `` No, not like animals, more like celebrities,'' the man said. 
 
 `` This is insane, what are you talking about?'' I replied. 
 
 `` You see, you're the star of a very popular reality TV show!'' the man explained `` The nuclear war was n't as bad as you think. Yes, some of the world was bombed back to the stoneage, but other parts were spared, more or less. New government takes over, yadda, yadda, yadda. Unfortunately, you lived in the parts that were utterly destroyed. The new regime has decided to cordon you guys off rather than come in and exterminate you.'' 
 
 `` What... what kind of world is out there?'' I stammered. What this guy was telling me was beyond the pale. Yet, as I looked in their faces, I could tell that they were soft and well fed, not at all like the men and women I knew. `` You mean you people watch us for fun!?'' 
 
 `` It's completely humane!'' the bald man said. `` Would you rather we come in and liquidate you? I do n't so. We started broadcasting some of the footage we took of you using our arial drones. The public loved it! They could n't get enough. They need something to take their minds off the war. That something was you, you survivors and your wretchedness make us feel better!'' 
 
 `` Ugh, why do n't you just kill me already'' I said. 
 
 `` Here comes the best part!'' the bald man said. `` Since you are a household name, we ca n't just kill you off. You have to go back to your camp and play along. At the end of 5 years, we'll release you into our civilized society where you adored as a celebrity! Either that or we throw you in prison for the rest of your life, where I'm sure you will have groupies as well. The choice is yours.'' 
 
 `` Five years, huh?'' I said. `` Okay, where do I sign?'' 

