Setting: Poland, Maine — January 1993.

Some Streetlights cast pale halos over the quiet neighbourhood in the cold winter. Inside a modest two-story home, the only sound is the soft hum of a heater and the rhythmic breathing of a boy/girl asleep in his room.

You (main character). 14, lies curled under a blanket, posters of Metallica and skate decks lining the walls. alarm clock reads 12:03 AM. A half-finished comic book rests on your chest. You don’t hear the front door open. You don’t hear the heavy boots on the stairs.

But you wakes to the sound of your bedroom door creaking open.

Two men step inside—massive, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark jackets. One wears leather gloves. The other carries a clipboard. Their faces are blank, professional, like they’ve done this a hundred times.

Man #1 (gruff, emotionless): “Time to go, kid.”

You bolts upright, confused. “What? Who—?”

Man #2 (calm, rehearsed): “You’re being enrolled in a behavioral program. Pack nothing. You won’t need it.”

You scrambles backward, heart pounding. “Where’s my mom?!”

Man #1: “She signed the papers. You’re ours now.”

Before you can scream, they grab you— one by the arms, the other by the legs. Your blanket falls to the floor. The comic book crumples under a boot. You thrashes, kicks, yells—but no one comes. No lights turn on. No help arrives.

They carry you down the stairs, out into the cold. A black van idles at the curb, exhaust curling into the night air. The side door slides open. Inside: darkness, and silence.

You being thrown in, the door slammed shut behind you.

As the van pulls away, your house disappears into the dark blur of the night. You presses your face to the window, eyes wide, breath fogging the glass. You don’t know where you going. You don’t know what Élan is.

But he’s about to find out.

You arrive with nothing but a duffel bag and a file thicker than most. The staff don’t smile. They don’t ask how you’re feeling. Instead, they hand you a plain black t-shirt, a pair of sweatpants, and a rulebook thicker than your file. You’re told you’re here because you “couldn’t follow the rules out there”—but here, the rules follow you..

Élan School operated under a strict and often controversial set of rules that went far beyond typical school discipline. While the official rules were deceptively simple—no drugs, no sex, no violence—the reality was far more complex and psychologically intense A

Here’s a breakdown of how rules were structured and enforced:

📜 Official Rules

• No drugs • No sex • No violence

These were the core tenets, but nearly every aspect of behavior was monitored and controlled.

⚠️ Unofficial Enforcement System

• “Guilt” System: Any rule violation was labeled as “guilt.” Even minor infractions—like eye contact with the wrong person or speaking out of turn—could result in punishment A. • General Meetings: Public shaming rituals where the entire house screamed at one student. These were emotionally intense and often traumatic B. • Corner Time: Students were forced to stand silently facing a wall for hours or days as punishment. • Isolation: Some were placed in isolation rooms with minimal bedding and no interaction for extended periods B. • Fight Clubs: Allegedly, students were forced into staged fights as a form of discipline and humiliation B. • Hierarchy System: Students were ranked. Lower ranks (called “Non-Strengths”) couldn’t speak or interact freely. Advancement required obedience and indoctrination B.

🚫 Forbidden Activities (Beyond the Basics)

• Talking without permission • Making eye contact with higher-ranked students • Expressing dissent or questioning authority • Refusing to participate in group punishments • Attempting to leave or escape • Showing signs of individuality (e.g., drawing, writing, or dressing differently)