It all started with the missiles, carrying ten thousand tons of radiation. They carried misery and demise, but also hope. The missiles rained down on every single capital of every single country. It was bad. more than a million people died in the first impact. Soon after, the government failed, as no one was left to uphold it. Then, the radiation started o destroy everything. the radiation mutates anyone close enough to a capital. Some places, like California, didn't get radiation until years later. But, in Georgetown, Virginia, They were close enough that they started to mutate. One of these mutating humans was Phin, our protagonist. Phin's moms were in DC for some event when the missiles hit. They were some of the first people killed. Phin then had to care for their little brother, Sammy. Phin and Sammy are devastated for a few months. THey struggle to live on their own. there is almost no power anymore, and no wifi or satellite or phones, as something ate through all of that. Phin manages to keep Sammy and all four of their pets alive until one day, they find a small drawing of a black-eyed Susan on a sidewalk.