Trev emerges from Alan Porter's tomb and finds himself face to face with a surprising foe. He discovers that society faces a greater danger than his darkest thoughts had ever imagined. Facing this threat, Trev must do his part to see Alan's story come to a successful conclusion.

Vowing to take revenge for his losses, Alan marches with his Poets in an attack on Throm City. As they fight street by street against waves of Compliance Officers, Alan has plenty of opportunity to enact vengeance for what he has lost.

While Alan struggles to cope with the aftermath of the battle, Isaac keeps Alan healthy and things running smoothly in the city. Realizing that Inspector Panice will return given enough time, Alan leads the remaining Poets out of Chicago to confront the Office directly.

Alan gives a short speech to the assembled Poets where he reaffirms their shared commitment to bring down the Office. He starts sending small groups of them southward to infiltrate Throm City in preparation for the coming battle. Later the peace of their hidden existence is shattered when a large group of unwanted visitors arrive, resulting in heartbreaking consequences.

The first responder to Alan's call, a mechanic named Isaac Chang, arrives in Chicago. As more and more people come to learn to become Poets, Isaac helps the new arrivals assimilate. Alan and Isaac take a break from their studies and spend a day searching for a special present for Christina.

Alan's knowledge of Words continues to expand daily, and he also learns that Christina has been keeping a happy secret from him. Realizing that to defeat the Office they are going to need help, Alan crafts a poem to call others like him to the abandoned city.

Christina reads an entry from a handwritten journal Alan finds in the library. It tells the former librarian's sad tale of the enforced eviction of the city. Alan takes advantage of the books in the library to encounter new Words, and begins experimenting with them. But he also learns that such blind exploration can have an unexpectedly tragic cost.

Christina sends Alan out into the abandoned city of Chicago in search of kitchen supplies. He finds what he needs at a former restaurant which is still fully stocked with everything except food.  Days later Alan finds a library in the midst of the decaying skyscrapers, filled with volumes of Words needed for his education as a Poet.

Alan and Christina walk from town to town leaving a trail westward for Inspector Panice to follow. One night as they huddle together in a cave, Christina tells Alan how she feels about him. Convinced that they have left enough clues for the Office they head north again toward what they suspect is another abandoned city.

Enjoying the luxury of a motel room, Alan and Christina recover from their adventure in the woods. With bandages purchased in town, he properly binds Christina's arm while unsuccessfully trying to convince her that she would be safer going her own way. Later Alan's feelings toward the Office cause him to cross a grim line, while Christina makes a realization about her relationship with the budding Poet.

Still trekking northward by foot, the monotony of their travel is shattered when a wild dog attacks Christina. She suffers a serious bite to her arm before Alan kills the beast. The next day their travels are again cut short as an infection makes Christina weak with fever. Far from any medical assistance, Alan attempts to save her in an unorthodox manner.

Alan and Christina are roused by the sounds of Compliance Officers finding their truck. Running away from the search, they are pursued by a helicopter and trapped in an old factory. They climb to the roof and attempt a daring jump to an adjacent building so they can escape. Later, Christina makes a life-changing decision of her own.

Alan and Christina make good their escape from Throm City in a truck Christina provides, although Alan must Write again to hide their identities. Posing as a farming couple, they drive north toward their fictional home. Along the way they make an unexpected discovery.

Normal 0 Trev becomes a regular face in the media as many outlets requested follow-up interviews. Verity comes to Throm City for a long weekend, but is called away due to work. After a deflated weekend spent alone in his apartment, Trev arrives at the university on Monday to find an ominous summons to the office of the president.

Christina decides to stay with Alan until they have put Throm City behind them. Trev returns to normal life following the Symposium. Verity comes to Throm City to record an interview, but the visit turns personal once the interview is done. The interview goes national, and Trev must once again face the dean.

Inspector Panice takes Alan and Christina to the Office, where they are stripped, hosed down, questioned, and jailed. Alan is forced to use an unusual Writing medium to attempt an escape.

In preparation for his meeting with Christina, Alan comes up with a plan to elude his followers. After finally managing to move unobserved, Alan meets with Christina only to be interrupted by Inspector Panice and a horde of Compliance Officers.

Alan feels the scrutiny of Inspector Panice and the Office, even while he’s making arrangements with Christina Tacatta to purchase dangerous contraband.

Alan tells of an attempted robbery at the bar, which he thwarts by Writing. Then a late-night visit from Inspector Panice goads Alan into making a life-changing decision.

Verity and Trev have a pleasant lunch where they share childhood stories. Afterward Trev finds he is unwelcome at the rest of the symposium. On the train ride home Trev begins to suspect that he is being followed.

Trev finds what is being taught at the College of Poetry is a pale comparison to The Poet’s abilities. Seeking to alert the academics Trev speaks at a symposium of archaeology, but is soundly rebuffed. Afterward, he meets a reporter who may be able to help him.

Alan Porter relates his first experience Writing, and the unusual reaction certain Words cause in him. Many years later, he visits the Office in an attempt to get a Poet's license, but first has to survive an interrogation with the dangerous Inspector Panice.

Professor Trev Haroldson gives a controversial lecture to his students, and threatening ultimatums are soon issued against him in response.  Then a visit to the graveyard yields an unexpected discovery.