Lux, a 18 year old girl, is facing the weight of her eleven person family. They live in the woods, deep in Virginia. Once, long ago, they were happy. Nice house, new car, good jobs. Now, that is all different. Lux is the only one in her family not carrying the Plague. Even her baby sister, Leonora, is sick, dying. Lux hunts for food, cleans, cares for their wounds, gardens for food, and tries to stay healthy. The government is falling apart around the United States of America and the other countries surrounding the States are closing in, waging war. Lux is scared for her family. In the midst of this mess she meets a boy, a tall handsome boy. Can she juggle love and family? Or will everything crumble around her feet? . . . Author's note: When the words are in bold face it is the protagonist speaking to the author. Just to add a little comedy to the mix ;)

My name is Charlie O'Brien, I am 17 years old I'm not you average 17 year old girl, my family died in a car crash when I was 9 years old, I've hidden sense then I ran into a old abandoned cottage, I've spent all the years I have been alone to create a generator so I can have hot water and electricity. The only reason I'm surviving is because my Dad showed me how to hunt for game and find fresh water. I've found a sense of comfort in working on the cottage, hunting, climbing trees, and reading the old books from the bookshelf. I grief for my family ever waking day of my life, I feel as though it was my fault, oh how I wish I could see them again, but I have to face reality and live on my own, and I refuse to turn myself in to foster care, I'm fine on my own, I've lived this long so I will never give in, I will never have human contact, I'm a loner, but the question is for how long?

Everyone in the world is born with a timer counting down until something earth shattering changes their lives, some good, some bad. My time has almost come

This is a story about a young, rebellious country girl fresh out of the 7th grade with a curious mind and a closed heart. All she wants is freedom, but what if that comes true? Will it be everything she wanted or the complete opposite. Cover by @vii_xxvii