Chapter 2.1

Summary
Ryker wakes up in the middle of the night to find Dale throwing up in their bathroom sink. Scott takes a closer look at it and realizes that his puke is red from blood.

Scott wakes up Ryker and they help him into Dale's car, where Scott drives Dale to the hospital in Sacramento. Doctors begin to treat Dale and then realize he's showing all the signs of the Rot. Another man comes in and takes Scott and Ryker into a backroom and tells them that they believe Dale has the Rot, and they need anyone that has had physical contact with Dale in the last few months.

Ryker freaks out silently while Scott tells him that the only person who'd even seen Dale in the last few months, was Ryker, Scott, and Aaron who said he was going to Salt Lake City months ago. The man asks for their last names, and Scott tells them. Scott tells him Aaron's last name and the man looks confused, then tells them that Aaron was recently admitted here.

Scott and Ryker meet Aaron in another backroom and discuss where they've both been the past few months, after that they're greeted by a woman who tells them that they're all extremely lucky none of them have the Rot, but Aaron is extremely lucky. He has a gene that can cure the Heart Form of the Rot. Ryker asks if it can cure Dale, the woman admits that Dale and almost anybody else who has the Rot has it in their brain and not their heart. Aaron asks who does have it, and the woman tells them that the leader of the Sacramento Faction, Valentine Hardgrove has the Heart Strain of the Rot and she would also like to meet them.