Okay. Let’s get one thing straight right now: I, Alyx Slade, am not a liar. Sure, I am a criminal. I have been on “wanted” lists all over the country. Heck -- I’ve helped to kill people, and I’m still struggling with myself to decide if those killings were justified.

But right now, in this moment, as I write this, none of that matters. What matters is that this story is ten million percent true, and I’m depending on you to believe it. If you’re not willing to believe me ... Well then, put this book down. Walk away. Go read some science fiction crap about how aliens are going to take over the world. But I’m telling you: if the world comes to an untimely end, it won’t be because of any aliens. Oh, no. It will be because of us.

That’s right. Us. As in human beings. Trust me, I’ve seen enough to be sure of that.

Anyway, I guess I should backtrack a little, and let you get an idea of what I’m about to tell you.

Let me start off by giving you a thought that you should get used to: The human mind is a strange thing. It is such a complicated thing, in fact, that it can’t even comprehend itself. We have so many thoughts, and emotions, and ideas, that it can get pretty overwhelming. So we’re always trying to come up with shortcuts, with miraculous solutions, with reasons. And most of the time, these shortcuts, solutions, and reasons do not exist. Either that, or they’re dangerous enough to end humanity as we know it.

The Injection was the latter. The dangerous kind.

Now, there is a good chance that you don’t even know what the Injection is. My guess is that the government has probably tried to cover it up by now, along with my name and the names of my friends. I figure that by the time this book actually gets out there -- if it ever does -- either we’re going to be legendary, or our names will be completely buried and hidden from the world’s knowledge. But I really have no idea what’s going to happen.

I’ve never written a book before. I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I really think that this story has to be written down. Why? Two reasons. One: because I want to remember it as best as I can, as soon as I can get myself to believe it at all. Two: because this isn’t just about me. It’s about you. You, reading my words right now. Not to sound conceited, but I think my story could change the world; or, at least, it could prevent it from collapsing. So this story is not only about me, but also about you, and your children, and your grandchildren, and so on. This is about the generation after generation of human beings that remain. This is about stopping humanity from totally collapsing in on itself. Our species sure has a way of screwing things up: and I’m counting on you to believe what I have to say, and to take it into consideration next time you want to take one of those infamous human-mind shortcuts. That’s all I’m asking of you.

Does that mean, though, that this story isn’t personal? Heck, no. I’ll tell you right now, this story has a lot to do with me. I just wanted you to know that it could affect you, too.

To be honest, you probably don’t want to know a lot of the information that I’m going to tell you in this book. I’m not going to lie or hold back: the Injection was a sick idea to begin with, and only got worse as things went along. It might be easier for you to just walk away. Go off and believe whatever story the government’s made up by now.

Notice that this is the second opening I’ve left for you to put the book down -- because I want to make it clear that you can’t say I didn’t warn you.

Of course, if you abandon this book, then you’ll never know. That’s your choice. But someone once told me that it’s best to always know the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it or believe it.

That’s all I can say to start off: just a little warning. If you don’t think you can handle or believe that the shocking, thrilling story I’m about to tell is the real deal, then leave. I’m not stopping you. As for the rest of you, thanks for reading.

But remember to keep in mind that this story just might change your life forever.