Helen:
Alex:
Li:
Seminar Writing
Virus’ Diary
11/03/2018 18:01:00
Absolute chaos in the room. I cannot tell any of the six creatures from each other. Intense violence fills the pale white room, leaving no time and space for me to process what is happening. I see one hitting another with a stick-shape weapon. I see one using his tentacle-like hand attacking another. I see one sneaking behind another with a net in his hands. I see too much.
10/01/2018 9:00:00
Who am I? What am I? Where am I? Am I real? So many unanswered questions. I am extremely confused. There’s so many of me. Maybe hundreds, thousands, millions or billions? Are they my clones? Sisters? Brothers? More unanswered questions.
10/01/2018 9:05:00
I have been floating inside this transparent container for the last few minutes and waiting for something to happen. Anything. I need answers. I am confused. Scratch that. Everyone is confused. Hello? Anyone? Why am I here? Why did you create us?
10/01/2018 9:21:16
Finally. Someone is here. They look strange, all three of them, and they look identical. But I feel attached to them. Why is that? Who are they? “We are your creators. As in your mothers and fathers,” said one of the strange-looking creators. I am even more confused right now. “We created you to destroy. To destroy a species called human,” explained another creator. It sounds interesting. In fact, it sounds exciting. To destroy another race? Yes! Wait, then where are we? And what are we?
10/01/2018 9:35:00
“We are on a planet called Earth. You are a virus. A type of virus created to destroy the human kind.” said the first creator “They have been ruling over Earth for the past few decades and now we are going to take back what’s ours. It once belonged to us. They almost destroyed our kind and we cannot tolerate something like that, now can we?” He is right. We need revenge. How dare they take what’s ours? We need revenge. Right now. Let’s go!
10/01/2018 9:46:55
The creators look at us and say: “Not so fast. You are newborns. You are still weak. Let us explain how the process is going to be.” They then talk about how we captured this planet 4.5 billion years ago, and how the humankind destroyed most of us and took over our planet. I cannot wait to exterminate all humans on Earth for what they have done to us. I don’t want to wait. I want to get revenge. I want them to die. I want to kill every human being on Earth. “To make things easier, you are going to target only the female population. More specifically, females during their menstruation is when you and your fellow siblings are going to attack. We created you in a way that your main food source is the female egg. You are going to eat every single egg inside the body of every single female on earth. Without the egg, they can’t have kids anymore, which means there’s no more generations.” This plan is geniuses, my creators are geniuses. Efficient and sneaky, that’s how we do it. “It is, obviously, also going to be painful for them to endure the process.That’s the point. You can cause side effects like nausea, headaches, abdomen pain and more, but that’s the most fun now isn’t it? Watching them suffer might be the best part of our plan. Am I right everyone?” Everyone starts laughing and clapping while cheering on our plan. This is going to be amazing. I am so ready to be part of the plan.
10/03/2018 10:01:00
It has already been two days. Tomorrow is the big day. I am so excited. I can finally kill some humans. I feel strong. Strong enough to fight through everything, every antibody, every medicine, every vitamin, everything.
10/04/2018 9:00:00
It’s time. Let’s do this.
10/04/2018 11:00:00
It’s strange. This new place is strange. Nothing like home. Everything is wet and red. Am I at the right place?
10/04/2018 12:11:11
I have been floating around in this woman’s body for the past hour. I am hungry and tired. I need to find the eggs. Otherwise, I’m going to die. Where is it?
10/04/2018 12:30:25
Finally found it. There are so many of them, weird and disgusting. I wonder what will the first bite be like?
10/04/2018 12:31:00
Heaven. That’s all I can think about. Literally heaven. I have never tasted anything like this before. Thank you my creators.
10/18/2018 16:15:00
Finally, I have my first victim. It has been two weeks. It took us two weeks to destroy one woman. The good thing is, there’s billions of us in millions of women body. We are, slowly but surely, taking over the world. It feels good. Really good.
11/03/2018 17:30:00
We are so close to tasting the sweetness of victory. I am sitting inside the cell wall of the last woman’s egg, enjoying the rise and fall of the blood tide. That is the river of life. During the last two days we have been celebrating the extinction of humans that will come shortly, filled with honour.
11/03/2018 17:33:00
Well, guess good things do not last forever. I can feel that food starting to become scarce. The place that used to be heaven starts to shrink and lose its shine. It is urgent, I need to do something.
11/03/2018 17:33:05
“We haven’t gotten any harvest fishing today. I am hungry.” says one of us. We use our tentacles trying to pierce through the cell membrane, trying to get greasy nutritions. However, all I can detect are antibodies and vitamins. That is insane, we never expected this situation. I feel so uncomfortable, and many of us are losing our energy. Once they touch the antibodies, their skins starts to look pale and to fall off. What is happening exactly?
11/03/2018 17:35:43
Time is passing, we have already lost half of the population! This is bad, not only do we have to deal with the situation within the female body, there is also something, someone outside trying to do something to the body.
11/03/2018 17:36:04
“Something’s coming!” one of us shouts with fear inside its eye. Thought the reflection from his iris, I can see a huge shadow, intimidating and terrifying. We are here to extinguish humans! We shall not fail! But the cell I am living in starts to crush into pieces and I am ejected from it as a result. Then my mind goes blank.
11/03/2018 17:36:46 Light is flashing.
11/03/2018 17:36:59
I slowly open my eyes, and everything is so vague. I can hear sounds of cutting with an echo. The light is so intensive that it feels like someone is trying to wake me up by spilling a bucket of freezing cold water on my face. The light continues flashing.
11/03/2018 17:37:02
Where the light comes from, I have not seen that element before. When I am thinking about that magical element, I can see a rough outline of a giant creature emerging in front of me. Unlike us, our big round head is our body, they have a small head and it is connected to their giant body by a neck. That is what human looks like. I can’t believe a dull pathetic creature like this is able to find me.
11/03/2018 17:37:32
I can feel the purpose of this human. He is something they called a “doctor.” Is he trying to save humanity? He must be the one who plans everything! He injects antibodies and vaccine into the woman’s body, and he reduces her daily fat and sugar intake. He destroys us!
11/03/2018 17:37:50
A countless amount of virus corpses are floating around me. This is what human beings do to our kind. Hatred is all I can feel in me. What an evil species humanity is. They must be exterminated, but I need more time. Just a little more time, I can do it, for my dead brothers and sisters, for my lofty creators.
11/03/2018 17:38:12
Time freezes, my senses are tingling. The doctor is not alone.
11/03/2018 17:38:12
They must appear to help the doctor. I can feel there are two other human beings, showing their faces at the corner of the door. They are peeking inside and starting to move forward. They are well equipped. Rope, sticks, and knives. I’m afraid to imagine what those fierce looking ropes and sticks can do to me! They will pulverise me into mud together with my belief. My hope is completely crushed. Is this going to be my failure?
11/03/2018 17:38:15
I see the doctor moving his hand inside the woman’s body and try to reach something. I suddenly know what he’s looking for. The very last egg that has not been contaminated. The doctor is trying to save it in order to save humanity. I must stop him at any cost. I must reach the egg. I must not fail.
11/03/2018 17:38:18
Everything is so dramatic. We were so close to victory, celebrating in the body few minutes ago, but now here I am sitting here, witnessing our failure. I wasn’t able to reach the egg in time. “Snap!” the doctor, the human wins the competition without breaking a sweat.
11/03/2018 17:38:20
I lie inside the blood, floating, half dead.
11/03/2018 17:38:22
This will be my last piece of diary. I’m closing my eyes and record the last sound that I hear before my life runs out. Noises, sound of breaking glasses, sound of humans yelling, maybe they are yelling for their victory, maybe they are preparing to end all of this. What a pity for me.
11/03/2018 17:39:13
“You are the killer! You are under arrest!” The two man who lately joined the group starts to grab the doctor’s hand. The doctor tries to fight back but he failed. His hand shakes even though he tries his best to hold the egg. It falls, right on my face.
11/03/2018 17:39:13
This is dramatic indeed. The last egg is right in front of me. Literally, last woman’s egg. That happened too sudden to generate any joy in me. There is no time to think why. What I only know is, be careful, I will not let the last hope elapse.
11/03/2018 17:39:13
More good news. While the fight breaks between the humans, I can feel the window of the room shaking. I can feel something is coming. I can feel it, I am not alone anymore.
11/03/2018 17:40:20
My creators have arrived, all three of them. I can feel them quietly standing outside the window, watching the chaos that’s happening in the room. But seriously, what exactly is going on in the room? Humans fighting humans? They should be on the same side.
11/03/2018 17:45:26
I’m starting to understand the situation with the humans. Two of them are trying to arrest the doctor just because they think he is killing this female.
11/03/2018 17:49:33
Humans are really dull creatures. It’s funny how the doctor is trying to explain everything but the two others won’t listen at all. They fight back and forth. The doctor grabs a surgery knife from the table, trying to fight back. So, after all, those fierce looking ropes and sticks are not meant for me.
11/03/2018 17:53:40
The fight continues, loud and annoying. But it doesn’t matter, I have to start doing my job. I will eat through the cell membrane and eat up the last egg. I will make humans lose their hope. I will have my victory, our victory.
11/03/2018 17:59:34
Finally, my creators decide to take some actions. Here they come. Climbing over the window edge. Crossing over the window frame. Sneaking into the room. They are even holding weapons. Are they going to silence the three annoying pathetic human? If so, please do it quickly. I cannot withstand them anymore. Their fight is so loud and pointless. I mean, humanity is going to meet its end sooner or later as long as I am here, then what are they even fighting for? Just please sit there and die.
11/03/2018 18:00:15
This is not good. The humans notice my creators. They look shocked. The expressions on their face are so unnatural, mixed with surprise, fear, confusion, and evil as always. Yet, it doesn’t matter anymore, for they are going to be silenced forever.
11/03/2018 18:00:22
The situation is going towards the bad direction. The humans stop fighting each other and they are teaming up. I’m not sure what is going to happen but this does not look good. I guess my creators can still kill them easily, hopefully.
11/03/2018 18:01:03
How can these pathetic creatures be this strong? The three humans already knocked out one of my creators. It’s two against three of them now. This is not fair, we are outnumbered.
11/03/2018 18:04:55
Well, I really shouldn’t underestimate humans.
11/03/2018 18:07:32
I feel embarrassed now. Three of my creators came in with weapons, now not only have they lost the fight, they are captured by these earth creatures. Is that a net made of rope that is tying them up? What a shame.
11/03/2018 18:10:45
The room is still filled with quietness. It feels weird, even for me who likes quietness. None of the humans talk. They just stand there, staring at my creators with a really serious face. What a scene. What are they going to do?
11/03/2018 18:13:13
Still not a word is spoken. Still staring. What are they even doing? Pointless action. Have they forgotten about me? Or this female so they called their “last hope?” One way or the other, they will be doomed soon. My work is almost done here. Just a few more minute, the life of the last female on earth is mine.
11/03/2018 18:14:07
The doctor finally starts talking by asking who. One of those two humans also asks a bunch of follow up questions like what, why, and name. These are funny questions because they are pointless. The humans, they always try to understand and figure out everything. Even under a situation like this. How pathetic.
11/03/2018 18:14:30
One of those two humans shouts towards my creators, asking for their identity. So loud. So annoying. But none of my creators are answering.
11/03/2018 18:15:02
My creator is killed. One of them. The cold-blooded human smashes the stick into his head. Once, twice… Blood everywhere. Then, he shouts again.
11/03/2018 18:15:07
Still, they say nothing.
11/03/2018 18:15:18
The human raises his stick again knocking out another one of my creators. Hatred rises once again. But I can only sit here inside this female’s body and watch. Yet, I will get revenge on them. When my work is done here. Just a bit more time.
11/03/2018 18:15:33
The humans start to calm down and speak to each other. So the group of two humans are called “detectives.” They turn towards the doctor. Now things are getting interesting. You know what will be more interesting? The detective crushes the doctor’s head with the stick before he can even speak.
11/03/2018 18:15:35
The doctor speaks immediately. How disappointing.
11/03/2018 18:17:54
The doctor is smart to be honest. He discovered there is an advanced, strong, and incurable virus is spreading on earth. He also figured out a possible way to save humanity, by trying to preserve the egg of this last female in order to let humanity continue. I have to admit, this doctor almost got his hands on me. But not yet, not so fast.
11/03/2018 18:19:38
The two detectives believe the doctor. In return, they explain their intention as well. They thought the doctor was the one who killed the females, only because they received reports from a stranger who saw the doctor bringing a half-dead female into this room called a “clinic.” They originally planned to capture him and bring him to justice. What a stupid and pointless idea. What is justice if humanity is going to end? What is justice anyway?
11/03/2018 18:19:59
My work is done. The last egg is gone. They have yet to realise. I want to laugh.
11/03/2018 18:20:01
They turn their attention back to my creators. My creators can feel that I have succeeded. They have succeeded. We have succeeded. They look back up at the pathetic humans and grin into their faces. I want to do the same.
11/03/2018 18:20:05
The detective seems really angry with the reaction. He grabs the collar of one of my creators and shouts in his face. How rude. But this time he gets a reply. Maybe my creator is tired of their little pathetic interrogation. Maybe my creator wants to show some mercy towards these pathetic creatures. He answered with “Babujiba.”
11/03/2018 18:20:07
The detective is even more hysterical now. He knocks out my creator, again, while cursing things about our name. Humans are really weird creatures. They should be destroyed indeed.
11/03/2018 18:20:12
“You know nothing! The planet is ours! What are you going to do, humans?” My creator, last of the three, shouts towards the three earthlings, grinning.
11/03/2018 18:20:14
The doctor rushes toward me, or the female. He realises something, finally. But it’s too late already. The female is already gone, cold, dead. The detectives are still in dark. They know nothing. All they know is doing absurd actions.
11/03/2018 18:21:20
The doctor checks everything, tries everything, but he can not bring her back. He kneels down, eyes looking directly down, and tears run down from both of his cheeks. I don’t get the meaning of this action. Maybe this is something they call “despair.”
11/03/2018 18:22:00
The detectives finally realise what’s going on with the doctor and with the dead female. One of them suddenly sits down. The other, as always, raises his stick.
11/03/2018 18:23:00
“It’s what you deserve, humans.” Those are the last words I hear from my creators.
11/03/2018 22:52:00
The room is filled with nothing but silence, maybe a bit of the smell of corpses, and a bit of the smell of despair. I enjoy this atmosphere very much.
11/03/8012 22:52:00
Time passes so fast. I become the ruler of Earth after humanity’s extinction. But it has not been fun for me. I’m alone and all by myself. It’s been years, decades, millenniums after humans have gone extinct. The earth is now so quiet. Too quiet. Maybe I should introduce a new intelligent species on Earth, just like humans, to have some fun.
Bibliography
Matthew, Gale. Dada & surrealism. N.p.: London : Phaidon Press, 1997.
Pih, Darren. “René Magritte: The Menaced Assassin” Tate, July 7, 2011. Accessed November 10, 2018.
https://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/blogs/rene-magritte-menaced-assassin
“Rene Magritte and His Paintings.” Rene Magritte. Last modified 2009. Accessed November 10, 2018.
https://www.renemagritte.org.
“René Magritte | Conservation of ‘The Menaced Assassin.'” Video file. Youtube. Posted by The Museum of Modern Arts, September 25, 2013. Accessed November 10, 2018.
“The Menaced Assassin.” Rene-Magritte. Accessed November 10, 2018. http://www.rene- magritte.com/menaced-assassin/.
