Grid down. Society collapsing. One family on the run. — A catastrophic solar storm — stronger than any EMP — destroys the power grid and plunges the Midwest into chaos. Overnight, modern life vanishes. Ben Mercer is no hero — just a father haunted by his past. Now he, his wife Emily, and their young daughters Grace and Eve must fight to survive as hunger spreads faster than hope and their suburban neighborhood descends into violence. Every mile in search of safety forces impossible choices — and proves that survival is about more than supplies or prepper know-how. It’s about love, memory, and the fragile bonds that hold a family together when everything else falls apart. The Things We Take ignites The Midwest Collapse Series — a gripping, deeply human story of family, survival, and resilience in a collapsing world, perfect for fans of One Second After , Edge of Collapse , and Station Eleven.