‘Don’t go near him,’ Charlie shouted, the gun dropping out of her hoodie as she pulled up her virus mask.

‘Matt, can you hear me?’ Harry shouted. ‘Are you there, mate?’

Matt wore the same shorts and polo he’d been in three hours earlier. Bloody, coin-sized blisters had erupted on the back of his neck and all down his legs.

‘Stay away from him,’ Charlie warned again.

But Harry had to know if his best friend was alive. Rather than get closer, he moved round to the other side of the coffee table and squatted. Clotting blood oozed from Matt’s ear and his tongue had puffed up like a balloon.

‘I think he choked on his swollen tongue,’ Harry said. ‘I read that it killed a lot of people in England that way.’

‘Harry, please,’ Charlie begged, fighting an urge to bolt for the door. ‘It’s super contagious.’

‘He was my best friend,’ Harry sobbed, finally backing away. ‘I’ve been around him all day. If he’s got it I’ve got it.’

‘Not necessarily,’ Charlie said. ‘Viruses can be weird. You’ve had the vaccine and your mods might give you some protection …’

‘What do I do now?’ Harry asked, swallowing a sob. ‘I guess I have to call quarantine to take the body away and decontaminate the apartment. And I’ll have to call Lana. And Matt’s mum and dad. He was fine when I went out. Not even a sneeze.’

Charlie felt terrified as Harry got close. Harry might be infected, but he’s taken crazy risks for me every time I’ve asked. So how can I run out on him now?

‘I’m really sorry about your friend,’ Charlie said.

The words came out stiffer than she’d expected, so she stepped up to Harry and kissed him.

‘I could be infected,’ Harry said, backing off. ‘You should get out of here.’

‘To where?’ Charlie said, looking up into Harry’s eyes. ‘I’m not going to put my foster family at risk. We’ll call quarantine control to collect Matt.’

‘Then what?’ Harry asked desperately.

Charlie looked stunned. ‘Since we’ve been exposed, they’ll take us to a quarantine centre,’ she said, then paused to think. ‘We’ll either be dead within forty-eight hours. Or the vaccine will kick in and we live to see whatever crazy virus they invent next.’

Harry pulled Charlie back in, closing his eyes and trying to imagine that her smell and her warmth were the only things in the universe. She nestled her head into his shoulder. She felt loved in Harry’s big arms, and amidst tangled thoughts one rang shockingly clear.

I’d rather die here with Harry, than go on living without him.

PART FOUR

THREE YEARS LATER

56 DEAD BUGS

Vegas Local

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Killer-T and its variants have directly caused 1.6 billion deaths, including 70 million in the United States.