Driven by the promise of a cure, they find the power of hope has the ability to kill. There was no biblical apocalypse, no war that destroyed the planet. Something small and unexpected tore humankind from the throne of the world, a never-before-seen virus. Its rapid unstoppable spread swept across the globe and cast most humans back into a primitive state. It infected without prejudice, corrupted the mind, and compelled people to do horrific things. Two types survived the disease, those left with their minds damaged, and their future victims. News sources reported of a vaccination at the medical camps. If you could get to one, you could receive it, but travel had become dangerous. After losing his parents in Tupelo, Ben walks the Natchez Trace, trying to reach the Jackson camp. He knows others are out there, because at night he can hear their screams in the darkness. It is the promise of safety that keeps Amy's family traveling toward Jackson. They have suffered terrible losses during their journey, but it is her father's plan to reach the camp at all costs that might be their ultimate demise. Frank, a man outrunning personal tragedy, struggles to make it to the coast. He believes it offers the only true safety left, isolation. Angela finds herself trapped in a horrible situation. To escape from it, she must discover her inner strength and survive by any means necessary. Paths collide in unforeseen ways and the camp looms in the distance. Can they find protection there, or does something far more sinister await them behind the gates?