In the 1850s, in a tropical forest, a parasitic fungus that attacked ants was discovered. Initially, it was regarded as merely a unique and fascinating biological phenomenon, harmless to humans. Just an insect parasite.
Two decades later, in the 1870s in North America, another fungus was found infecting periodical cicadas. The discovery startled scientists. Several strains were known to produce compounds similar to psilocybin and natural amphetamines.
This fungus didn't just kill its host; it manipulated behavior. Yet, once again, it was all considered limited to insects.
Then, in 2009, in Japan, a strange case emerged. A fungus was found in a patient's ear canal. Upon investigation, similar cases had apparently been recorded as far back as 1966 in South Korea.
Unlike the two previous fungi, this species could survive at human body temperature, and its spread was rapid.
For the first time, the fungus was no longer seen as just a strange organism in the wild. It began to be considered a potential threat to humans.
——
Now, the Year 20XX. An international research consortium embarks on an ambitious project.
They call it a revolutionary breakthrough in the field of neurological medicine.
The project claimed to aim to help millions suffering from nerve disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, develop a super-adaptive antifungal, and create a more efficient and environmentally friendly method of agricultural pest control.
The public welcomed it with optimism. Funding flowed in abundantly. Laboratory tests showed promising results.
However, behind the tightly closed laboratory doors, something began to develop.
And it wasn't what they had planned.
——
Inside the bustling laboratory, researchers worked on their respective tasks. Monitors glowed, equipment hummed softly, and the faint scent of chemicals filled the air.
Tess.
A drop of liquid fell into a test tube containing a thawed fungus sample.
"Yes! Finally. The sample's mixed. You can start observing the reaction now."
"Oh, alright."
The sample was placed under a microscope.
A few seconds of silence.
"Hm... its movement has changed."
"Changed how?"
"...Faster. The mycelium structure seems to be adapting."
"Is that good?"
"Let's see first."
𝘛𝘐𝘊𝘒... 𝘛𝘖𝘊𝘒... 𝘛𝘐𝘊𝘒... 𝘛𝘖𝘊𝘒...
The clock signaled break time.
Moments later, the laboratory door opened.
𝘡𝘯𝘨𝘨𝘨—
A scientist entered, carrying several food containers.
"Everyone, I brought food. Apparently, we're allowed to eat in here today."
"Really?"
"Thank goodness, I'm starving."
A few researchers stepped away from the experiment tables. Others remained fixated on their monitors.
"If this sample actually becomes a medicine, a lot of people could be saved."
"Not necessarily. We still need to test its stability."
"Yeah, yeah. I was just saying."
A quiet laugh rippled through.
One of them stepped back and leaned against a table.
𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘱.
His elbow nudged the sample tube.
Ah—!
Everyone turned.
The tube wobbled on the edge of the table. Almost fell. Then it stopped.
"Phew... that was close."
"Hey! Be careful! We don't know what would happen if that spilled."
"Yeah, sorry. The main thing is it didn't spill, right?"
"Alright, alright. Let's eat."
The atmosphere relaxed again.
A scientist grabbed a plate and sat a little too close to the microscope. His gloved hand accidentally brushed against the side of the tube.
"Damn it... My hand touched it. I need to take these gloves off immediately."
He peeled off his gloves, placed them aside, and started eating.
——
A few days later, the television aired the latest news about the project.
"𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥. 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘻𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦."
Footage from a press conference was shown.
"𝘞𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘈 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘶𝘴."
——
"Wow... didn't expect a casualty this quickly. But well, it's kind of expected, I guess."
Click.
Parvez turned off the television.
He got up from the sofa, stretching his body. "Hrrgh... uhh..."
He gazed out the window. The afternoon sky was clear.
"Such a clear day today... perfect for doing stuff. But I'm feeling lazy."
He walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Empty.
"Huh? What am I supposed to eat then?"
He checked the shelves one by one.
No eggs. No instant noodles.
"Tsk. Looks like I have to go shopping."
Parvez threw on some casual all-black clothes and headed out to the minimarket.
Upon arrival, he bought instant noodles, eggs, and a few other necessities.
"Your total is 32,000."
He paid and walked home while glancing at his phone.
"𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺'𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵: 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 12:00 𝘗𝘔 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 3:00 𝘗𝘔."
"Huh? On a day this clear?"
He sighed.
"It's gonna rain soon... but I'm too lazy to run—"
𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘥.
He bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry—"
The man didn't answer.
Parvez looked up.
The man's gaze was sharp. Cold. As if it held nothing but irritation... or something deeper.
Parvez quickly averted his eyes.
The man walked away without a single word.
"Haah... what's up with that guy? The way he stared..."
The hairs on the back of Parvez's neck stood up.
"Never mind. It's going to rain soon."
He quickened his pace home.
——
The rain came exactly one hour after Parvez got home.
At first, it was just a light drizzle misting the windowpane. Then, without warning, the sky emptied as if a giant bucket had been overturned. Water poured down violently, hammering the roof and streets with a sound that filled the entire room.
"Rain..." Parvez murmured softly.
He stood in his small kitchen, staring at the water flowing outside the window.
"Rain like this is perfect for noodles."
Casually, he turned on the electric kettle, boiled water, and dropped the instant noodles into a bowl. His movements were slow, unhurried, as if the world outside had nothing to do with him.
A few minutes later, he returned to the living room with a steaming bowl of noodles and a cup of tea. He sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬.
The screen showed a news report about the sudden weather change.
"The rain is expected to last longer than initially forecast. The government urges residents to remain indoors until conditions are declared safe."
Parvez stopped stirring his noodles.
"Hm? If it's just rain, why the urge to stay indoors?"
He took a slow slurp.
𝘚𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘱...
The rain intensified.
"A cold front from the north has been moving towards the city since 5:00 PM this evening. Temperatures are expected to drop to 13°C tonight."
Parvez raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Thirteen degrees..."
He glanced at the window, which was beginning to fog up.
"Looks like I'll need an extra blanket tonight."
He continued eating his noodles leisurely.
——
On the other side of the city, inside the spacious and silent Raymond family home, the same broadcast played on the large living room screen.
A tall man stood with both arms folded across his chest, staring at the news without blinking.
"...𝘛𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘰 13°𝘊 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵."
His expression shifted. Not because of the temperature.
Something was wrong.
And for some reason, he felt this rain was more than just rain.
——
The Next Day.
The sky above Parvez's apartment looked gray. Clouds hung low, making the morning feel heavier than usual.
Parvez woke to a strange sound from outside.
"Ngh... what's that noise...?"
With his eyes still half-closed, he got out of bed and shuffled slowly towards the window. His steps were sluggish, his mind not fully awake.
He opened the curtain. And froze.
Down below, the street was chaos.
Several vehicles had crashed into each other. Smoke billowed from crumpled car hoods. Small flames licked the side of one vehicle. People were running aimlessly. Some staggered. Others screamed.
Parvez rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then blinked. Looked again. It was all real.
"The fuck...?"
Startled, he looked around. He didn't open the window. Just stood behind the glass, staring with a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Those people... what's wrong? What's going on? This isn't normal..."
Anxiety slowly crept in, tightening his chest.
He turned quickly, walking to the table where his phone was charging. He grabbed it and turned it on.
As the screen lit up, a massive notification dominated the display. Sent at exactly 12:00 AM – while he was asleep.
[𝘌𝘔𝘌𝘙𝘎𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘠 𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘙𝘛: 𝘊𝘙𝘐𝘛𝘐𝘊𝘈𝘓.
𝘕𝘈𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕𝘈𝘓 𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘓𝘛𝘏 & 𝘚𝘌𝘊𝘜𝘙𝘐𝘛𝘠 𝘈𝘎𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘠
𝘐𝘔𝘔𝘌𝘋𝘐𝘈𝘛𝘌 𝘚𝘏𝘌𝘓𝘛𝘌𝘙-𝘐𝘕-𝘗𝘓𝘈𝘊𝘌 𝘖𝘙𝘋𝘌𝘙 𝘌𝘍𝘍𝘌𝘊𝘛𝘐𝘝𝘌 𝘕𝘖𝘞.
𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴.
𝘚𝘛𝘈𝘠 𝘐𝘕𝘋𝘖𝘖𝘙𝘚. 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
𝘚𝘌𝘈𝘓 𝘈𝘓𝘓 𝘌𝘕𝘛𝘙𝘠 𝘗𝘖𝘐𝘕𝘛𝘚. 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴.
𝘈𝘝𝘖𝘐𝘋 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘛𝘈𝘊𝘛. 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
𝘞𝘈𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎. 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦.
𝘍𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸.
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺.]
The message had been sent while he was asleep.
He went back to the window, checking one more time. Hoping everything would return to normal. But nothing had changed.
From below, faint screams rose. The sound of breaking glass. Vehicles colliding. Something heavy falling with a crash.
"Whoa... this disaster is terrifying..."
He stepped back slowly. Then moved quickly.
Without overthinking, he went to his room and grabbed his large backpack.
"This is just like in those comic books..."
But this time, it wasn't fiction.
He started packing items:
A few books, stationery, scissors, duct tape, perfume, scout rope, Vitamin C, Some clothes, A thick piece of fabric, And two boxes of masks.
He carried the bag to the living room, placed it on the sofa, and headed to the kitchen.
He opened the fridge and took all the remaining water bottles. Then cleared out the food supplies he'd bought yesterday. Everything went onto the table.
He grabbed the charger cable and power bank from the TV stand. He placed them next to the food he'd brought from the kitchen.
He sat for a moment, staring at the gathered items.
"Hm... I don't know why I'm prepping this, but it's not enough," he muttered.
His eyes scanned the room, landing on the corner where the broom and mop were.
Then towards the kitchen. Towards the knife rack.
"...I should bring those too."
He stood up.
Three knives were taken: a meat knife, a chef's knife, and a boning knife he'd bought long ago for no clear reason. Plus two boxes of tissues.
He wrapped the knives in thick cloth, then put them in a plastic bag so they wouldn't damage his backpack.
He grabbed the broom handle. Detached the bottom part. The long stick felt light... but sturdy enough.
Slowly, he approached the window again and peered out.
Outside, the chaos had worsened.
People were no longer just running. They moved erratically. Jerkily. As if losing control of their own bodies.
Some buildings in the distance were damaged. Black smoke rose.
"...They're like zombies in a movie now."
Parvez squinted, trying to see more clearly.
Then he froze.
He saw someone down there. Someone he recognized. An elderly woman who lived right next door in his apartment building.
She seemed to be returning from the minimarket. A shopping bag still dangled from her hand.
But behind her... Several people moved strangely, following him.
The woman quickened his pace.
So did they.
They caught up to her. A brief, faint scream filtered through the window.
Parvez wanted to go help. But what could he do? He was too late.
Parvez could only stand rigid behind the glass. He watched it all.
A few seconds later, the people moved away.
The elderly woman's body lay still.
Her groceries scattered across the street.
A moment of silence.
Then, the body moved. Not like someone waking normally—its movements were broken, jerky, and stiff. Slowly, it rose, its head tilting slightly, and began walking in the same disjointed way as the others.
Parvez slowly backed away from the window.
Shocked. Anxious.
"...What the hell is all this."
His hands started to sweat. His face grew serious.
And for the first time since reading that emergency message, he realized his world had completely changed.