When the Affliction first appeared a decade ago, there was fear that the infection had the potential to wreak havoc across the country and could cause infinite damage to the heathy citizens.

In an unprecedented move, authorities rounded up the Afflicted and quarantined them in an isolated area behind thick stone walls and secured them behind a large, heavy gate with a strong chain and lock.

Even though the isolation of the Afflicted in the large internment camp had stemmed the tide of the disease, a growing segment of the healthy population stood in diametric opposition to the continued internment of the Afflicted. The Opposition believed that the infection that had caused the Affliction in the first place had morphed into a benign parasite since there were no new cases in years. They staged protests, elected Opposition candidates who were sympathetic to their cause, and ultimately got legislation passed to release the Afflicted back into the general population.

At a major event to celebrate their victory, the Opposition leaders gathered in front of the large, heavy gate and cut the thick chain that secured the gate’s door. Thousands of Affliction survivors streamed out from behind the gate, grateful for their freedom.

Unfortunately, the Opposition leaders were wrong. The parasite that had infected the Afflicted had not turned benign. Instead, with no healthy beings to feed upon, it had gone dormant. But upon reintegration into the healthy population, the parasites found new hosts and began to spread rapidly among the healthy. A new Affliction ultimately devoured the uninfected, creating a zombie-like society populated entirely by the Afflicted.

This dystopian tale was written for Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo prompt. Also for these daily prompts: Your Daily Word Prompt (infinite), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (chain), Ragtag Daily Prompt (diametric), and Word of the Day Challenge (devour).