Rain streamed down Grace's face. The stench of blood was heavy in the air. She turned toward the wall, where screams echoed beyond the wooden gates, and drew the longsword at her hip. With one quick slash, the iron lock snapped in two.

"Open all the gates!" she shouted.

Her voice cut through the rain with absolute authority.

"Set up isolation areas now," she ordered. "Move the healthy to the clearing on the east side, and the infected to the west shelters. Move, now!"

Dustin conjured three b