2043 AD was quite possibly one of the most disastrous years in recorded history. Seemingly without provocation, a terrorist organization of unknown origin set out to make life a living hell for the rest of humanity. They created the “TELIRA” virus, which could best be summed up by its motto, “No cure. No hope.” Initial symptoms resembled the common cold, but infection couldn’t be positively identified until the subject began to cough, and eventually vomit, blood. The worst part, however, was the fact that the virus thrived in water, turning a required resource into a tool of death.

When word got out, Madagascar was the first to close its shipping docks. Soon after the docks shut down, armed men with gas masks started patrolling the beaches 24/7. Their job was, quite simply, to terminate any unauthorized personnel within firing distance of the island. By 2046, Madagascar had become the only place on Earth with a consistent source of purified water, earning it the name “Eden.” Over the years, many people attempted to reach Eden, but no matter how close they made it to the island, their fate was always the same. This wasn’t to say, however, that Eden didn’t profit from its blessing. Every two weeks, a group of masked men were dispatched to the coast of Africa, selling bottles of uncontaminated water to anyone willing to pay an outrageous sum. Needless to say, Eden soon became the financial powerhouse of the world.

Meanwhile, “The Righteous” thrived as well. A religious crusade, formed in the ruins of America, whom believed they were personally entitled to Eden by God himself, and sought to take it through any means necessary. Their temporary solution to the water crisis was inspired by the Romans, who had mixed contaminated water with alcohol centuries prior. The Righteous saturated their water so thoroughly with alcohol that the virus had no chance of survival. Though this method produced drinkable water, it did of course have some side effects. Best known for rape, murder, and thievery, The Righteous were noted for having amassed a number of slaves through their “divine conquest” comparable to that of the ancient Egyptians.

Last but not least were the scavengers. During the water crisis, those living in big cities found themselves unable to survive under the conditions. Most left their concrete fortresses to start anew in the wilderness, hoping to hide their families from the murderers and thieves. Some attempted to dig wells to supply themselves with uncontaminated ground water, while others eventually died of sickness or malnutrition. With the entire human race numbering at twenty percent of what it had been eight years before, there were more houses than there were people to fill them. At last, the population problem had found its solution.

For over a decade, life has struggled on. No one truly knows what the future holds for them anymore, and quite frankly, most are too tired to care. Hope dims with each passing day, and our souls change to reflect it. The world has seen a new beginning, and with it a new breed of existence. Nothing remains now but the dead and the damned, and more often than not, the latter envies the former.