273 Shillingham Lane, Riverbridge: October, 4 years after Birth

Malorie and the 2 children, both 4 years old, live in a house by themselves. This first setting in the novel's frame. Malorie and the children leave the house shortly after this storyline begins and begin to travel down the river towards the School for the Blind. The Shillingham Lane house is a suburb of Detroit in Michigan. This first setting is desolate. There are no other characters because there is no one around the house. It is here that Malerman begins the novel's journey into horror and the idea of isolation.

Rental Home, Westcourt: Months 1 - 3 of Pregnancy

Malorie and Shannon stay in a modest rental home for the first 3 months of the creatures' invasion. The creatures invade at the same time that Malorie's pregnancy starts. Consequently, the first 3 months of her pregnancy are spent in the rental home with only her sister...