Along a dystopian California highway, Nayima finds herself hungry and dehydrated. She has been wandering the barren landscape for a year, in search of people like her who have survived because they are naturally immune to the 72-hour-flu virus. This virus was created by China as an act of biological warfare. It killed the majority of the Western world, partly due to the countries’ responses, as they relied on herd immunity. 

On her journey, Nayima spots a man with a guitar. Although she initiates contact, he ignores her and continues on his way. She follows him for three days. Finally, they reach the empty County Line Road Fair. There, Nayima approaches him. She notices he is wearing a mask and gloves. She finds this strange, as he must be naturally immune, having survived so long. 

Nayima learns that the man’s name is Kyle. She is lonely and yearns for human connection. She becomes invested in him. Despite his reluctance, she pleads with Kyle to accompany her to a nice spot of farmland in Central California, where they can settle down and begin repopulating the country. After he refuses, she finds a car in the parking lot. She stops by Kyle’s encampment one last time. 

While Kyle is sleeping, Nayima kisses him. The next day, she hears him vomiting, which is the first symptom of the illness. She had inadvertently infected him after assuming he was immune. Nayima rummages through his supplies and takes what she needs. Then, she leaves.