Death By Breathing

Alex

The entire world imploded in the blink of an eye. A virus so deadly that it decimated the entire population so quickly there wasn’t a chance to even think of creating a cure. The majority of the scientists and epidemiologists were just as dead as everyone else.

Those who survived were changed irrevocably in many ways. They had to watch most if not all of their families and friends die, and the virus did not leave them untouched. 

Absolutely every survivor was affected. They were grouped into two categories, the immune, and the altered. The immune system is self-explanatory, but they experienced no other side effects. 

The altered had key elements of their DNA changed by the virus. They became longer lived, healthier, and faster to heal, and a major development was the Alpha Gene.

The alpha gene change only affected males, but their testosterone and other aggressive hormone levels went through the roof. At the beginning, these men were wild and savage, but over time the effects seemed to either lessen or they became more adept at the changes. 

This was now so many years ago that the only version we have of all the events is through history books. So, who knows how accurate everything truly is. They termed it an “Ending Event” as in a way the world ended. 

Of course with so much of the population gone, all of the normal everyday luxuries of life, like electricity, running water, and sanitation, all crumbled. It took the survivors decades to build back any semblance of the world they had known before. 

Birth rates plummeted in the harsh new reality that was the world, and even as society tried to repair itself, they continued to fall. Now altered females hardly ever have children, or if they are blessed they may be able to have 1, and on extremely rare occurrences 2 children in their very long life. 

Immune females have a greater chance of having children, but male babies are the norm, and female babies are only 1 in 50 births. This has caused a lot of problems as you might guess. 

To try and help boost back numbers the society has become polyamorous, or one female with several male partners or “mates” as the terminology developed. If a woman tries to get away with only one partner, she can expect serious shunning from society at large. 

On the opposite spectrum, women who end up with more partners are praised for their efforts to boost the population. 

We have some history books still, but a lot of them leave out key things from before the virus, and we’re not allowed to dig too deep into the past. They give the excuse that they want to make sure there’s never another “ending event” that occurs. 

With the aggression and leadership tendencies all with the Alpha gene presented, it didn’t take long for them to become the leaders of everything. As society rebuilt they were in key roles to direct the paths that society, law, education, and government would go. So, of course, all of that is highly favoring Alphas.

I read a book one time that was from before the ending event, and it was called a shifter romance. It talked about Alphas in a completely different way. It made me wish we actually had alphas like that, cause they would be “hot”.

Unfortunately, our Alphas have a tendency to be complete assholes. I know there are nice and good ones out there, unfortunately, they don’t really run in the circles that my parents do, so I haven’t met them.

Our Education system has changed from the things we have learned about before. They used to have numbered grades and go through each until they finished and then went on to something called college. 

Here we have what’s called an educational path. When children are young they are tested and observed, through which our “educators” evaluate where in society they would best be suited. So, upon that determination, there’s a path that is mapped out for them to follow. 

It’s gradual like the old number system, but this might take less or more time than that did. I have seen some complete their path by the time they were 16 or 17, but they were often then led to be those who worked in some type of service, or lower-paying positions. 

I just recently finished mine, and I am 22. So, it took me longer, but my path was for computer programming and engineering, which is unusual for females, but apparently, I excelled in it so much that they included me. That’s also where I met my 2 best friends Dean and Rachelle. They are also both on a path of computer programming. They just recently “bonded” which I am happy for them, they are very much in love. 

Bonding, or mating is what used to be called marriage. A lot of it has turned political due to Alphas and the ever-growing demand for producing children. Now that I have finished my educational path, I am considered an eligible female. No doubt my father intends to take advantage of this, but my goal is to stop him from being able to sell me to some Alpha asshole he is in business with. 

I have a rather strong mutual disdain for my parents. They only had me in the attempt of social climbing, and the fact that I was a girl furthered their ambitions. They handed me off to the nanny and went to bask in the glory of their imagined greatness. The only time they had anything to do with me was for a photo op or a necessary social engagement. So, yeah, my feelings for them are anything but warm and fuzzy. 

Rachelle had a similar upbringing in that she was largely ignored, as her mother died when she was still little, and later when her father became part of another bonding, the stepmother didn’t want much to do with anyone else’s child. 

Dean’s family is the opposite. They are wonderful and caring parents to Dean, and basically adopted Rachelle and me as we spent so much time there during our education. 

Rachelle and Dean haven’t found another man who is a good fit for them to bond with. They are open and willing to find someone, but until the right one comes along, they are sickeningly in love with one another, and I give them shit about it all the time. 

My one sorrow is that both of them are immune and I am altered, which basically means I will have a much longer lifespan than they will. Some altered specifically avoid relationships of any kind with the immune for this very reason. I said fuck it, I adore them, they are my family, and I will treasure every day with them that I have. 

Now, we just have to implement a plan before my father, the asshole, tries to sell me off as breeding stock. 

Good thing we already have one.