As the rising sun bathed the ocean below in color, two crafts took off from the heavily armed area.

In one sat two teenagers. The boy was panting, eyes bloodshot as he stared straight. Beside him was Roanna. She gazed out at the ocean below. All tears had dried, leaving nothing but a trail behind.

The two had survived, but it had taken a toll. While the craft whisked them to safety, the second to leave the area turned for another island.

Within it there were several occupants.

The happiest of the lot seemed to be Dr. Stein as he watched the other helicopter part ways with them.

"I don't understand how he can be of any use." A man dressed in a white coat spoke. He was sitting next to the body of a handsome young man on a stretcher. His eyes were closed and there was no rising in his chest. The man who had spoken scowled. "I thought we agreed that a specimen that's been infected will never work."

"My dear boy." With a sigh, Dr. Stein briefly turned from the view. "Of course it won't."

The other man's scowl deepened. "The why–"

Before he could finish, the doctor reached for the scarf wrapped around the boy's neck. With a smooth motion he pulled it free to reveal the surface beneath. The area was covered in blood, however, upon a closer look, one could see that the skin was smooth. There was not a trace of a bite mark anywhere.

"What in the...?" the man with the scowl probed. He pulled the boy's shirt down, trying to find a wound. Finally he gave up. "How is this possible?"

Dr. Stein gave him a patient smile. He turned back to watch the other craft that had become a dot in the distance. "Because, the one who was really bit," he lifted a finger and pointed, "Is headed back to the islands."

"Impossible..." the other man stared down at the body in stunned awe. "But how...? Why would he?"

"I believe they call that friendship?" The word sounded foreign on the doctor's tongue.

The other man looked up. "Then an infected is headed for the islands! We should warn them!" he exclaimed.

"No." Dr. Stein held up a hand.

He watched the dot finally disappear on the horizon before turning to gaze at the body that lay in his craft.

"Another outbreak may be exactly what we need to get the final go ahead." He reached out a hand and patted the head of a body that was now cold to the touch. "We may just have hit the jackpot this time." A smile spread across his face. "A fine specimen indeed." He leaned back. "We may finally be able to get it. Vengeance that is." He thumped a hand against the back of the pilot's seat. "Take us home."

The helicopter turned, changing course. It headed away from the large islands, right toward a smaller one known by only one name. Island 3.1.

Thanks for reading Lavivrus and sticking with Shai, even though updates were slow.

I'm afraid this is the end...of book 1 ;)

Book 2 will be titled "Vengeance". I have begun to work on it. However, as this series is being written for my other writing platform, Radish, book 2 might be available on Radish exclusively. However, it will be FREE if you so choose to read 1 chapter a week. Updates will also be more consistent.

I'll update a new chapter here to give a preview and let you know about where to find book 2.

Thanks once again!