The Condemned

The shadow of the mountain range crept over the flat, arid land like outstretched fingers on San Juan Diego’s outskirts. Once known for its teeming farming, only a few residents remained in the remote village near the Mexico border. With the work gone, men had abandoned their homes for other prospects. Most reluctantly sought fortune with cartels, especially the young and aimless. For those remaining, the village diminished into a pass-through — the lack of authority and remoteness, caused by the mountainous landscape encompassing San Juan Diego, made the location ideal for the underworld.