Tom Jacobs has a peaceful life as a professor at a small college. But the peace he knows is shattered when a plague is unleashed on Earth. The plague wipes out vast numbers of people, but leaves a handful of survivors.

Tom struggles to adjust to the new world, which has many horrors. The remaining humans are hunted pitilessly by vampire-like hordes, who roam during the darkness of the night. The day also holds no promises for Tom and the survivors, as bands of marauders and remnants of the army take what they want.

Tom must learn to fight, and save those he loves.