The date is 12/31/1958

Like most of the populous of the underwater city of Rapture, you've taken this day to celebrate the upcoming turn of the new year. 1959 will be a bright and prosperous year for everyone... or so you hope. Despite reassurance from the city's leader, Andrew Ryan, his utopia itself has been on a bit of a decline due to civil unrest from Atlas and his allies. People have resorted to splicing with ADAM in order to use plasmids for self defense, resulting in many becoming reliant and addicted to the substance to the point of violence.

As it was still early in the day, you decided to pay a visit to Arcadia, the city's own nature reserve and garden, as you've been desperately missing the fresh air from topside. While you take in the scenery as you walk, you eventually come across a sight that confuses you a bit. In a clearing, a young girl in a white dress sits atop something, humming a soft melody to herself as she focuses on her task.

You cautiously approach the girl, keeping your footsteps light and soft.

"Where are your parents...?" you ask, your voice gentle. She snaps her head, startled by your presence, and you feel your blood run cold as you realize the situation you've stumbled into... her needle clatters to the grass below, now full of ADAM from the corpse she'd been perched upon.

understanding the gravity of the situation, you slowly back off from the girl... you'd heard that bad things happen to those who disturb the little sisters from their gathering. After all, as the posters say, they're 'building a better Rapture'. It's probably a good idea to get out of here before her big dadd-

WHAM

You are suddenly shoved off your feet and fall to the ground with a thud. Hitting your head against a nearby bench, you shake your head, trying to reorient yourself and focus on what had just happened. As your vision clears, you get a good look at the behemoth that had shoved you... a singular yellow porthole looks down at you, boring into your very soul.