In the near future, a deadly flu-like virus decimates the Earth's population. The few who remain struggle to survive without electricity, fresh food, or any other amenities they once took for granted. John “Court” Courtland and his best friend Ronnie Densch are two such survivors. Court has never known a time when Ronnie wasn't in his life. They grew up together. But it's only as they begin to move forward in the post-apocalyptic chaos of Virginia that Court realizes he's in love with Ronnie. Always has been, and always will be, even if he never lets himself admit it out loud. Ronnie is a private, inscrutable man who lets no one close to him except Court. With winter coming on, Ronnie wants to move farther south to warmer weather, and Court follows without question. Along the way, they're joined by other survivors, a ragtag bunch all looking for guidance. As they travel, they hear faint radio signals from Fort Sumter, South Carolina, where a rebuild effort is underway. The world Court once knew has changed, leaving behind a dangerous and lawless landscape. But come whatever storms, he knows he can weather them with Ronnie by his side. Will Sumter turn out to be everything Court hopes for and more? And will he find the courage to tell Ronnie how he really feels before it’s too late?

Come Whatever Storms

Court tried to remember what he’d read about the virus, back in the early days when people started dying and panic was setting in. “I think I heard somewhere that one percent survived, or something.”


“They were immune,” Ronnie corrected. “And one percent of three hundred million is…well…”


He trailed off, lips moving silently as he tried to work it out in his head. Court watched him a moment, then tried to do the math himself, but how many zeroes were there in three hundred million? He had no clue.


“One percent of three hundred is one,” Court said.


Ronnie gave him a sideways look. “No, it’s three.”


“So three times a million is…” Court waited for Ronnie to jump in, hopeful he might know the answer, even though neither had been very good at math back in school. They were caught cheating once on an algebra test in the ninth grade only because they both had the same wrong answers.


Chapter 80