In a plague-stricken world, the Plague Boys—small, lean orphans in oversized rubber gear and gas masks—serve as grim messengers of hope and doom. Tasked with delivering sustenance to the afflicted, they must self-immolate if infected, embodying the desperate struggle against a ravaging disease. Their uniform, marked by anonymity and sacrifice, underscores their role in a world on the brink of collapse.

The door groans on its hinges as it opens. Inside is a small makeshift shop, lit by a flickering lantern. A Plague Boy, probably 14, stands in the center.