Dedicated to spite-  because her book, Born From Chaos is totally awesomesauce. Those who haven't read Born From Chaos should totally check it out. It's flipping great that I'm sure you can't put it down once you've started. For those who love mystery/thriller/horror/paranormal, this is the book for you! ;)

This was the Year 4867. It was the year of joy, as everyone said. Everything would change and turn out for the better. At least, that was what most people believed.

Everything was mostly fake. And by fake, it meant that most of the objects here were artificial. The houses were made of synthetic materials. There were holograms during this period of time. People... Were becoming more closed-off and silent. Frowns were only what you saw on the streets. Every single day. And even clothes were synthetic, as fake as ever.

That started in Year 3800. The year where everything built went down in flames. And by going down in flames. Literally and figuratively.

Year 3800 was the year when human species were falling apart and everything went wrong. From that single year, everything turned to chaos.

Not many people had heard of the operation named 'The Gem'. Only few knew about it. It was the government's top secret operation starting since Year 3750.

In Year 3796, scientists had realised that things were starting to go wrong. Plants and animals—they were all dying. None of them knew why and they were all puzzled. Way beyond words.

Everything they built was falling apart in a matter of months.

At first, humans didn't realise anything strange about the missing animals and plants. They didn't find anything wrong with their way of life. And the government kept silent, never revealing anything to the public. They only said that everything was alright and well. Nothing was out of order.

They were all lies.

A year later, people started to notice weird things happening. They started to be more alarmed. One day, a stranger died—nobody knew who he was. His body was found on the streets. No blood pouring out of him. Just an open mouth and a frightened expression. His eyes were wide open as if he had seen something horrifying. Nobody knew what. That was when people started to get suspicious and doubted the government. They started having questions swirling in their minds.

Then, another day, many realised that the animals and plants species' population had dwindled. The plants—that used to be filled with life and sprouting happily—were yellow and sick, slowly withering and dying. They shriveled up and turned black after. Just like that, one by one, the plants died. Hundred in a matter of 30 seconds. In a minute, 200. And in a day, 288 000 dead.

As for animals, they were starting to go crazy. They were getting weaker and weaker; thinner and thinner each day. Their skin were peeling off and turning red all over. By the next day, they were all dead. And by the next morning, the corpses were gone. Of course, not many noticed the changes. They were, after all, too busy with work and other more important things. Only some knew the difference, but kept silence, thinking that they were going crazy and kept to themselves more and more.

The government knew all that was happening. They had been monitoring everything. For two whole years straight. They tried to find a solution to solve the problem, working every day and night but to no avail. But they still continued, thinking that the fools—the public—wouldn't find anything strange. After all, they were stupid and foolish people.

But, by the end of two years, the public couldn't take it anymore. They knew something was amiss. Something was fishy. And they wanted to know what and why. They decided that they couldn't live in the dark anymore. They decided that they deserved to know the truth. So they rallied against the government, putting up fights and causing riots. Just to get answers.

And they weren't pleasant ones.

So the government fled, to a safe house—with everything already prepared for emergencies. Just in case.

They continued their experiments there, hoping to find a solution; a cure.

Another year passed in bliss with people living on their own while resources were running out. And then, disaster struck. Just when everyone thought that the worst was over. But it wasn't.

On another bright and sunny day, everyone was surprised to see the sun shining so brightly. And it was hot. Scorching hot.

Then, a person fell. Screaming in agony. His face burning up. Turning all red and blisters forming.

Nobody said a thing. Just kept silent and watched. As the drama unfolded. Then, more people started to get the same symptoms and they all died.

By then, another year had passed and 25% of the human population was gone.

That was when the scientists found a solution. One that would save them from their crisis. One that would save them all from extinction.

They returned to the city, shocked to find everyone weak and so skinny. Then they shared their plan. For a better place to live in. Some were happy and cheered, dancing in the rain while rejoicing. Others were not that excited, they doubted the government, afraid that they had tricks up their sleeves again.

So, the society split into two. One called The Controls; the other called The Abstracts.

The Controls followed the government and reached their paradise. A dome where they would live in, with plentiful of resources. From where? No one knew.

But they were about to find out soon enough.

The Abstracts decided they couldn't live in the old city of theirs. They moved, wandering far from their roots, hoping to come across a haven.

They did, eventually.

They found a place; a wreck. But everything was clean and usable. So they stayed. And they thrived, searching for food on their own. Needing no one to help them.

Both societies survived. And they did for centuries. No one thought that anything would go wrong again.

However, people make mistakes. Mistakes that might cost a life. Or much much more than just that.