A deadly contagion spreads throughout the world, while scientists grapple to find a cure before it's too late... Dr. Monica Cucinotta works on the front lines of a hospital in Cassino, Italy, dealing with a deadly contagion that causes thorns to erupt along the surface of the body. When Monica becomes infected with the virus and must leave the hospital, she begins a journey across the dark landscape of a pandemic world where she meets the best and worst of humanity that tests her belief in science and faith as she struggles to return home to her loved ones. AUTHOR: Gregory Bastianelli is the author of the novels Jokers Club and Loonies. His stories have appeared in several genre magazines and anthologies. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the New England Horror Writers. He lives in Dover, NH.