Shuteyes

Regional names for 'shuteyes' in the USA

**Shuteyes**, or also known as **Sleepers** (East USA), **Deadens** (Denver), **Enferma/o** (Latin America) or **Idles** (West USA) are an antagonistic force in the Better Days Ahead universe. They are a universal antagonistic force, though their fates in certain areas remain unknown (i.e. Antarctica/Australia).

## Regional Names (As explained in series)

* **Shuteyes** - most commonly heard in Rural United States and mostly seen in survivors from agriculture-producing and isolated states or communities. First heard in 2022 in Kansas, Utah, Missouri and Minnesota; as of 2032, the term is enjoyed by 20 states and much of the Prairie Canadian Provinces.
* **Rippers** - most commonly heard in states bordering the Great Lakes and started in early 2023. In the winter of 2022-2023, the Great Lake states referred to the species as "Ice Rovers" due to the ice coverage of the lakes, with the term dying out after the winter spell. The term 'Ripper' probably gained popularity in association with serial killers being referred to as 'rippers' and/or the activity of the species.
* **Pikers** - most commonly heard in New England and New York, with its origins being as early as July 2022. It is a reference to the Massachusetts Turnpike that indirectly caused the overrun and collapse of Massachusetts. This wave of undead produced so much damage that even bordering states saw the hordes as early as August 2022.
* **Sleepers** - the first known American coin for the undead after the notorious "Funa Nise". It was applied by Washington D.C. authorities for the piling bodies outside of hospitals and was later used as a positive name by the media and the population. It may have also been coined due to survivors originally believing the undead to be alive and curable until 2023 and beyond.

## History

It is unknown when and how the 'shuteye virus' first appeared, though it is known that it appeared somewhere within Africa or Asia as early as the 2010s. Though its timeline throughout 2010s-2020 is mostly unknown, it is presumed it was a virus well contained and saw a small amount of cases. It is guessed, due to animals not adhering to the virus, that it originated in fungi and/or humans. It is also blood-borne, water-borne and air-borne; though the virus does not attack a human unless they are severely ill/bit/near death. However, the virus is not food-borne and is weaker in colder climates; making the consumption of infected animals/humans inconsequential and areas such as Greenland and Antarctica being sustainable.

Nevertheless, sometime in late 2021, the virus had its first peak in cases somewhere within Central Asia; with some unknowingly infected humans passing it to bigger cities, thus initiating the eventual apocalypse. Due to its issue of air-borne and water-borne, water taps and overcrowded areas became unknowingly infected in days; with whole country populations being infected in weeks or months. By memoirs of survivors who remember the early stages, supposedly multiple nations one by one stopped gaining media coverage and/or survivors in certain nations were cut access from sharing information due to worldwide panics and cuts of power/electricity. Due to this, almost all survivors in nations with lower cases (like the United States and Canada) were forced to learn about the virus by themselves. The virus by 2022 only had one strain.

### 10 year leap

Not much is known what happened on a universal scale through the 10 year leap, though the United States (and presumably every other) government system eventually collapsed as early by 2023. Most nations suffered from an average 91-96% of their populations dying in the first year of the global virus outbreak; meaning only about 702m-312m global survivors survived the first year. By the 2030s, the shuteye virus had evolved rapidly past its one strain to include four types of shuteyes, with many older shuteyes (aka shuteyes from 2022-2024) having decomposed and/or followed this evolution.

## Characteristics

Shuteyes in the initial stages of the apocalypse are described as being insanely human aside from their paler skin, bite mark, yellow/red/grey eyes and groan. Most shuteyes had the ability to run and crawl in the early stages due to shuteyes adopting the same stamina rule as their human counterparts; due to this, many unfit human survivors perished very early on (particularly survivors who could not outrun shuteyes). Over time, older shuteyes started to show a phase commonly referred to as the 'melting phase' aka baldness/hair failure, black teeth, eyes falling out, liquefied skin, exposed bones etc. Some shuteyes evolved into other shuteye variants; such as Smoggers (where the virus forms a shield around the brain; causing a slower melting phase and production of smog), Silenters (where the virus forms a shield around their host's senses; aka blindness and silence) and Skeneters (where the virus forms a shield around the skeleton, making it incredibly hard to kill). It is known that despite all of this, the virus manages to preserve the brain no matter what type of shuteye and in some cases, the brain/virus continues without any protection (skull).

Nevertheless, over 60% of shuteyes are regular shuteyes who follow the same stamina and decomposition rules are humans. The Stamina rule implies that after feasting on an animal/human, they can run and crawl whilst the Decomposition rule implies that the shuteye starts to turn into a skeleton, with the virus feasting on its own hosts organs (except the brain).

## Smoggers

Smoggers first appeared as early as 2023. The term 'smoggers' was applied as a callout to the natural phenomenon 'smog', a fog mixed with air pollution. Smoggers are a type of shuteye that has been trapped in an undisclosed area (such as a bunker, underground subway, attic etc.) for a long time. Without exposure to the outside, the virus becomes desperate to infect something and thus willingly leaves the dead host. This 'flying virus' may infect survivors who inhale it. The virus also affects random inanimate objects; such as a wall tile, where it builds up in small 'smogger clouds'. Though these clouds are not imminently dangerous to a person, it may be dangerous if exploded. Smogger clouds and air can quickly be killed with fire or sunlight, though a Smogger will remain its new features even in the sunlight. Smoggers also have an ability to 'cough', resulting in an infection if the liquid lands on a wound or in the survivor's eyes/nose/mouth/ears.

## Silenters

Silenters are a newly adapted shuteye, first appearing as late as 2030-2031. Silenters are an old type of shuteye, most likely the bodies of those infected as early as late 2022-early 2023. It is the second stage of a shuteye, apart from the Smogger, that we see the shuteyes start to progress and evolve. Silenters are a type of shuteye that does not make any noise and has the ability to run, nevertheless their hunger. Though due to these new features, silenters have also adapted to being blind, due to the 'melting phase' where their eyes have fallen out. With this, it is hard for them to detect a person's location, though they may identify a survivor's location through movement/noise. If identified, silenters have the ability to 'scream' at the person, drawing any infected from a large radius. Although rare, silenters are common in areas that first saw the outbreak. Physically, silenters have started showing some bone, as well as a new evolution of 'gills' on their cheeks; where the scream has more velocity.

## Skeneters

Skeneters are an unrevealed type of shuteye, first being mentioned in 2032. They are a new type of shuteye, possibly being the 'third stage' of the shuteye virus. Although it is unrevealed as to what their distinguishable power is, Skeneters have lost a lot of their skin muscle, mostly resulting to a 'skeletonisation'. Though due to this, their bones have become highly protected with the shuteye virus, making it harder to kill. They first appeared (as we know of) in the California-Nevada area.