The year is 2416 A.D. After the Earth’s destruction. Lina Mayfleet, and Doon Harrow are two children in Ember who find themselves on a mission to save their dying city. The city’s lights are beginning to flicker and food supplies are running out.

Doon lands a job at the Pipeworks where he wants to try to repair the failing generator. Lina’s job is simple – she is a messenger, but she soon finds herself in over her head when she discovers the box of instructions left by the builders so long ago.

Doon and she find themselves on a wild adventure when they discover the way out of Ember, but corrupt officials and a treacherous mayor stand against their wish to save the city. With courage and heart they brave the darkness – all to help their fellow citizens escape the dying city.

The next day Bruno is approached by two large men telling him that Wolff would like to see him. After fighting them, Bruno drives off, later noticing two children, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig) sitting in the back seat of the cab. They tell him they need to go to a certain destination and are willing to pay all they have ($15,000) to get there. They lead him to a run down house in the middle of nowhere. Meanwhile, Major Henry Burke (Ciaran Hinds) is searching for information on the two aliens that landed some days earlier.

When they arrive at the house, the children tell Bruno that they will be re-united with their relatives soon. Before leaving Bruno hears a crash coming from the house. He is startled to find them hiding behind a couch. Though grateful for his concern, the children tell him they must continue their journey without him, as they can trust no one. Nevertheless, Bruno decides to follow them, which leads him to the basement of the house. There the kids are pursued and attacked by a strange creature as they retrieve an object in a plant. They manage to escape from this creature.