LUNA HELEN

  I was at the hospital with my brother.

  He was one of the many victims of what they called the "Red Rain"—the first day of rain after the meteor fall.

  A dense, crimson rain that smelled of iron and blood, evaporating so quickly it seemed like it wanted to blend into the air to spread as much corruption as possible.

  It was my second night without sleep by his side.

  My mind was a mess, and the truth is, I didn't have much hope left.

  Since our parents died, his health had only worsened, and the "Red Rain" was the final blow.

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  A few days after it happened, his condition plummeted for good.

  The outbursts and the muttering... I didn't know what to do anymore.

  Then the Acrox military knocked on our door.

  No explanation.

  They forced us to come to this facility.

  They said my brother was showing "the first symptoms"—and shortly after, that he had fallen into a coma.

  At least, that’s what they told me.

  At first, they wouldn't even let me near him.

  But as things got worse and more people were rushed in, the staff began to collapse physically and psychologically.

  There were too many people with symptoms, people losing their minds... the hospital simply couldn't cope.

  That’s how they started allowing close family members to stay by the patients' side, helping with care, observing, and doing whatever was possible.

  And that’s how I ended up here.

  Sitting next to my brother, watching every detail, trying to understand what was happening to him... and to the world.

  NOTICE: The continuation, "CHAPTER 2: THE ARRIVAL," comes immediately after Chapter 18. I apologize—there was an error in the posting.