Name: Westwood Wasteland, Virginia
Established: 1705
Population: 300
Setting: After the N-R Extinction in 1970
Present Day: 2021 -- Late Spring/May
Westwood Wasteland is a small, isolated coastal town along the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia. The town is formerly known as Westwood, but after the Westwood Nuclear Power Plant explosion in 1970, the residents have nicknamed the town Westwood Wasteland. The Westwood Nuclear Power Plant explosion was devastating to the community, but rumor has it that it was devastating to the whole world as the townspeople have been told that power plants all over the world exploded the same day. They call this The N-R Extinction (N=Nuclear, R=Radiation). No one is sure what the reason was for The N-R extinction, but they all assume foul play.
After the explosion, many people died, and society as they knew it shut down. No one ventures out of the town for fear of the radiation as they believe there is radiation all over the world. Luckily one of their former town council members was a brilliant chemist and came up with an injection to help the townspeople survive the radiation/toxin fallout from the explosion. Fortunately for Westwood, there are many resources available in town to help the community members survive, which is another reason people stay.
Interestingly enough, the town council members all had worked at the power plant before the explosion, and there is some rumor that they know what really happened. Some people believe that there is no radiation at all and are getting frustrated with not being able to leave as it is highly prohibited against town law, and if they break the law, they will go to prison.
It is now 2021, and the resources are starting to deplete as well as the ingredients used for the injection to help the people survive the radiation/toxin fallout. In order to preserve their town, the town council created a game to manage the population in the town. The Game was created in 1981 and takes place on May 31st of every year. It is a game of survival where the 18 year olds of the town are forced to fight the prisoners to the death. The Game lasts 24 hours and the people who survive The Game are given the necessary resources and an injection to survive in the town. If the prisoners win, they will compete again the next year. If the 18 year olds win, their family is set up with resources for the remainder of their time in the town. If anyone is caught running away or hiding, they will be forced to be prisoners.
Interesting town features:
There are catacombs rumored to run underneath the town. The catacombs hold the bodies of the dead. Some people believe there is a way to get out of the town through the catacombs, and town gossip suggests that there might be a way into the catacombs from the church, the power plant, and the arena. And then there is that well...
In the center of the town is an arena where The Game is played. The prison is located in the arena, that way the prisoners can't get out.
The Westwood Power Plant is located in the northeast corner of Westwood and was built in 1955. There are still remnants of the Westwood Power Plant, but people do not go there for fear of radiation poisoning.
Important Information about the town:
The people must follow the rules of the town, or they will become prisoners.
The Main Rules:
The townspeople shall not leave.
The townspeople shall not hide or run away to avoid the games.
The townspeople cannot find out the truth. (This one is not official; it's just known.)
The townspeople cannot try to steal the anti-toxin injection.
Westwood Wasteland Town Project is a product created entirely by students enrolled in Creative Writing at Mundelein High School, Mundelein, Illinois.
©2021 by Mundelein High School Creative Writing Students
Mrs. Teuber (Teacher), Ms. Babowice (Instructional Aide), Ms. Klemstein (Instructional Aide)