Two centuries ago, Tyler Hawthorne bargained for his life. In exchange, he became a Messenger, one who hears the final thoughts of the dying, and conveys their last messages to their loved ones. Since that time, his life has been nomadic and solitary until he meets Amanda Clark in the foothills above Los Angeles and grows closer to her, unaware that he is being pursued by an old enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy him, or that he can only leave his role of the Messenger behind at a dreadful cost.