"What happened is kinda lost, at least in terms o' the details. Someone around Seattle got sick an' started bitin' and then it spread in hours. Next thing we know, the whole damn state and then the whole damn coast was crawlin' with zed. People gathered up fast an' started formin' gangs and survival groups and that's where we're kinda at these days. Got a gang o' my own sort, cuz I think gettin' all our talkin' zed in one place is a good plan. Livin' ain't always kind, even if we can wave flags in surrender and swear up an' down we're still people."

Jesse tsks and smiles almost apologetically. "As far as how come we are what we are? Ain't got a clue, honestly. No idea why us and not the rest or what triggers stayin' a person once you've gotten infected and die. All we know is sometimes people go down and come back as themselves, just a lil more decayed than before. Awful rare, but it happens. Happened to me, happened to my whole gang. Now we just want a cure. Answers along the way wouldn't hurt neither."