The population has grown over 11 billion people. After claims that the population would level at 9 billion proved false, the world realized they needed to slow down. Government took action, it started with limiting parents to one child per family. But with divorces and love feuds, they realized the only way to keep the one child rule was to create arranged marriages. At the age of 16, everybody is assigned a mate. It is calculated with the needs of the world. Along with your mate you are assigned a job and a house.

In order to slim down the population further, each crime is punishable by death. Whether it's as small as stealing an apple or if you were wrongly accused, they didn't care. It was the death penalty. Twins, or mates who's mate had been killed were a second hand offence. Which meant they worked in the slums of the street.

Not even the government has a choice anymore, as they in turn, are forced into the cut. The cut from anything worth living for.