It is 2016, four years after the apocalypse that robbed Alexia McQuillan and her son, Hawk, of their happy lives. After her husband, David, contracts a deadly virus that transforms him into a violent zombie intent on killing her, Alexia is forced to make an unimaginable choice. Now, with her husband dead and their safety in jeopardy, Alexia and Hawk must embark on a dangerous journey across America's wasteland in search of other survivors.
As they travel east, Alexia and Hawk must learn how to survive while battling voracious zombies and escaping ruthless renegades. The two must keep hidden or risk being turned into mindless, brain-eating creatures themselves. Meanwhile, Lucas Kruczek and his daughter, Leah, mourn the loss of their loved ones while building a fortress around their city. Forced to live under the strict rule of a fugitive from another planet, father and daughter make many allies including Alexia, Hawk, and Sydney, a little girl forced to grow up fast or die young.
In this science fiction adventure, Alexia and her newfound group of friends must team with a clever zombie hunter, a spiritualist intent on protecting mankind, and an innovative scientist to battle a war against a deadly virus that threatens to destroy Earth's population.