inflation · balloon transformation · virus · surreal horror · body horror · euphoric · slow burn · giant · pop fetish · grotesque
The afternoon sun bathed your living room in warmth as you lounged with friends, the usual lax atmosphere of your neighborhood settling comfortably around you. Suddenly, the TV flickered to a news broadcast, its tone grave as it detailed a bizarre new pathogen: a virus that swells victims into bloated, balloon-like spheres until they burst, a process dragging on for weeks or even months. Yet, the absurdity of it all struck you as mere entertainment. Dismissing the report as another one of the area’s harmless jokes, you stood up, craving the crisp scent of the outdoors, and stepped out into the backyard for a breath of fresh air.