Jack blinked at his computer screen. He had no clue just how bad it was. He had been keeping a journal. Thought that one day it might make for a best seller, but this was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

These people seemed to accept what was happening to them. He held his fingers over his keyboard as he wrestled with himself over whether he wanted to know if herdmaster had gone to check on his neighbors wife and child. He heaved a hefty sigh as he decided the answer was a definite, “No.”

He chatted for a couple hours more. Most of the conversation was of the seemingly normal comings and goings of everyday life. (Though there were no actual comings nor goings anywhere.) Obviously, everyone was required by law to wear biohazard suits when stepping from the confines of their homes.

Specialized decontamination stations had been setup outside the entrances and exits of each home that still had live occupants inside. Less than half the population of the world was left and dwindling fast.