At 7 am, on her twelfth birthday, Miranda Hallam is found dead in bed at Bluegates School, but hers is only the first death. For some time, Ben Pitman has been dedicated to his work towards a breakthrough antiviral cure at Minster Hospital. Jessie Hunt has found respect, admiration and even love for Ben through her secret research with him and consolation for a marriage she knows deep down is failing, but what if they have now let loose a terrifying epidemic?