Bea and the other humans, who have escaped the clutches of the city, are set to survive in the forest.

But those infected with dead ink are cursed with sickness, and the lack of food, water and supplies are a danger to everyone. Bea's also mourns the loss of Red, who died during the attack on the TellMe tower when the Elders were killed. However, the Erebii are not done. They seek revenge.

In their search for the Whisper, they kidnap Bea's sister and her baby from their camp and kill the last Donohue, while others escape further into the forest. There is a glimmer of hope when Bea comes across the Wildborns, humans who have survived outside the control of the Erebii city for generations. Leo and Trudy vow to help her rescue Joy, but for the price of allowing scientist Matthias to perform experiments on her blood, which clearly has some sort of power against the Erebii ink.

There is someone else hunting the human survivors too a forth Elder who is manipulating and threatening Bea and her family. When Bea encounters her childhood friend, Gus, and discovers that Red is still alive, she journeys back to the ruins of the city to search for him. Danger is waiting, and it's soon clear that no one is truly who they say they are - even Bea. The countdown to the Erebii destroying the erth has begun. Can Bea save those who have been left behind?