**Chapter 1: Infection**

Charlie had always been cautious when it came to downloading files from the internet. He made sure to read reviews, check the source, and scan for viruses before opening anything. But on this particular day, he let his guard down. He was bored and browsing through a sketchy website, looking for a free program to help him edit some videos. A pop-up ad caught his eye, promising a revolutionary new tool that would make video editing a breeze. The ad looked legitimate, and the file seemed small enough, so Charlie clicked the download button. The file, labeled "VideoEditor.exe," downloaded quickly, and Charlie opened it without a second thought. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The program installed smoothly, and Charlie was about to dismiss it as a useful tool when he noticed a strange, almost imperceptible humming noise coming from his speakers. He shrugged it off as a glitch and closed the program. As the hours passed, Charlie began to feel a creeping sense of relaxation wash over him. It started as a gentle calmness, like a warm bath or a soothing melody, but soon grew into a more intense euphoria. He felt lightheaded and carefree, as if all his worries had vanished. Charlie couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. As he continued to browse the internet, Charlie noticed that his computer seemed to be acting strangely. The cursor moved on its own, and some of the websites he visited seemed to load faster than usual. He brushed it off as a coincidence, but the humming noise persisted, growing louder and more pulsing. Charlie's euphoria deepened, and he found himself laughing uncontrollably at silly things. He felt an overwhelming urge to watch videos of cats and funny memes, and his fingers seemed to move of their own accord, typing out silly phrases and posting them online. His mind was foggy, and he couldn't seem to focus on anything for more than a few seconds. As the sun began to set, Charlie realized that he had been acting strangely all day. He tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling himself he was just tired or stressed. But as he looked around his darkening room, he felt a growing sense of disconnection. The world seemed distant, and he was trapped in a bubble of his own making. The humming noise had grown louder, almost deafening, and Charlie's head was spinning. He stumbled to his bed, feeling like he was floating on a cloud. As he lay down, the room began to spin, and Charlie closed his eyes, letting the euphoria wash over him. He had no idea what was happening to him, but he knew that something was very wrong. The last thing he remembered was the sound of his own voice, whispering "I'm so happy" over and over, like a mantra. And then, everything went black.