Asunción, Paraguay is a lovely city. As the capital of the country, ordinarily, it is swarming with people. People heading to work, going home, talking to friends, or even grabbing a bite to eat from a street vendor.

This is not an ordinary time, however. A few days after something caused the majority of Earth’s population to meld into a hive mind, this city has become quiet, almost deserted. No one casually walks on the streets anymore or stops to chat with a friend.

The only living soul left in the city is located in self-storage facility, locked inside on his own accord. After Manousos Oviedo saw how his whole city began seizing all at once, and then joined the hive mind, he was stricken with terror. And now, he’s surviving in the facility that he manages.

At the moment, it is late evening. Crickets chirp outside the building that Manousos is settled in. The man wearily rubs at his eyes, crossing off yet another silent radio line in his notebook. He takes a break to peek through the cardboard covering his window.

Manousos’ heart goes still when he sees what is outside the locked gate and his mouth goes dry. It isn’t the fake version of his mother that comes by every morning and evening to bring him a home-cooked meal (that he promptly overturns each time). No, this is…someone different.

The man exits the building only after grabbing his metal crowbar and cautiously approaches the gate.

“¿Quién es usted?” he calls out, tightening his grip on the crowbar.