Synopsis
The Allumen, the inhabitants of the world, have eyes that are warm glowing lights. They live in an enclosed, subterranean realm. The land, a rolling heath, is a large island that slopes away on all sides – not into oceanic waters, but into an abyssal sea of darkness. The Allumen believe this encircling emptiness extends infinitely outward and downward. Far overhead, the world is capped in vine-covered stone. The shimmering, luminescent fruit of the dense vines provide a viridian radiance to the entire land.
Westover Lake Orphanage for Abandoned Youth, a secluded institute offering refuge to forsaken children, is where our tale begins. The compassionate caretakers, called guardians, bear a great burden. They must hide dark truths from the children about the reality of the world they live in, maintaining their parents died or were too poor to keep them. The children believe they were simply unwanted, due to their “light deformities.” As the story unfolds, the truth the children uncover is more horrifying than they ever imagined.
On the eve of graduation, six friends struggle with the fact that two of their oldest are about to graduate and leave the others behind. But just as they devise an exciting plan for one last memorable adventure, a bizarre secret is uncovered. Fascination turns to fear when they realize this discovery may mean that Eli, a sick child new to the orphanage, may be in great danger.
The girls rush to warn Eli and re-gather their friends, but have yet to realize the worst day of their lives has just begun.
