At some indefinite time, a
malady affects humanity. Upon waking, it seems like
vampirism, or something out of
Invasion of the Body-Snatchers, though it felt
different when dreaming.
It seemed to move across cities and countries, following a definite path, but still
struck people unawares. They ceased to be themselves. They became part of a common
will and purpose. But most important, their touch was transforming.
I, or someone like me, is in an unnamed city, trying to escape this calamity, and not
doing such a bad job. Until I meet a person, or he seemed to be, but was changed by the
plague. What I see seems now to be more a wire-figure, thick strands of red and blue
wire fashioned to look like a person--and so strong.
He grabs me. We wrestle. Somehow, his touch doesn't inflect me immediately. I try
to convince him he can become the ruler of this city--they never think of doing that, but go
blindly about their unknown purpose. I beg him to spare me, and take over the city by
infecting everyone himself, instead of letting the infection happen randomly--and let me
go.
We struggle in some kind of balcony overlooking a mall, or marketplace. We are
together back to back. Suddenly, I flip him over me, down to the mall. I suppose I had
convinced him.
I am able to escape. I leave the city.
I see the city. The transformed people are gathered, paying homage to him. But not
for long.
In three months, the plague has surrounded the city from other sources, and the
common, unknown purpose has redirected the citizens of the city away from obedience
to my opponent. I don't know what happened to him.