Half-Life Collective

What happened in campus yesterday. It’s all over the news….

I don’t think I can write about it now. I’ll try later.

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Alright, I think I can write now. I’m still not feeling well, and I think I might throw up if I think too much about the details, but I’ll try to describe what happened. I saw two girls being killed today by police.

I was leaving the dining yesterday noon. I had just finished having lunch, and just as I was eating a cookie was dessert, while I was walking towards my residence hall, I noticed a commotion to the left. There was a group of people forming a circle, some were screaming and others were yelling, trying to draw attention. I assumed two people had got into a fight, and I approached the scene to see what exactly was going on. That’s when I heard the horror-struck screaming, and saw some people taking a step back. I hastened my pace and finally reached the circle, and by then some people were turning and running away from the scene.

What I saw there…shit, I don’t even know what it was. All I know is two girls were covered in blood, eating other people. They were biting off their arms, their legs, even their necks, just eating it like you would eat a piece of meat. That was enough to cause you nightmares, but then they looked up, staring right at me, and their eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a state like theirs. So devoid of life, or recognition…of any semblance of humanity. They were empty. Just empty.

I was frozen, like some spell had been cast on me, until the one to the left stood up, and began approaching me. Her clothes were covered in blood, and her mouth was an even bigger mess. I won’t say how exactly, you can use your imagination, if you must. That’s when the spell was broken, and my small steps backwards led to me turning around and running for my life, heading back towards the dining hall. Many students were going there too. I reached for the door, opened it and got inside, and just as soon as I was in someone pushed me aside. I feel to the floor; a lady who worked at the dining hall was locking the door. I crawled backwards, until I hit a wall and then got up, walking away from the doors.

“I heard rumours.” The lady said, partly to me, partly to herself. “They said it happened to the Alssahrans. They say it’s happening to the Sartorians. It’s finally come here.”

They? It? What on Artemia was the talking about? I didn’t really have time to think of it. The noise inside the hall eventually got louder, something about the sick girls. I looked out the window and saw a couple of Campus Security officers approaching the girls. They were talking to them, but they ignored the officers. They approached the girls, and I’m not sure what happened, but they ended up cuffing them. One of the officers ended up getting an ugly bite in the arm from one of the girls.

By now around 15 minutes had passed. We opened the doors of the dining hall and went outside. That’s when we heard police sirens, and sure enough, two police cards and a van with a biohazard symbol on the side. They drove into the garden, heading towards the officers that were taking the girls to the Campus Security building. It’s curious how that’s the one detail I remember the most: them driving through the garden, ruining the plants as they went at full speed to catch the girls. It was an apocalypse out there, but for some reason I cared about the plants. They parked right in front of them, four officers got out of their cards. They quickly walked towards the girls, drew their guns and…well they just shot the girls. They walked, approached them, and they just pulled the fucking trigger, and blew the girls’ brains. They dropped to the ground right then and there. The Campus Security officers took some steps back, obviously shaken, but then the van opened and a group of people in biohazard suits appeared, carrying plastic coffins. They put both girls in there, and made the officers follow them inside the van.

I’d had enough. I don’t know how, but before I noticed I was inside my room, just leaning against the door, agitated and sweating like I’d run a 10K. I heard a voice, probably through a megaphone, asking all those had been in contact with the girls, or close to them, to submit themselves for a medical examination. Fuck that, I wasn’t going to find out what their “examination” involved.

Markos arrived minutes after I did, also sweating, also agitated, with a face stricken with horror. He didn’t talk much since then. We put some food in the microwave and had that for dinner. We didn’t want to go out to the dining hall that night.

I’m scared. I don’t know what exact happened yesterday, but I know it was wrong. It was…it was unnatural. Those girls weren’t just sick, no matter what those Health Ministry leaflets keep saying. There was something seriously wrong with them, and I’m not sure I want to be nearby when we find out what they had.

I don’t know. Maybe I should speed up my travel plans. There still are domestic flights, so I could go to my parents’ up in the Gate Islands. Screw the classes. I’d rather lose a few points and take my chances with it, than he around when this blow up, if it does. I told Markos, and based on how he answered, he’d leave right now if he could.

Anyway, I think I’ll stop now. I said more than I planned, and I sure didn’t like remembering what happened today. I think I’ll just get some sleep, and call my parents tomorrow morning. Hopefully I won’t have nightmares tonight.

I’m writing this from my phone, while I wait for the teacher to arrive for my class of Major Selenid Writers. This used to be one of the more popular classes, averaging around 50 students. If I said 20 people have come today, that would be a stretch. There is an eerie sense of concern in the air, as it there was some horrible truth that was best left unspoken. The air is heavier, the people look on edge, like something could happen any minute now. What worries me is I feel exactly the same way.

Yesterday the Crown Prince appeared on television to announce that Selene was closing its borders. Not one border with one nation. Not increasing border checks. Closing its borders, all of them. Nobody comes into Selene, and nobody leaves it. All international flights have been cancelled until further notice, and there is talk that domestic flights will soon follow. The Prince said this was temporary, a routine measure and that there was nothing to worry about, but nobody believes that. We’re not stupid, or blind. He knew something, something the government is keeping from us.

This morning ByzLive reported that Bawwaba Medina -actually the entire former occupied area- has gone dark. There have been no news, official or unofficial, for hours, and it seems the only major activity in Alssahra is that coming out of Alghana Al’ard. It’s as if the whole area had just been emptied, like everyone had moved somewhere else. The last news from inside the occupied area were mostly blogs, people posting their own news, circumventing the blackout. They talked of some kind of plague, a disease that caused people to become violent, and said everyone was terrified of it. Apparently that’s why the Sach’aqans withdrew, and a mere hours later the Alssahrans moved in and have been dealing with the infected with their military. I hope that’s a lie, because if not than they are insane. Killing sick people? Why?

Then again, they are not the only ones. Sartoria wants to bomb Bawwaba Medina, according to a document leaked yesterday. Their Military Councillor has gone insane, saying they need to use incendiary bombs to deal with the supposed plague. Again, why? What could be so terrible about a disease that you need to raze an entire city? Shouldn’t they send more medical teams or enhance their hospitals, or really do anything to actually cure whoever is sick? I mean, they don’t even say what’s going on!

A girl just came in wearing a surgical mask. She says she heard the disease is airborne, and that the government closing the borders won’t do a thing to keep it from coming. I really hope she’s wrong. Honestly, I really hope this is just one big nightmare.

What a concert!

Seriously, I can’t even begin to explain how awesome it was. Just by listening to the people there, by feeling the electricity in the air, you could notice the night would be something. First we had two opening acts, a fairly talented woman, probably in her late twenties, then a group that played some slower music. I’m slightly ashamed to say I slept dusing one of their songs. It was just a song though, I was awake for the rest.

The real deal started at almost 9PM, when the stage got dark, the sound of fans screaming became deafening, and Silent Collective appeared. They started playing their songs, first from the latest album and then from others. I liked the music, and made sure to record most of the concert, but Markos was the one having the time of his life. He was incredibly excited, singing every single song and constantly asking me how awesome I found them.

I can’t say I blame him; their music was pretty good, but for me the winner was how they handled the stage, how the concert felt almost like an immersive experience. At some point you could feel like you were part of the song. I’ve been listening to their songs and watching videos of their concerts, after coming back, and while the music is good, their concerts are beyond awesome. I remember seeing a few of their albums and videos in the music section at Taliko, so maybe I’ll buy them tomorrow or sometime next week.

I have ByzLive on while writing this, and they just released a story that Sartoria and Selene are apparently sending medical teams to Bawwaba Medina. This is getting weird. I mean, I’m as happy as anyone to see it liberated, but the way Sach’aqa basically surrendered it without a fight was odd. Then Alssahra imposed a media blackout. Now Selene and Sartoria send medical teams to deal with what was supposed to be a mild outbreak? What’s going on in that city?

It’s been quite some time since I wrote! I know, it’s all my fault, but I’ve been so busy these past few days. I had some tests, and then we had the field trip to the offices of The Byzantium Herald, where we saw their vaults and archives. That was beyond cool, but I had to spend the following days writing my report on the trip for History of Journalism. It was awesome, don’t get me wrong, but boy was it time consuming. I barely had time to go on my weekly supply run to the supermarket!

I talked with my parents this morning. They are fine, working on their farm as always. It’s amazing how well early retirement suits them. They lived their whole lives in the city, and still have a house there, but they moved to the country a couple years ago, and they seem to be as good as ever. They asked me if I was going to visit after finals. I said I would, and promised I’d bring them some souvenirs from Byzantium. I’ll probably get some Selenid Delights, since I know both my parents love them. I still remember how they took eight boxes with them the last time they visited.

In other news, I hear the Nahr War is still going strong. Sartoria and Noveaux have got involved, so I guess that makes it 5 countries against silly Sach’aqa. I’ve been thinking, and the only good thing I can say about that war is it’s managed to fix the horrible shape Sach’aqa had. That seems to be doomed to fail though, if the allied forces managed to push back the invasion.

Honestly I feel bad for those living in the occupied areas. As if living in a warzone wasn’t enough, there are now reports of a viral outbreak in some cities there. It seems living standards have fallen since Sach’aqa took control, probably bombing their way through every city, so people aren’t living under the healthiest conditions. I hope someone somehow manages to contain this outbreak. The last thing these people need is to worry about yet another thing that could kill them.

I promise I’ll try to write more regularly, and I’ll poke Markos so he remembers to do the same. Until next time though…

Góða nótt!

Today was rather slow. I spent the whole morning at Sephikleos, to leave some documents at my former office and then have lunch in a small cafe a few blocks away. There was a plaque just outside the cafe saying Prince Marcus VII was a frequent customer before taking the throne, so that was pretty cool.

After that I went back to the dorm and played some Xilophian Agency. I did two moon landings before it was time for class. I barely arrived in time for attendance. Mrs Philias usually arrives 15 minutes late, but for some reason I arrived on time and she was about to enter the classroom! I sneaked inside right before she closed the door.

I’m not sure why I wanted to be early though, since the course is so boring. I know I’m supposed to like my core literature courses, but Old Alytheud Literature is about as boring as something can get. I feel bad for Mrs Philias, because she really tries to make it interesting, but I just don’t care about the “hidden metric” of Phelovius’ poems. I can’t even get what the guy means with any of his verses.

Anyway, by dinner the big story was the Nahr War over in Alssahra. Apparently Sach’aqa is doing very well in their quest to conquer all areas surrounding the Nahr, without much resistance so far. It’s amazing how we withdraw from international politics and a few years later even the poorest dictatorships think they can rule the world. Hey, at least we won’t have to send our troops to die in some faraway land.

I think there was also a story about a Sartorian senator winning the Senate Open over in Messelia. I think there was something in an antarctic base? I honestly don’t remember, but it was a really small story anyway. Everyone is glued to the updates from the Nahr War.

It’s late now, so I guess I’ll just leave it there and carry on some other day. I’ll probably play some sports this morning, maybe then take a walk around campus. That always relaxes me.

Anyway, góða nótt!