Kenopsian Effect

The Kenospian Effect, also known as just Kenopsia, is a phenomenon affecting structures that were made before the apocalypse in 2012. This phenomenon essentially preserves these structures, preventing the normal erosion and wear and tear seen as buildings become dilapidated and fall apart. Only objects made before the apocalypse seem to be affected, and the effects are erratic, ranging from complete and total wear and tear being resisted (i.e. the still perfectly-shiny Chicago bean) to a slight resistance to regular erosion with a bit of plant overtake (you'll see this in a lot of predarks.)

The phenomenon is not understood in the slightest. Scientists believe it is magical, but the exact way it works is unknown, and attempts to recreate it have failed. There are exceptions to Kenopsia's protection; for example, a person who died before the apocalypse will likely deteriorate, skeleton and all, but a book made before the apocalypse will be almost completely intact. Some objects don't even accumulate dust. For this reason, objects like weapons that are affected by the Kenopsian Effect are highly prized for their quality. Many people use refurbished pre-apocalypse cars that preserve as much of the Kenopsian-affected body as possible. The Kenospian Effect's affects can be seen around the world in various cutures, and is revered as just another mystery of the world in many of them.

The best way to describe the effect would be to say that it is attempting to keep everything looking like it's still 2012. Kenopsia dosen't affect any structures built after December 12, 2012; you can find refugee camps crumbling in Manhattan, and those were built days after the apocalypse occured. Additionally, Kenopsia doesn't "clean up" things. An old, dilapidated shack that's filled with dirt before the apocalypse is going to stay an old, dilapidated shack filled with dirt.

Kenospian-affected objects are still subject to interaction from the outside world; an old skyscraper isn't going to collapse from 200 years of non-use, but if a monster punches it, it's going to crumble. In the dirt shack example, you could clean up that dirt and fix that shack and nothing will happen, it will just be a clean, fixed shack. It will stay the way it's left until it's touched again. That's why you can wander out into a predark and see a place just as it used to be back in 2012. The only thing different is that there's a lot more monsters... and a lot less people.

Some theories into its origin? A leading one is that a god or monster is doing it, but there are no leads onto that. Whatever the case, it's definitely not going anywhere.