[ WP ] In 2020 , a worldwide compulsion prevents humans from telling any lies . In 2030 , you slip through the cracks .

I knew that I was different from my brothers at an early age. They always seemed slower than me…more vacant. Whenever our mother would catch us doing something we weren ’ t supposed to do, the looks on their faces changed. 
 
 “ Were you boys messing with the neighbor ’ s dog again? ” she would ask, already knowing the answer. Ben would wince, as if a sudden pain was felt in his head and he would reply truthfully, every time. It wasn ’ t until I was ten that my mother explained the rise of the Inquisitors. 
 
 The United Kingdom was the of many to leave the European Union and cause its disintegration. President Trump from the United States launched a series of attacks all across the globe, “ settling old scores from yesteryear ” all within the span of a couple years…creating disorder everywhere. China turned its attention on Russia directly and unrest began between the two Asian super-powers. These, and other smaller calamities led to the single largest collection of chaos in the world at any one time. 
 
 The world leaders that remained that still desired to work together to maintain some semblance of order had begun the Inquisitor Initiative. It is unknown how it was carried out, but since 2020, lying had become impossible. No man, woman, or child was capable of saying anything that was untrue. Whatever this was impacted people at the neurological level, as even deliberate deception was impossible, even if the words were true. 
 
 With the extinction of deception, order returned to the world with a stronger presence than previously existed. Advertising became a largely dead industry. Instead of promoting products, commercials were just informative. Political campaigns became a list of what their intentions were if elected and negative things they believed to be true about the other candidates. Communications had become…simpler. 
 
 As I was growing up, I had just accepted this to be true. I was incapable of lying. But like any curious child growing up, I had to experiment. My brothers shared their tales of trying to lie for the first time, and how painful the feeling in their skull was whenever they tried to be deceptive in anyway. I started with a small lie. My mother had asked if I liked this new dish she had cooked for us. I had a rather neutral opinion of the dish, but I exaggerated it instead. 
 
 “ This is one of the best things I have ever had! ” I exclaimed to everyone ’ s surprise. It was a rather mediocre meal, but they all accepted that I had meant it, as no one lies. No one even looks for deception anymore. I tried more deliberate lies, albeit it in private. “ Circles are pointed. Squares are round. ” Not exactly damning, but as basic of a lie as lies can get. I knew I was special. I also knew I had to keep it quiet. 
 
 Being the only one I know without a forcibly suppressed mischievous side is stressful. Too often I was tempted to lie to someone for amusement, to watch them saunter off on whatever nonsense quest I sent them on. I spent a lot of time as a small-scale opportunist. 
 
 “ Hello, my name is John Smythe, I ’ m here for the routine maintenance on your vault. ” 
 
 “ Pleased to meet you, I am Steve Wright. I ’ m here to pick up Ferrari I ordered. ” 
 
 I lived comfortably as a remorseless hedonist. Always careful to make what I had seem believable, if a bit unrealistic. Eventually, the conversations became more like: 
 
 “ Yes Mr. Mayor, I ’ d be glad to meet with you. ” 
 
 “ It is an honor to be a part of your staff Mr. President. ” 
 
 Most frighteningly of all was my last introduction: 
 
 “ Pleased to meet you Mr. Rogers. ” Rogers was a man in his sixties who looked me up and down with an unusually discerning gaze. 
 
 “ The pleasure is mine. Allow me to be first to welcome you to the Hall of the Inquisitors. ” 

