Prelude.

The interstate-neighboring towns are lifeless.
Vexx, Jericho, and I are hopping from car to car, traveling South the once-highway.
I try not to notice the smell seeping from certain vehicles when we're forced to stop for surveillance.
Jericho looks up from his scope for the fiftieth time and shrugs.
"No infected. I guess there's some sort of military base here."
"Hmm," Vexx grunts. "Wren, check the map, see if they sided before the Outbreak."
I glance over the paper. "It says 'Red'."
Vexx would have sworn if a bullet didn't at that moment zip over my head and through his neck.