AJ Briggs finds peace in the routine at the Bitterroot Diner. Between his role as a partial owner and the steady stream of Missoula regulars, his life remains simple and steady. His only plans were to work until he felt satisfied with his bank account balance and to finally find someone to settle down with. But then... his father delivers a warning that shatters everything: a massive solar event is coming. The elite are already hiding, leaving the rest of the world to burn.

As vibrant auroras fill the sky and mysterious green buses weave through the streets, the secret breaks, and the world descends into chaos. The Bitterroot offers more than delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere; even its sturdy walls can’t withstand the fury of the electromagnetic storm. A full forty-eight hours of lightning and intense winds from the sun batter nearly every square mile of the planet. When the sky finally clears, AJ’s world has disappeared. Ash and dust cover his livelihood, and a wall of flames consumes what remains of the city.

Survival in this new reality demands a brutality AJ never believed he had. Haunted by his choices, his past, and the darkness of a world without rules, he’s forced to decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to lead—and what part of his humanity is worth saving.