In the first chapter of the futuristic sci-fi novel, we meet Max, a 20-year-old man who has been traveling on foot across a post-apocalyptic United States. He discovers an abandoned car on the main highway in Arkansas, finding a note left behind by a mysterious woman who headed north. Intrigued, Max embarks on a quest to find her, fueled by a desire for companionship and a need for answers about the enigmatic force within him. In the second chapter, Max follows a flickering light to an abandoned grocery store, where he is confronted by a woman named Madison. Initially suspicious, Madison demands Max to lie on the ground before questioning him. After confirming his intentions, Madison allows Max to join her, and they share their stories of survival, forming an unlikely alliance as they seek to uncover the truths hidden within the ruins and restore hope to their shattered world.