This Mortal Soil Chapter Summary

In This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada, the story takes place in Australia during a time where technology has evolved to a large scale. The society has grown to the point where they are able to have advanced technology in the form of high tech panels placed in people’s forearms. Along with having an advanced society, problems also arise. A virus called Hydra is continuously spreading. The main character, Cat, describes the symptoms of the deadly virus. The most terrifying symptom is the feared Wrath. Once infected, the sick individual’s brain is overcome with animalistic instincts. The infected people, called Lurkers, become locked in a constant state of hunger and bloodlust for human flesh which results in one’s humanity rapidly decreasing.
Only a few hours after leaving the panic room, a single black Cartaxus car comes to her house. In a panic, Cat drives away in hopes of losing the car. She does not make it far, due to the car crashing soon after her departure from her home. When the soldier approaches Cat in the grass where she has fallen, she noticed that his eyes appeared to be two pitch black pools of darkness, rather than a regular eye color. After waking up safely in her bed after the soldier, Lieutenant Cole Franklin, brought her home, she comes face to face with the him again. To her surprise, Cole’s eyes are a bright ocean blue, opposed to the dark black eyes she saw
Cole tells Cat that terrorists hacked the Cartaxus serves and infected them with a virus. The virus caused all of the genlits in the lab to immediately self-destruct. While Lachlan and his numerous staff members were inside of the lab, the genkits exploded and killed all of them. Fortunately, Dax was not harmed in the explosion, however, Lachlan was instantly killed.
“Never Forget You” by Zara Larsson deals with similar themes that relate to this scene in the book. Larsson’s song has the theme of even though someone in a person’s life has been lost, they do not forget the memories and love they have for that individual. Cat’s reaction to Cole’s news about her father also deals with this theme. During the chorus, Larsson writes “I will never forget / You’ll always be by my side” (Zara Larsson) stating that she will never forget the person she has lost in her life. Even though the person’s presence is no longer there, she will imagine that person standing beside her. Cat is devastated by the loss of her father. Cat is overwhelmed by emotions, however, she tells herself that he will continue her father’s work and imagine him with her. As well as hearing the news about his death, Cat knew that as she heard him be captured by Cartaxus, she may not have been able to see him again. The line, “I watched you as you left but I can never seem to let you