Summary

By Chapter 27, the victim count has reached 500. The town is running out of resources to keep all the patients quarantined and hooked up to IVs. They are only 70 miles from LA. Eighteen days have passed since the first case, and now the military has arrived, “a line of soldiers standing in the woods” (152). Ben awakes to the sound of Grace crying. When he goes to check on her, he finds Annie passed out on the floor of the kitchen, Grace lying on top of her. Annie will not wake up, and there is a bruise on her forehead.

In Chapter 28, the military presence makes itself known by driving through the streets announcing mandatory isolation. Matthew is “surprised it took them this long” (154). It is the National Guard, and they are also announcing precautions to take and that food and water will be distributed...