The Artist Apocalypse

Chapter One: Mutants

          Before the apocalypse ever started, before the extreme advancements in the cosmetic industry, there was a time where mutants were brand new to this world. It is still unsure on how exactly they came to be, but it is of the general opinion that these mutations started with either a mad scientist, or a large amount of people who were sexually attracted to animals. It is also of  the general opinion that the mutations were unholy, were impure, and were most definitely sent from the depths of hell, and would eventually bring the apocalypse to the entire globe.

          It was 1973 in a long forgotten hospital in upstate New York where it was first discovered. Doctor Elias Synths was doing tests on one of his pregnant patients, standard procedures. While checking the results of the tests, he noticed an error, a singular strand of DNA that did not belong to her, or any human for that matter, in her blood. Upon further inspection, Dr. Synths came to the conclusion that the DNA belonged to that of a horse. Obviously, this was really odd. Looking at the results of the other tests, there was even more horse DNA. The doctor was baffled. Beastiality wasn't common, especially not in the North, and even then, how on earth would it get into her bloodstream? That would involve the woman cutting open both herself and the horse, and getting some of its genetic material into her. The doctor decided it would be best to call Adelaide, the pregnant patient, to come back to the hospital to do further tests just to be safe. After all, he wasn't quite sure if this would affect her child's health in any way. Though she was confused, Adelaide complied to his request to return to the hospital.

          After numerous hours, Dr. Synths got enough of a sample to take back to the lab for further testing. Rather than taking more blood, he figured he would find the answers he seeked within the unborn child. While most would consider this unethical, Adelaide didn't mind. She just wanted her child to be healthy when it's born. 

  But the results left the doctor even more confused.

          The samples he took came back as an unrecognized specimen. It wasn't human. He no longer knew what to do. What was he supposed to tell Adelaide? That she was somehow going to give birth to an unknown creature? This should be impossible. It is impossible for humans to become pregnant with the offspring of another animal, or anything else for that matter. But there it was in black in white before him. Her child was not going to be a bouncing baby boy or girl, but a little abomination. He felt as if he was losing his mind. In his state of confusion, he called up his friend who was a biologist currently studying in West Africa. Of course she didn't believe him. Who would? He sounded insane. Deciding to withhold the information, Dr. Synths refused to tell Adelaide the truth. She still had two months left of her term, and he wasn't about to stress her out. 

         A month later, Dr. Synths received a call from the biologist, Eileen Spencer. She had sounded just as he did a month back. Scared, confused. Eileen stated that there had been reported cases of animal DNA being found in fetuses in West Africa, Canada, and India, each report being within the past two weeks. Soon, the number of reports, and the countries the reports came from, grew. Fifty-three cases. Seventy-six. One hundred and ten. Four hundred and thirty-seven. Not a single medical professional knew how to handle the situation, all they knew was that it was best to keep the information they've gathered private. 

        Eventually, the mothers came to the ends of their terms and went into labor, but nobody could guess what would happen.

        Hybrids of humans and animals came forth from the womb. There were wings, tails, ears, hooves, scales, fur, gills attached to the newborns, each characteristic depending on what DNA was found within their mother. Nurses fainted, mothers and fathers screamed, doctors stayed silent, knowing they should have told them to abort the monstrosity of a child. But it was too late for that now. These mutated children were in the world, and were without love. Every single parent refused to claim the child as their own, saying they could never love a monster. Doctors pleaded with their patients to take the children, but they refused. Nothing they said would convince them, that is until Doctor Synths came over the radio. He had bribed the station managers to allow him to broadcast as far as they were able to reach. Synths told the world to wait. "In one year's time, I will take the unwanted mutants from their parents, and compensate with five grand for each family who was effected by this." 

        With this promise, the parents kept their little abominations, and Doctor Synths immediately got to work on his plans.

        Within a year, a new institute had been secretly built underground, hidden beneath a skyscraper. One by one, all four hundred and thirty-seven children had been taken away, as promised, into what would be their new home. Over the next twenty years though, those who escaped claimed that it wasn't a home, it was hell. Daily experiments occurred, many of the mutants losing their lives from the torture they endured. After they turned five, it was discovered that the mutants could completely transform into animals. Ninety-three children died that afternoon after the "caregivers" decided to see how their mutations worked. 

Only survivors know the horrors.

         When the children became young adults, they mated, creating more mutants. Those who were pregnant figured out ways to escape into the world. Soon, others followed until there was no one left. The institute closed down on September 23rd, 1995. The same day, governments everywhere warned their people of the newly freed mutants, and told them they were docile. There were mixed reactions. Many were afraid of them, thought they were abominations. Some had no opinion whatsoever. But most envied them. They looked like they came out of the movies and cartoons, out of animes and mangas. They looked foreign, unnatural. But they had abilities that seemed extraordinary. Flight, strength, the ability to breathe underwater, the ability to change forms at will, night vision, speed. They were magical, and everyone wanted to be them.

       Soon, scientists worked with cosmetic surgeons to find a cure to being normal. Since no one knew how they originally were created, they had to start fresh. It wasn't until 2005 that they discovered how to turn normal humans into mutants. But it came at a price. Every procedure cost upwards of $1,000,000. Many people took out loans, others simply already had the money to do it. But the Earth's population of mutants and the cost of the procedures were quickly increasing.

But that was the past. 

Today is August 18th, 2023.

And this is where our story starts.