Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“This... this is Dr. Evelyn Carter, recording a personal message in case... in case something goes wrong. I don’t know who will find this, or if it will even survive the years to come, but I need to make sure the truth is known—no matter the cost.”
Her voice quivers as she continues, the fear in her words unmistakable.
Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“The Eidolon is not what we originally believed. It is not just a breakthrough in viral research—it is a prison. A the Eidolon Core is a containment device. Contained within it are vials of a strain of the Sonohoka virus, a virus unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We named it Eidolon. I’ve studied it, tested it, and I... I can’t understand what we were thinking when we began this. When we started this research, we thought we could use it to cure the worst form of the virus. The version that turns its victims into mindless, rotting husks.”
There’s a soft, almost inaudible sigh, as if she’s struggling to breathe past the weight of her words.
Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“But the strain in those vials... it doesn’t create zombies. It doesn’t destroy the mind or the soul. Instead, it... mutates. It alters the body. It changes everything. And not in the way I imagined. Those who are infected by it—they don't die in the traditional sense. They don't become mindless. No, they become... something else entirely. The virus takes hold of the body and reshapes it, making them other. Their minds, their abilities—they change, too. Some gain new powers, abilities we could only dream of. Others... their forms warp in ways that make it difficult to recognize them as human anymore.”
Her voice grows more strained, as if the gravity of her revelation is suffocating her.
Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“And yet... I can't bring myself to destroy the Core. It holds answers, answers we need. We don’t understand enough about the virus yet—about the Eidolon or the zombies or the... the others. I... I fear what the world would be like without this knowledge. Without understanding how to stop it, or... what it could become. If I destroy it now, it could mean the end of humanity's only hope against the next mutation of the virus.”
She pauses, the sound of paper shuffling in the background is faint. There’s a long, deep breath as she tries to steady herself.
Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“But I... I can’t ignore what’s happening to Emily. I can’t. My sister, Emily... she’s made a decision. A decision I begged her not to make. She... she’s going to inject herself with the Eidolon strain. She believes that if she becomes infected with it, the other virus strains won’t be able to consume her the way it has consumed so many others. She thinks it will give her the immunity she needs. That it will protect her from the deadly form, the forms that erode the mind. But I know what will happen. I know what will happen to her. She’ll be transformed—she’ll lose herself, just like the others. But she refuses to listen to me.”
There’s a long, hollow silence before she speaks again, her voice soft but resolute.
Dr. Evelyn Carter:
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop her. If she’s already done it... if it’s too late... God help me, I’m not sure what’s worse—the virus itself or the helplessness I feel watching my own sister slip away. If you find this, whoever you are, please... please, do not let this virus spread. Do not let it fall into the wrong hands. The Core must be contained. I’m begging you—do what I can’t.”
The recording cuts off abruptly with a faint click, the static growing louder for a moment before it fades entirely.
End of Recording
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Author's Notes
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