It's the year 2038 and a deadly virus has consumed the world for more than 14 years.
In Denmark, an unknown politician took it upon himself to create a safe space from the infected. As long as you abide by the 8 Obligations, you are allowed to live...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Welcome." A man in a white lab coat greets me at the entrance to the facility. At first sight it looks like a normal hospital, but I know it isn't. I know that this is more like a research lab than a hospital.
"Thank you..." I try to maintain an emotionless facial expression, but I'm not sure I'm succeeding. It's heartbreaking to know how many people with severe side effects that are being isolated inside this facility.
"So, as you have already been briefed, this is where we isolate and monitor the people who is suffering from dangerous side effects to the vaccine."
Ever since I learned that the vaccine made a lot of people sick, I have been dying to scream "I told you so" from the rooftops, but I don't. This is one of those time I hate the fact that I was right.
I can tell that he might even have heard about my breakdown when the vaccines were distributed, because he is looking at me like he is expecting me to gloat or something. But that's not my style. Not out loud, anyway. Instead, I keep my focus where it matters. The people who suffer from the consequences.
"So, this section is patients with mild symptoms?"
I look through the glass doors that separates the patients from us. Every patient has their own little glass room, with the option of closing the blinds when they need privacy. Most of the patients has the blinds down between the separate rooms but not the ones at the front.
"Yes. These patients are suffering from headaches, coughs, and occasional blackouts."
I nod. I read that in the folder I was given before being relocated to this facility. I remember it from the description of the symptoms.
Symptoms are mostly, but not restricted to, the following: Blackout, memory loss, loss of speech and violence.
"So, when the blackouts occur, do you see any changes in their behavior?"
"Some." He answers while leading me further down the hallway. I glance at all the people we walk by. Most of them is sitting on the bed reading or watching something on the tv. The doctor suddenly stops and turns to face one of the rooms. I follow him. "When the patients complain about having blackouts, this is what it looks like."
Inside the room, a woman is sitting upright, staring at the glass. She isn't looking at us, but right through us. She doesn't move, speak, or look around. She just stays like that.
"How long does she sit like this?"
"It varies. Sometimes it can be hours. But we have learned not to disturb the patients when they are in this trancelike stage. If we wake them up, they get violent. We can also see a change in personality and behavior afterwards if we wake them from their trance. So now we just monitor them.
