Content Warning: The Chapter 21 Summary includes a suicide.

Six months later, Ruth’s group of infected come to take Robert Neville from his home. Since meeting Ruth, Neville has considered leaving the house—but is unable to leave the memories associated with it. He watches the infected drive into Los Angeles and shoot the Undead outside from his peephole. Ben Cortman tries to escape by climbing into the chimney of a house across the street, but the infected shoot him. Neville finds himself sympathizing with the Undead, as the infected are particularly violent in killing them. He grieves Ben Cortman’s murder.

The infected begin shooting Neville’s house and breaking through the doors with axes. Though he decided to allow the infected to take him prisoner, Neville still finds himself readying his pistols. When some of the men break into his house, he starts shooting. The former club Neville in the chest, then drag him outside the house.

Neville is held prisoner in a room at an undisclosed location. His chest and ribs ache from the infected attack. When he wakes, he realizes he is going to die, though struggles to accept it: “Personal death still was a thing beyond comprehension” (153).