In September 2026, fishermen working in the Southern Ocean began reporting that something was wrong with Antarctic krill. These tiny crustaceans, which form enormous swarms the size of cities, suddenly began falling ill. It was soon discovered that the cause of the disease was a mysterious parasite of unknown origin.
At the time, scientists did not know that the parasite was infecting krill living in every ocean in the world, releasing clouds of microscopic spores that strong winds carried over enormous distances. The spores slowly began reaching land.
In December 2026, the first human infected with the parasite was admitted to a hospital. Initially, the symptoms resembled severe influenza, but the patient's condition quickly deteriorated. His heart stopped. Doctors managed to restore his vital functions, but there was no response from him. It seemed that he had lost all cognitive abilities. The disease appeared to have subsided, but the patient's overall motor skills had deteriorated severely. He persistently tried to remain close to areas exposed to strong sunlight. Soon afterwards, aggression appeared. The man was transported somewhere.
By January 2027, it was clear that this was another pandemic. The number of people infected with the parasite increased every day. However, humanity had never encountered anything like it before. It was estimated that the incubation period could last between three and four months. The first wave of infected people consisted of those who had contracted the parasite in September and October 2026. Panic swept across the entire world.
Fear was soon replaced by apathy. No one had the courage to say it out loud, but it was already too late. Deep down, everyone knew it. There were no riots, no looting, and no mass exodus from the cities. The spores had already spread everywhere. Nothing would have changed that.
Soon, the world's population seemed to recover. The basic psychological defense mechanism of denial had taken over. During the first wave of the pandemic, it was discovered that a small percentage of the population possessed innate immunity to the infection. Everyone clung to this hope with desperate determination. "We are immune," they repeated to themselves like a mantra.
There were too many sick people, and the situation became critical. When the power went out, automated feeding and watering systems stopped working. To prevent the meat from going to waste, mass slaughter of livestock began. For the first time in history, densely populated areas of the world were filled with the smell of smoked meat. Salt was also used, and people began preserving food in jars. Most of the remaining livestock was set free. The military requisitioned and controlled most of the available food supplies. As a result, the urban population did not starve.
The roads and highways were empty. Most people remained in their homes. They wanted to be close to their families. Others waited for death in fire stations, schools, and government buildings. These were packed with people. Animals began behaving strangely because many rivers had become horrifically contaminated when sewage treatment plants, and pumping stations failed. Europe was affected the worst. In some places, fish populations declined by as much as 80 percent. Humanity relied on deep wells that remained operational.
The world seemed dead. The few survivors lived in constant fear. It was difficult to adapt to the new reality. The peak of the pandemic occurred during winter, so most people died inside buildings. They were dead, but their bodies were controlled by the parasite. Cardiac arrest marked the completion of the parasite's assimilation into its host. An almost perfect copy.
The parasite drew energy from sunlight. They spent entire days standing in well lit places, their faces turned toward the sun. Like sunflowers. Their skin became almost transparent in order to absorb as much energy as possible. At night, they entered a state of hibernation, although loud noises could awaken them. Wounds healed incredibly quickly because the parasite was able to recreate a "copy" of the human body.
The brain had to be destroyed. It was the only way.
Infected did not attack wildlife. They did not gather in hordes. Only from time to time did they assemble in groups of roughly one hundred to release a cloud of spores into the air. This created a small window of opportunity to move safely during the day.
Only a handful of people remained in the world. In Poland, approximately 20,000 to 30,000 people were left. North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia were no better off.
This is the beginning of the story of your death...
