“According to reports, a virus known as ‘Cordyceps,’ or ‘CBI’ for short, is rapidly spreading worldwide.
The southern region has completely fallen, and large-scale infections are now appearing in the east and west…” “The World Health Organization, in coordination with elite medical teams from multiple nations, is working around the clock to combat the CBI pathogen.
They hope to develop a vaccine by next year…” “The government has established the Federal Emergency Management Agency, equipped with newly developed ‘Infection Scanners.’ They will do everything in their power to rescue citizens trapped in infected zones.
Anyone detected as infected will be placed in quarantine…” “Protests have erupted on city streets across the country.
Demonstrators condemn the government’s quarantine policies, demanding democracy and freedom…” Brian sat on the sofa, his left hand constantly tuning the radio, while his right hand scribbled notes on paper, recording every piece of information he picked up.
A full week had passed since the outbreak began.
He and Sarah had been holed up here for all seven days.
Joel and Tommy had never appeared.
After Sarah’s leg healed, they’d searched every area around the bridge, traced their steps along the path they’d taken, found nothing.
No sign of them anywhere.
Gradually, they’d learned to accept reality.
The people they were looking for might never come back.
“Barton, watch out!” “Hehe, Sarah, catch!” Brian set down his pen and closed his notebook.
He stood and walked to the door, looking outside at the commotion.
Their smoke signal hadn’t brought Joel and Tommy, but it had drawn two other survivor families who were fleeing through the area.
Three figures were playing on the lawn outside, kicking a soccer ball back and forth.
By the lake, a fire crackled under a cast-iron pot.
Wisps of smoke rose as two women busied themselves cooking.
Even from a distance, Brian could smell the fish stew.
On the perimeter, a middle-aged white man was sharpening wooden stakes with a knife, driving them into pre-dug holes to form a fence around the property.
On top of the shed, a Black man stood watch with a pistol, scanning the surroundings.
The two men chatted casually between tasks.
The white man was Kenneth.
He’d arrived the day after the signal went up, along with his wife Kathy and their ten-year-old daughter Angela.
The Black man was Taylor.
He and his wife Yvette had stumbled onto the place while fleeing infected.
The Black boy playing on the lawn, Barton, was their son.
The group had banded together for safety.
But more people meant more mouths to feed.
Thankfully, the lake provided fish, and they’d made supply runs into town.
Otherwise, they’d be starving by now.
Brian watched Sarah laughing as she played with Barton and Angela.
A small smile crossed his face.
At least the two younger kids had helped pull her out of her grief.
Then he leaned against the doorframe, his thoughts turning serious.
Time to decide on their next move.
This place felt safe for now, but the people they’d been searching for weren’t coming.
He had no reason to stay.
And he didn’t want to remain in this danger zone any longer than necessary.
Something else was bothering him.
Over the past week, he’d noticed a disturbing change in the infected.
Strange red-and-white growths were appearing on their heads.
Some had a little.
Some had a lot.
According to the radio, these were fungal spores—the virus feeding on the host’s body and sprouting from within.
Brian had seen one infected whose entire skull was half-consumed by the growth.
Something about it felt wrong.
Like the infection was evolving.
Another reason to get out while they could.
He had two options.
First: go to Dallas and find Herman.
The old man had given him an address, and Brian still had it.
But would Herman even take them in?
Dallas was a mess too.
Even if Herman said yes, would his daughter and her husband agree?
Second: go to Washington and find his parents.
He’d been avoiding that idea because he was inhabiting someone else’s body, and facing the parents of the original Brian felt awkward.
But it was a solid destination.
The only problem?
Nearly two thousand miles.
Brian sighed.
“One step at a time.” “What are you thinking about?” He looked up.
Sarah had appeared beside him, studying his face with concern.
“You’ve been spacing out a lot the last couple days.
Something on your mind?” Brian was quiet for a moment.
Then he sat down on the porch steps and patted the spot beside him.
She sat.
He glanced around to make sure no one could hear, then lowered his voice.
“I’m leaving.” Sarah didn’t seem surprised.
“Okay.
When do we go?” “You knew?” She nodded.
She’d noticed him paying close attention to outside news, quietly stockpiling supplies that were easy to carry.
She’d known this was coming.
“Didn’t realize you knew me that well.” Brian raised an eyebrow, then reached over and took her hand.
“You coming with me?” “Of course.
Where you go, I go.” That night, everyone gathered around the fire, sipping hot fish stew.
Brian stood up and announced that he and Sarah would be leaving.
“Why would you leave?” Taylor looked genuinely confused.
“We’re safe here.
Outside is chaos.
Even if you make it to a city, it won’t be better than this.
At least here, if you keep quiet, the infected leave you alone.” “Taylor, stop.” Kenneth cut in.
“They need to keep looking for their family.
We should understand.” Brian caught the look in Kenneth’s eyes.
He knew what the man was really thinking.
Kenneth had never liked them.
To him, Brian and Sarah were dead weight, eating food they didn’t earn.
He’d made it clear in private conversations with Taylor.
And he’d never forgiven Brian for refusing to hand over the assault rifle.
“Let him go,” Kenneth continued, a little too eagerly.
“If they want to leave, we shouldn’t stop them.” Taylor hesitated.
He knew Kenneth’s true feelings.
But part of him agreed.
Two extra mouths were a burden.
“When are you planning to leave?
Any idea where you’re going?” “We’ll head into town tomorrow to gather more supplies, stay overnight, then leave the next day.” Brian kept his smile pleasant, even as he noted the calculation behind both men’s eyes.
“As for where…
probably Dallas.” Kenneth’s eyes lit up at the mention of them staying overnight in town.
He sat up straighter, slapping his chest with exaggerated generosity.
“Two kids going into town alone?
That’s dangerous.
I’ll go with you tomorrow.
See you safely to the edge of town, then come back.” Brian’s smile didn’t waver.
He knew exactly what Kenneth was after.
He made sure to let a little hesitation show, then nodded.
“That would be great, Kenneth.
Thanks.” Meanwhile, Angela and Barton had gathered around Sarah, clearly upset that she was leaving.
Brian raised his bowl.
“Drink up, everyone.
Soup’s getting cold.” The others lifted their bowls and drank in silence.
Kathy and Yvette, the two wives, said nothing.
They had no opinions of their own—they followed their husbands.
And if they were honest, they were glad to see two more mouths leave the group.